10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About Bobby Lashley

6. ...Specifically...

Bobby Lashley burgers
WWE.com

If Bobby Lashley was the proto-Roman Reigns, CM Punk represented his Daniel Bryan: the Straight Edge Superstar was their guy, a unique character who performed in the innovative, alternative spirit of the original ECW promotion. Lashley meanwhile symbolised the systemic overhaul of it; the corporately-created talisman, he looked so much like a 'WWE Guy' that his genuinely freakish athleticism did not matter.

Unlike Roman, McMahon actually coronated Lashley on his brand's biggest (well, only, but you get the idea) pay-per-view of the year. The reception must be burned in McMahon's memory forevermore. As soon as Punk fell victim to the D-Bry-at-Royal Rumble 2015 treatment, all enthusiasm dissipated. The result - the result few wanted to see - manifested as a borderline parody of WWE's approach to star creation, only with token weapons and blood fans saw through like an 'Extreme' Elimination Chamber pod. The top guy defeated a giant in what, objectively, was the subverted version of Hulk Hogan's WrestleMania III moment. Nobody in the arena cared, and virtually nobody bothered with the event at home. December To Dismember remains the least-purchased WWE pay-per-view of all time, pulling in a five-figure sum of just 90,000.

Lashley was both fan unfavourite and abysmal draw.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!