Brock Lesnar: 15 Greatest Matches of His WWE Career

Brock Lesnar, once labeled WWE's next big thing, came and went in two short years.

Since his departure from WWE, fans have pined for his return and looked back wistfully on his career.  Though it is a well-covered topic, I do believe it's worth exploring his greatest matches again. 

Whether the freak of nature was dominating another superstar or being battered and bloodied, he captured our attention and created lasting memories. 

Judging his wars with Big Show, Kurt Angle, the Undertaker and others on their storytelling, the excitement of spots, pace and pop, here is a look at a list many fans wish will grow longer after a Lesnar return.   

15. Royal Rumble (2003)

Admittedly, Lesnar wasn't a part of a lot of the big moments of that year's Rumble match, but he played heavily in the climax. 

Before he entered, we saw some vintage Mysterio magic, Tommy Dreamer bring kendo sticks and trash cans to the party, present (at the time) and former tag team partners go at it and Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels' feud bubbling.

When the next big thing came in, he showed he belonged in the spotlight.   

Perhaps the most intimidating Royal Rumble final four of Kane, Batista, Lesnar and the Undertaker battled it out. 

Lesnar's win signaled a big step in his skyrocketing career. 

14. John Cena, Backlash (2003)

Before John Cena got too goofy or made the transformation into Hulk Hogan 2.0, he gave us a compelling encounter with Brock Lesnar. 

With a bandage on Lesnar's head, we saw two powerhouses go at it.

A litany of high-impact moves highlighted the match.  Steel steps were rattled and Lesnar's blood was left smeared across Cena's sweaty jaw. 

Seeing the two moves side by side, it's clear that the F5 is 10 times better than the Attitude Adjustment.

13. Big Show, (Stretcher Match) Judgment Day (2003)

This vicious brawl helped build Lesnar up as a juggernaut. 

The two behemoths engaged us from the beginning, culminating in that haunting image of an unconscious Big Show hanging on the forklift. 

The extremely personal and emotional match made full use of the stretcher gimmick.  This kind of match can sometimes be awkward, but both men had us on the edge of our seats, wondering how it was going to end.

Mysterio running in to seek revenge may not have been a surprise, but did anybody except to see Lesnar leaping off a forklift?

12. Undertaker, Unforgiven (2002)

Their Hell in a Cell classic certainly gets more attention, but this was also a thrilling brawl. 

A revved-up crowd saw the two giants build the drama up slowly, banging and crashing like two rams. 

The gritty match featured ref bumps galore.

The most memorable image of the match is the steel chair bent around Lesnar's head.  You will not see many chair shots as brutal as that one. 

Had this had a more fulfilling ending, it would find itself higher on the rankings.  

11. Hulk Hogan, Smackdown (2002)

This is often criticized for not being shown as a pay-per-view, especially because WWE wasn't competing against WCW anymore.  That doesn't it make it any less exciting. 

The Hulkster won't ever give you a five-star match, but he will certainly electrify an audience with anticipation. 

Hogan's star power helped make this feel like we were watching a future classic.  The crowd was enthralled throughout.

You will not see the biggest variety of moves, but instead witness a beautiful drama of hero vs. monster.   

10. Rey Mysterio, Smackdown (2003)

A "you tapped out" chant rang through the arena as Mysterio's hometown crowd remained electric throughout.

This is one of the finest pieces of storytelling in a ring you will see. 

A Mysterio is in his prime is billed in his usual underdog role and Lesnar plays the merciless brute superbly. 

While some of Mysterio's matches have him being a little more super than the fans can swallow, this was believable.  Lesnar dominated, laughing at him, toying with him, throwing him across the ring.   

Some of the best moments of the night were Mysterio dropkicking the steel steps into Lesnar's face, sweet hurricanranas, a 619 around the pole and Lesnar’s sickening backbreakers.

9. Rob Van Dam, Vengeance (2002)

Lesnar and Rob Van Dam's King of the Ring match was excellent as well, but the supercharged audience helped take this one to the next level. 

They exploded after every RVD move.

Lesnar and Van Dam's contrasting style created a unique chemistry, as both men did what they do so dang well. 

Lesnar's powerslam on the outside had a shudder-inducing impact.

An abrupt ending stalled this from being even better, though, it was enjoyable to see Paul Heyman getting pounded by the ref.

