10 Ways Wrestlers Proved Their Gimmicks Outside WWE

3. Brock Lesnar Dominates UFC

Mark Henry
Eric Jamison/AP/Press Association Images

WWE labelled Brock Lesnar a prime, must-see athlete from day one. He'd been an amateur wrestling monster, and he was in the company to gobble up any and all competition that stood in his path. That's why he was dubbed the "Next Big Thing", and it's why he was pushed hard from the off as a wrecking machine.

Lesnar had something in common with Shamrock though, and it was rather unfair. Y'see, he didn't have the MMA background that Ken did, but some still gave him the same sh*t. Brock, possessing an honestly savage need to prove himself as an alpha male, decided he'd had enough of WWE's vicious road schedule and wanted to try other things by 2004.

NFL failure meant he fell into UFC. There, following an embarrassing early loss to Frank Mir, Lesnar dominated the Octagon. He proved he was the man all along, and enjoyed a 707-day reign as UFC Heavyweight Champion. That must've felt damn good.

He'd authenticated WWE's booking.

In this post: 
Mark Henry
 
First Posted On: 
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.