Andrew SpoorsWrestling is synonymous with rivalries. From Brett Hart and Shawn Michaels to Tomassa Ciampa and Johnny Gargano. Stone Cold Steve Austin and Mr. McMahon to Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. And this weekend it’s all about Lesnar vs Reigns. Continuing Rushonrock’s WrestleMania Week, Andy Spoors looks back at the pair’s previous matches and ponders just where this feud ends.
Like any form of entertainment, for every hero there must be a villain.
Someone to love and someone to hate. It’s that simple.
Although the weird and wonderful world of professional wrestling/ sports entertainment turns everything up to 11, the same themes are there to be seen.
Just imagine the promo hype package for Sherlock Holmes vs Professor Moriarty or Axl Rose vs Slash in the hands of WWE…
So is a good guy only as memorable as their nemesis?
Would we remember Batman if it wasn’t for The Joker?
Interestingly, this is where the lines begin to blur in wrestling.
You certainly need someone to dance with but in the case of Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar, a storyline seven years in the making, who we should cheer for and who has gained the upper hand isn’t quite so clear cut.
Brock Lesnar(c) vs Roman Reigns (vs Seth Rollins) – WWE World Heavyweight Championship, WrestleMania 2015
It feels odd that out of the seven matches both men have competed in, not only was this the first, but it also resulted in neither man winning.
A lively back and forward took a turn into the history books and created one of the ultimate WrestleMania moments thanks to Seth Rollins. Cashing in his Money in the Bank contract to force his way into the match, Rollins literally stole his way to the title in what was dubbed ‘the heist of the century’.
As both men lay beaten on the canvas, Rollins’ music hit and the entire WWE Universe erupted in confusion and excitement. In the space of two minutes, Reigns saw his place as the face of the company go up in smoke and his former running buddy snatch his dream away at the death.
Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar vs Dean Ambrose – For No. 1 Contender for WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Fastlane 2016
Following the dissolution of The Shield, all three members were catapulted into the main event scene. In 2016 Reigns faced a struggle against The Authority, who had effectively stripped him of the championship and placed as many obstacles in his way as possible in his pursuit of regaining his title.
Two obstacles in the shape of former Shield brother Ambrose and The Beast, Brock Lesnar, were the final hurdle in the build to WrestleMania 32. The entire story of the match revolved around Reigns and Ambrose attempting to subdue Lesnar and face off against each other.
The wild card of Ambrose added intrigue but it was Reigns who would claim his first victory over a match including Brock. Albeit one that he technically didn’t have to pin him to claim…
Brock Lesnar(c) vs Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe vs Braun Strowman – Fatal 4-Way Match for WWE Universal Championship, SummerSlam 2017
An astonishing match that saw four heavyweights beat the living shit out of each other. Every man had a chance to shine throughout. Billed as the land of the giants, tables and guard rails were smashed. Bodies broken and moments made.
Lesnar once again found himself subjected to crashing through the announcer’s table not once but twice, before being taken backstage for medical assistance. He would of course emerge once again, storming the ring and claiming the win. Score one for Lesnar and worth noting the champion retained by pinning Reigns…
Brock Lesnar(c) v Roman Reigns – WWE Universal Championship, WrestleMania 34, 2018
A brutal watch in every sense. Much was expected of WrestleMania’s return to New Orleans. The city was bouncing all weekend. As NXT Takeover knocked it out the park just one night earlier, WWE faced a headache as the lively crowd made their ire at the main event apparent throughout.
Fed up of a perceived company push for Roman Reigns to get over with fans by any means necessary, combined with the continuous dominance of Brock Lesnar, the WWE Universe inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome hijacked the match. Beach balls were tossed around to choruses of ‘boring’, ‘bullshit’ and jeers for every move as fans expected Reigns to claim victory.
But as the match continued and Roman’s head was split open by pinpoint elbows from Brock, the fans were left shocked that it was the latter that left Louisiana with the title. Even after famously throwing the belt at Vince McMahon backstage out of frustration to the crowd’s reaction.
Brock Lesnar(c) v Roman Reigns – Steel Cage Match, WWE Universal Championship, WWE Greatest Royal Rumble, 2018
Nineteen days after locking up in New Orleans, the pair would go toe to toe across the other side of the world. In Saudi Arabia, Reigns and Lesnar faced off inside a steel cage that would end in controversy.
