Jim Ross: Brock Lesnar faces big decision when WWE contract runs out

Re-published from foxsports

(Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

It has been almost three years since Brock Lesnar retired from the UFC, yet his name always seems to pop up every few months. According to someone in the know, that might be happening again soon.

Legendary former WWE play-by-play Jim Ross told FOX Sports that he believes Lesnar's contract with WWE runs out after Wrestlemania 31 in March. If that is the case, the current WWE world heavyweight champion will have a decision to make -- stay with pro wrestling, return to the UFC or head home for good to spend time with his family.

"Creatively from a strategic standpoint, WWE will need to find out sooner rather than later if Brock is interested in re-signing or not," said Ross, who made a successful MMA debut at the Battlegrounds pay-per-view event in Oklahoma on Friday night, teaming with Chael Sonnen.
As for what Lesnar will decide, Ross doesn't have any inside information. He does believe Lesnar has things extremely good with WWE: a seven-figure contract for what amounts to be a part-time job. However, Ross also sees a very different Lesnar than the one who competed in the UFC, the one who was weakened by diverticulitis.

"It looks to me like he's gotten back on track," Ross said. "He looks phenomenal strength-wise. He's just scary looking. He's more scary looking than he was before he left [WWE the first time]."

Lesnar, 37, retired from MMA with a 5-3 career record after falling by TKO to Alistair Overeem in December 2011. Lesnar made history in the sport, winning the UFC heavyweight title in just his fourth career fight. He lost the belt to Cain Velasquez in October 2010 after his first bout with diverticulitis and then dealt with it again afterward.

"I could identify with that diverticulitis and diverticulosis," said Ross, who had both afflictions himself. "It's not something you heal from very quickly. Your body has to make major adjustments."

Over the summer, Lesnar's close friend and on-air WWE manager Paul Heyman said that he believed that Lesnar was never at full strength during his UFC run -- and if he had been, no one would have beaten him. Lesnar, according to Heyman, still believes he can beat any heavyweight in the UFC today.

If Lesnar ever did decide to come back, of course the UFC would welcome him back with open arms. He remains the organization's biggest pay-per-view draw ever. And Ross believes that ability is still there.

"I see no reason he couldn’t have the potential to return to the UFC and sell pay-per-views," Ross said.

But Ross also believes Lesnar could take the third option: going home to Minnesota to focus on his wife and kids.

"He likes the solitude, he likes the isolation, he likes to be with his family and raise his boys," Ross said. "He's the kind of guy that can say, 'I'm done with all of it.'"

Whichever way Lesnar goes, that decision could be happening relatively soon.