10 Wrestlers Who Always Followed The Money

4. Brock Lesnar

Ultimate Warrior Money
WWE.com

Brock Lesnar didn't dream of being a pro wrestler: he was such an unbelievable athletic specimen that he was tapped up by the WWF office to become one after decimating the high-level collegiate amateur circuit.

Seduced by promises of big money, he shored up in OVW to train, during which time he allegedly acted as if he'd already made it, and was pushed as a star that you had to get used to. He was winning the big one within months. That's how special he was.

He hated the touring lifestyle and quit after two sensational years. He was unreal in WWE, but treated everyone he faced in New Japan Pro Wrestling like he'd just been chucked six figures to do two minutes with Austin Theory at a Madison Square Garden house show, just to get his name on the flyers. The man did not give a damn about turning it on, which extended to half the matches he worked upon returning to WWE.

When he's on, there's no other wrestler like him. He is the most intense, legitimate ass-kicker in wrestling history, able to conjure a sense of danger like nobody before or since.

When he isn't, and he's phoning it against Braun Strowman for example, he is listless. He cares only selectively, and will only turn up if he's getting paid an absolute fortune.

Which, fair. He's Brock Lesnar.

Contributor
Contributor

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!