5 Great Uses Of Strategy In Modern WWE Matches

4. Brock Lesnar Erects Suplex City - SummerSlam 2014

Shield Evolution
WWE.com

Brock Lesnar's brutal evisceration of John Cena at SummerSlam 2014 was one of the most shocking matches in WWE history.

It tore up the conventional WWE match layout rulebook. There was no opening shine, cut-off, hope spot, comeback, and finish in the Staples Center. Lesnar instead decimated Cena in a prolonged squash which was all the more unexpected because Cena hardly ever loses cleanly - let alone gets thrown around like Spike Dudley. It was unprecedented.

Lesnar's strategy was simple: drill Cena with a series of devastating German suplexes ad nauseam. It was breathtakingly effective in both concept and execution. Lesnar is such an athletic freak that it made perfect sense for him to treat Cena like a rag doll; why would he bother attempting to wear down opponents in the style of a traditional wrestling match when his character is based on his almost-supernatural ability to conquer them?

This novel and ultra-realistic approach has nevertheless blighted the quality of Lesnar's matches in the long term, the returns of which are quickly diminishing. There is no logical reason for Lesnar to adopt a different strategy in any of his future matches. It already worked to incredible effect against the (kayfabe) best the company has to offer - and the current WWE Heavyweight champion, Dean Ambrose.

His upcoming SummerSlam match with Randy Orton, hopefully, will see him discovering a new approach without it appearing incongruous.

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!