Brock Lesnar walks out of Monday Night Raw, WWE future in limbo

BROCK Lesnar could be headed back to the UFC after failing to come to terms with Vince McMahon on a new WWE contract.

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 30: Brock Lesnar stands in the Octagon before his bout against Alistair Overeem during the UFC 141 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 30, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

BROCK Lesnar’s future in the WWE looks increasingly shaky after he reportedly walked out of an appearance on Monday Night Raw.

The current WWE World Heavyweight Champion, who is scheduled to headline the company’s signature event WrestleMania 31 in San Francisco next month, has been unable to agree to terms for a new contract.

It has mixed martial arts fans wondering whether Lesnar is considering a return to the UFC, where he fought seven times and held the heavyweight championship.

Lesnar is scheduled to fight Roman Reigns for the WWE heavyweight title at WrestleMania.

MMAFighting.com said Lesnar’s appearance on Raw was heavily promoted by the WWE, which offered no explanation for the no-show.

“The company sent out a Twitter message, as well as put on its website, and had a commercial air on the USA Network all less than 20 minutes before the live show, promoting Lesnar’s appearance. But as the show went on, there was no sign of him, and the announcers never said anything indicating he would or wouldn’t be there,” the MMAFighting.com report read.

“Sources close to the situation have said Lesnar and WWE CEO Vince McMahon reached an impasse regarding terms of a new contract, and neither would budge ...

“McMahon was attempting to sign Lesnar prior to his deal expiring, where, on the free-agent market, he could play WWE, UFC and Bellator against each other.”

Lesnar lost his final two fights in the UFC, including this bout against Alistair Overeem, before returning to the WWE in 2012.

UFC heavyweight Frank Mir, who split his two fights with Lesnar, is already talking up a potential rubber match if Lesnar returns to MMA.

“I think I would crush (Lesnar) standing up now,” Mir told The Fight Corner. “I think that on the ground and stuff, I’ve worked with (2x FILA World Champion) Ricky Lundell and stuff a lot and learned how to nullify the wrestling. I wrestled three rounds with Daniel Cormier who’s an Olympic level wrestler and he had a difficult time taking me down. I think that Lesnar would really have to throw caution to the wind and really rush through and I don’t think that he’s gotten any better at wanting to take punches.”

Lesnar equals huge numbers wherever he goes so McMahon and UFC boss Dana White are going to have to open their chequebooks if they want to secure the star.

The second Lesnar v Mir fight drew 1.6 million buys — the most by an non-boxing pay-per-view in history.

For what it’s worth, legendary WWE commentator Jim Ross believes Lesnar will stick with wrestling when his contract expires after WrestleMania, according to Wrestling Observer Newsletter writer Dave Meltzer.

“On the Lesnar question, Jim Ross, who is still in a position to know people who would know, wrote that sources are saying it looks more promising that Lesnar is staying due to concerns over the long-term heath effects of concussion oriented issues later in life,” Meltzer wrote.

Lesnar sends another opponent to the canvas.

Originally published as Brock Lesnar walks out of Monday Night Raw, WWE future in limbo