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Dead to rights: Undertaker takes Lesnar to Hell in a Cell and back in 2002.

UPDATE: Earlier today, UFC president Dana White did an about-face from his previous comments made Saturday night (posted below) when asked by TMZ about the Lesnar/’Taker stare down, saying, “Brock Lesnar is still under contract with the UFC…  he is not going to wrestle in the WWE. He cannot wrestle, box or fight anywhere else.” That certainly doesn’t mean it was a shoot on ‘Taker’s part-it could be he saw an opening for some publicity and took it. (The guy’s been one of the best storytellers in the ring over the past 18 years and a born showman.)

In that sense, it worked out well for ‘Taker and McMahon as it has a lot of people talking about WWE today. The sad part is, the impromptu footage shot Saturday night is far more riveting than anything WWE has scripted in months. Still, it’s a bit strange White didn’t immediately shoot it down when asked about it Saturday night, but maybe he felt he didn’t need to seriously address it at the time. The story really picked up steam over the last two days, prompting White’s statement.

Following Brock Lensnar’s UFC title loss to Cain Velasquez Saturday night, the battered, bruised former champion had an all-too-convenient brief confrontation with an out-of-character Undertaker (Mark Calaway), leading to speculation of a showdown between the two ex-WWE titlists at WrestleMania 27 in Atlanta. (Ironically enough, both ‘Taker and now Lesnar have been left in vegetative states recently by Kane and Cain, respectively.) If it’s indeed a work (and I believe it is), it was beautifully executed and could develop into one of those classic angles that people talk about for years.

Perhaps it won’t lead to an actual match between the two, but it sure has people talking, which may have been the purpose of the exchange. However, Dutch Mantell, who helped mentor a young Calaway (who was working Memphis in 1989 as the Master of Pain) seems to believe the deal for the two to work together has already been made, saying, “I don’t believe ‘Taker did this without Vinny Mac’s knowledge. I think it would do one hellua buy rate…and money talks. I don’t think ‘Taker just goes off on a whim and makes statements like that without a reason and without authorization. Believe me, it has a purpose. It’s not a ‘swerve’ for the sake of a swerve. It’s for the sake of business.” Personally, in my experiences, if anything involving a pro wrestler looks like a work, it most likely is.

The Floyd Mayweather Jr. angle didn’t hurt the boxer’s credibility in the end like some critics speculated, so I absolutely believe Lesnar could do the WWE match without losing his edge in the UFC fans’ eyes. Lesnar’s been an open critic of WWE and its traveling sideshow lifestyle but if the money were right, I think he’d come back for one night only. All that negative talk and supposed heat between he and Vince McMahon could merely be incorporated into the angle. Given that ‘Taker has long been the leader of the WWE dressing room, he probably didn’t appreciate Lesnar turning his back on the business after McMahon made him a star; however, that was seven years ago. Whatever animosity once existed between Lesnar and WWE could easily be put aside for the sake of business-and perhaps a record-breaking PPV buy rate.

Even UFC president Dana White didn’t rule out the possibility of a Lesnar/’Taker WWE bout (around the 2:20 mark), speculating that it was merely a work between two friends.

Not everyone agrees-Matt Hardy voiced his opinion this morning, claiming that there’s no way Brock would come back to WWE.

Lesnar and Undertaker did work together multiple times in 2002-03, most notably at Hell in a Cell in 2002 and in a Biker Chain Match at the No Mercy PPV in 2003.