Ranking all of Brock Lesnar's World Title Victories

This week, as SmackDown makes its long-awaited debut on FOX Sports, Brock Lesnar challenges Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship.

Much to the disdain of many fans, Brock Lesnar is the odds on favourite to pick up the title victory. The victory would be The Beast Incarnate's fourth WWE Championship reign and his eighth world title when his three Universal Championship victories have been taken into account.

Lesnar has a mixed history with world titles, with some of his reigns being highly respected and some of the others being incredibly unpopular. With that in mind, let's take a look back at the seven previous times that Brock Lesnar has won a world title and rank them from worst to best.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article belong to the writer and doesn't necessarily represent Sportskeeda's stand.

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#7 Universal Championship - vs Seth Rollins, Extreme Rules 2019

Brock Lesnar's most recent reign was instantly forgettable

Brock Lesnar's most recent Universal Championship run was absolutely pointless, to say the least.

The Beast Incarnate shocked everybody when he made a last minute run-in during Money in the Bank in May and following a brief run with the case, he cashed it in against Seth Rollins at Extreme Rules to win the Universal Championship for a third time.

Lesnar's reign ended just 28 days later at SummerSlam though when Seth Rollins defeated him clean to win back the title.

Just why the WWE felt the need to do this is anybody's guess. The WWE essentially wasted the Money in the Bank briefcase just so they could get Seth Rollins over at SummerSlam as the only man who is seemingly capable of defeating Brock Lesnar.

This reign even managed to complete the incredible difficult task of making Brock Lesnar look weak as well. This benefitted absolutely nobody and there is an argument to be made that it didn't really do all that much for Rollins in the long run either.

#6 Universal Championship - vs Braun Strowman, Crown Jewel 2018

Brock Lesnar made short work of Braun Strowman

In all honesty, there are fine margins separating this title victory from the previous one. The only real argument for this one being better was that it made sense for Brock Lesnar to win this match, despite popular opinion proving otherwise.

The match between Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman was at Crown Jewel 2018 was for the vacant Universal Championship following Roman Reigns having to vacate the belt to take time off to defeat Leukemia.

While a lot of fans would have rather seen Braun Strowman win this match, having Lesnar take the title made the most sense. The company's hands were tied and having Lesnar win the belt meant that they could build Seth Rollins to eventually defeat him at WrestleMania 35 a few months later.

The WWE also attempted to protect Braun Strowman in this match by having Baron Corbin attack the Monster among Men before the bell, allowing Lesnar to defeat him with a simple F5. It may not have been what the fans wanted to see but it certainly helped establish Corbin as one of the most despicable heels on the roster. The match itself though was a huge letdown and many fans felt as though Strowman deserved better.

#5 WWE Championship- vs Kurt Angle, SmackDown 2003

Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle put on a classic on SmackDown

Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle are two of the WWE's greatest performers of the 21st century. The two stars were among the company's finest in the Ruthless Aggression Era and their rival through 2003 is one of the best in the history of WWE SmackDown.

After trading victories back and forth, Lesnar and Angle came face to face for a final time in a 60-minute Ironman match on an episode of SmackDown in September 2003. The match was an instant classic and has set the standard for every iron-man match that was to follow.

Lesnar would win the match 5-4 in thrilling fashion, with the then challenger holding out for the full-time bell as Angle chased the equalising pinfall by locking Lesnar in the Angle Lock.

The only thing that really works against this match, and the reason it comes below Lesnar's other WWE Championship wins is the fact that it took place on an episode of SmackDown, and not on a PPV.

This was in a time where SmackDown was pre-recorded and as a result, some of the suspense was taken out of the match. There was also the addition of commercial breaks, which didn't have an impact on any other match on this list.

#4 Universal Championship - vs Goldberg, WrestleMania 33

Brock Lesnar finally got the better of Goldberg at WrestleMania 33

Brock Lesnar's runs with the Universal Championship have been largely met with disdain from the WWE Universe. The biggest reason for this is that when Lesnar does win the title, he rarely appears on WWE television and tends to defend the belt once every three months or so.

