Brock Lesnar and Samoa Joe are going to war.
In an era when dream matches have become a true rarity, the WWE has managed to book one that fans have been talking about for years. The Beast Incarnate and The Destroyer will face off at Great Balls of Fire on Sunday, July 9, with the WWE Universal Championship on the line.
The fate of the company's second top title will be decided between two of the industry's toughest competitors of all time.
But as the reality of Lesnar vs. Joe settles in, fans are surely wondering how the WWE will handle this feud. There's a lot of good to be done and some potentially great TV to be made, but it will only work if the booking is on point.
One wrong move and this dream match could become a nightmare.
The onus is on the WWE to get it right, and two key moments in the beginning of this storyline have already played out to perfection. The foundation is being laid, and thus far, everything is going extremely well. The only question is will the WWE be able to maintain its momentum with Joe and Lesnar?
The Opening Shots
When Samoa Joe confronted Paul Heyman, it seemed like just another spot.
Joe talked about Brock Lesnar. He showed no fear. He wanted what The Beast had; the intimidation factor over the WWE's locker room, and the services of Heyman himself. Joe was cool, he was calculating, and he was cunning.
He was setting the trap for Lesnar's advocate.
Heyman came to the ring, and he was choked out for his trouble. It was the first time in a long time that Heyman had been taken out, and Joe showed no mercy when he did it. This was more than anyone could have expected, because it immediately elevated Joe to a new level.