Number 2 on the top 5 returns in the WWE in the modern era is Brock Lesnar’s Return after WM28. While Brock’s return was ‘expected’ (read: reported on the internet, but no one was 100% sure since Brock hasn’t wrestled since 2004 and was a UFC fighter prior to this), it still was awesome to experience.
When Brock’s music hit, the crowd erupted with glee, as did many watching at home, as he came down the ramp and F5’d Cena. Afterwards, in their feud, Brock displayed ruthlessness and aggression that no one else had shown in years, even legitimately busting Cena open during a brawl in the ring.
Brock brought back not only the star power that he carries with him as a former WWE champion who’s beaten the likes of the Rock, Undertaker, and Hulk Hogan, as well as the biggest draw in UFC history, but the legitimacy of being an actual real life former UFC World Heavyweight champion.
Brock started off his run as an absolute beast and monster….with a loss unfortunately ( a horrible decision that was nonsensical in every way), but even so he made a huge impact and did a few things no one had ever seen before.
For one, he dominated Cena like he was an absolute child during their match at Extreme Rules in 2012, mercilessly beating him, hurting him, and just overall destroying him as if he wasn’t some 10+ time world champion who was the face of the company.
Secondly, he dominated Cena with absolute ferocity and like a monster, lost to a ‘fluke’ and yet still the match was very enjoyable and pretty much a classic to this day (I’d give it 4.5 out of 5 stars personally). Brock would go on to have such matches with HHH and CM Punk (despite Punk not really looking the part of someone who could even fight Brock) with a loss here and some wins here, but he would maintain his presence, his star power, and his aura.
Flash forward to earlier this year where he broke the Streak, and his return becomes that much more important. He’s no longer Paul Heyman’s client who beat CM Punk, traded wins with HHH, broke HHH and Shawn Michaels’ arm, destroyed Big Show, Mark Henry, ALL of 3MB, and dominated Cena, but he’s the man who ended Undertaker’s undefeated streak, something no one saw coming.
And now he’s the new WWE World Heavyweight champion, after dominating Cena even MORE in their Summerslam match, except this time he won.
Brock has become a true Final Boss character in the WWE akin to Shao Khan and M. Bison (or even Akuma) in popular video games such as Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. He now holds the power to make someone’s career by simply losing to them. In the meantime, he entertains us with his dominance and beastliness.
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