Lesnar back with the UFC
When noted Mixed MMA journalist Ariel Helwani broke news early Saturday night that Brock Lesnar was returning to the UFC to fight at UFC 200 next month, the Internet was abuzz.
People were not sure whether to believe the news, and understandably so.
Helwani is known as one of, if not the most, reputable MMA source going.
The rumor was confirmed during the UFC card later that night as Lesnar appeared in an ad on the show.
So how did the deal between Lesnar, who is still under a WWE contract, the UFC, and the WWE happen?
Lesnar brokered the deal.
He will fight Mark Hunt in the co-main event on the card against.
And while I am not a UFC expert, I have spoken to several friends who are and they have all said that Lesnar蘑菇视频 fight against Hunt is going to be tougher than some people may think.
Hunt is a power puncher and Lesnar is currently an underdog in the fight.
Lesnar fighting on this card works for all parties involved.
The UFC gets arguably its top draw in history back for what the WWE has said will be a 鈥渙ne-off鈥� fight.
Lesnar gets to quench his thirst for the challenge of stepping back into the 鈥淥ctagon.鈥�
And the WWE will pick up a lot of press for Lesnar蘑菇视频 crossover while possibly having a UFC fighter, or several, appear at SummerSlam or WrestleMania.
Plus, a Lesnar win gives WWE even more positive publicity.
But on the other hand, could this blow up in WWE蘑菇视频 face?
If Lesnar is knocked out or is forced to tap, he would head back to the WWE with the mainstream media, the general public, or pro wrestling detractors looking negatively on all aspects of the situation.
The WWE has already said that Lesnar will wrestle at SummerSlam in August and a win against will provide WWE with more WWE Network subscribers and PPV buys.
But will Lesnar even be cleared by SummerSlam?
He will be checked by the UFC doctors after his fight and if he is told that he needs more than six weeks of no contact to heal, he will be out for WWE蘑菇视频 No. 2 show of the year.
Regardless of what happens in Las Vegas on July 9, all three sides are currently coming out ahead.
One of my inside sources will be attending the Lesnar fight, so I will share the scoop.
Pre-1940 Mt. Rushmore of pro wrestling
Originally we were going to look at the era before the 1960s, as well as the 1960s and 1970s in this column, but the Lesnar story overtook coverage.
I adjusted it so that we will look at pro wrestling through the end of the 1930s.
Professional wrestling dates back to the Civil War, and even President Abraham Lincoln was a wrestler and is inducted in a Hall of Fame (non-WWE).
More in this is covered at www.history.com at http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-abraham-lincoln.
But as far as the four men who will make the Mt. Rushmore during this era, Lincoln misses the cut.
George Hackenschmidt: Devoted to his own physical development, Hackenschmidt made his pro wrestling debut in 1896 and is recognized as the first professional wrestling world heavyweight champion.
How big of a star was Hackenschmidt?
President Theodore Roosevelt would later proclaim, 鈥淚f I wasn鈥檛 president of the United States, I would like to be George Hackenschmidt.鈥�
Born in Dorpat (now known as Tartu), Hackenschmidt would defend the title until losing it in 1908 and eventually retired in 1912.
Frank Gotch: A native of Humboldt, Iowa, Gotch ended Hackenschmidt蘑菇视频 undefeated record and world title reign on April 3, 1908, and won the rematch three years later.
Ed 鈥淪trangler鈥� Lewis: A six-time world champion, the Nekoosa, Wisconsin native蘑菇视频 career spanned four decades.
He won his first world title in 1920 and wrestled until 1948, although he was legally blind towards the end of his career.
Lou Thesz: Considered one of the greatest wrestlers regardless of generation by some, Thesz debuted in 1932 and was a six-time world champion.
His three NWA world title reigns lasted a combined record of 10 years, three months, and nine days.
He is the only wrestler to wrestle in seven decades and wrestled his last match on December 26, 1990, against his prot茅g茅, Masahrio Chono, in Hamamatsu, Japan.
Several fans have sent me wrestlers from these eras via email and Twitter, so keep them coming to powerhousehughes@gmail.com or tweet them to me @BillHughes_III.