Unlike so many MMA fans who claim to have been watching the sport since UFC 1, my love for MMA transitioned from professional wrestling. Sure, I caught UFC 1 but that was only because my family had the means to watch the fights for free. Even as I grew up I really connected with professional wrestling and the larger than life characters. There was no larger in the modern era than Brock Lesnar. For the next five days I’ll be bringing some of the best moments of Lesnar’s professional wrestling career.
Immediately after graduating college Lesnar was signed to a contract with the WWE and sent down to the then developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling to learn about the world of professional wrestling. He was joined by former Golden Gopher teammate Shelton Benjamin who he teamed with as the Minnesota Stretching crew. When he finally got the “ok” to debut it was two years after he first started training at the March 18th episode of Monday Night Raw.
The night was special as it was the fallout show from Wrestlemania X8 (18 for those who don’t speak Roman Numerals). Lesnar made his presence known to the WWE fans when he ran through the crowd during a triple threat hardcore match between Al Snow, Maven, and “Little” Spike Dudley. In what was one of the most brutal displays of aggression, Lesnar annihilated everyone in the ring. Snow was slammed onto a trash can, Maven was hit with the F-5, and Dudley’s failed huricarana was counted with three power bombs.Lesnar had arrived and put the WWE on notice.
Though this was his first official appearance in the WWE, he didn’t officially wrestle a match until Backlash, the PPV in April against Jeff Hardy. Be sure to be back tomorrow when I bring another great Lesnar moment from his career in the WWE.
SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem
About the author
