Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania 33) Review

Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania 33)

I was going to watch this match again anyway and thought I may as well review it too whilst I have time.

This all started out with all sorts of rumours over last summer about Goldberg potentially returning to WWE and possibly facing Brock Lesnar. Both of them were asked at various points about a potential match, with both of them working the people with hints and jabs that would indicate something may well be happening.

Then, after all the hype and rumours

BILL FUCKING GOLDBERG RETURNED TO THE WWE

It was a moment that I honestly believed would never happen. With Goldberg's age and his strained relationship over the years with the company, I didn't think we'd see him in the ring ever again TBH. But he came back and cut one of the most believable, emotional promos you could get and got the fans behind him straight off the bat.

Oh, and Brock Lesnar

The match was set for the upcoming Survivor Series. The build up also featured on of the best segments in the last few years on Raw;

Goldberg's intensity was fucking amazing here. Don't give a shit how old the fucker is, this is something you can't teach, he's just got that believability that adds so much to something like this. He also looked fantastic too, in great shape for someone who came back on really short notice and had double knee surgery not long before coming back, too.

And then the match happened.

Perfect Spear. Perfect Jackhammer.

86 FUCKING SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!!

86 FUCKING SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!!

86 FUCKING SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!!

GOLDBERG JUST SQUASHED BROCK LESNAR IN

86 FUCKING SECONDS!!!!!!!!!!!

A result that hardly anyone could see coming and definitely not in this fashion. Goldberg didn't just beat Lesnar, he SQUASHED Lesnar. An incredible moment that evoked responses that harked back to the streak ending.

I'll skip ahead to the match now. Goldberg was coming in as Universal Champion. This decision made a section of fans turn on Goldberg because he bat a current favourite; Kevin Owens. Owens was on a pretty shitty title reign that lasted for around 6 months before Goldberg squashed him too. Now, I like Owens and I'm not 100% behind the decision to put the belt on Goldberg. His match with Lesnar at WM was already as big as it could be, but they obviously felt they needed to try and add some big name value to the new belt, so Goldberg got a short title run and the long plan was to give it Lesnar.

I have to say though, it was still surreal to see Goldberg with a WWE title again, even though it was the UT.

So, the rematch was set. Beforehand, the match was already getting shit on from all corners. TWO OLD BASTARDS THAT SPAM 2 MOVES, CAN'T WRESTLE, MATCH WILL BE COMPLETE SHIT, THIS SHIT CAN'T FUCKING MAIN EVENT

Well, the match certainly shut people up and here is why:

Lesnar is out first and I always liked it when he wears his beany hat. We are also reminded just how long the WrestleMania 33 ramp is

Goldberg is out next. Bill Goldberg, at WrestleMania, as champion. Damn, never though I'd see the day. He also looks even better than he did at Survivor Series, bulking up to look like Goldberg. Certainly did the trick, he looks fantastic.

First we get the introductions. Just as Jo Jo goes to introduce Lesnar, Heyman takes the mic and does it himself. Which gets a pop from the crowd. Goldberg though gets some boos as he's introduced. Oh well. We'll see if that holds up, here we go.

Both square off and Goldberg goes straight for Brock for a lock up, but Lesnar quickly reverses it and starts to send Goldberg to

Lesnar follows the first one up with another, then another.

THREE GERMAN SUPLEXES STRAIGHT TO GOLDBERG.

Brock, gets up, proud at what he's just done, but just as he starts to turn around towards Goldberg

SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The camera angle on this shot is fucking fantastic too. You don't see Goldberg pop up and run at Brock, so the surprise element is all there. For once, the camera director actually did a great job here.

Goldberg gets up and starts readying himself, waiting for Lesnar to get back up again. As soon as Brock does, another DEVISTATING

SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two spears to Brock

Think we all know what's coming up now.

JACKHAMMMMMMMMMMMMMME.....................................

But Brock very wisely rolls out of the ring. Goldberg though, doesn't wait around and follows him outside. Lesnar is trying to get himself together by the barricade, just as Goldberg is stalking him from the opposite side, like a hunter after his prey.

