It has been over a year now since Brock Lesnar stepped between the ropes of a WWE ring. I believe SmackDown! has plummeted since Lesnar's departure after WrestleMania XX and I intend to prove why. In this article I am going to discuss why Lesnar and WWE need to sit down and come to an agreement in the best interests of both parties. I will also recall many highlights from Lesnar's short career in WWE and I will produce countless facts with a little bit of personal bias sprinkled in by yours truly to support my thoughts. My main focus will be on Lesnar's unbelievable rookie year. If you were, never were, or still are a Lesnar fan, I urge you to read this column and decide for yourself if Lesnar was in fact, "The Next Big Thing!"

Brock Lesnar stood 6'4" and weighed 295lbs. Lesnar was a house with not an ounce of fat on his very impressive frame. He also was the most agile big man to ever step in the ring, EVER. Lesnar brought into the WWE a collegiate win loss record that almost rivalled Kurt Angle's. His final record as a collegiate wrestler at the University of Minnesota was 106-5. He also won the Big Ten Championship twice and was at one point the greatest heavyweight collegiate wrestler in the world when he captured the NCAA title. Not too shabby if you ask me.

Every few years McMahon goes through a bigger is better phase when looking for new talent. Many times in the past this thought process has left a foul stench in the air in the WWE. In 2002 this idealism paid off. With Lesnar in the WWE McMahon would finally be smelling the roses. McMahon immediately thought one thing after signing Lesnar, $$$$. McMahon took a huge risk in pushing Lesnar as hard as he did right from the start. McMahon was either going to hit that home run he felt he was due, or he was going to strike out yet again.

The first time Lesnar showed me he had potential was at the King of the Ring in 2002. Lesnar's first match that night was a semi-final bout against Test. I thought this match was awesome. You had two three-hundred pounders that just went at it. Lesnar showed the world he could take a shot when Test delivered his big boot square across Brock's chin. Lesnar was coming of the ropes full blast and went chin first right into Test's big boot. Lesnar not once slowed down, put in arm up, or even turned his face to soften the blow. One thing about this match and all the other matches to follow, Brock never tried to block a maneuver by an opponent so to ease the incoming blow. I will now use HHH as an example, (HHH fans don't get pissed. He was the first wrestler I thought of and also no HHH fan can argue with this one including myself.) HHH gets ready for an incoming chair shot. Before the chair is even on the way down, he has at least one arm up to soften the blow. Brock on the other hand would have had both arms at his side and would be just waiting to get his head bashed in. Is this smart" Who cares" My point is as a wrestling fan what would you rather see" An arm in the way of a chair shot or a skull crushing and clean chair shot" Brock hit the F-5 and scored the pin.

In the finals he faced RVD, who at the time was the reigning Intercontinental Champion, with the winner getting a guaranteed shot at the Undisputed Championship at SummerSlam of that same year. I also thought this match was off the chart. It had many near falls and absolutely non-stop action. Going in I thought, "Yes! Finally WWE is going to give RVD a good run at the title." I wanted to see RVD win that match because he deserved it, but also because Lesnar was a rookie. Sure he was big and so far very impressive, but he was a ROOKIE. RVD's last maneuver was a cross body. Lesnar simply caught him, did a small hop to get RVD across his shoulders. He delivered the F-5 and scored the pin to become the 2002 King of the Ring. Once I saw this I will be honest, I thought McMahon was crazy. How could McMahon be pushing this ROOKIE so hard when in the past, on more then one occasion, it has kicked him in the nuts.

Now it was SummerSlam and it was Lesnar's time to put up or shut up. He was in the largest WWE event of the year, second only to WrestleMania, and he was in the main event vs. The Rock with the Undisputed Title on the line. Not a bad debut for your first SummerSlam. Up until Brock walked through the curtain towards the ring, WWE clearly made the build up of Brock being heel and the Rock being face. I guess the majority of the 15,000 fans in the Nassau Coliseum didn't get the memo. For the entire match Brock clearly was the fan favorite. I can easily say 90% of that arena wanted to see him walk out as the new Undisputed Champion. Rock tried everything to get the fans on his side, but they weren't budging. In the last four years prior to this match I can only recall one other heel ever beating out The Rock in fan approval when Rock went in clearly as the face and that was Hogan at WrestleMania X8. I truly believed Brock was going to be the largest draw in the wrestling world due to this match and crowd response. The Hogan of the 2000's if you will. This ROOKIE defeated The Rock in a classic match and became the youngest World Champion in the history of the WWE up until that point. I still though had my doubts and I thought McMahon was certifiable for putting the strap on a 24yr old ROOKIE. I was just waiting for Lesnar to drop the ball like so many rookies before him. I am happy to say that I waited a very long time for that to happen and I praise McMahon for having the guts to put the future of his company in the hands of a ROOKIE.

