Josh Barnett “Has No Access To Funds” To Book Lesnar Or Velasquez
Josh Barnett, the creator of Bloodsport, has discussed why it is unlikely to see fellow MMA stars Brock Lesnar or Cain Velasquez appear in the promotion.
Lesnar has had a legendary WWE career, winning several world titles. In 2008 Brock Lesnar would add the UFC Heavyweight Championship to his resume after defeating Randy Couture.
Cain Velasquez was the man to take that UFC Title of Lesnar, stopping him in their 2010 fight. Velasquez would shock Lesnar and when he debuted on the first episode of SmackDown on Fox in WWE. Accompanied by Rey and Dominik Mysterio, Velasquez would attack Lesnar moments after Brock had reclaimed the WWE Championship.
That led to a match in Saudi Arabia at the Crown Jewel event. Lesnar defeated Velasquez and attacked him with a steel chair after the match.
Josh Barnett, who runs the Bloodsport events as a hybrid presentation of MMA and professional wrestling has discussed the possibility of either man competing on his shows.
Speaking to The Wrestling Inc. Daily podcast, Barnett explained that it’s a money issue:
“I have no access to the kind of funds to make that happen. I’ve also reached out to Cain Velasquez through his management. We’re just not capable of it – money is too much of an issue there, and that’s fair because nobody has to do anything for us. Nobody owes us any real favors that way.”
“If someone like Cain, well, I could make an offer to Brock, but there’s nothing I could do that would entice Brock Lesnar considering the kind of money that he makes and has made so that’s totally fine. But my appeal is always that there is no better place for people that really want to just show exactly who they are in that professional wrestling ring, in the rawest environment possible with all the other stuff stripped away, and just let whatever is inside their soul shine out.”
“There’s no place better for it than Bloodsport, and if that interests you, then we got something for you, but if you’re looking at it as a business transaction, which I won’t fault you either, we’re working on it but some things are more important than money.”
One man that is interested in such an environment is former AEW Champion, Jon Moxley. Moxley will make his third Bloodsport appearance at their event on April 8th. After two victories in the promotion, Moxley will take on Josh Barnett at Bloodsport 6.