Goldberg waits for Lesnar to get back up and RUNS STRAIGHT FOR HIM

SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THROUGH THE FUCKING BARRICADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was mightily impressive though. Big crowd pop for this. Goldberg was lucky it didn't take his bloody ear off looking at the bump he also took TBH. Must have really felt it going through like that.

Crowd definitely needed this and are fully behind the match. Funny how it all works.

Goldberg gets Lesnar immediately back to his feet on the outside, fives him a knee to the gut and drags him back inside the ring.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLDBERG chant starts up in the crowd.

Goldberg knows this is his big chance to finish Lesnar off now, three spears and now he's looking for his other devastating patented move. The move nobody has ever kicked out of (well ok, Hogan did technically, but he wasn't supposed to but fuck I'm not going into all of that now). Nobody has ever kicked out of it; OK????

He puts Lesnar into position.

HERE IT COMES.

Just as he's about to get Lesnar up, Brock reverses it and gets Goldberg into position for the F5.....................But Goldberg counters that and delivers ANOTHER

SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To Lesnar.

Are you fucking kidding me?????!!!!!!!

Goldberg again signals for the JACKHAMMMMMMMMMMMMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again, he gets Lesnar into position. Could this be it?

JACKHAMMMMMMMMMMMMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love that little detail of Goldberg doing the throat slash beforehand too. He pins Brock, well this is it.

Well this is it, Goldberg is going to retain. He's hit 4 fucking SPEARS and the damn JACKHAMMER for crying out loud.

1..............................2.............................................................................

BROCK KICKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! BROCK KICKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! BROCK KICKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! BROCK KICKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! BROCK KICKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!

NO FUCKING WAY

Goldberg is shocked to fuck.

THIS ALWAYS FINIHERS THEM OFF???!!!!!!!

He gets right back up, goes into the corner and readies himself for seemingly another spear attempt.

WHOLE CROWD IS LIKE

Goldberg waits patiently for Lesnar to get back up again.

Heyman is screaming at Brock “He's in position again”. He knows another spear and surely that would be that.

Lesnar gets back up, Goldberg runs straight for him................BUT

BROCK FUCKING LESNAR JUMPS STRAIGHT THE FUCK OVER GOLDBERG

NO REALLY

BROCK FUCKING LESNAR JUMPS STRAIGHT THE FUCK OVER GOLDBERG.

This guy is nearly 300lbs FFS. It's NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

That sends Goldberg crashing head first into the corner.

The crowd are like “WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED”?

Lesnar picks Goldberg up and now it's the real time for some SUPLEX CITY BITCH.

He delivers a FIFTH............THEN A SIXTH

Crowd also fully counting these too

SEVEN..........................EIGHT...............................NINE

Lesnar gets up, looks around and sees the crowd ALL CHANTING FOR A TENTH GERMAN SUPLEX TO BE HIT

So Brock fully obliges

TEN......................TEN FUCKING SUPLEXES TO GOLDBERG

Lesnar stand over Goldberg, waiting for him to get back to his feet. As he does, Brock picks him up into the F5

1........................2.................................................................3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:brock IS THE NEW UNIVERSAL CHAMPION

Brock even gives a fan a nice little fist bump on his way out

Wow. What a spectacle.

Where to really start. Going in, most people were totally shitting on this whole match and were expecting them to stink out the place, as they did at WM20, probably worse being as it was 13 years later. Even I was wondering just what they were going to come up with TBH, as it couldn't be another squash like SS, this is WM after all. I was thinking of a brawl to cover any limitations Goldberg may have. But what we got was FUCKING AMAZING. I still cannot believe how perfectly they booked this match, I mean, I would live to know who was the agent for this, if there was one, because they got it spot on.

It's as simple of a match structure as you like, but this is pretty much exactly how it should have been booked. Just let them go out there, hit all there big moves, try and get the crowd going and make it into a spectacle, and they succeeded on all of those fronts and more.

That first spear was spectacular and like I said in the review, the camera angle was so perfect for that. The fucking leapfrog from Lesnar was a total WHAT THE FUCK moment too, as was the spear through the barricade. I also didn't really expect Goldberg to take (m)any suplexes TBH, let alone 10!!!

