Celebrating 5 great Luke Harper and Brodie Lee moments from WWE, AEW

The sudden passing of Jonathan Huber, better known as Luke Harper to WWE fans, and Mr. Brodie Lee to AEW fans, has sent shockwaves through the international pro wrestling community. A distinguished performer still at the peak of his powers, Brodie Lee was enjoying a phase of career rejuvenation since joining AEW, asserting himself as the leader of The Dark Order.

At 41, Brodie Lee still had a lot to contribute to the world of professional wrestling, both as an in-ring competitor and a rich source of creative inspiration for younger talent. A seasoned veteran, Brodie Lee's 17-plus year career saw him excel in the athletic big-man role across multiple promotions and regions. His terribly tragic death caps a horrid year for wrestling deaths, following the passings of Pat Patterson, Howard Finkel, Shad Gaspard, Hana Kimura and Tracy Smothers to name a few.

As fans worldwide mourn the loss of Brodie Lee, we send our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and look to celebrate what was a decorated career, defined by unshakeable self-belief, tremendous work ethic, and a passion for performing.

1) Brodie Lee unveiled as The Exalted One

Brodie Lee as the Dark Order's Exalted One.

Since arriving on the scene in AEW as The Exalted One, Brodie Lee quickly made up for years of sub-par booking in WWE, delivering emboldened promos and putting on spectacular main event-level matches right out of the gate. As the leader of The Dark Order, Brodie Lee was able to exercise his frustrations stemming from his previous faction tenure in WWE, while elevating the group to new heights.

Under the leadership of Stu Grayson and Evil Uno, The Dark Order lacked direction and credibility. Brodie Lee managed to take the group and instill a sense of legitimacy and ruthlessness that had previously been lacking, helping The Dark Order expand in the process. Brodie Lee's presence and gravitas was a driving force in The Dark Order's recruitment efforts, and this role gave him the platform to demonstrate his range as a performer.

2) Brodie Lee wins TNT Championship

Brodie Lee enjoyed a run with the TNT Championship at the tail-end of summer 2020.

The highlight of Brodie Lee's AEW career came on the August 22nd edition of AEW Dynamite. After rebounding from his narrow defeat to Jon Moxley at May's Double or Nothing PPV, Brodie Lee set his sights on TNT Champion Cody.

While the expectation was for a competitive back and forth battle on Dynamite, Brodie Lee powered through Cody to capture the gold in record time. The convincing manner of his win felt Brock Lesnar-esque, and represented a landmark career victory for Brodie Lee.

Making quick work of The American Nightmare, Brodie Lee stood tall to end the episode of Dynamite, which must have been a hugely gratifying moment that vindicated his decision to walk away from WWE and double down on himself. Providing one of the most shocking endings to a Dynamite in 2020, Brodie Lee's victory also propelled The Dark Order forward.

No longer in the shadows, the group was making serious waves under the guidance of The Exalted One. While Lee would drop the title back to Cody several weeks later, this coronation moment gave expression to his high standing in the eyes of AEW management.

3) Brodie Lee/Luke Harper wins Intercontinental gold

Brodie Lee / Luke Harper captures Intercontinental Championship gold in November 2014.

After a protracted period of treading water in WWE, the career of Brodie Lee, then known as Luke Harper, looked set to finally take off in the Fall of 2014. Having decoupled himself from the Wyatt Family, and his long-time tag parter Erick Rowan, a fruitful singles run seemed like it was on the cards.

On the November 14th edition of Monday Night Raw, Brodie Lee/Luke Harper took on Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship. At this stage, Ziggler was operating as a defiant babyface, raging against the Authority and Seth Rollins. Ahead of the Team Rollins vs. Team Cena Survivor Series battle, members of Team Cena were being put through their paces by the Authority.

As a central pillar of Cena's team, Ziggler's IC title looked in jeopardy as he took on a newly-independent Luke Harper. The pair had excellent chemistry in the ring, and after a steady back and forth battle, Harper hit Ziggler with a vicious clothesline to capture Intercontinental gold for the first and only time.

Ziggler and Harper would feud for the title in the weeks that followed, putting on a classic ladder match at the TLC PPV - a match that still resonates with fans. Ziggler's win felt marquee, and demonstrated the knack Brodie Lee had for getting the best out of his fellow performers.

