Today we know him as The Beast Incarnate, the biggest draw in professional wrestling thanks to his flirt with mainstream acceptance as the most recognizable face in UFC but in 2002, Lesnar was a budding young star tearing through the competition in WWE en route to a monumental showdown with The Rock at SummerSlam. Lesnar was a physical specimen whose size was supported by tremendous speed and agility. Professional wrestling had never seen someone who looked like him, who could move like him or whose aura commanded attention like his did. Add to that the fact that he was a former NCAA wrestling champion and you had a one-of-a-kind Superstar. But the fans of WWE at that point did not care about any of that. No, they wanted to see how he performed against the top names in the industry and, more importantly, if he could be champion. He answered them with an emphatic "yes" when he bulldozed The Rock, putting him away with an F5 that sent him packing to Hollywood. As intimidating as Lesnar was, and as much carnage as he caused early in his career, the title was as vital to his creation as a marquee star in sports-entertainment. It legitimized him as much as winning the King of the Ring tournament or beating Hulk Hogan did. As is the common theme with every man on this list, it the final step toward main event acceptance.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