The crowd were not the best all night, barring the ladder match and this match followed the God awful Wyatt/Orton match and at the start of Brock/Goldberg they were all wondering what was going to happen, but fuck they soon woke up and this match ended up getting one of the biggest reactions and was a big highlight of the whole event. I love the crowd's reaction to Brock's leap and they were all 'Yessing' the suplexes. You see, as maligned as that whole stick is, the crowds still get behind it and chant along at all the suplexes.

The one thing I would change and yes I know it's nitpicking something as great as this, but I would personally have had Goldberg kick out of the F5. Yes I know they may be trying to go back to telling the story of it only takes one F5 to stop people again, but after what Lesnar took, including by the way the fucking JACKHAMMER, I would have had Goldberg survive the F5, then have Lesnar flip out for a moment and then have to hit another one to finish him off. It's only a minor thing as I adore this match.

Lesnar beat Goldberg clean as a whistle too. That needs to be said more.

THIS MATCH IS UNDER FIVE DAMN MINUTES TOO.

Amazing.

Well that was longer than I planned lol.

Thanks for reading.

Brock Lesnar vs John Cena (WWE Extreme Rules 2012) Review

Brock Lesnar vs John Cena (WWE Extreme Rules 2012)

So, it's been a while since I have actually watched this TBH. We all know how great it is and we all know how frustrating it is once it's all over. So I'm looking forward to seeing one of the definitive Brock Lesnar performances.

First, we had Brock's MOMENTUS RETURN on Raw:

That fucking pop

Best wishes to John Cena's hat

I remember at the time, it wasn't that long since I came back to watching wrestling after a hiatus and there were rumours that Lesnar would be at Wrestlemania 28. I was giddy in my excitement at the sheer prospect of his return that I wasn't sure it would turn out to be true. But it was and it was glorious.

Then the main build up was one of the best in recent times IMO. Yes, we had that really long Lesnar promo about his feelings on Raw, that was totally out of his comfort zone that he apparently got straight on the phone to Heyman and told him to get himself a deal with WWE, ASAP.

But we got the wonderful brawl on Raw between Cena/Brock that ended up with Cena getting bust the fuck open.

We also got the first of the Brock sit down interviews;

“I'm not a superstar, I'm an ass-kicker”

Set the whole tone perfectly for the 'Extreme Rules match at the next PPV. Yes, we didn't have to wait long.

Cena was in for the match of his life. Would he survive? Could he survive?

So, here we go.

Weird looking back now seeing Brock come out without Heyman by his side. He's also rocking his UFC sponsors all over his shorts lol.

Cena comes down with a chain/padlock around his neck,

Someone say THUGANOMICS???

Wonder if that'll come into play later on.

Hot crowd and obvious big fight feel to this one. Huge anticipation.

The bell rings and Cena runs straight for Brock, but gets took down immediately and Lesnar starts the ground and pound with HUGE nasty elbows to the skull of Cena. He then nails Cena with one hell of a stiff clothesline (this is something else we hardly see him do now tbh)

OUCH, We can already see where this one is going.

Ref is already checking on Cena and Lesnar doesn't give a shit and is just like “Come on, get up”.

Cena is up and manages to get a grip of Brock from behind and takes him down, but Lesnar quickly takes control again and starts lamping Cena with strike after strike to the head. The ref intervenes again to check on the now open wound on Cena.

CENA LEGIT BUSTED OPEN HERE

JUICE, JUICE, JUICE

Here comes the WWE doctor to help clean up the blood gushing from Cena. Lesnar of course couldn't give a fuck and smirks away whilst pointing and mocking at how this happened.

As soon as the doctor is finished with Cena, Cena gets straight back up and again runs at Lesnar, but is again taken straight down and Brock just continues to hammer away at Cena's head. Brock just will not stop and delivers a vicious knee into the midriff of Cena, before kicking him out the ring. Cena is slowly getting back up with the help of the referee, but Lesnar is just standing in the ring, mocking Cena with a 'Come on' gesture. Cena manages to roll back into the ring, but his head is gushing a lot of blood still, so the doctor has to come in again a tend to the open wound.

Cena just gets back to his feet as Lesnar comes running straight at him, but Cena manages to catch him with an elbow and gets him up for a possible AA. Lesnar reverses this and delivers two German Suplexes to Cena to remain in full control.

