How Good Was Brock Lesnar Actually?

Brock has had something of a mixed bag when it comes to rivalries.

He arrived in WWE like a bulldozer, destroying anyone who stood in his way, and his first real rivalry was one for the ages with Kurt Angle. Both men have legitimate amateur wrestling pedigrees at the highest level, and both made transitioning to Vince McMahon’s universe look like a piece of cake. They created magic together that headlined WrestleMania and justified their position in commanding that spot, and had great chemistry in the ring and in the buildup to this showcase. Throw in their 2003 'Iron Man' classic on SmackDown and this is one of Brock's best feuds to date.

In contrast, Lesnar has headlined multiple 'Manias with Roman Reigns, and it’s never felt particularly compelling. Maybe that’s because Brock was working with an underdeveloped version of Reigns, or maybe it’s because they don’t have the chemistry required to hook audiences in. Whatever the case, Reigns and Lesnar never felt like the all-time feud that it could (and perhaps should) have been.

This is again contrasted by his brilliant feuds with John Cena. John is the most wholesome babyface in wrestling history, and Lesnar is the ultimate playground bully. Cena and Lesnar both have undeniable star appeal, and they always matched up perfectly. If styles make fights and feuds, then John and Brock’s “Captain America meets Thanos” schtick fit together like peanut butter and jelly in timeless fashion for multiple runs.

The Undertaker’s respect for Brock Lesnar translated into great TV time and matches together. Even beyond their unforgettable WrestleMania XXX moment, the 2 legendary big men had great feuds together in the aftermath of their moment that will last forever. Lesnar is also the only man to wrestle any quality out of Goldberg in WWE, reiterating his ability to sell his opponent’s offence.

Watching Jon Moxley in AEW, it's wild to think about how badly he and Lesnar fit together on the road to WrestleMania 32. Their 'No Holds Barred' match at AT&T Stadium in Dallas was one of the biggest misfires in the history of 'Mania. Even now, it’s mind-boggling to consider how guys who seemed perfect for one another on paper created such an unconvincing mess of a feud and pay-off.

There are great but short feuds between Lesnar and CM Punk, Seth Rollins and The Rock too, but these feuds generally are not as undeniable as other weapons in his arsenal.

7/10