The summer of 2002 was an exciting time for World Wrestling Entertainment. The Rock was back from filming his latest movie and once again reigned over the company as its heavyweight champion. Steve Austin, on the other hand, had walked out on the company, leaving Vince McMahon with no other option but to try to promote young talent from developmental to help fill some of the voids left by injuries and departures. One of those youngsters was Brock Lesnar, a former NCAA wrestling champion who was a once-in-a-lifetime athlete capable of punishing opposition with his pure strength and out-wrestling anyone else with his mat skills. With deceptive speed and unmatched agility, Lesnar was the total package, with all due respect to Lex Luger. Dubbed the "Next Big Thing" from the moment he stepped foot inside a squared circle, it was abundantly clear that the promotion had big plans in store for Lesnar. Those plans came to fruition in August at SummerSlam, when Lesnar defeated The Rock in a star-making match. Almost immediately, Lesnar jumped to SmackDown, where he became the top dog and biggest draw. His first feud, a war of attrition against The Undertaker, tested Lesnar's ability to step outside of his comfort zone and into the unforgiving confines of the Hell in a Cell. Lesnar emerged victoriously and was greeted almost immediately by Big Show, who was the first Superstar to really test the young champion. Conspiring with the backstabbing Paul Heyman, Big Show dealt Lesnar his first loss. For Lesnar, revenge against Heyman and Show would come sooner or later before he was forced to turn his attention to fellow mat great Kurt Angle. The two amateur wrestlers waged war across several pay-per-views and the story played out every week on SmackDown. Feuds with Chris Benoit, Bob Holly and Eddie Guerrero kept all eyes on Lesnar, who seemed very much like a guy above it all. In 2004, the toll of the unrelenting WWE schedule proved to much for Lesnar and the former champion exited stage left. It would be eight years before he returned to WWE and, as of 2014, he still has not revisited the show he called home for two years.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