8. The Rock, SummerSlam (2002)

Lesnar's first WWE title win saw him go one on one with the Great One. 

The high-energy crowd was split as they delivered "Let's go Lesnar" and pro-Rock chants.  Lesnar took it to the Rock early and Rock sold well.

High-impact moves and high drama helped this live up to the hype. 

While not of an epic length, the match still had plenty of action packed in.   

There was far too much of Hayman and his grating voice, but seeing him be Rock Bottomed through the table made up for it.   

7. Kurt Angle and Big Show, (Triple Threat) Vengeance (2003)

Big Show and Brock Lesnar's chemistry is good, but Lesnar and Angle created something special every time they locked horns.

The hyped crowd saw Big Show suplexing both of his opponents, a nasty F5 and a ring-rattling powerbomb, all in a blood-smeared ring. 

This built up to the climax beautifully. 

Bloody and sweaty, Angle and Lesnar crawled in the ring staring at each other, in what was just a fine piece of wrestling drama.

6. Kurt Angle, SummerSlam (2003)

These two men once again gave us the perfect blend of technical wrestling, storytelling and action. 

Lesnar gorilla press slammed over the top rope and Angle delivered shoulder shots that echoed through the arena.  

The fact that a match this good is only No. 6 on the list means throughout Lesnar's short career, he gave us some mighty tasty morsels. 

The last third of the match overflowed with incredibly close two-counts, leading to the impressive, anxiety-inducing climax.

5. Undertaker, (Hell in a Cell) No Mercy (2002)

Considered by many to be one of the finest Hell in a Cell matches, this Undertaker and Brock Lesnar clash was gripping from start to finish.

Few men can brawl like the Dead Man.

The cast on the Undertaker's arm could have been an annoying prop, but instead turned into a catalyst for some of the match's most intense drama. 

With Paul Heyman's ponytail flopping outside the cage, Lesnar tied up Undertaker with Heyman's belt and throttled his hand.  When Lesnar tore off the cast and tried to (kayfabe) re-break it, the audience held its collective breath. 

4. Eddie Guerrero, No Way Out (2004)

In one of the better underdog matches of all time, the beloved Eddie Guerrero had one of the biggest moments of his career against Lesnar. 

Like the Russian in the Rocky IV, Lesnar seemed invincible.  Sure, Guerrero would compete hard, but how many fans actually thought he'd win?

The contrast in their sizes and styles made for some gorgeous ring work.  Guerrero, one of the best storytellers on the mat, helped elevate Lesnar’s game. 

The sight of Lesnar spinning Eddie around is memorable, but the dramatic finish and Guerrero's exuberant victory celebration are absolutely unforgettable. 

3. Chris Benoit, Smackdown (2003)

Showing off the ferocity that earned Benoit his wolverine nickname, he fought Lesnar in a gutsy performance. 

Since Kurt Angle made so much magic with Lesnar, it is no surprise that Benoit would do the same.  This match had the same kind of back-and-forth, grappling and submission-heavy action as many of the Angle-Lesnar battles. 

Its grinding pace was spotted with exciting bursts of energy. 

Regardless of what you think of Michael Cole, you have to admit he was on his game that night, adding to the drama.

"He's going to steal the damn match!"

With Brock's nose bloodied, he debuted the Brock Lock in an ending reminiscent of Stone Cold vs. Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13.

2. Kurt Angle, (Iron Man Match) Smackdown (2003)

The polar opposite of the Hart/Michaels overtime match, Angle and Lesnar's version saw a litany of falls between them. 

Beautiful storytelling and near-perfect chemistry were on display all night. 

Lesnar was surprisingly cowardly in the early going until the two began to steal each other's moves.  Seeing Angle tap out to the ankle lock was a shock for sure. 

Lesnar’s 5-2 lead and Angle charging back created high drama.

And when it seemed like Angle would come crawling all the way back, the hearts of the fans sank as the time expired. 

1. Kurt Angle, WrestleMania XIX (2003)

The aura of WrestleMania heightened another classic by Angle and Lesnar. 

While certainly more famous for Lesnar's shooting star press botch, there was in fact a great match that preceded that nasty fall. 

The grappling fest between two of the most technically sound superstars built up excitement superbly. 

If you prefer bloody brawls, the Undertaker Hell in a Cell may be more up your alley, but it's hard to top this match for mano-a-mano drama.