When Cain Velasquez Criticized the WWE for Not Properly Promoting the Brock Lesnar Storyline

The old school MMA fans know for a fact that Cain Velasquez was a true champion of the heavyweight division in the UFC. Velasquez’s incredible rise in the UFC and facilitating the fall of former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar was something out of a storybook. 

Fast forward to today, Cain Velasquez has been cut from WWE’s promotion during 2020. This was owing to budget cuts and lay-offs in the promotion. Given his departure from WWE, there seems to be a lot of friction and unsaid things between him and the promotion, including Brock Lesnar. 

The Velasquez-Lesnar storyline in the WWE is just as sought after as it once was in the UFC. Things going his way in the UFC and not in the WWE clearly. And when it came to Lesnar, Velasquez had a fair bit to say on the topic before moving on. 

The Velasquez-Lesnar friction in the WWE

Cain Velasquez and Brock Lesnar seem to have moved up their rivalry into another arena after their UFC clash. However, things have not been smooth for Velasquez in the wrestling promotion compared to the UFC. 

Back in October 2021, the two-time UFC heavyweight champion appeared on Ariel Helwani’s ‘The MMA Hour.’ In that sit down, Velasquez had a lot to say about the Lesnar storyline in WWE.

Talking about the WWE’s failure of not being able to capitalize on their rivalry to create more traction, this is what Velasquez had to say about the situation. “I think they wanted me to stay in that MMA zone, They wanted me to have that rivalry with Brock, but they really weren’t willing to put the time in to have us work together to really do that. They wanted us to do that, and well, you know how that is.”

“It is what it is, man,” he continued. “That was me just going into it and really just trying to figure out what it was. It was all thrown at me at once, a new organization, and I was there for whatever anybody needed, as far as to have me build, or whatever they wanted me to build into. I’m sorry to everyone that got let down. That does hurt me as well, because I expect a lot out of myself. I expect more for myself.” [H/T MMAmania.com]

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Cain Velasquez in the UFC and WWE 

Cain Velasquez was known for his stellar rise in the UFC, climbing the heavyweight ranks against all odds. In his majority of UFC fights, he almost always won via a first-round T/KO. 

This fast-paced and powerful performance of his in the UFC led him to climb the ranks of the heavyweight division. He finally made his way up the ladder, having to face the heavyweight champion back then, Brock Lesnar. UFC 121 was a special night for Velasquez. In his first title shot, he won a first-round TKO over Lesnar, making him the new champ. 

In the WWE, however, Velasquez had only one significant event: the ‘Crown Jewel’ event that the WWE met with controversy. This was his only performance in the event. Following this, he missed out on a Royal Rumble PPV event due to an injury. In 2020, he was finally let off from the WWE due to budget cuts.

He currently appears for the Mexican wrestling promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide.  

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