Lesnar tries again for another Suplex, but Cena starts fighting back with some elbows to the head of Brock. He manages to break free and runs off the ropes towards Brock, but as he hits Brock, he also hits poor Charles Robinson, too.

REF BUMP ~!!!!!

Cena takes this opportunity to again run off the ropes towards Lesnar, but Lesnar is back up and hits Cena with a shoulder barge.

Just as Cena starts to get a little bit of momentum, Brock just says “I don't fucking think so”, and he's cut straight off.

Lesnar lands another stiff punch to Cena's head, right on the wound.

THIS ISN'T PG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brock again hits Cena with another hard club to the head. He then wipes the blood onto his chest and licks it

THIS ISN'T A FUCKING WRESTLER, THIS IS A FUCKING CYBORG MACHINE

Cena goes to the corner, seemingly for the chain, but Lesnar catches him with a blow to the kidney. He then hits him with a couple of his patented shoulder slams. Cena is really hurting now, but of course Brock doesn't let up and we see the WWE debut of the KIMURA LOCK. The ref is knocked out, so Brock can apply this painful hold for as long as he likes. Lesnar finally releases the hold by throwing Cena shoulder first into the turnbuckle, sending Cena out of the ring.

See, it's subtle psychology that can makes all the difference.

Lesnar just starts doing his dance in the ring, soaking up all the heat from the crowd. Lesnar goes to the outside and reapplies the Kimura briefly, before sending Cena flying into the barricade. He then flings Cena back into the ring. Just before Lesnar re-enters the ring himself though, he notices that chain that Cena bought in with him.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SHIT

Brock wraps the chain around his right hand, before thinking “I don;t need this, yet” and abandoning it and kicking Cena instead. He follows this up with another hard, vicious, nasty knee strike into the gut of Cena. Lesnar then wraps the chain around the legs of Cena and tells him to “Get up”

Cena eventually does get up, but Brock runs him over straight over flat, with another big ass clothesline.

Lesnar then picks Cena up and dumps him upside down over the turnbuckle, with Cena's legs still tied up with his own chain.

Cena is just defenceless, tied up and helpless, as Lesnar mocks him and starts clubbing away with big blows to the head. Lesnar goes back to Cena's bad arm and starts slamming into into the ring. He lets Cena loose by dumping him on his ass, before going over to the referee, who is still flat out on the outside. But he notices Cena is getting back up, so he goes over first and kicks him in the gut, but Cena starts to fight back with some rights of his own, but again is quickly cut off by Brock and is sent crashing into the steel steps.

John just can't catch a break atm

Brock then goes back to 'check' on the referee. He goes over and

PICKS THE FUCKER UP WITH ONE HAND AND DUMPS HIM BACK INTO THE FUCKING RING

LEGIT ONE OF THE GREATEST SIGHTS IN THIS DAMN COMPANY, OR ANY. I just love how casually Lesnar does it, too.

Well, that should finally wake the ref back up. Brock goes over to make sure he's still compos mentis, before going back to target Cena, who is just crawling back into the ring. Cena tries to pick the chain up, but Lesnar quickly grabs it and throws it to one side. Cena gets back to his feet and picks ;Lesnar up for another AA attempt..........but Brock reverses it again and goes for the F5. Just as Cena is coming down, he inadvertently kicks the ref down again

REF BUMP NUMBER 2 ~!!! Poor Little Naitch.

Lesnar, not realising the ref is bloody down AGAIN, goes for the pin. Another ref comes running down just in time for the count.

1,.2.............................2.9. CENA KICKS OUT!!!!!! Big pop from the crowd for this, they are warming to Johnny boy, here.

Brock gets up and looks at the new ref like “THAT WAS A FUCKING 2??” A pissed off Lesnar gives the ref a clothesline from hell and kicks him out the ring.

Lesnar is now like “WHAT THE FUCK CAN I DO NEXT?”. So he goes outside and gets the steel steps and brings them into the middle of the ring. Oh, and more officials come to ringside now so we should be ok for refs, now

“YOUR'E ABOUT TO FEEL THE PAIN IN THE WORST WAY, DAWG” - Booker T.

Lesnar then gets onto the steps and poses likes he's the king. Well, he is at this minute.

