'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAnA//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9oACAECEAAAAD//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAE//xAAhEAACAgICAQUAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEBREABhITFDFBQ//aAAgBAQABPwDrRwt7GT3shUsJND7ehaEHgPU2rFZYj+T6h03zxO7ZhUUV4KkcIGkRpJnKr9AsW2ef/8QAFhEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABEh/9oACAECAQE/AFT/xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABACH/2gAIAQMBAT8AHL//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Love him or hate him, Brock Lesnar is a megastar. The Universal Champion is one of the biggest box-office attractions in WWE and UFC history and is among the richest pro wrestlers in the world today with a reported net worth of $22,000,000.
Barring the greatest negotiating pitch of Vince McMahon’s life, Lesnar’s WWE contract will expire in 2018 and he will end his six-year run back inside the squared circle for another stint in the octagon with UFC.
“The Beast Incarnate” has provided us with plenty of memorable moments during his second spell with WWE, becoming the first man to defeat the legendary Undertaker at WrestleMania and winning two major titles along the way.
In this article, we take a look at 10 of Brock’s best moments, not necessarily matches, since his return to pro wrestling in 2012. For fans of his “let’s… do… thiiiiis!” line, it didn’t quite make the cut.
#1 Brock’s return to WWE
The night after WrestleMania XXVIII, John Cena was addressing the hostile Monday Night Raw crowd following his “Once In A Lifetime” defeat to The Rock. He was in the middle of congratulating “The Great One” on his victory when, after eight years away, Brock Lesnar made his long-awaited return to WWE.
The man formerly known as “The Next Big Thing” offered a handshake to Cena, only to throw him over his shoulder and slam him back down to the mat with an F5 so powerful that it sent Cena’s bright green cap flying.
#2 “Paul, say something stupid”
In a rare promo in the build to his “Best vs. The Beast” match at SummerSlam 2013 with CM Punk, Brock showed a humorous side to his character that we haven’t seen much during his second run with WWE.
With Paul Heyman and Curtis Axel by his side, Lesnar aggressively said he is not only “The Beast” but also “The Best” that this world has to offer. Then, because 22 seconds is more than enough talking time for Lesnar, he handed over to Heyman with possibly his greatest line to date: “Paul, say something stupid.”
#3 The Big Show F5
When Brock Lesnar hits the F5, ain’t nobody getting up from it - just look at his matches against Samoa Joe and Braun Strowman for proof. But out of all the F5s Lesnar has ever hit, the execution of the move against Big Show at Royal Rumble 2014 was something to behold.
After ducking to move out of the way of a KO punch, Brock lifted up “The World’s Largest Athlete” and walked 15 steps around the ring (yep, I counted!) before slinging him back down with the most impressive F5 you’re ever likely to see.
#4 Breaking The Undertaker’s undefeated streak
Whether you think it’s the best or worst moment, this just had to make the list. Known as “the one true certainty in WWE”, The Undertaker’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania came to a shocking end at the 30th anniversary of the event.
Speaking as someone who was among the 75,167 people inside the Superdome that day, I can tell you first-hand that nobody - and I mean nobody - believed the result of the match. Everyone thought there was a mistake.
Although WWE has since dubbed a ring-bell sound into their footage of the finish, there was no sound at the time, which only added to the drama. It wasn’t until ‘21-1’ flashed up on the big screens that fans knew they’d just witnessed the most memorable moment in WrestleMania history.
#5 The birth of Suplex City
You think of Brock Lesnar moves, you think of the F5 and German suplexes. The F5 has been synonymous with Lesnar throughout his entire career, but suplexes didn’t become a trademark for “The Beast” until he executed a staggering 16 of them on John Cena during their one-sided SummerSlam 2014 main event.
Technically, we’re throwing two moments together at once here, as the term ‘Suplex City’ was born eight months later at WrestleMania 31, when Lesnar uttered the words for the first time in his match against Roman Reigns.
#6 The time he smashed up J&J’s Cadillac
Remember that 2015 episode of Raw when Seth Rollins sent Corporate Kane to Hawaii on vacation? It was weird and fantastic in equal measure. That day, he also had a gift for his security team of Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury: a brand-new, shiny red Cadillac.
Sadly for J&J, it only lasted seven days. The next week on Raw, Brock Lesnar returned to wreak havoc. With a maniacal smile on his face, Lesnar took an axe to the fancy car, beat up Jamie and Joey, and chased poor Seth out of the arena.
Moral of the story: Do not park luxury vehicles on the Monday Night Raw stage. It never ends well.
#7 Minnesota homecoming
One of the loudest crowd reactions of Brock’s career came when he appeared in front of his adoring fans in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “The Beast” was at the height of his 2015 popularity and just six days away from his much-anticipated match with The Undertaker at SummerSlam.
Billed as Lesnar’s ‘Homecoming’, he took in the adulation of the crowd and was even serenaded by advocate Paul Heyman, who sang a pitch-perfect rendition of “Glory Glory Brock Lesnar” before being interrupted by a ‘GONG’ and the sudden presence of “The Phenom”.
Brock told ESPN in a media interview the next morning: “It was very surreal and I actually didn’t know what to do. I just soaked it up and enjoyed the moment.”
#8 SummerSlam 2015: The Undertaker laugh
During their epic encounter in the main event of SummerSlam 2015, The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar had a moment that will live forever in the internet age of GIFs and memes.
With Undertaker laid down next to a seated Lesnar in the middle of the ring, Brock looked down on his opponent while laughing uncontrollably. ‘Taker’s response? To sit up and laugh back, in hilarious fashion, before trading right hands.
#9 Brock doesn't care about Heath Slater's kids
During the build to Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton at SummerSlam 2016, “The Beast” was interrupted by none other than free agent Heath Slater. The “One Man Band” needed a victory on Monday Night Raw to earn a contract with the brand and, for the sake of his kids, said he would even face Brock if he had to.
At this point, he was called between the ropes by an understanding Lesnar, who bluntly said: “I don’t give a s*** about your kids.”
Cue another trip to Suplex City.
#10 Survivor Series loss to Goldberg
You just don’t expect a man who conquered The Undertaker’s seemingly unconquerable undefeated streak at WrestleMania to be losing a match inside 1 minute, 26 seconds, but that’s what happened when “Fantasy Warfare Just Got Real” at Survivor Series 2016.
The returning Goldberg, who hadn’t been inside a WWE ring since 2004, pinned Lesnar for the 1-2-3 after hitting him with two spears and a Jackhammer. It was a shocking moment that nobody expected and, behind Hulk Hogan vs. Yokozuna at WrestleMania IX, was the second-shortest PPV main event in history.
