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Brock Lesnar Returning To WWE Smackdown For The First Time In 12 Years

TJR Wrestling

Brock Lesnar has recently been added to the March 22 Smackdown taping in Boston, Massachusetts. He has also been scheduled to appear on the February 16 Smackdown taping in Ontario, California. When Lesnar shows up on the February 16 taping of Smackdown, it will be his first time on the show since 2004.

The idea behind Lesnar working more Smackdown tapings over the next few months is to hopefully increase Smackdown’s television ratings. Since the show’s move to the USA Network on January 7 of this year, World Wrestling Entertainment has made an effort to turn Smackdown into a show worth watching again. It’s a show that progresses storylines and is not just another skippable program like WWE Main Event and Superstars.

In Smackdown’s first two weeks on the USA Network, we’ve seen the show add a dynamic new lead announcer in Mauro Ranallo as well as three title matches for three separate championships. We’ve even seen the United States Championship change hands on one of those three occasions. Tonight’s edition of Smackdown will see WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns take on The League of Nations (Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Rusev and King Barrett) in a four-on-one handicap match.

Hopefully, the addition of Brock Lesnar during the next few months and the newly ramped up programming can keep Smackdown on the right foot heading into WrestleMania 32.

Mark’s reaction: Hearing that Brock will be on a few Smackdown’s during the upcoming months is nice to hear. It’s always great to see Lesnar in a WWE ring and hopefully we get to see a match or two during his appearances. Both Smackdown appearances will be happening during the WWE’s “Road to WrestleMania” season, so maybe Brock’s presence on the show’s will be an important factor in moving his story line forward. Especially when you look at the March 22 Smackdown taping, by the time that episode airs we’ll be about a week and a half away from WrestleMania 32; so I’m expecting something significant to happen that warrants Brock being on the show, rather than it just being another throw away match similar to the special live events streamed on the WWE Network.