Cena then does a very defiant “You can't see me” mock to Lesnar and starts firing rights at Brock, but Brock cuts him off with a knee and puts Cena right back into the Kimura Lock..............this time whilst on the steel steps. Cena is screaming in agony here as Lesnar strongly applies the hold and he just won't let go and there is no ref around to stop it.

A loud 'Let's go Cena – Cena sucks' chant starts up as they are again coming around to supporting him here.

Cena manages to sum up the strength to pick Lesnar up and dump him right onto the top of the steps to finally break the hold. Cena's arm looks like it's about to fall off here as he gingerly goes up to the top turnbuckle as Lesnar is sprawled out on the steps. He flies off the ropes with a leg drop, but Lesnar is wise to this and moves out of the way and Cena falls flat on his ass instead. Cena is hurt as he rolls out the ring to try and get some rest and halt this onslaught. Brock is just getting back up and is looking around, wondering where his prey, I mean Cena, has gotten to. Brock stand up on top of the steps to scout for Cena and sees him just getting back up on the outside.

Lesnar starts dancing and mocking Cena as he slowly watches Cena get back up onto the ring apron. Brock then runs off the ropes, off of the top of the steps, and flies straight for Cena..........but he misses and he goes flying over the ropes and nearly blows his fucking knee out.

Lesnar though, still doesn't give a fuck as he starts smiling at this experience and raises his arms in celebration.

HE'S A FUCKING MACHINE I TELLS YOU!!!

Brock gets back into the ring and continues to celebrate lol and carries on to soak up the heat from the crowd. Lesnar gets back onto the steps and is gesturing to Cena to get back up.

DON'T SAT HE'S GOING TO TRY THAT AGAIN FFS??!!!

Cena is again slowly getting back onto the ring apron. Lesnar again flies back off the ropes, off of the steps and again flings himself towards Cena.....................but this time he's met with Cena punching him right in the head.....................and Cena as that chain wrapped around his hand as he does it.

Brock's selling is wonderful here btw as he's grabbing the ropes and trying to make his way back to his feet.

One armed Cena is now feeling it and the crowd is fully behind him and is willing him on.

Lesnar is now BUSTED OPEN as Cena waits for him to get back to his feet. Just as he does, Cena hits him with a AA ONTO THE STEEL STEPS

Little Naitch is able to make the count now too.

1,2..........................................................3. CENA BEAT BROCK

Yup, CENA BEAT BROCK

More than a shitty ending to a fucking unique, brutal, special, one of a kind WWE match. Oh and no –

I AM NOT WATCHING OR DOCUMENTING ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED AFTER THE 3 COUNT, EITHER

NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED

NOTHING

So where to start with this anomaly of a match. I guess i'll start with the glaring negative and that is the result. I'm pretty sure 99.9% of people would agree in saying that Brock should never have lost his first match back. I understand Cena had only just lost to The Rock and all that, but I don't care, they could have easily had Brock win and Cena would have recovered, still. It's such a deflating feeling after sitting through the most surreal WWE match in years that it's the one thing some people will remember, rather than all the work that went into the previous 20 minutes. It's something that happened and time hasn't made it look or feel any better TBH.

So that out of the way, we can talk about the multitude of positives that this match bought. First of all; Brock's performance after 8 years away was nothing short of incredible. I can't even say 'Monster heel', because he was so far beyond that in this match. He bought the UFC to the WWE in a perfect mash up of styles. He didn't just bully Cena, he brutalized him to such a degree that you didn't know what the fuck you were watching. It was a single performance that just hadn't been seen that your eyes were fully glued on Brock throughout.

His mannerisms, his strength, his style. It was astonishing. He didn't need to move at a million miles an hour to victimise Cena either, he just slowly made his way around the ring in such a calculating manner that you just didn't know what he was going to do next.

I'll give credit to Cena too, here. His selling was spot on, he made the best of the few hope spots he had in the match and he turned that crowd fully around into fully supporting him at the end. They were willing him on and wanting him to win. Credit to of course to Lesnar, who put in such a commanding heel performance that it made the crowd turn on him.

It was a match that we hadn't seen the likes of in a long time, a performance we hadn't seen the like of in a long time and haven't really seen since TBH. We didn't see much of actual 'wrestling' here, either. Hey, Lesnar only used two suplexes :brock4

Ending aside, it's an incredible piece of high drama that it belongs in a category of it's own.

