Paul Heyman has never been shy about making Brock Lesnar sound like the most dangerous man on the planet, but his latest comments about Lesnar’s UFC career have raised some eyebrows behind the scenes in WWE. And it turns out not everyone is buying what Heyman is selling.
Heyman recently claimed that Lesnar could still be the UFC Heavyweight Champion today if diverticulitis hadn’t derailed his mixed martial arts career. The medical condition significantly affected Lesnar during his time in UFC, but Heyman’s suggestion that he could still be ruling the heavyweight division at 49 years old was a pretty bold statement.
According to Fightful Select, several people within WWE weighed in on Heyman’s comments, and the general feeling was that he was simply doing what he does best — promoting Brock Lesnar.
One source described Heyman as being in “promoter mode,” suggesting those behind the scenes didn’t necessarily view his comments as a realistic assessment of Lesnar’s chances against today’s UFC heavyweights.
Lesnar certainly has the credentials to back up his reputation. He captured the UFC Heavyweight Championship during his MMA career and became one of the biggest crossover attractions between professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. However, maintaining that level of dominance at his current age would be an entirely different challenge.
For comparison, Randy Couture became the oldest UFC champion in history when he captured the heavyweight title at 43 and held it at 44. Lesnar is now 49, putting Heyman’s claim into perspective.
Of course, Heyman has spent years presenting Lesnar as an unstoppable force, whether he’s competing in WWE or stepping inside the Octagon. Making extraordinary claims about what Lesnar could accomplish has long been part of his approach, and those within WWE appear to recognize that.
Still, there’s a difference between promoting someone as a legitimate threat and suggesting they could remain UFC champion nearly two decades after first winning the title. Based on the reaction described to Fightful Select, people within WWE aren’t necessarily treating Heyman’s comments as anything more than an attempt to build up his longtime client.
Heyman may genuinely believe Lesnar could still dominate the UFC heavyweight division, but the backstage reaction suggests his comments weren’t taken quite as seriously as he might have hoped. For now, it’s another example of Heyman doing everything possible to keep Lesnar’s reputation larger than life, even when the conversation moves outside WWE.
Do you think Brock Lesnar could still compete with today’s top UFC heavyweights, or was Paul Heyman simply doing his job by promoting him? Let us know your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.