The only flaw that came from Lesnars's win at SummerSlam was that the fans loved him and couldn't get enough of him. If you're a heel this does pose a small problem for your future. McMahon still wanted to use Lesnar as a heel so he needed a big time face to be the first challenger for Lesnar. McMahon went with the Undertaker. The two men battled for the WWE Championship for two months. The first match took place in September at Unforgiven. McMahon's theory seemed to be working. Most of the fans in L.A. at Unforgiven were behind the Undertaker. Undertaker won the match via DQ. This match I thought was a seven, but it was their rematch that put the stamp on Lesnar's career as the dominant star in the WWE for years to come, or so I hoped.

At No Mercy in October, Lesnar put the WWE Title on the line once again in a rematch against the Undertaker. This time it would be held in the Hell in a Cell. Lesnar clearly was thought to drop the WWE Title because of this stipulation. I thought this match was the best Hell in a Cell match ever. Now I know the majority of you will strongly disagree, but hear me out. These two men beat the absolute crap out of each other for close to thirty minutes. Also there was no great big bump spot and the two never left the cell. Do you know why" They didn't need to. They both left everything they had in the cell. They both were also bleeding like crazy, Taker especially, and I still get squeamish watching that blood literally pour like a faucet out of Taker's head. Anyone who missed this match go rent it just for that alone! Lesnar finally got the pin on Taker with the F-5. This win silenced any remaining critics out there including myself. I can count on one hand how many men have scored a clean pin on the Undertaker. Key word here is CLEAN! When Brock scored the pin I felt is was a passing of the torch so to speak. Every great veteran has to do it at some point. Taker passed it to Brock that night and Brock held on with both hands until he threw it away at WrestleMania XX.

Survivor Series 2002, Brock again gave us a match that was unbelievable. Brock defended the WWE Title vs. The Big Show at Madison Square Garden. It was well documented that the two men were not 100% especially Brock who had major rib problems for real going into the match. Unfortunately this made the match roughly five minutes long, but WOW what a five minutes it was. Brock hit the F-5 and he hit a belly to back suplex, but what made me jump up out of my seat that night was the belly to belly he hit. I worked and trained as a pro wrestler for three years till I blew out a knee and had to retire, so I know what I'm talking about when I critique a move. Everyone was waiting for a body slam in that match, but I can tell you a body slam is nothing compared to a belly to belly suplex on a 500lbs man. Not only was it a show of power, but also technique. If Brock's technique was off for a second, it would have been goodbye lower back and hello wheelchair. That was one of the most impressive moves I have ever seen as a wrestling fan in the last ten years. The final seconds had Big Show score the pin after a choke slam on a steel chair to become the new WWE Champion.

I will fast forward now to Lesnar's WrestleMania debut. Anyone remember this one" Lesnar, still a ROOKIE, was in the main event of his first WrestleMania wrestling in front of 60,000 people. By the way he was in the main event because he won his first and only Royal Rumble match ever. Lesnar's opponent was Kurt Angle and they were wrestling with the WWE Title on the line. This match had it all, classic mat wrestling, brawling, shear power and even a high flying maneuver that will never ever be forgotten. Not too many moves can be improperly executed and that's why they are remembered. Let's take a look back through my eyes on that historic night. As Brock was standing on the top rope a few things went through my head, "Elbow" Leg Drop" Superfly Splash"" The absolute last thing was a Shooting Star Press. When he started into his backward tuck, time stood still in my living room. Before he hit Angle I said, "Oh my God!" When he hit the mat I said, "HOLY SHIT!" Lesnar came with in an eyelash of not only hitting Angle twelve feet away with a Shooting Star Press, but also ending his career and maybe eating solid foods for the rest of his life. After flying fifteen feet high in the air and having your head hit the mat before anything else was not the plan. Lesnar not knowing what planet he was on regained a vertical base, hit the third F-5 on Angle and captured the WWE Title for a second time. Can the term intestinal fortitude be used here" Here's a thought everyone. Kidman hits his Shooting Star Press with the opponent two feet away from the corner. Angle was more then half way across the ring and the 6'4" 295 pounder missed him by an eyelash. WOW! Kidman in his wildest dreams couldn't have gotten there, he just doesn't have the power in the legs that Brock does. I know I'm not alone when I hoped Brock would try to execute it again in a future match, but understandably I know that first try probably scarred him for life and who could blame him. In case I hadn't mentioned it before, Brock was still a ROOKIE! Not a bad rookie year would you say"

To make sure this column doesn't turn into a book I will be forced to highlight the remainder of his career in a little less detail. After WrestleMania Brock went on to defend his WWE Title vs. The Big Show in a Stretcher Match. Why this match isn't really talked about I'll never know. In this match Brock body slammed and delivered a standing vertical suplex to the 500lbs Big Show. Also not forgetting the two men beat the living crap out of each other the entire match. Highlight of this match took place during the closing minute. Brock drove a forklift toward the ring and actually hit the apron of the ring. He then stood on top of the forklift and waited for Big Show to stand up so he could deliver a flying clothesline that would rival that of Rey Mysterio. Big Show stood in the middle of the ring, a good ten feet away, and Brock easily cleared the top rope from standing on the forklift outside the ring and nailed Big Show with a picture perfect flying clothesline. Talk about athleticism. After an F-5 Brock placed Big Show on a stretcher and then onto a pallet held up by the forklift. Brock then drove the forklift past the yellow line and scored the win.