Brock Lesnar vs Kurt Angle (Summerslam 2003) Review

Brock Lesnar vs Kurt Angle (Summerslam 2003)

First of all, I was going to upload the build up video for this; BUT VINCE WAS HAVING NONE OF IT ON BOTH YOUTUBE OR DAILYMOTION

EDIT: I have found it here, although the quality could be better

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4vzgz_brock-lesnar-vs-kurt-angle-summerls_sport

Angle returned to WWE in June of '03, just a couple of months after his neck surgery, which could have easily finished him. He went onto win the WWE Title one month earlier at Vengeance. He and Lesnar were both faces at the time. Then Lesnar had a cage match against heel Vince McMahon with Angle as the referee. Lesnar attacked Angle though, leading to his heel turn, so that set up this WrestleMania rematch.

So, Lesnar was back as a heel, where he was usually at his best. This is also the time when he brutalized poor Zach Gowen, by pushing him down some stairs and kicking the shit out of him in front of his mother. Yeah, Brock was a sadistic fucker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXNRYJeJoI

So, Lesnar is coming into this match as a sadistic son of a bitch, in a bid to get his title back from a fellow wrestling machine. All the ingredients to be one hell of a match, then.

People always debate which is the best Angle/Lesnar match. I find their WM19 to be underrated, all things considered and this one and their Iron Man matches to be classics, so we'll see how this holds up.

“Well, here comes the pain” -Tazz. Brings back memories.

“You suck” to Angle - Man, I miss this

Tense start as they square off against each other and both circle the ring. They both lock up to start this and Lesnar powers Angle into the corner and forces a quick break. Kurt gets a quick front face lock on Brock and throws him down, face first onto the mat, keeping the hold on. Brock switches this over and puts Kurt into a hammer lock. Kurt quickly reverses this into an armbar and right back into the front face lock.

AMATUER WRESTLING TO START THIS OFF

Brock escapes and we're back to even stevens. They go straight back into some mat submissions holds,which they both quickly trade. Angle goes for the head lock, Brock reverses this into a short head scissors and they both break off again to a stand still.

See, two guys who know how to mat wrestle, just trying to better one another. It's great and missed.

They lock up again, but Brock uses his power advantage and pushes Kurt across the ring. They lock up again, and again, Brock just shoves Kurt off with his power and mocks him for extra measure, too.

It's Kurt's turn to mock Brock and play some head games, as he reverses a lock up and pushes Brock in the back and does some mocking of his own

Lesnar is now visibly frustrated, as he runs at Kurt, who ducks and quickly gets Brock into a series of arm drags. The last of which sends Brock out the ring and HE IS NOT A HAPPY BUNNY AT ALL.

He starts going NUTS on the outside, before picking up KURT'S Championship Belt and he starts walking up the ramp with it. He gets about 2 yards up the ramp, before Kurt goes out and starts wailing at him with right hands. Lesnar quickly reverses the trend though, as he grabs Angle and whips him into the side of the ring. Angle blocks at attempted knee from Lesnar, and goes right back to strikes to Brock, before nailing his head off the barricade.

He sends Brock back into the ring, but Brock quickly begins to take over as he hits Kurt with a knee and sends him into the turnbuckle. Lesnar runs at Angle, but Kurt smartly moves and Brock goes chest first into the corner. Kurt then hits a wonderful belly to belly suplex on Brock.

This has always been one of my favourite moves from anyone. Though esp these two.

Kurt goes straight for the cover, but can only get a 1 count. 'Gonna take A LOT more than that, Mr.Angle'. Lesnar now down on the floor and Angle is kicking him over and over.

I have to say, I have always liked Kurt's punches and kicks TBH.

Kurt tries to whip Lesnar into the other corner, but Brock quickly blocks this, picks up Angle high above his head and dumps him over the top rope and out the ring.

BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE STRENTGH

Cole just called Lesnar the 'LUNATIC FRINGE'

No, not that one

Brock shows no mercy here as he goes right after Kurt and throws him, shoulder first into the steel steps. He dumps Kurt back in the ring ans now he's in his element. He starts kicking at Kurt's head, before doing his own classic belly to belly throw on Angle.

