To begin 2012, we're starting a new Roundtable feature with PWTorch specialists/contributors answering a Question of the Day on a hot topic in the news or from a recent TV/PPV event. Check back throughout the week for our panel of PWTorch contributors offering their thoughts on the topic of the day.

Question: If Brock Lesnar returns to WWE, who should be his first opponent and what would be the outcome of the match?

Ben Tucker, PWTorch TV specialist

If Brock comes back (a very large IF), it's going to be against someone big. And, on the biggest stage of them all, WrestleMania. Given their previous confrontation, it seems like Lesnar would try and break Undertaker's WrestleMania streak. The only issue with that? Undertaker's not ending The Streak, and if Lesnar doesn't win, he'll almost definitely back out of the deal. Why be in a match only to lose, right? That's not going to work out, especially if Taker's retiring soon.

With that said, I think a program with C.M. Punk would be the most entertaining. Punk could definitely get the best out of Brock on the mic, and, even though they've never had contact on TV, a feud could still probably generate some large dollars. Depending on the Rock's position with WWE after Mania, he too could start a program with Brock, leading up to a match at a future Mania. While this is much more doubtful than my number one Punk scenario, they do have a lot of history to use. However, one thing is going to stay constant throughout all of these scenarios - Brock's not getting pinned. (Read Tucker's "Instant Reaction" following each episode of Raw, Impact, and Smackdown.)

Shawn Valentino, PWTorch specialist

Brock Lesnar is probably the most spectacular athletic freak in the history of wrestling. While I believe his stock has severely dropped after his recent losses, a return to the wrestling ring is inevitable. He will need to be properly re-built as an angry monster who wants to avenge his losses. They can present him as the best fighter in the world and somebody that only lost in UFC because of his health problems.

Obviously, the first name to come up as a potential opponent would be Undertaker in a WrestleMania match. I think it would be great to see Lesnar return in a match versus Mr. WrestleMania. It can be touted as a return of two icons. The story would be easy to tell. Brock can come back to Raw and start squashing wrestlers, claiming he is angry about how he left and how he wants to return to glory at WrestleMania. He can lay out a challenge for anyone. People would expect the Undertaker to come out, but Shawn Michaels can surprise everyone and return. Taker can say that he has his blessing and that Brock should face the best.

It would be Lesnar's best chance at a great match. It would be a proper stage for an HBK return, and it would be an amazing WrestleMania moment. (Read Valentino's regular Magic, Memories, and Mania column leading up to WrestleMania 28.)

Shane McKinley, PWTorch Absurdity specialist

I’m not going to give a big win to a guy who decides, “Hey, now I wanna dominate the world of professional bull riding!” His first opponent should be a PPV main-eventer. I have narrowed the list down to Cena, Rock, C.M. Punk, Chris Jericho, Triple H, and Undertaker.

Going through the possible scenarios...Brock vs. Undertaker: I’m not having Brock end “The Streak,” but I kinda-sorta see him disposing of Taker in a May PPV (but, I doubt Taker’s gonna lie down for him again). Brock vs. Triple H: There’s no drama there. Trips can’t hide the fact that he’s old. Brock vs. Rock: A splashy Summerslam main event, but both guys have a WWE-backed reputation for ditching wrestling, and either one of them losing hurts big-time. Brock vs. Jericho: I would have my multiple babies from multiple baby mamas wrestle Jericho, I trust him that much. (I’m also keeping in mind Brock’s current health situation.) A nice, easy win for Brock here, but once again, he thrashed a guy who wears light-up jackets.

I’m not having Brock walk in and win gold off the bat, so no to facing champion C.M. Punk (and if Punk were not carrying gold, that match-up isn’t as sexy as Rock or Cena). The aura that he’s a monster (what WWE and UFC have pumped up) needs to keep intact. I would bring him in as a babyface, because I don’t think you sell a heel who went through serious surgery and ended his last three UFC fights in the fetal position. I think the right scenario for him is to come close, but lose to a heel John Cena. Fans will be intrigued to see more of this feud featuring personalities that clash with each other. Well, until Brock whines about how fake it is and becomes a country music singer. (Read McKinley's regular Absurdity column reviewing the latest items from WWE and TNA.)

Justin James, PWTorch TV contributor

The Undertaker should be the first opponent, without a doubt. First, they already have some built up heat, which a lot of former WWE fans are already aware of. Secondly, Taker incorporates some MMA moves and stylings already, so it could be built up as a fair match-up.

Undertaker would need to lose, for sure. No one in their right mind would swallow the idea of a guy like Lesnar losing to a pro wrestler, especially not one at Undertaker’s age and with his health problems.

If Undertaker were not available, I would pair Lesnar with a young, up-and-coming talent with amateur wrestling chops like Jack Swagger or Dolph Ziggler to basically be a trainer. Also, get in the ring once, maybe twice to “show them how it's done” against a big-name opponent like John Cena, Big Show, Mark Henry, or Randy Orton (who are the only roster members I could even take seriously as a threat to Lesnar anyways). (Read James's reviews of WWE NXT & Superstars every week.)

Nathan Kyght, PWTorch specialist

It's a no-brainer: Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena. Now, I know a lot of people would opt for the match to be Lesnar vs. The Undertaker, but I think that's problematic, and this is why. That match would almost certainly have to be at WrestleMania. (Not that it would have to be, but The Undertaker is never losing at Wrestlemania, that's a fact.) Bringing Lesnar back and then having him lose is not the way to go.

However, if you have him coming back to face John Cena, there are so many cool ideas available. For instance, Lesnar can say that he is coming back to make a statement, and that has to be done against the 'top dog,' etc. Also, it could be spun that Lesnar misses wrestling "the way it used to be," and that is an interesting angle - the no non-sense Lesnar vs. what he perceives to be the "TV-PG" Cena, for lack of a better term. They could even work in Lesnar and The Rock's program from Summerslam several years ago. ("The Rock and I had our issues, but at least he was a a real man," etc.)

If WWE does decide to pull the trigger on a Cena heel turn, and they brought Lesnar in as the 'shade of gray' persona a la Steve Austin during his initial run with Bret Hart around WrestleMania 13, I think this match would be huge. I would build the match up that way, and then have Lesnar come out on top clean. And, this isn't "Cena bashing." I believe it would lead to a very intriguing run as Lesnar continues his tough guy persona, and Cena turns heel (even if just in the eyes of the fans) in the program as he becomes obsessed with taking Lesnar out. Of course, this is WWE in 2012, so they'd probably just bring in Lesnar with no hype and make him start a Twitter account. (Read Kyght's PPV Evaluation column after every major wrestling PPV.)

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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