What if Lesnar hadn't left in 2004?

Arguably the greatest pure athlete of his time, Brock Lesnar ran roughshod on the WWE starting in 2002. He pulverised his way through all comers before becoming the youngest WWE Champion a mere five months into his career by dethroning The Rock. Within a year, Brock feuded with Undertaker, Big Show, Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero before, in putting it mildly, crapting the bed in a match against Goldberg at Wrestlemania 20. Both men were on their way out and put no effort into the match, prompting the disgruntled MSG crowd to jeer their every breath. Brock’s two years of dominance were tarnished by that one match in the fans’ eyes. But what if only one man in that match was on his way out? What would Brock do if he had (at least) another year on his contract?

For argument’s sake, we’ll say the Wrestlemania XX goes down the same way. Goldberg screws Brock out of the title at No Way Out, and Benoit/HHH/Michaels still main events. Brock beats Goldberg and sends him packing.

The biggest rumor regarding Brock post-WM XX was a move to Raw and a feud with Evolution, so let’s start there. The draft lottery sends Brock to Raw for the first time since 2002, and on his first night he goes through Evolution, effectively turning him face. From now until Summerslam, the main feuds on Raw are Benoit/Michaels and HHH/Lesnar. Sure, we don’t get the Triple H/HBK Hell in a Cell match, but I like the idea of their last confrontation ever (Last Man Standing RR ’04) going to a no-contest.

Backlash 2004: Benoit vs. Michaels vs. HHH for WHC. Lesnar fights Flair and Batista in a handicap match. Evolution attacks Brock after the match and we think he’s gone for the night. In the main event, HHH closes in for a win when Brock blindsides him and lays him out with a sledgehammer–poetic justice. Benoit lands a diving headbutt and pin to retain.

Bad Blood 2004: Brock and Triple H get inside Hell in a Cell, while Benoit defends against HBK one-on-one. HHH and Benoit win.

Brock sets his sights momentarily on the World Title, and Benoit respects him enough to give him a match. HHH wants Michaels for a final match but Orton goads HBK into one for the IC Title. Have I mentioned Orton [and to some extent, Batista] have been taking the beatings on Raw from Brock for Triple H? He’s starting to think for himself and starts to break away from Evolution. Orton retains over Michaels (he’s probably going to hold the strap until October where he drops to Benjamin–legitimizes him without pushing him to the stars; his WHC reign was just to erase Brock from the record books anyway). Through shenanigans Triple H gets his way into the triple threat.

Vengeance ’04: Orton retains over Michaels. Triple H wins the World Title. The following night on Raw is Benoit’s rematch. The week after Benoit and Brock tear the house down in a #1 Contender’s Match, which Brock wins. It’s announced during the build up the loser has to leave Raw for good.

Summerslam: Angle finally wins the WWE Title from Eddie Guerrero (by the way, on SmackDown Cena begins to rise as an upper midcarder against an upper-midcard JBL–he doesn’t need the gimmick change AND the push if nothing’s gonna come of it). Orton retains the IC Title against Benoit. Triple H retains against Brock in a brutal main event. With Brock on his way out Evolution’s called out (at this point just Flair and Batista) to finish him off. Suddenly Batista snaps (he’s been getting his ass kicked by Brock on Raw) and lays out Flair and HHH! He storms out and a content yet defeated Lesnar walks off to close the show.

The Brock/Angle feud of the year prior is rekindled, this time with the added elements of Eddie Guerrero, Deadman Undertaker and Booker T. Combinations of these five (with some John Cena, JBL, RVD, etc. sprinkled in) feud until the Rumble. Angle is still champion by the (lack of) hair on his head. The Rumble comes down to (face) Batista, (heel) Orton, (face) Brock, and (face) Eddie. Batista ends up winning by throwing out Brock and goes on to his Evolution blow-off against HHH for the World Title.

Angle and Brock become the focal point of the show. Because SD lacks a Royal Rumble winner this year, a tournament is held between Eddie/JBL/Cena/Booker/Undertaker/Lesnar/RVD/Mysterio to determine #1 Contendership. Somewhere down the line, Orton appears on SmackDown to cost the Deadman his match. After Guerrero is eliminated he sets his sights on Raw’s HBK. Brock defeats Cena at No Way Out. Two out of three falls will be the added stip. Money in the Bank expands to Raw and SmackDown superstars. Kane fights Big Show instead of the sumo match.

So, after an extra year of Brock on the roster (with the intention of more years to come), Wrestlemania 21 expands on its already-great reputation. The card shapes up to be:

Two out of Three Falls: WWE Championship: Kurt Angle (c) vs. Brock Lesnar

World Heavyweight Championship: Triple H (c) vs. Batista

Money in the Bank: Edge vs. Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit vs. Christian vs. John Cena vs. Rey Mysterio vs. JBL vs. Shelton Benjamin

Randy Orton vs. Undertaker

Eddie Guerrero vs. Shawn Michaels

Kane vs. Big Show

Womens Championship: Trish Stratus (c) vs. Christy Hemme