Lesnar goes for two quick cover attempts, but can only get a 2 count each time. Angle is in trouble here, as Lesnar starts again with the kicks to Angle, He then picks him up and presses him over his head, but Angle quickly breaks out and rolls up Lesnar for a pin.......and gets a close 2 count. Lesnar gets straight up and gives Angle a titled roll backbreaker

I WANT MORE OF THIS LESNAR BACK, PLEASE

Brock goes straight for the pin, but again, can only get a 2 count. Lesnar keeps Angle on the mat as he applies the pressure with a rear naked choke hold.

YUP, THIS IS BROCK LESNAR; WRESTLING MACHINE

This is an excellent submission hold, as Brock has got Angle very tightly cuffed around the throat and Angle isn't going anywhere. Lesnar releases the choke hold but keeps Angle is a body scissors.

It's funny how people now say Lesnar sweats a lot, but he always did and he does here. It's not a new thing, people

Crowd are chanting for Angle here and will him on to try and break out of this hold. He finally breaks out of it and hits Lesnar with a series of short elbows and some right hands. Lesnar seems to be rocking here, so Kurt goes off the ropes but Brock catches him with a knee to the gut and Kurt is back down again and cuts him off right there. Brock gives Angle a backbreaker right to the kidneys and starts kicking away at him in the corner.

Angle again goes for the comeback with some more right hands to Brock and he manages to roll up Lesnar for a quick pin attempt, but only gets a 2 and Lesnar nails Kurt with a short arm clothesline.

Nearly Kurt, nearly.

Brock picks up Kurt into a high cradle and dumps Kurt onto the mat.

Fuck it, I'm saying it again. THIS IS BROCK LESNAR.

Lesnar goes for the cover, but Kurt kicks out at 2. Lesnar fully in control now, as he plants Kurt in the corner and gives him a succession of shoulder barges. Kurt tries to fight back with some punches, but is quickly dumped back on his ass by Brock. Lesnar again punishes the lower back of Kurt by driving him into another corner. He runs straight at Kurt and delivers a vicious shoulder tackle and follows it up with more shoulder barges.

Lesnar again runs at Angle and plants another running shoulder tackle into Kurt's midriff.

Kurt's poor lower back area has taken a pounding today.

Brock whips Angle into the opposite corner and again runs at him with a shoulder tackle, but this is a case of going to the well one too many times, as Kurt moves out the way and Lesnar flies shoulder first into the ring post.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE, KURT

Angle is hurting though from the beating he's been receiving and can't quite yet follow up on Brock. He manages to get some energy from somewhere as he runs at Brock with some BIG tackles right into Brock's now damaged shoulder.

PSYCHOLOGY DAMMIT

He takes Brock down with a clubbing kick to the leg. Both men on their feet now and Angle wastes no time in delivering some rights to the head of Lesnar. He takes Lesnar down, who gets up and swings a right at Angle, who ducks and takes LESNAR to

He gives Brock 3 consecutive german suplexes, before going for a pin attempt and gets a close 2 count on the challenger. Both back up and Angle tries to whip Lesnar off the ropes, but Brock blocks it and gives Angle a quick taste of his own medicine with a BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX

IDC; Lesnar does these as well as anyone.

Angle gets up and Brock goes for another, but Kurt kicks him in the gut and gets Lesnar up for an

ANGLE SLAM

Brock though quickly counters, whips Kurt off the ropes and gives the 'ol Spinebuster. Brock still clutching at his shoulder though as he goes for a pin and gets another close 2 count. Lesnar goes straight at Kurt, picks him up and it's

F5 TIME, BABY

But Angle manages to reverse it and into a DDT ON BROCK

Kurt slowly goes for the cover for a 1..........2..................2,9.

BROCK KICKS OUT!!!

Angle seems to be pumped and feeling it now as THE FUCKING STRAPS ARE COMING DOWN

He begins to stalk Brock, waiting for him to get back up. Brock makes it back to his feet, and as soon as he does, Kurt hits him with the ANGLE SLAM~~~~~~~!!!!!!!!!

1..............2.........................2.999999999999999 BROCK KICKS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Angle puts his straps back up...........then takes them immediately back down again and is now filled with all the intensity we know him for as he proclaims “This is what I'm talking about”. He outs the

ANKLE LOCK ONTO LESNAR

Cole is screaming “Break his damn ankle, Kurt”. Lesnar desperately scrambles over to the ropes, but has barley has the chance to put his hands on them, before he yanked away and back into the middle of the ring. Kurt is not letting go, but has no choice as Brock flips Kurt over and INTO THE REFEREE

REF BUMP~~!!!

Angle jumps straight at Lesnar and outs him in a sort of high body figure four lock/sleeper hold

It certainly works, as Brock starts to fade away. He gets Lesnar down and immediately applies the ANKLE LOCK again as Lesnar screams in agony. Brock is in pure agony here as Kurt has that hold in tight. Brock tries to go for the ropes, but of course the ref is still down. He teases tapping out but still tries to hang on in there. The lock is still on and Lesnar.......

TAPS OUT

But of course the referee is still down. We hear Cole scream “Wait a minute”, as suddenly into view, here is

“ASSHOLE, ASSHOLE, ASSHOLE”

He immediately gets in the ring and nails Kurt with a chair shot.

Everyone is now down in the ring. Ref is still dead, Brock is in agony, clutching at his ankle and Kurt is down from the chair shot. Brock gingerly makes his way back to his feet and kicks Kurt in the gut, but obviously hurts his own knee doing it. He picks Kurt up for the F5, but has to do it hopping on one leg

SEE, THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I KEEP SAYING BROCK IS A GREAT SELLER

BAM!! F-5 to Angle.

Vince is already celebrating the potential Lesnar win, here.

Angle is flat on the mat, as Brock slowly makes a cover. The ref just about manages to come to at this point and starts the count.

1..................2..............................NEW CHAMPION...........................2,999999999

KURT KICKS OUT

I have always fucking LOVED Brock's “What the fuck” reaction to the kick out.

Brock and Vince look at each other like “IS THIS SHIT FOR REAL???”

Vince tells Brock to give him another F5. Lesnar is still hopping on one leg, as he makes his way towards Angle. He gets Angle up for the F5................but Angle counters it and straight into the

ANKLE LOCK

Lesnar is in serious shit here as he is writhing in agony and desperately makes his way to the rope, but Angle quickly tears him right back off. So Lesnar goes for the other rope, but again, Angle just tears him away. Brock is now back in the middle of the ring and has nowhere to go.

Vince is freaking out and screams at Brock to get out of it and it's all about the WWE Championship. Lesnar's hands are going as he teases tapping out here.

THEN HE FINALLY DOES......BROCK LESNAR TAPS OUT

HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT

KURT ANGLE TAPS LESNAR OUT AND RETAINS HIS WWE CHAMPIONSHIP

Vince cannot believe it on the outside. Just as Kurt is bust celebrating his triumph, he gets in the ring with a steel chair and tries to once again nail Angle with it. Kurt quickly sees him though and moves out the way.

REVENGE IS SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET, VINNY.

Angle starts stomping away at Vince. He neatly sets the chair up and

ANGLE SLAMS HIM THROUGH THE DAMN CHAIR

Well, you reap what you so, Vince.

Well, WHAT A MATCH.

This was just as good as I remembered it being. I just love how it starts out as two proper wrestlers, trying to prove they are the best. They both exchange some really great mat stuff and holds, until Lesnar using his brute strength to great effect. Lesnar in particular here is just fantastic. His selling of that final F5 is as good as you are going to get, but this shouldn't come as a surprise to people who know what Brock is capable of. Some of the shit he does in this match also made me miss 'this Brock Lesnar' a tad more too TBH. Some of the holds here he puts on are great and shows how good he really is.

I like how the match built and built until the last 10 minutes or so when they really cranked it up and it went into overdrive. I have never been the biggest fan of Brock tapping out here, but considering he wins the belt back not long after, it is what it is. This is Brock, the monster heel at his wrestling best. He can either throw you around with ease or get on the mat and out wrestle you. Just about the most perfect combinaton you wish to have.

I still rank their Iron Man match as their best though. I'll have to rewatch the WM19 match as I do find that underrated TBH, but this was fantastic. Both of them healthy, esp Angle, and at the top of their game.

Recommended.