This upcoming SummerSlam marks Brock Lesnar’s 13th match at one of WWE’s most anticipated PLEs of the year. And though fans are wondering if this SummerSlam will be the last time we see Lesnar inside a wrestling ring, one thing is certain: What could be his last match has the potential to be his best.
“The Beast Incarnate” is set to step inside what is described by some as “The Devil’s Playground,” better known as Hell in a Cell, as he squares off against Oba Femi in a highly anticipated rubber match.
Femi won the first meeting between the two at this year’s WrestleMania. Following the matchup, Lesnar seemingly retired as he took off his gloves and boots, waved to the crowd, and hugged his longtime friend and advocate, Paul Heyman. Then, on May 18, Lesnar shocked the world by returning to attack Femi from behind, delivering four F5s.
The two would then face off at Clash in Italy, where Lesnar got the better of Femi this time, winning the matchup after delivering a total of seven F5s. Following their match, Lesnar stayed in the shadows while Oba Femi entered the King of the Ring tournament, ultimately winning in the finals against Jey Uso.
This past Monday on Raw, Femi entered the ring to declare which champion he would choose to face at SummerSlam. But before he could make his choice, Lesnar arrived alongside Heyman. Lesnar delivered a low blow to Femi, followed by an F5. Afterward, a furious Femi challenged Lesnar to a match at SummerSlam, which Lesnar immediately accepted, but under one condition: Hell in a Cell.
The stakes are as high as they can get heading into one of wrestling’s biggest weekends of the summer with regard to this matchup alone. On one hand, you have one of WWE’s fastest-rising stars ever in Oba Femi, and on the other hand, you have a beast in Brock Lesnar, who is arguably the greatest combat athlete of all time.
It is important to take a quick look back at Lesnar’s impressive combat accolades. We are talking about a cross-sport destroyer who won an NCAA Division I title, captured UFC gold, and dismantled the most iconic names in WWE history. What better way to honor that legacy than by counting down his absolute greatest performances at the “Biggest Party of the Summer”?
Backstory
Originally from Webster, South Dakota, Lesnar initially attended Bismarck State College, where he won the 1998 NJCAA title. He then transferred to the University of Minnesota for his junior year, ultimately capturing the NCAA Division I Heavyweight Championship as a senior in 2000.
He finished his amateur wrestling career with an impressive record of 106-5. After college, he joined WWE that same year, with his first run in the company lasting only two years. During that brief time, Lesnar captured the WWE Championship three times.
However, Lesnar made the shocking decision to leave the company in 2004 due to the grueling travel schedule that comes with being a professional wrestler. Following a brief attempt at a football career later that year – which included a preseason stint with the Minnesota Vikings – Lesnar was cut and needed to find a new path.
He then made the bold move to join the UFC on October 21, 2007, where he achieved the ultimate accolade by defeating Randy Couture at UFC 91 to become the UFC Heavyweight Champion.
His last fight inside the Octagon occurred on December 30, 2011. Following that loss, he left the UFC and made a shocking return to WWE on April 2, 2012, after an eight-year absence from the company. Working on a part-time schedule since his return, Lesnar has compiled an incredible list of accolades.
He has captured seven World Championships between the WWE and Universal Championships, while achieving arguably his greatest accomplishment at WrestleMania 30 by defeating The Undertaker and ending his historic 21-0 undefeated streak.
Now that we’ve reviewed his impressively long list of accomplishments, it’s time to separate the great from the legendary at the “Biggest Party of the Summer”. From historic title wins to absolute wars, let’s dive right in and rank Brock Lesnar’s top five greatest SummerSlam matches of all time.
