Brock Lesnar’s work-rate and incredible strength alone make his WrestleMania matches memorable. But one of his most memorable ‘Mania moments will not be one of his career highlights when ‘The Beast Incarnate decides to hang up the boots.
While on “Grilling JR,” WWE Hall of Famer and commentator for All Elite Wrestling Jim Ross recalled getting mad when Brock Lesnar attempted a certain maneuver during his WrestleMania XIX match against Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship.
“I don’t need to see a 300-pound man doing a Shooting Star Press, and when he did it at WrestleMania XIX, I was pissed,” Ross said. “Why do it? It’s a spot. That’s all it is, and a guy that’s a national champion should be able to convincingly beat his adversary in various ways without risking his godd*amn career.”
Mid-match, Brock Lesnar attempted a Shooting Star Press from the top rope onto Kurt Angle–Brock hesitated and caught himself, enabling Kurt to land on his feet and concussing himself. Brock would go on to win the WWE championship, but that would be Kurt’s last match for months as he recovered from injury.
The title of World Champion changed hands when Kurt Angle defeated Brock Lesnar at Vengeance 2003 in a triple threat match. After an extended Iron Man Match, Lesnar comes back and wins his title back when Eddie Guerrero drops the title to Kurt Angle on an episode of “Smackdown!” The then gives up the title once again to Goldberg before leaving WWE in 2004 for multiple years. When Brock finally comes back, he wrestles his final match before retiring from WWE at WrestleMania XX.
During his brief return to WWE several years after leaving the company in 2004, Brock Lesnar captured 95% of his victories, capturing the WWE Championship four more times and the Universal Championship three times more.
