Bobby Lashley signed by WWE

[TheManTheyCalledNorCal]

We will update thread location when a more reputable source comes through but it's being reported that Lashley has indeed signed with WWE again.

I think the obvious spot here is debut on the night after Mania, either to do a kickoff program with Brock to build for a match with Reigns or straight onto an angle with Reigns.

[Slyfox696]

I'm not exactly sure what Lashley brings anymore (and I mean that because I haven't seen him since he left the WWE), but it'll be interesting to see how the WWE would integrate him into their roster.

[Dave]

People are saying that he's bound to feud with Lesnar after Mania but I was of the impression that Lesnar was leaving the WWE after Mania? I don't think it's been confirmed by any means but that's what I'm hearing all the time.

If he's signed, get him involved tonight. There's tonnes of people that Lashley could be feuding with heading into Mania. Why wait until Mania to introduce him. Hell, if Taker isn't going to go at Mania, have Lasgley take on Cena and have Cena out him over. Lashley could be a big deal if they play their cards right again.

[Slyfox696]

People are saying that he's bound to feud with Lesnar after Mania but I was of the impression that Lesnar was leaving the WWE after Mania? I don't think it's been confirmed by any means but that's what I'm hearing all the time.

If he's signed, get him involved tonight. There's tonnes of people that Lashley could be feuding with heading into Mania. Why wait until Mania to introduce him. Hell, if Taker isn't going to go at Mania, have Lasgley take on Cena and have Cena out him over. Lashley could be a big deal if they play their cards right again.
Lashley did have something of a thing going on for a while and his match with Cena was very good (and over ten years ago now...damn, I'm old).

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Would Lashley vs Lesnar draw? Honestly, I, like Slyfox said earlier, have not seen anything from Lashley in over a decade.

[Dave]

Well, enjoyment is in the eyes of the beholder but I don't think anything really 'draws' in the WWE anymore. The ratings are as the ratings always are. There are very few things that make the mainstream appeal. Lesnar signing was one of them and so was Rousey. It's as good of a shot as anything else I can think of. Lesnar still has a bit of clout outside of the WWE and the WWE could capitalise on that just now if they wanted to.

[Spidey]

It's funny. I agree wholeheartedly with Dave. If reports are true, there's legitimately no reason to wait after Wrestlemania to bring Lashley into the fold. He's somebody current fans may remember, and he definitely kept himself relevant outside of the company. I'm always of the mind that you must strike when the iron is hot, and if they had Lashley wreck shit at Elimination Chamber tonight, or just pop in as a surprise tomorrow, then that's just another reason to want to tune in next week. Build him up and have him face Cena or Strowman at Wrestlemania. Not like Raw or Smackdown are busting at the seams with narrative right now.

[jmt225]

I think Lashley is tremendous. It's about time he returns to WWE.

A part of me admires Lashley for trying to follow his dreams into becoming an MMA fighter, but man... I really wish he hadn't of done that. What a waste of time that was.

At least now he gets a shot at redemption.

[Yaz]

The rumors that I've read are that Brock is going to work on a handshake/short term deal after Mania up until SummerSlam to continue putting Reigns over, so I doubt that the Brock/Lashley feud happens. Not high on that either, all you really have is both guys were MMA fighters and both had drastically different paths. Brock was given his spot in the UFC because he was a draw and while he won the title, he had very mixed results. Lashley worked his way up from a much lower starting spot, getting a lot of Ws, but never fighting anyone of real note. I'd much rather see Lashley in the upper midcard/ocassional main event realm. He improved a lot outside the WWE, but isn't anything special as a character or promo guy. His size and in ring skill at that size will give him enough to work with a lot of names in WWE, maybe even a Smackdown run as top guy, but I don't want to see him given the Brock push.

[Jack-Hammer]

Meh, I can't say that I'm all that interested in Lashley, of course that could all change depending upon what they do with him. If it's something with Brock Lesnar, my initial reaction is that I pass because I have this image of WWE going the route of making the program between them revolve around both being beasts or something. In terms of a win-loss record, Lashley's far more impressive than Lesnar but Lesnar generated gobs of money and interest in the biggest MMA promotion out there while Lashley's been a player in Bellator, which isn't remotely on the same level of UFC when it comes to brand recognition. I would say that Bellator is the WCW of the MMA while UFC is the WWE but WCW was a legit competitor and threat to WWE at one time and Bellator has never, ever been that to the UFC. So, I guess it's more of the TNA of the MMA world.

I most definitely don't want to see him get the Brock Lesnar treatment, however, where he's this unstoppable, untouchable guy who works only a handful of times a year and does only a small handful of moves each match. Even though, to some degree, it was warranted for Lesnar, it's not for Lashley because Lashley has never remotely drawn the sort of money or buzz that Lesnar has, whether it's been wrestling or MMA.

