WWE News: Jim Ross Wants To See Brock Lesnar Vs. Samoa Joe At ‘WrestleMania 33’
We’re only a few weeks removed from this year’s WrestleMania 32, and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is already talking about who he’d like to see Brock Lesnar wrestle at next year’s WrestleMania 33 in Orlando, Florida.
The original plan for Lesnar at this past year’s WrestleMania in Dallas was to have him take on Bray Wyatt. However, that plan was changed, and “The Beast” ended up taking on, and defeating, Dean Ambrose in a no-holds-barred street fight.
It’s unlikely that WWE is dead set on who Lesnar’s opponent will be next year in Orlando, but JR has a suggestion.
In his latest blog entry, Ross congratulated Samoa Joe on his recent NXT Championship victory over Finn Balor and then suggested that WWE should start grooming Joe as an opponent for Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 33.
“Congrats to Samoa Joe for winning the NXT Title from Finn Balor. I saw their match in Dallas, and it was an old school, fundamentally sound pro wrestling match that made me proud to be in the business. Joe will be a great opponent for Brock Lesnar (at WrestleMania 33).”
Ross also named Cesaro, Kevin Owens, and Bray Wyatt as guys he’d like to see Lesnar work with on WWE’s grandest stage next year.
Lesnar and Wyatt will probably be wrestling each other at SummerSlam in August. As a result, a Lesnar vs. Wyatt match at WrestleMania 33 seems unlikely unless WWE wants to wait until next year to do that match.
The original plan for this year’s SummerSlam was to have Lesnar take on Braun Strowman. However, those plans changed because Vince McMahon has lost faith in Strowman.
As for Cesaro and Kevin Owens, they would both be great opponents for Lesnar. The problem is, at least as of right now, WWE doesn’t see either of the two men as a top guy. Lesnar vs. Owens or Lesnar vs. Cesaro at WrestleMania 33 probably won’t happen.
When Samoa Joe agreed to be part of NXT, he was never earmarked for the main roster. He was just going to be a veteran guy who stayed down in NXT. But now it’s been reported that WWE has changed their tune on Joe and that he may be getting called up to the main roster at some point in the future, possibly after SummerSlam.
Joe vs. Lesnar would be a phenomenal match if it ever were to happen, but will it ever take place? Only time will tell. Traditionally, Vince McMahon hasn’t pushed guys who have Joe’s body type. Obviously, Joe has the potential to be WWE’s top heel, and there’s really no good reason why he shouldn’t already be in that position. If WWE does end up putting him in that position once he’s on the main roster, then a match with Lesnar would be a phenomenal idea.
Many believed that Joe was on his way to the main roster after he lost to Finn Balor at NXT Takeover: Dallas, but that obviously didn’t happen. It looks like he’ll be staying down in NXT for a little while longer.
It also looks like Joe will be the top guy in NXT for the next couple of months, as Finn Balor is probably on his way to the main roster to reunite with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson.
Brock Lesnar isn’t expected to be back on WWE television until this summer, and his feud with Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt Family will probably continue upon his return. A feud with Samoa Joe may begin shortly thereafter, depending on where WWE decides to position the new NXT Champion when he finally makes his debut on the main roster.
[Image via WWE]
