Brock Lesnar has been WWE’s resident Beast Incarnate for years now. The former UFC Champion and the current WWE Universal Champion has faced and defeated the biggest names in the sports entertainment history, be it The Undertaker, John Cena, The Rock or even the seven-foot giant The Big Show. But Lesnar has never faced an opponent like the newly risen monster, Braun Strowman.
In the recent weeks leading to their one-on-one encounter at No Mercy pay-per-view on September 24, Strowman has continuously attacked Lesnar and came out on the top. This is probably the first time in the history that Lesnar, the 6’3, 280+ pounds beast, is the underdog going into a match, as he faces Strowman, the 6’8, 385 pounds monster.
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The self-proclaimed ‘Monster Among Men’ rose to the top of the mountain this year as he terrorised Monday Night Raw week after week, including attacking and destroying Roman Reigns in a feud that lasted for months. During their rivalry, Strowman proved his strength and ability to the fans after not quitting even after severe beatdowns. What truly showcased him as the unstoppable monster was when, after his Ambulance match with Reigns a few months back, Reigns put him in the ambulance and crashed it backwards into a production truck. Strowman survived the attack and walked out, bloodied, but on his feet, and refused medical attention.
PHOTO: WWE.COMOn the other hand, Lesnar has record achievements in wrestling and combat sports, with WWE, IWGP and UFC championships under his belt. In 2015, ESPN even called him “the most accomplished athlete in professional wrestling history”. Lesnar single-handedly defeating the Undertaker’s undefeated WrestleMania streak is still the biggest feather in his crown.
While Lesnar was and still is an unparalleled superstar in wrestling, Strowman is the new badass star, quickly rising the ranks. Lesnar’s advocate Paul Heyman said it best this Monday on Raw, when he compared Strowman’s talent and potential to a young Lesnar back in 2002.
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Back then, Lesnar was a rookie, who was billed the ‘Next Big Thing’ and defeated The Rock for the WWE Championship at Summerslam. Likewise, today, Strowman is the next big thing and on the verge of being the breakout star. Just after the promo, Strowman marched down to the ring, and decimated and humiliated Lesnar with a chokeslam and a powerslam, holding the Universal title above the slayed beast’s broken body.
It’s not just that, but in recent weeks, he has shown more authority and power than ever. Last week, he faced Big Show in a steel cage match, which he won easily and then crashed Show through the steel wall, forcing him to fall outside the ring. This week, after laying out Lesnar, he faced Cena and even laid him out with a powerslam on the steel steps.
PHOTO: WWE.COMBeside his strength, what makes Strowman even more special is that despite being a big man, he is as agile as any smaller, more athletic wrestler. It is a scary sight to see Strowman kip up like Shawn Michaels did, or hit a drop kick like John Cena. The unique combination of agility and strength gives him unexpected advantage over his opponents. It might not be far-fetched to say that he is the best big man to step foot in the ring since Kane back in 1997.
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When the two behemoths clash in two weeks, it will be what pro wrestling is all about: an unforgettable spectacle. It will be interesting to see how Lesnar uses his incomparable experience and strength against Strowman’s larger, dominating figure, brute force and intimidating confidence. As cliched as it sounds, it’s a classic case of ‘unstoppable force meets an immovable object’.
With the Universal championship on the line, the only limit is your imagination as to what these two can do to each other when they fight on September 24. The ring might not be able to contain the two giants. The entire arena might not be able to handle the destruction as the Zeus, the king of the gods faces Hades, the king of the underworld at No Mercy.
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