10 Wrestlers Who Didn't Turn Up For WrestleMania

1. Brock Lesnar - WrestleMania 32

Paul Heyman Brock Lesnar
WWE.com

Many half-expected Dean Ambrose Vs. Brock Lesnar to steal the show at WrestleMania 32.

Ambrose was a substitution for Bray Wyatt. That match was set up, as per tradition, at the Royal Rumble - but the reaction to Ambrose's performance opposite Lesnar, in the Fastlane Triple Threat main event with Roman Reigns, put paid to it. Ambrose, it was felt, had done more to earn the stature-enhancing match. Ambrose was a lunatic with no regard for his own safety. Lesnar was a sadist with no regard for Ambrose's safety. The match was a tantalising promise of drama and brutality, one with scope for a heroic breakthrough performance of Steve Austin-at-WrestleMania-13 proportions.

That promise did not deliver.

The chemistry the two men shared at Fastlane was curiously missing. Ambrose was game, diving and bumping like a mad man, but Lesnar just went through his usual motions. His famed intensity wasn't there. It later transpired that Lesnar had agreed a unique UFC deal, and had one lazy eye pointed in the direction of the octagon.

It is an indictment of Lesnar's latter day performances that few noticed anything was amiss at the time.

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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!