Brock would then go on to lose the WWE Title in July to Kurt Angle in a triangle match which also involved The Big Show. This match was great, but the main reason I highlighted this match is Brock did a move that to this day I still can't believe. Use your imagination and picture this. Lesnar is in the corner and Show is on the second turn buckle delivering punches to Lesnar's head. Brock squats to get into position and holds Big Show in a power bomb position. Does Brock drop Show right there" No, not Brock! Brock ran, not walked, ran to the center of the ring with 500lbs on his shoulders and delivered a thunderous power bomb. It was close to Batista's version of a power bomb if that helps. I mention Batista because it was a variation of his power bomb, but also because Batista is the closest thing to Lesnar that the WWE has in their corner right now. Not knocking Batista, but can you picture Batista in a sixty minute Iron Man Match, I can't. He would drop dead before it was half over. Can you picture Lesnar in a 60 minute Iron Man Match" I couldn't at first, but seeing is believing. Brock would win his third WWE Title inside of two years in an Iron Man Match against Kurt Angle. McMahon had at his beck and call a 6'4" 295lbs wrestler that could last sixty minutes in a match with Kurt Angle. Talk about a dream come true. Lesnar was McMahon's cash cow or so he thought" Lesnar would then go on to lose the WWE Title to Eddie Guerrero in February 2004.

Now I come to one of the worst WrestleMania moments ever, Lesnar vs. Goldberg at WrestleMania XX. I still can't believe for six months prior McMahon wanted these two men in the main event. From hear on out it's first hand knowledge. I was one of the 20,000 people who watched this horrible match live as it happened. I lucked out and had great seats and watched Lesnar the entire match. To say I had mixed emotions would be an understatement. It was well known a few weeks prior that this was to be Lesnar's last match because Lesnar was going to follow a dream and head for the NFL. I couldn't wait to see Lesnar for the last time and yet I also couldn't stop yelling, "Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye." For the first time in his career Lesnar let his emotions get the best of him. At the end of the match Lesnar the man not the wrestler flipped off the hostile crowd at MSG. When I witnessed this live I clearly saw in his eyes, "Screw you! I gave you two and a half years of my life and you treat me like this" F-K you all!" After this, every WWE fan wanted one thing. We all wanted to see Lesnar's NFL career to absolutely SUCK! I was not alone when I thought he would make at least one team in some shape or form, but when he fell flat on his face it was so much more satisfying to every WWE fan who felt stabbed in the back.

The next chapter in the Lesnar WWE saga will unfortunately take place in a court room. Lesnar has made a move that could prove fatal to him ever having another run in the WWE. Lesnar is suing the WWE over a small clause in his contract. The clause states that if Brock were to ever leave the WWE, he could not wrestle or work for ANY other wrestling or fighting promotion until mid 2010. At the time he signed the contract Lesnar was still in his mid twenties and with one stroke of a pen Lesnar would be financially secure for the rest of his life. I don't think too many people would have walked away either. One way to look at this is Lesnar signed it and now he's stuck with it. I support the majority of people who agree with this point even though I feel Lesnar is screwed for the next five years because of it. Lesnar needs to drop this case ASAP and sit down with McMahon. Lesnar must realize that McMahon is holding most of the cards. Take the pay cut which everyone knows will happen and start over. A few hundred thousand dollars a year is better then zero. Brock will also have to win back the locker room, which will probably be the hardest thing he will ever have to do in his entire life. Magic number I think is three months. If Brock can last the first three months with the majority of the WWE still hating his guts, he'll survive. After that three month period when everyone is making more money due to Lesnar's return, the past will slowly fade away, maybe not 100% but very close. I guarantee if Lesnar went back to SmackDown! their live attendance, ratings and PPV sales would sky rocket. Finally and most importantly Lesnar needs to APOLOGIZE to every single employee of the WWE. If Lesnar does not issue an apology he will never be in a WWE ring again.

To anyone who still feels betrayed by Lesnar, GET OVER IT! SmackDown! sucks right now and the WWE needs a man like Lesnar to bring it up to the caliber it once was. We the fans and all the WWE got our wish when Brock simply humiliated himself in his endeavour at an NFL career. Frankly the kid made a mistake. We all do. Lesnar had that fire in his eyes that 75% of the WWE wrestlers today DON'T have. It's a fire that can't be taught, you either have it or you don't. McMahon knows a Lesnar return would equal a jump in ratings and in revenue for the WWE. Lesnar knows that he made a huge career blunder by leaving the WWE. If the two ever come to an agreement it will be nothing but sunny skies ahead for both parties. I hope Lesnar will drop the ego and come back to the WWE. The place that made him is unfortunately destroying him right now. Lesnar, take the right steps and I guaranty that you will be the largest draw since Hogan. It's your move. "What ya gonna do brotha""

by Phil T...