Ever since his television debut on March 18, 2002, Brock Lesnar has blazed a trail in the world of WWE. His enormous charisma and unique in-ring style have given his matches a level of violence and drama that is reminiscent of the golden years of professional wrestling.
When you combine this dynamic with his tremendous athletic achievements and crossover appeal, you get the professional wrestling equivalent of a “unicorn”; simply put, a can’t miss attraction that comes along once in a generation.
So without further ado, here is our list of the five most memorable matches in a career filled with them.
#5 Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton (SummerSlam 2016)
Now before you get the torches and pitchforks out, let’s remember that this is a list of Brock Lesnar’s most memorable matches, and this clash between the two products of Ohio Valley Wrestling was nothing if not memorable.
After a build promoting the first pay-per-view clash between two of the biggest icons of the modern era, Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton put on one of the more physical clashes in recent memory.
Although the two men traded signature moves and nearfalls, just like several other WWE main events, it was the finish that set this match apart. After he had failed to secure a pinfall with an F5, Lesnar proceeded to blast Orton with a barrage of bare knuckle shots and elbows that left The Viper in a pool of blood.
The scenes that followed were pure chaos. Everyone, from the wrestlers in the locker room to the medics, was in a state of panic because they were stunned by what had happened.
It later emerged that only Vince McMahon, Triple H, Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar, and Paul Heyman knew the finish of the match. Stories such as Chris Jericho's confrontation with Brock Lesnar, which broke in the aftermath of the event, only added to the mystique of this finish.
While this match may have left some with a sour taste, the drama that it generated is a testament to Lesnar's unique appeal and ability to transcend the constraints of a scripted environment.
#4 Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle ( WrestleMania XIX)
The WWE took its A-game to Safeco Field for the nineteenth edition of the Showcase of the Immortals. The card was stacked and featured several marquee matches such as The Rock vs. Austin, Vince McMahon vs. Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho, and Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle. The big names on the marquee didn’t disappoint under the bright lights and they created several WrestleMania moments to savour.
However, for all that was great about this show, it came at a price. Several of WWE’s biggest Superstars walked into the arena carrying injuries, and it was a minor miracle that no one was left crippled on the night.
The main event was no exception as Kurt Angle, who was nursing a broken neck, was tasked with putting over a green Brock Lesnar. Although the Olympic Gold Medalist largely left in one piece, the Beast Incarnate botched a shooting star press and landed squarely on his head.
The fall would have seriously maimed most ordinary men, but Lesnar has never been one of those; in fact, he escaped with just a concussion and even went on to finish the match.
#3 Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena ( SummerSlam 2014)
In his first match after ending The Undertaker’s vaunted undefeated streak at WrestleMania, Brock Lesnar challenged John Cena for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam (2014).
The match was dubbed “The Biggest Fight of the Summer” and had a tremendous build-up that made it feel special. On the night, however, the Conqueror destroyed Cena in what can only be described as a 20-minute squash match. Lesnar delivered sixteen German Suplexes and two F5s en route to his WWE World Heavyweight Championship victory, which left the professional wrestling world in shock and awe.
The Beast Incarnate then embarked on a title run that saw him put on some great matches and further enhance his value to WWE.
Also read: 5 times Brock Lesnar was booed massively
#2 Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins vs. John Cena ( Royal Rumble 2015)
On a cold January night, Brock Lesnar walked into the Wells Fargo Center with a wave of momentum behind him. The rabid Philadelphia crowd gave him the sort of champion’s ovation that is usually reserved for the likes of Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin.
When the bell rang, The Beast Incarnate didn’t disappoint as he put on an incredible performance and manhandled the other two men in the match as if they were trespassers on his large Saskatchewan property.
However, the performances of John Cena and Seth Rollins were nothing to scoff at either. The Architect reached into his bag of tricks and pulled out several innovative moves that helped to establish him on the main event scene, and everybody’s favourite 16-time World Champion brought his unique brand of emotion to the match.
By the time Lesnar rose like a phoenix from the ashes and claimed the victory, it was evident that we had just witnessed one of the best triple threat matches in WWE history.
#1 Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker ( WrestleMania XXX)
When Brock Lesnar made his entrance at WrestleMania XXX, he looked to the unsuspecting eye like a condemned man walking to the gallows. After all, everyone thought that he was going to be another of The Deadman’s high-profile victims. However, as we all know by now, there was a major twist to this story.
When The Beast Incarnate pinned The Undertaker, it was as if someone had drained the air from the building. The members of the audience, who were in a state of shock, knew that they had just witnessed the single biggest result of a professional wrestling match since Ivan Koloff’s win against Bruno Sammartino in 1971.
This match not only signified the end of one of the most amazing attractions that WWE has ever had in a bottle, but it also proved that it was possible to elicit such a reaction from an audience that had almost exclusively been fed tripe since 2001.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
