Above: Here comes the pain!

By Canadian Bulldog, World Wrestling Insanity News

(Las Vegas, NV) - Former amateur wrestler, professional wrestler, football player, mixed-martial arts superstar and (as a teen) paperboy Brock Lesnar has decided to try his hand in the high-stakes world of poker.

Lesnar, known in wrestling circles as "The Next Big Thing", will enter the World Series of Poker next year, with an eye on eventually winning the big no-limits hold 'em $10,000 prize.

WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack announced the signing of Lesnar to a promotional contract today, and expects big things from him.

"I don’t think there are any other pro wrestlers that can make the transition to poker except for Brock Lesnar,” said Pollack. “And if you look at his amateur wrestling credentials, his size, and what he’s done, this guy can end up being a force in the World Series Of Poker."

“If you want to go with the NFL of the poker game, it’s the WSOP, and it was an easy choice for me,” said Lesnar. “Obviously I don’t think I’m ready for a top seeding right away, but I will be there, and I’m not gonna turn down any opponent because I’m here to prove myself. I’m not here to pick and choose my games. I’ll play whomever they want. I don’t make the games; that’s not my job. I’ve got one job to do and that’s to play poker.”

The date for Lesnar’s first game will be revealed in the near future.

A native of Webster, South Dakota who now makes his home in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, the 6 foot 3 ½ , 265 pound Lesnar first made a name for himself as a wrestler at Webster High School, compiling a 33-0 record in his senior year. This success eventually led him to Bismarck State College and the University of Minnesota, where he was a four-time All American, two-time Big Ten Champion, a second place finisher in the 1999 NCAA Championships, and the 2000 NCAA National Champion.

After finishing his college career with an astounding 106-5 record, Lesnar became a household name as a professional wrestler, and even had a short stint in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings.

In 2008 though, Lesnar was in need of a new challenge in his life, and he turned to poker, where world-class wrestlers like himself have had enormous success throughout the game's history.

Lesnar’s signing to the WSOP bolsters a talent-rich heavyweight division that includes Tom Schneider, Jeff Madsen, Allan Cunningham, Vinnie Vegas and former WCW competitor The Gambler.

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Canadian Bulldog is a borderline journalist who writes weekly for World Wrestling Insanity and has published his own book of nutty prank e-mails to wrestlers. See his obscenely expensive Canadian BullBLOG for more information.