The Fatal 4-Way with Team Venom #1: AEW courting Brock Lesnar

Hi all, and welcome to a new feature from a few of us from the Team Venom gang. Each week we'll be discussing our thoughts on something wrestling-related, be it an upcoming show, a previous event, a piece of news or a tasty rumour. For the inaugural edition, we thought we'd tackle the most recent rumour to hit the internet: All Elite Wrestling has reportedly been trying to sign Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman. This week's panel to discuss this are myself, David "Bane" Burston, James Biddles and Sarah Dennis. So let's get into it.

Rory: "I've got no doubt that this subject will wind up Dave BUT what are everyone's thoughts on the rumour that AEW are currently in talks with Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar to join them following Lesnar's contract running out after Mania?"

Dave: "Paul Heyman would be a huge loss but the fat junkie (Lesnar) can fuck off."

Rory: "I like how you have an intense love/hate thing for Heyman and Lesnar, Dave. Would you not be interested in seeing Lesnar vs. Goldberg 4?"

Dave: "I would sooner stick my love spuds in a food blender"

Rory: "So anyways with the potential of Lesnar, Goldberg, Heyman and Ambrose, can you see AEW becoming an actual viable competitor to WWE? Also, Pentagon and Fenix won Impact's tag titles on the latest edition of Impact and have also just signed with AEW, what are your thoughts on that too?"

James: "Nope. Look at the TV deals WWE have. Plus network subscriptions, they’re not ever going to even get close in that regard."

Sarah: "There are a hell of a lot of big names moving to AEW. How old is AEW?"

James: "They’re an alternative rather than a competitor and they’re better staying that way"

Rory: "The Khan's empire is already worth more than the WWE though, James, so it could happen. But I get what you're saying as that's how impact should have been instead of trying to go head to head with Raw and such back in 2010"

Sarah: "I was all set to say that maybe with big names moving over from some big companies that they could be a possible rival. However I didn't think about all the things Biddles just mentioned."

Rory: "In terms of Network subscriptions and such, everyone has their own network these days so it wouldn't take much to catch up in that regard. It'd be a good few years before they can due to content needing to build etc but look at WCW in the mid 90s for how a promotion can suddenly come out of nowhere to take over the ratings."

Sarah: "I think when you look at the crowds and the hype around WWE pay per views though the following is massive world wide. How do you compete with that. I'm not saying that AEW can't at least try. And will probably do amazing things. But WWE worthy? Hmmm doubtful"

James: "WCW got Hogan. There’s nobody in that same stratosphere today. Cena is probably the closest but obviously he isn’t going to jump. Eric Bischoff himself has said numerous times, it will be near impossible for it to happen again. Why would you buy an AEW subscription over a WWE one? The content comparison is ridiculous."

Sarah: "True, when you think how much stuff WWE is actually doing. They have a lot of different things going on that no other company have tried. And this is coming from me who's not a huge WWE fan."

James: "Don’t get me wrong, there’s a space for an alternative because there’s a huge wrestling community that don’t enjoy WWE, but in terms of genuine competition, not a chance."

Rory: "Some interesting points but remember that American football makes phenomenally more than the WWE, which is why big Vinny has been trying to get the XFL launched for the last two decades and we all know how much English footballers make too, which is also consideratley more than WWE wrestlers make. So on theory, with that kind of finance backing them, AEW should be able to be a viable competitor in 2-3 years time."

Sarah: "Oh in time I'm sure it could be a huge competitor."

Rory: "So, out of all of the roster announcements and rumours, what can you see being the first big feud there?"

James: "Jericho vs. Omega. I can’t see anything else fulfilling public desire. Presuming Ambrose comes in in April, he’s got to be one of the major players so I can see Ambrose vs. Cody coming up there too"