Lesnar's first reign with the Universal Championship was the worst example of this but the match where it started was easily one of his more exciting outings in recent years.

After shocking the world in their match at Survivor Series 2016, Goldberg and Lesnar came face to face for a third and final time at WrestleMania 33. The two men went hammers and tongs at each other for the duration of their sub 10-minute match and it was a thrilling spectacle.

The two men hit power move after power move before Lesnar finally managed to defeat his long-time rival with an F5 and win his first-ever Universal Championship. The match was a reminder that Brock Lesnar can still put on an excellent match-up when utilised correctly and was definitely the best use the WWE could have made of Goldberg. It would have proven to be a fitting retirement match for the former WCW star had he not returned earlier this year.

#3 WWE World Heavyweight Championship - vs John Cena, SummerSlam 2014

Brock Lesnar reminded the world that John Cena is mortal

Brock Lesnar has spent the last few years decimating every Superstar who has gotten into his path and frankly, a lot of fans are bored of it now.

Back in 2014 though, no-one had seen Lesnar put on a dominant display the likes of which he did at SummerSlam 2014.

Lesnar and Cena had a long and well-storied rivalry and Cena had actually handed Lesnar a defeat in his first match back in the company just over two years before this showdown.

What unfolded at SummerSlam 2004 then, shocked the entire wrestling world. John Cena had overcome every challenge that had gotten his way over the last decade and fans were more than accustomed to 'Super Cena' overcoming the odds in every big match he faced.

This was different. Lesnar decimated Cena, tossing him around the ring like a ragdoll and laughing after Cena hit him with an Attitude Adjustment. Fans were left aghast as Lesnar hit german suplex after german suplex, welcoming his first victim to Suplex City.

Lesnar finished the match in efficient fashion and fans were amazed at what they had just seen unfold. This has become the standard Brock Lesnar match since and fans have become very tired of it but witnessing it for the first time was an incredibly memorable moment.

#2 WWE Championship - vs The Rock - SummerSlam 2002

Brock Lesnar established himself as a star at SummerSlam 2002

The one that started it all. Brock Lesnar had one of the most impressive debut years in WWE history and just four months after making his emphatic debut, he defeated The Rock to win the WWE Championship at SummerSlam 2002.

This would be signal the beginning of the end for The Rock as a full-time WWE Superstar as he headed out for Hollywood following this defeat but the match between the two men is one of the most iconic in the history of SummerSlam.

The Rock putting Brock Lesnar over established The Beast Incarnate as the next major star in the WWE. Few people have looked as impressive against The Brahma Bull and the future Fast & Furious star made Lesnar look like a million bucks.

This was also a historic match as Lesnar's victory saw him become the youngest ever WWE Championship in history at the time. Randy Orton would take that record from Lesnar a couple of years later but this was still one for the record books.

This also notable as being the only time the two Superstars have met in the ring. Both men have become even bigger stars in the 17 years since that match took place and a match between the two now would be huge.

#1 WWE Championship - vs Kurt Angle, WrestleMania XIX

Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle took part in one of the greatest main-events in WrestleMania history

While some fans may have viewed his matches in recent years has lazy squashes, Lesnar has put out some absolutely incredible matches throughout his WWE career and his match with Kurt Angle at WrestleMania XIX may be his greatest ever.

The two men had had a brilliant rivalry heading into the event and this match was a fitting first-time encounter between the two.

The two legends would go on to have many more excellent matches, including the aforementioned 60-minute Ironman match on an episode of SmackDown but their WrestleMania showdown is easily their most iconic. It was the second time that Lesnar would win the WWE Championship having lost it to the Big Show at Survivor Series 2002.

Of course, the match's best remembered spot is Brock Lesnar's botched shooting star press. Seeing Lesnar go to the top rope was surprising enough and fans will never forget the image of him narrowly missing a prone Kurt Angle and nearly taking himself clean out in the process.

Brock Lesnar would go on to main-event several more WrestleMania's during his career but his first outing on the grandest stage of them all still remains his best to this day.