A cage match can finish via pinfall, submission or escaping the cage and both feet hitting the floor first. The latter has played a pivotal role in some of the most memorable matches of all time. In the final stages, Roman speared Brock through one of the walls of the cage sending both men spilling to the outside.
Unfortunately, Brock’s feet physically couldn’t touch the floor as the cage wall prevented him from doing so. Reigns’ momentum meanwhile sent him rolling to the floor meaning technically he should have claimed the win and the Championship.
The referee instead awarded the win to The Beast much to the confusion of the WWE Universe. A sloppy end to a forgettable match. 3-1 Lesnar.
Brock Lesnar(c) v Roman Reigns – WWE Universal Championship, SummerSlam 2018
Well and truly in the head of his challenger, Lesnar asserted his dominance over not just Reigns but the entire WWE locker room. Leaning into the narrative that Brock is nothing more than a mercenary out for a payday and one last chance for Roman to challenge for the title, something different was in the air.
Still receiving loud boos during his entrance, Reigns beat the hoodoo and claimed a huge win thanks in part to a distraction from Money In The Bank holder, Braun Strowman. A weight lifted off his shoulders, Reigns would unfortunately find himself in a different kind of battle as just two months later he would shockingly announce he would be dropping the Universal Championship and leaving the company temporarily.
His ongoing fight with Leukaemia meant Reigns would leave WWE for four months. A bittersweet moment for the champion as the trajectory of his career and crowd reception changed forever.
Roman Reigns(c) v Brock Lesnar- WWE Universal Championship, Crown Jewel 2021
Comfortably in his new persona of Head of the Table and Tribal Chief of WWE, Reigns has been operating on a different level. To add some spice in to proceedings, Paul Heyman found himself instrumental to the outcome last year.
For years Heyman has found himself at the side of Lesnar, but the past year has seen him move away from his role as an advocate for the Beast and instead into the wise man and counsel for Reigns.
Another ding dong battle in Saudi Arabia culminated in Reigns levelling up the overall score to three wins each as Roman’s cousins The Usos interfered and stacked the deck against Lesnar.
So here we are. The score is level. This is it. Next goal wins. Bottom of the ninth with everything on the line. Seven years in the making.
There is so much history between Roman and Brock that they may at last, have found the rivalry that fans will remember each of them for long after the pair have retired. There could be arguments for Brock vs The Rock back in 2002, or Reigns vs Triple H in 2015/16, but both were short-lived in comparison.
From Reigns taking Lesnar’s record-breaking longest title reign that had stood at 504 days (Reigns is already over 570 days and counting), to the custody battle over Paul Heyman, everything has been thrown at this rivalry.
A shift in character work has seen both Superstars receive plaudits and hit a zone they are comfortable working in. Gone is the strong silent Lesnar that would merely bounce on the spot and grunt, while Paul Heyman expertly acts as both mouth-piece and hype-man.
Instead, Lesnar’s personality has begun to shine through for the first time in decades. Appearing on Pat McAfee’s podcast, Brock admitted he feels like he was born in the wrong century. Long rumoured to be happiest in isolation, Lesnar feels for the first time to be enjoying his work. Smile painted on his face, cowboy hat on his head, this is a Lesnar that is relishing his run and chance to speak for himself.
For the first time, Reigns also looks comfortable. A smirk and a swagger alongside a confidence on the microphone has finally got the WWE Universe praising his work instead of lamenting it. Fans are, dare we say it…acknowledging their Tribal Chief.
The fact that Heyman, one of the best to ever cut a promo in the industry, is no longer needed to cut 10-minute speeches on behalf of anyone, shows the growth Reigns has experienced.
With WWE billing their match at WrestleMania 38 as a championship unification match, all bets are off. The bigger question that will emerge should Reigns clinch a win, is who will finally be the one to beat him?
Lesnar was the one to break The Undertaker’s infamous Mania streak, but the Superstar that takes the championship from Roman will be instantly catapulted to the very top of the company. It is an opportunity that WWE should not and cannot throw away idly.
For that reason, our bold prediction is that when the fireworks light up the Dallas night sky, as the AT&T Stadium begins to empty and the music blares, it will be Roman Reigns that stands tall.
Don’t miss this year’s stupendous two-night WrestleMania, streaming LIVE from Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 3 starting at midnight in the UK. UK fans can catch all the action on the WWE Network and BT Sport Box Office.
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