From the WWE Rumor Mill: Backstage news on Bobby Lashley signing with WWE and facing Brock Lesnar

What’s the story?

Per Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Radio, Bobby Lashley is expected to sign with the WWE anytime now.

Apparently, Lashley is set to feud with Brock Lesnar in the WWE. Besides, a few other details on Lashley’s current standing with WWE and other organizations were also revealed.

In case you didn’t know…

Bobby Lashley performed for the WWE from 2005-08, and was widely considered to be the next big thing in the WWE.

However, Lashley was rumored to have had a few backstage issues with WWE executive and former professional wrestler Michael Hayes, owing to which he parted ways with the WWE.

The heart of the matter

Veteran pro-wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer revealed that all signs point towards Bobby Lashley signing with the WWE.

Meltzer noted that following his departure from Impact Wrestling, Lashley was in negotiations with both NJPW and the WWE. Nevertheless, the former TNA World Heavyweight Champion is now no longer in negotiations with NJPW, which turn indicates that a WWE deal may already be in place for Lashley.

Furthermore, Meltzer asserted that Lashley signing with WWE is “almost for sure”, however, it isn’t confirmed whether the latter’s WWE return comes to fruition tonight in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match or during Bobby Roode’s US Championship Open Challenge which precedes the ‘Rumble.

Additionally, backstage sources in both Impact Wrestling and NJPW believe that Lashley could start with the WWE anytime now. Lashley’s first feud in the WWE is rumored to be against WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, and is likely to take place after Wrestlemania 34.

What’s next?

The WWE’s Royal Rumble PPV takes place tonight (January 28th) at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The event features a Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble Match respectively—with both matchups set to witness a few big names from the past returning for the special matchups. Regardless, Bobby Lashley and the WWE are yet to publicly confirm a potential deal between them.

Author’s take

Bobby Lashley is one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.

Perhaps a few fans may consider that to be a rather hyperbolic statement, however, not many have been performing at the intensity and level that Lashley has over the years. As for his first feud in the WWE, it only makes sense for the Bellator Heavyweight veteran to feud with the former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar—that is provided that Lesnar chooses to re-sign with WWE in April or August of this year.