[Dave]

Meh, I can't say that I'm all that interested in Lashley, of course that could all change depending upon what they do with him. If it's something with Brock Lesnar, my initial reaction is that I pass because I have this image of WWE going the route of making the program between them revolve around both being beasts or something. In terms of a win-loss record, Lashley's far more impressive than Lesnar but Lesnar generated gobs of money and interest in the biggest MMA promotion out there while Lashley's been a player in Bellator, which isn't remotely on the same level of UFC when it comes to brand recognition. I would say that Bellator is the WCW of the MMA while UFC is the WWE but WCW was a legit competitor and threat to WWE at one time and Bellator has never, ever been that to the UFC. So, I guess it's more of the TNA of the MMA world.

I most definitely don't want to see him get the Brock Lesnar treatment, however, where he's this unstoppable, untouchable guy who works only a handful of times a year and does only a small handful of moves each match. Even though, to some degree, it was warranted for Lesnar, it's not for Lashley because Lashley has never remotely drawn the sort of money or buzz that Lesnar has, whether it's been wrestling or MMA.

The thing about Brock is that it is u fair to compare anyone to him in wrestling. Since the very moment he went to the WWE they have treated him like an unstoppable monster. Even in his first run he was protected from the start. People have beat him in various different mat he's but his win/loss record is definitely screwed in the positive direction. And that's how the WWE wants it. They have billed him as a Beast and built it from last Mania that he is pretty much unbeatable by anyone.

The difference between him and Lashley is that Bobby Lashley will be around a lot more. And second, they don't have to go down that same route with Lashley he's got the physique, the history and the skill to be a very big performer in the WWE. There's no doubt that they could reasonably put him alongside someone like Roman Reigns and have him be a reasonable challenger to that throne.

Lashley has all the attributes that Vince is big on. I guess the bigger question is how deep Lashley wants to sink his time into the WWE. The sky is the limit for the kid, as it always has been in WWE.

[DNA 2.0]

Lashley will have reactions similar to AJ Styles. Hardcore fans will cheer for him, casuals will have to get to know him.

I don't see how a program with Lesnar works. You'd want to protect Lashley until he turns into a draw again. He will not be beating Lesnar, so what does Lashley gain from a loss to Brock Lesnar?

When he left the company, Bobby was green still. He's no former world champion. How do you promote Lashley upon his return? Why would anyone care about him? His greatest feat is that he was involved in shaving McMahon's head.

Will he be the same tough guy he was back then? Who can forget him jumping onto the cage and ripping it off and Joey Styles screaming, "OH MY GAWDDD".

It will be interesting to see how Lashley fits in today's WWE.

EDIT: Bobby Lashley is just a mad Apollo Crews. Or maybe Apollo Crews is the PG Bobby Lashley.

[It's Damn Real!]

I have no idea who they'd expect him to work with given, like a reverse Sly, I'm utterly out of the loop on the WWE atmosphere, but I can tell you that Lashley has only improved during his time with Impact. I have no doubt he can put on a match worthy of Wrestlemania.

[SSJPhenom]

I'd love to see Lashley back in the WWE and can't wait. I always thought that, had he not got injured and left, he had the potential to be one of the biggest names in the WWE. When he did get injured he was in the midst of a pretty good push. He's still in very good shape and, as has been said, he's gotten a lot better in the wrestling ring then he was when he left WWE. So I think his return has a lot of potential to produce interesting story lines and some very good matches/encounters.

Color me intrigued.

[Dark Grin]

I'd love to see Lashley back in the WWE and can't wait. I always thought that, had he not got injured and left, he had the potential to be one of the biggest names in the WWE. When he did get injured he was in the midst of a pretty good push. He's still in very good shape and, as has been said, he's gotten a lot better in the wrestling ring then he was when he left WWE. So I think his return has a lot of potential to produce interesting story lines and some very good matches/encounters.

Color me intrigued.

I'd like to see Braun vs Lashley at WM. Double countout, protect them both. Braun moves on to face Reigns, Lashley probably has to go through Vince's monster gatekeepers, Kane & Big Show. Maybe move on to Joe after that.

[It's Damn Real!]

If you're looking for a prime example of what Lashley can do, watch his match against Drew Galloway from Slammiversary 2016:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b7ih7qc1NY

[klunderbunker]

Lashley has gotten much, much better. The guy has an amateur background, is strong as an ox, and can do a hurricanrana. Have WWE get rid of his really bad gear color schemes and he'll be a star. You know Vince knows how to book someone who looks like that and Lashley already has the rest of the skill set.