Where is Brock Lesnar on your 'greatest of all time' list?

[PorkChop]

Personally, I find it quite difficult to say. He's a very unique case.

Lesnar is always fun to watch in the ring. He had some great matches during his first stint in WWE, particularly against Angle, Guerrero, the Undertaker, as well as some fun matches with midcard guys such as the Hardyz. He's had a couple of famously dull matches, but he's usually able to put on a solid match with anybody.

His mic skills leave a lot to be desired, but he's had one of the greatest mic-workers of all time to fill that gap. His selling is excellent though, and he's one of, if not the, most realistic sellers in the company. Lesnar would definitely rank a lot higher for me if he didn't leave back in 2004, but alas.

I don't feel Lesnar belongs anywhere near the very top, though I feel he belongs around my top 30, give or take a few places. It's difficult for me as he's one of my favourites of all time, but objectively speaking, I wouldn't have him any higher than 25-30 at most.

[AaronReed]

I don't think I can rank Lesnar with other all time greats because, like you said, he is such an unusual case. For one thing, his career has no arc. Almost every wrestler in history has started low in the card, climbed to the mid card, hit the main event, peaked, and declined. Brock was champion barely out of developmental. He was a franchise player for three years then abruptly left. He never left the top of the card. Then he comes back years later to wrestle at the big shows, again dominating the top of the card. I think it may be a safe bet that Brock will never decline. He will walk away far before he has a chance and laugh his way to a lifetime of financial security. No indie shows in his 50's. No autograph conventions. All we will ever know of Brock Lesnar is the beast. His career has been, and always will be, nothing but peak. That combined with his insane real-sport pedigree will leave him with a legend the likes of which wrestling has never seen and will never see again.

[The Legend]

He doesn't rank anywhere near the top enough for me to even rank him. For one, he's a one trick pony as a guy who can be physically dominant in the ring, but can do nothing else. For two, I count career longevity for a huge piece of the puzzle when it comes to who I consider the greatest.

[Str8Shooter]

He's probably not that far up the list, even though I like him and always have. But it's hard to be considered near the greatest of all time when your career was incredibly short, especially by wrestling standards, where careers often last 15-25 years. I have no doubt had he stayed in the business and not left in 2004 he would be in the mix of Top 10 all time though.

His first run to me was more impressive than his second has been, even still to me. He came in and within a few months had won the King of the Ring, and then won the World title from The Rock (one of the biggest stars ever) less than 6 months into his pro career, the youngest champion ever at the time.

He then would go on to Main Event in a World title match at WrestleMania less than 1 year after his debut. One of the most impressive rookie years of all time. The impact he made in just 2 years of his early career may never have been matched.

[Everlong]

I think had Brock never left, he would have ended up having an argument for the single greatest performer in the history of the WWE. The fact that he's not amazing on the mic doesn't even matter with him -- that's how great he is in every other area of his work.

I'd gush about Lesnar some more, but I already wrote up a lengthy post about it in the Ultimate Wrestler tournament earlier this year. You can find my thoughts here: viewtopic.php?p=29736#p29736

[The Legend]

I think had Brock never left, he would have ended up having an argument for the single greatest performer in the history of the WWE. The fact that he's not amazing on the mic doesn't even matter with him -- that's how great he is in every other area of his work.

I'd gush about Lesnar some more, but I already wrote up a lengthy post about it in the Ultimate Wrestler tournament earlier this year. You can find my thoughts here: http://pubtalkforum.com/thepub/viewtopi ... 736#p29736

The only reason his mic work doesn't matter is because of Paul Heyman, not him. You remove Heyman from Lesnar's history and make him talk for himself and he suddenly becomes a better version of Bobby Lashley.

As for his short career, think about this. I can really only remember him working with 3 opponents in WWE. I know he's fought more guys, but only work with Undertaker, Cena and Zack Gowen stands out when I look back.

[Messiah]

I think had Brock never left, he would have ended up having an argument for the single greatest performer in the history of the WWE. The fact that he's not amazing on the mic doesn't even matter with him -- that's how great he is in every other area of his work.

I'd gush about Lesnar some more, but I already wrote up a lengthy post about it in the Ultimate Wrestler tournament earlier this year. You can find my thoughts here: http://pubtalkforum.com/thepub/viewtopi ... 736#p29736

The only reason his mic work doesn't matter is because of Paul Heyman, not him. You remove Heyman from Lesnar's history and make him talk for himself and he suddenly becomes a better version of Bobby Lashley.

As for his short career, think about this. I can really only remember him working with 3 opponents in WWE. I know he's fought more guys, but only work with Undertaker, Cena and Zack Gowen stands out when I look back.

Kurt Angle?

[Everlong]

You remove Heyman from Lesnar's history and make him talk for himself and he suddenly becomes a better version of Bobby Lashley.

Except Lesnar never really even needed to say anything at all. Saying Lesnar is a better version of Lashley is like saying Muhammad Ali is a better version of the kid who shakes down his classmates for their lunch money. Completely different leagues.

[Hanley!]

As for his short career, think about this. I can really only remember him working with 3 opponents in WWE. I know he's fought more guys, but only work with Undertaker, Cena and Zack Gowen stands out when I look back.

Yeah, I'm amazed you left Angle off this list. They were rivals and I always think of one when I think about the other. They were groomed to be the Michaels/Hart or Rock/Austin of that era.

Also, he had a bunch of memorable stuff with the Big Show.

[Viazon]

Anyone actually remember who Brocks first ever feud was with? It was The Hardys.