WrestleMania Preview: WWE Universal Championship – Brock Lesnar (c) vs Seth Rollins

“If you designed a fighting machine it would look like Brock Lesnar.” – JBL, 2015 Royal Rumble

Earlier this month Jordan Devlin beat the unbeatable, conquered the unconquerable, and won the unwinnable when he bested WALTER for the first time in an OTT Wrestling ring and proving that yes, David can beat Goliath. Seth Rollins will attempt to do the same at WrestleMania 35 against Brock Lesnar with the WWE Universal Title on the line in a rematch nearly four years in the making.

The Lesnar-Rollins saga began at the Royal Rumble in Philadelphia, PA on January 25^th, 2015. Then WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar and John Cena had been feuding for nearly a year after “The Beast Incarnate” tore the Title away at SummerSlam. An F5 seconds into the match was a move Cena never recovered from. There were times it was uncomfortable to watch as Brock conquered the 15 Time Champion. During period Seth Rollins won the Money in The Bank Ladder Match and the contract for a WWE Title shot with assistance from The Authority, and his personal goon squad J&J Security. This connection proved critical when Seth was added to the Lesnar-Cena contest at Royal Rumble.

“I’m not afraid of Brock Lesnar!” Seth Rollins to Paul Heyman on RAW, January 2015.

There was no reason for Rollins to lack confidence going into the bout as he had Plan A and Plan B. Plan A was to win the title outright, and Plan B was to use the MITB contract. He justified the confidence Triple H put in him when he left The Shield and put on an aerial display not seen in a WWE ring in years, as Rollins opened up his offensive attack with variety, patience, and precision. A flying knee from the top turnbuckle broke up a Lesnar Kimura lock on Cena early in the match and made it clear that he was there to win.

As the match continued Lesnar cleared the announce table of announcers, debris, and monitors, but it back-fired and he ended up prone himself. With Cena down, Rollins took his opportunity, scaled the top turnbuckle and delivered a massive elbow taking out the WWE Champion. Cena kicked out of a “Curb Stomp” but undeterred Seth scaled the top rope again and attempted a reverse falcon arrow, but a second after he landed, Lesnar came back from the dead and suplexed Rollins. A final aerial move would be costly for Seth when he jumped into a Lesnar F5 and was pinned. The Beast Incarnate survived three John Cena “Attitude Adjustments” and the table splash from “The Architect.” Despite the setback, Rollins was still in prime position for another shot at Lesnar, but no one could have pictured where that opportunity would come.

On the morning of March 29th, 2015, in Santa Clara, California Brock Lesnar had been WWE World Heavyweight Champion for 224 days and was facing 2015 Rumble winner Roman Reigns. Going into the biggest match of the year Lesnar was in tremendous shape. He was preparing to step back into the UFC’s octagon and looked fit, ready to go. With frightening speed, Lesnar went for an early F5 again on the big stage, once again connected, and seconds into the contest it looked like certain doom for the challenger. Reigns barely survived and The Beast continued to rip apart his opponent piece by piece. Lesnar’s German Suplex is simple, but you can’t stop it. The blow knocks you senseless and it’s difficult to gather your bearings before he connects with another one. The strategy is simple and devastating. You knew Yankees Baseball legend Mariano Rivera was throwing the cutter, and you still couldn’t hit it. The Lesnar suplex is the same type of weapon. Here it comes now try to stop it.

One “German Suplex” rattles the cage, but when it becomes six, seven, eight, or nine you’re talking debilitation. It looked like Brock was on his way to another massive Mania win. However, after an F5 on Reigns and both men were out Rollins would storm the ring, cash in his Money in the Bank Contract, and “Curb Stomp” his old friend on his way to WrestleMania history. Seth Rollins was the  WWE World Champion.

Let’s just say the former Champion wasn’t in the mood for sportsmanship the following night on RAW Brock Lesnar stormed the ring area and in his wake F5’d Michael Cole and JBL. Cole was carted out of the arena on a gurney, and an irate Stephanie McMahon suspended Lesnar. The last time they would share a ring was at Battleground after the suspension. The bout was interrupted by The Undertaker seeking his revenge and it’s best to get out of his way if that’s the case. It was over and Lesnar wouldn’t challenge Rollins again.

Once again Rollins would shine on the big stage. He won the 2019 Rumble Match and a “Real” shot at Lesnar. Brock was not impressed and sent a message to Seth by beating the life out of him and temporarily shelving the former Champion for a few weeks to rest and recuperate a back injury. Rollins says he’s ready and looks as confident as ever to win the “biggest match of my career.” Can he Slay the Beast? Is he physically ready?

“You need their (WWE Universe) thoughts, and their prayers because you don’t have a thought in your head how to beat Brock Lesnar or a prayer in doing it.” – Paul Heyman

As expected Heyman and the Lesnar camp are ready, and why not? The Universal Champion has nearly cleaned out the division including wins over AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Braun Strowman, Samoa Joe, and Reigns. There isn’t anyone he hasn’t beaten or needs to beat to validate his legacy of dominance. Like him or not he’s one of the greatest Combat athletes in history and is the heavy favorite to retain the Title again. Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson, Devlin beat WALTER, and on April 7^th in New York City, Seth Rollins seeks to do what he has never done before, beat Brock Lesnar. He won the Title from him, but he didn’t Slay the Beast. Rollins had one of the great WrestleMania moments of all-time in 2015, but this one is real.

“I have to beat Brock Lesnar….The future of the Business is on the line.” – Seth Rollins