The Lashley Effect

Bobby Lashley may have committed career suicide when it comes to MMA.

The former WWE star began fighting in Mixed Martial Arts last year and is currently sitting on a respectable 2-0 record. However, all this respect may have been lost this past Sunday.

During TNA's Lockdown pay-per-view, Lashley made an appearance which teased that he could be joining WWE's rivals.

As far as I know, he hasn't signed a contract with TNA but both sides are close to agreeing terms.

The mistake Lashley is making here is he will become hated by those in the MMA community.

For my first analogy, let's say wrestling is low-brow whilst MMA is high-brow.

MMA aficionados look down on professional wrestling due to its worked aspects. Lashley being involved with TNA - while trying to carve out a career in MMA - will prevent him garnering any sort of acclaim from those in the MMA world.

If you think I am wrong, look at UFC Champion - Brock Lesnar.

A lot of people despise the fact he is at the top of the MMA mountain due to his previous career as a professional wrestler. These same people overlook the fact he was an NCAA amateur wrestler. In their eyes, his WWE tenure blemishes any credibility he had, has or will ever have.

Bobby Lashley could end up getting discredited more than Lesnar despite how similar their sporting career paths have been paved.

Lesnar has been smart enough to try and distance himself away from his time in WWE. Lashley, on the other hand, seems content to embrace it as a way to cause a synergy between the two genres.

I can understand what Lashley is trying to do, I just don't think it will work and it will come at a price.

Analogy two - Oil and water.