Reflecting on Brodie Lee's body of work inside the squared circle, this battle with Dolph Ziggler represented a statement match that showcased his ability to put on a main event-quality contest.

In another era, Brodie Lee and Ziggler would have duplicated this performance as part of a heavyweight championship feud in the years that followed. But alas, neither performer was elevated in any meaningful way following this spectacular bout.

Albeit short in duration, Brodie Lee deserved his run as Intercontinental Champion in WWE. While constrained by his portrayal of a demented hillbilly, Brodie Lee consistently delivered in the ring, and contributed greatly to the growth of a litany of WWE Superstars.

4) Brodie Lee challenges for the AEW World title

Brodie Lee challenging AEW Champion Jon Moxley at May's Double or Nothing PPV.

Only two months into his AEW career, Brodie Lee had quickly established himself as a legitimate contender at the top tier of the roster. With the backing of his loyal Dark Order members, Brodie Lee was exuding confidence, and spoke with conviction about his worthiness to be crowned AEW World Champion.

While few expected Brodie Lee to leave Double or Nothing as champion, the short program proved that he could deliver at the main event level, putting on a classic bout alongside Jon Moxley.

One of the highlights of the match saw Moxley deliver a spectacular Paradigm Shift on Brodie Lee through the ramp. Brodie Lee's fortitude was showcased in spades that night, as he rose from the rubble and attempted to hit Moxley with his signature clothesline. Moxley ducked, and delivered a second Paradigm Shift for the sure-fire three count.

Instead, a brazen Brodie Lee kicked out at one, forcing Moxley to choke out The Exalted One for the win. With his head busted open, and blood flowing down his face, Lee's refusal to submit made for a powerful visual, similar to the iconic WrestleMania 13 ending featuring Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart.

While Brodie Lee was beaten on the night, he remained unbowed, having taken Jon Moxley to the absolute limit in the main event of a PPV. Importantly, Brodie Lee's performance substantiated his claims that he was grossly under-utilized in WWE, and illustrated his credentials as a worthy main event performer.

5) Brodie Lee/Luke Harper confronts the Viper

Brodie Lee / Luke Harper had huge potential as a babyface in the spring of 2017.

Trying something different, WWE decided to cast Brody Lee (then Luke Harper) as a babyface in the spring of 2017. Having been a central pillar of the Wyatt Family for a number of years, Harper seemed poised to break out as a singles competitor.

Growing wary of Randy Orton's true motives within the family, Harper added another layer to his character, displaying a willingness to go it alone and chart a new path forward. The fractured relationship between Orton and Harper led to a one-on-one match at Elimination Chamber, arguably the biggest of Harper's career up until that point.

Opting not to capitalize on Harper's newfound fan support, WWE had Orton pick up the victory, badly undercutting his momentum at a critical career juncture. While a program against his former leader Bray Wyatt for the WWE championship felt like an obvious direction to take, sadly, this was the closest Harper would come to a main event push in WWE.

Remembering Brodie Lee

Brodie Lee made up for a lot of lost time by showcasing his skills on the microphone in AEW.

The tragedy of Brodie Lee's death will be felt by fans across the globe for some time, particularly for those who were fortunate enough to see him perform on the independent scene, as a member of the Wyatt family, or most recently as the leader of The Dark Order in AEW.

In 2020, Brodie Lee finally had the opportunity to deploy his skills in a more creative and fulfilling environment, quickly making up for the lost time spent being mishandled on the WWE roster. His nine-month tenure with AEW saw Brodie Lee climb to new heights as a performer, both on the microphone and in the ring. The tone and tenor of his mic work added credence to the belief that Brodie Lee was badly miscast by WWE as a mute.

It is a great shame that Brodie Lee never had the chance to perform in front of a stadium full of appreciative AEW fans. His coronation moment as TNT Champion would have made for a great moment in a live crowd setting. Irrespective of his role as a heel character, Brodie Lee capturing singles gold would have yielded a massive reaction from fans familiar with the struggle and toil endured over the course of his WWE run.

Brodie Lee leaves a legacy that will forever be remembered among professional wrestling fans worldwide. Versatility, perseverance, individuality are just some of the words that capture the essence of Brodie Lee's distinguished career. Gone far too soon.