ES
US
Welcome to the English version of Solowrestling Read more
Welcome to the English version of Solowrestling Read more
Translate the following text:
The former TNA Wrestling executive Scott D'Amore has confirmed a long-standing rumor in the industry: Brock Lesnar was close to signing with the company in 2007. The story recently came to light on Kurt Angle's podcast, where he stated that "The Beast" reached out offering to sign with TNA as long as they matched the contract he had at the time. Angle brought the proposal to management, but it was ultimately rejected due to budgetary reasons.
In his weekly column Uncrowned on Yahoo, D'Amore, who was a key figure backstage at TNA during that time, confirmed Angle's version: "Kurt was very excited, and obviously it would have been a huge signing, capable of changing TNA's trajectory. I passed the information on to Dixie Carter, the company's owner, but, as it is known, it did not materialize."
It's a big 'what if'. Not only for TNA, but also for Lesnar. If he had signed a big contract with us in 2007, would he have still debuted in MMA that same year? Would he have felt the need to fight in the UFC in 2008 and attract all those new fans? I guess we'll never know.
In 2007, TNA Wrestling was experiencing one of its periods of greatest growth. With figures like Kurt Angle, Sting, Christian Cage, and Samoa Joe at the forefront, the company was airing its program Impact! on Spike TV and had introduced the innovative six-sided ring. However, despite the talent and increasing notoriety, it was still far from WWE's financial capacity. A signing of Brock Lesnar's caliber would have been an unprecedented media coup and perhaps the definitive push for TNA to establish itself as a real alternative to Vince McMahon on the global scene.
After leaving WWE in 2004, Lesnar had a stint in NJPW before making the definitive leap to mixed martial arts. There, he became one of the biggest box office draws in UFC history, until his triumphant return to WWE in 2012. Now, almost two decades later, he is gearing up to face John Cena this Saturday at WrestlePalooza.
