Brock Lesnar inside the ring simply isn’t human – and that much has been evident since he first debuted back in 2002. An amateur wrestling background coupled together with an intensity that we rarely see in professional wrestling, there’s an argument to be made that Brock is one of the most legitimately intimidating superstars in the history of the business.
Despite this, his 15-plus year association with the business has spawned fewer than 200 matches – which will be even more surprising to some when they realize his current run has been ongoing for more than five of those years. Still, given his part-time schedule, we’ve been forced to accept the nature of his contract: despite how much we despise it.
This piece is more to focus on newer stars who have clearly put themselves through the mill in order to get over at the top of the card. They’ve scratched, they’ve clawed, and they’ve actually managed to compete in more matches than The Beast Incarnate. Some of these guys and girls are more successful than others, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be applauded for their efforts.
With that being said, here are five newer WWE stars who have wrestled more matches than Brock Lesnar – who’s total stands at 179.
#5 Emma – 184
You may question Emma being on this list after being with the company for a few years now, but in reality, she’s still at the start of her career compared to the likes of Lesnar. The former NXT standout slips in right alongside Corbin with over 180 bouts under her belt, which ironically enough is the one thing that she’s been missing up to this point.
Once she’s back from her latest injury setback, Emma really should be thrust into the title picture on the red brand, especially if Bayley wins back the strap at Extreme Rules.
Just think of the potential she has as champion atop the division.
#4 Baron Corbin – 186
Since arriving in WWE, Baron Corbin has been tipped for great things, starting off with his run as a babyface down in NXT. Then, upon transitioning into being a bad guy, he opened the world’s eyes to what a great talent he truly is.
It’s shown in his commitment to the craft too, with more than 180 matches to his name.
Lesnar vs Corbin could even be an intriguing match-up somewhere down the road, but for now, the important thing to focus on is what a juggernaut this guy is. He knows what it takes to have a durable career in any aspect, with his NFL career being a shining example of that. Keep up the good work, Mr End of Days and Monet in the Bank.
#3 Braun Strowman – 206
For fear of our lives, we’ve forced ourselves to put Braun Strowman on this list – but in reality, he actually does belong here once you’ve given it some thought. After all, he’s surpassed 200 matches during his tenure in WWE, and with a rocket ship strapped to his back, it’s extremely possible that he’ll double if not quadruple that in the years to come.
In terms of Lesnar, it seems fairly obvious that we’re heading towards a showdown between the two men as we approach SummerSlam season.
That kind of feud would most definitely be best for business, and it could well spell the end of Lesnar’s first – and hopefully last run as Universal Champion.
#2 AJ Styles – 230
Is it fair to say that AJ Styles is the best wrestler in the world right now? Yes, because it’s the truth. The Phenomenal One has performed in excess of 220 matches since that famous night at the 2016 Royal Rumble, delivering classic after classic whilst capturing the hearts and minds of the WWE Universe.
Brock vs Styles has been a match that’s been suggested a couple of times now, but it’s not necessarily something we’re desperate to see.
After all, Styles is still trying to boost SmackDown Live into becoming the number one show, and Lesnar is reserving his title defences for the likes of Finn Balor and Seth Rollins. Maybe next year, Styles.
#1 Sami Zayn – 261
When Sami Zayn stood across the ring from Brock Lesnar a few months back, it provided fans with an interesting dynamic of two extremely successful yet extremely contrasting superstars.
One day they may come face to face in an actual match, but for now, we can only praise Sami for what he’s done up to this point in WWE.
With a staggering 260+ official matches under the WWE banner, Zayn tops this list in impressive fashion. Given how important he is to the blue brand right now, that number is surely going to surge even higher in the months and years to come, hopefully culminating with the Underdog from the Underground finally getting the world title shot that he so richly deserves.
