Brock Edward Lesnar is a former American professional wrestler, actor, mixed martial artist and amateur wrestler. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and was ranked the No.5 Heavyweight in the world by Sherdog before he announced his retirement at the end of 2011. He gained prominence in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where he was a three-time WWE Champion, becoming the youngest WWE Champion at age 25 with his first reign. Lesnar was the 2002 King of the Ring and the winner of the 2003 Royal Rumble. After leaving WWE in 2004, Lesnar pursued a career in the NFL. He played during the preseason for the Minnesota Vikings, but ended up being a late cut. Lesnar returned to professional wrestling at the end of 2005, and joined New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in his first match. He was stripped of the title in July 2006, although he held the physical belt until June 2007.
WWE Champion
Lesnar started a career in mixed martial arts and won his first fight in June 2007. He then signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in October 2007. He lost his UFC debut against Frank Mir. He captured the UFC Heavyweight Championship from Randy Couture on November 15, 2008, then avenged his loss to Mir at UFC 100 to become the Undisputed Champion. After being sidelined from fighting in late 2009 due to diverticulitis, Lesnar returned to defeat the Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin at UFC 116. Lesnar lost the Heavyweight belt against Cain Velasquez at UFC 121. He was once again stricken with a bout of diverticulitis in May 2011 and had surgery to try to cope with the ailment. In August 2011, Lesnar stated that he was ready to return to fighting in the UFC. Lesnar retired from the UFC following his loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141.
In January 2001, Lesnar was arrested for receiving large amounts of what was alleged to be steroids. The charges were later dropped when it was discovered the substances were in fact a legal growth hormone. His lawyer later described the growth hormone as a "vitamin type of thing."
Lesnar has one daughter, Mya Lynn who was born on April 10, 2002, with his ex-fiance, Nicole. He left Nicole in 2003 in order to begin a relationship with Rena "Sable" Mero who had been recently divorced from Marc Mero. Lesnar and Mero were engaged in 2004, separated in 2005, then reconciled later that year and married on May 6, 2006. Lesnar has one stepchild with Mero: Mariah, a stepdaughter born to Mero and her late husband, Wayne Richardson. The couple had their first child together, a son named Turk in June 2009. The couple had their second child, a son named Duke in July 2010
Two important dates and interesting facts in the WWE Career of Brock Lesnar:
February 2004: Brock Lesnar, upset with the WWE traveling schedule,
purchases a $400,000 plane with money from his own pocket.
March 9, 2004: Brock Lesnar QUIT WWE right after the Smackdown! tapings in Atlantic City, NJ, but will wrestle at Wrestlemania!
Hulk Hogan
So if he bought his own plane for the traveling issue why did he have to turn around and quit a month later? I'm guessing the private plane didn't solve the problem. It's too bad, the WWE should have found a way to make it work. Even if they reduced his schedule or paid for his private plan. I think he deserved it. He was the biggest draw in wrestling history since Hulkamania. The Ultimate Warrior and Bill Goldberg would not have compared to what Brock Lesnar could have been in my opinion.
Another cool fact when remembering his career. He was known for his huge power moves, and that one failed attempt at a high risk move off the top rope when he crashed and burned at Wrestlemania attempting the Shooting Star Press. But he was never really known as a submission specialist, even though he had a great amateur background. They tried to make him use the bear-hug at the begging of his career, but fans always find that move boring. Well there was one match on Smackdown when he debuted a new submission move against Chris Benoit. I think it was the most painful looking submission hold I've ever seen!
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