WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar has quietly re-upped his WWE contract to run through April 2019’s WrestleMania 35, a person with knowledge of the wrestler’s deal told TheWrap.
Lesnar won the title last Friday at the hotly debated Saudi Arabia pay-per-view event “Crown Jewel,” when he dominated opponent Braun Strowman. Getting the belt back on Brock appeared to be a last-minute pivot, as WWE had to change plans when top babyface (the pro-wrestling term for a good guy) Roman Reigns revealed his leukemia had returned.
Before Reigns’ (real name Joe Anoa’i) shocking announcement, the middle-eastern match was meant to be a triple threat. Reigns surrendered the belt before taking medical leave, and WWE locked Brock back up into what is believed to be a big-money deal.
A WWE spokesman did not immediately respond to our request for comment on Lesnar’s extension.
Before Reigns’ cancer diagnosis, Lesnar was poised to return to the real fighting world of UFC, likely to take on Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier in early 2019. The squared-circle deal now puts those octagon plans in question, though our source tells us that Lesnar’s new agreement with WWE will allow for a UFC fight.
“The Beast” Lesnar has taken advantage of a unique part-time arrangement offered by WWE. Over these past few years, Lesnar doesn’t have the typical WWE Superstar’s grueling schedule, instead fighting just a few times annually. Lesnar has also regularly let short-term contracts run their course, cashing in on his high value with surprise extensions — like this one.
Lesnar had been wrestling in WWE while serving a mixed-martial arts suspension for failing a pair of drug tests leading up to UFC 200. That suspension ends in January.
WWE’s WrestleMania event is essentially professional wrestling’s Super Bowl. It is considered the culmination of WWE’s 12-month season, with the next “season” starting the following night on “Monday Night Raw.”
WrestleMania 35 will take place in the open-air MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on April 7, 2019.
Every WWE Champion Ever, Ranked by Number of Reigns (Photos)
Pro-wrestling championship belts change hands (or waists) like grapplers change ring gear these days, though it wasn't always that way. Bobby Lashley is the current WWE Championship after an incredibly short-lived reign by The Miz (and after one violent Hurt Lock in the main event of March 1, 2021's "Monday Night Raw" episode).
The Miz (yes, Mike from "The Real World") only had the belt for eight days. Really though, Lashley's violent "Elimination Chamber" attack on then-champ Drew McIntyre is what set Miz up for his second WWE Championship. In other words, the belt found the correct waist in the end.
This is Lashley's first-ever stint as WWE Champion, and it's spanned several pay-per-views. Up next is Sunday's "Hell in a Cell," which fans can watch on Peacock.
Scroll through our gallery to see every WWE Champion ever, ranked by their number(s) of title wins. Remember: this is a list of those who won the WWWF Championship, the WWF Championship or the WWE Championship. So don't come after us, Universal Champions, et al.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: Jinder Mahal # of Reigns: 1
Shortly before this publishing, the "Modern-Day Maharaja" dropped the title to A.J. Styles, ending a somewhat confusing run right before the WWE went to India.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: John "Bradshaw" Layfield # of Reigns: 1
JBL has taken his heel persona from the ring to the announce table. Never without a cowboy hat, Layfield thankfully leaves his lariat clothesline at home.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: The Ultimate Warrior # of Reigns: 1
The muscle-bound maniac who handed Hulk Hogan his first-ever "WrestleMania" loss died after suffering a heart attack three days after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: Pedro Morales # of Reigns: 1
History lesson: Back in the WWWF days, Morales became the first guy in wrestling history to win all three of the major men's titles -- the WWF Championship, the Intercontinental Championship and the WWF Tag Team Championship -- in the company.
Rank: 31 (tie) Wrestler: Bobby Lashley # of Reigns: 1
Rank: 16 (tie) Wrestler: The Miz # of Reigns: 2
The kid from "The Real World" made good on his over-the-top MTV promos. One of the best on the mic, Miz has been holding down the Intercontinental Championship more than any other Superstar of the past few years.
Rank: 16 (tie) Wrestler: Bob Backlund # of Reigns: 2
Backlund couldn't "Make Darren Young Great Again" -- or even keep the guy employed -- but the master of the cross-face chicken wing had a pretty incredible career of his own.
From Buddy Rogers to Bobby Lashley, here are all the guys from the old WWWF and WWF days — and beyond
Pro-wrestling championship belts change hands (or waists) like grapplers change ring gear these days, though it wasn't always that way. Bobby Lashley is the current WWE Championship after an incredibly short-lived reign by The Miz (and after one violent Hurt Lock in the main event of March 1, 2021's "Monday Night Raw" episode).
The Miz (yes, Mike from "The Real World") only had the belt for eight days. Really though, Lashley's violent "Elimination Chamber" attack on then-champ Drew McIntyre is what set Miz up for his second WWE Championship. In other words, the belt found the correct waist in the end.
This is Lashley's first-ever stint as WWE Champion, and it's spanned several pay-per-views. Up next is Sunday's "Hell in a Cell," which fans can watch on Peacock.
Scroll through our gallery to see every WWE Champion ever, ranked by their number(s) of title wins. Remember: this is a list of those who won the WWWF Championship, the WWF Championship or the WWE Championship. So don't come after us, Universal Champions, et al.
