How Good Was Brock Lesnar Actually?

6. Cultural Significance

This is a tricky subject matter with regard to Brock.

For all the immense accolades we’ve spoken about thus far, pro wrestling has always felt like it’s a job for Brock Lesnar more than a passion. He cares immensely about anything he puts his name on, and it never feels like Lesnar is half-baked in anything he does, but to connect with WWE’s audience at the highest level, you have to feel like the performer loves the art of it, and that’s rarely the case with 'The Beast'.

This is where it gets difficult. Lesnar is essential to the 'Ruthless Aggression' era and was one of the few superstars Vince McMahon knew how to book well and maintain as a box-office draw in his woeful last decade as a promoter. He has held WWE’s main championship 10 times in 3 different eras and no other title in the company, because even the Intercontinental Title feels too small for the waist of Brock. He brings legit sports cred to WWE from his time in the UFC, and is a definitive character in WWE's modern history.

When he hangs up his boots (and actually remains retired), he will go down as one of the best big men in wrestling history. Why is it, then, that WWE fans don’t feel all misty-eyed about him in the way that they do about the other men and women who have enjoyed his level of success? The only real answer to that is around the speculation that Brock is in it for the money.

7/10