Skip to content

Paul Heyman: McGregor, Rousey, Cena couldn't cross over like Lesnar

JP Yim / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty

Paul Heyman wants the world to remember that while sports entertainment has produced several mainstream stars, none of them can emulate the career of Brock Lesnar.

As Lesnar's close friend and on-screen professional wrestling advocate, Heyman has a better understanding of the reclusive Lesnar than most.

Heyman was instrumental in helping Lesnar get his feet wet when he debuted with the WWE in 2002, and to re-establish him as a star when he returned in 2012.

Now that Lesnar is getting ready to compete in the Octagon again at UFC 200 on July 9, his unique appeal is once again front and center. And as successful as peers like Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, and John Cena have been, it's Lesnar who sets the standard when it comes to doing it all.

"I have all the respect in the world - more so than most would ever believe - for John Cena, for example. But John Cena could not main event WrestleMania, main event SummerSlam and then walk into the Octagon in true heavyweight competition against another heavyweight UFC fighter," Heyman told ESPN's Brian Campbell.

"Nor could Conor McGregor, the biggest box office attraction with the exception of Brock Lesnar in UFC, go from a UFC fight and then transfer over to do all the hype, all the television, all the publicity going into a WWE pay-per-view event and then continue to perform at the top level of sports entertainment. It just can't happen."

Unlike Cena and McGregor, Rousey has actually stepped foot in both the Octagon and a WWE ring. The former women's bantamweight champion was involved in a memorable segment with The Rock, Triple H, and Stephanie McMahon at WrestleMania 31 last year.

According to Heyman, there's a huge difference between a one-off showing and juggling the two professions.

"Ronda Rousey can make an appearance at WrestleMania. But can she work a full schedule to promote WrestleMania and then get into the Octagon and fight Holly Holm or Miesha Tate?" Heyman said. "The fact is you can't expect them to."

Lesnar fights top-10 heavyweight Mark Hunt at UFC 200, and if he wins, it will be child's play for Heyman to build him up when he comes back to the WWE.

"What makes Brock Lesnar different is that there's nothing I say about him that's simply hype," Heyman said. "My job is to hype him, but there's nothing I say that isn't rooted in reality.

"There is one being on the face of the planet that could possibly pull this off and his name is Brock Lesnar."

- With h/t to FOX Sports

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox