WWE Legend Recalls 'Seeing Stars' Working With 'Good Guy' Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar is one of the most formidable competitors to have graced pro wrestling, largely due to his background in mixed martial arts. He joined WWE in March 2002, having previously been a former NCAA Division I heavyweight wrestling champion.

WWE pushed him as a monster upon his arrival on the main roster in March 2002 and his first victims were Al Snow, Maven and Spike Dudley. He mercilessly attacked the trio, throwing Al Snow into a trash can, hitting an F-5 on Maven and then catching Dudley in midair before delivering three powerbombs in a row.

Spike Dudley has recalled his debut and how it didn't go entirely to plan. He told Chris Van Vliet:

"Brock and I had worked house shows prior to his TV debut, just to get him some ring time. It was easy for him to toss me around. When they talk about Brock's debut, he picked me and Funaki as guys he wanted to work with. Brock understood that if I can look like a monster it's great, he had a good head on his shoulders. Brock was always extremely respectful."

Dudley explained how he could no longer withstand the 285-pounder's powerbomb:

"When he did that debut that was the only time I tapped out because he hits me with three powerbombs, it was supposed to be five. But after the third one I was just seeing stars, I couldn't hold myself up anymore. He goes down for the fourth one and I'm going 'nope can't do it' which was totally respectful."

The former Cruiserweight Champion praised Lesnar:

"After that TV debut, I never worked with him again, but I would've loved to have done some sort of match. Awesome specimen, and he was a good guy. He played the game well between WWE and UFC."

Lesnar quickly rose to the top of WWE shortly after his debut on RAW in March 2002, becoming the King of the Ring three months later before defeating The Rock at SummerSlam to become the youngest WWE Champion at the time. He'd spend another two years with the company before leaving to pursue MMA, where he became a UFC World Heavyweight Champion.

The Beast returned in 2012 and continued to dominate in the main event, holding world titles and even ending The Undertaker's streak at WrestleMania XXX. He took on a part-time schedule and had been absent from WWE for the past two years, returning at SummerSlam earlier this month to attack John Cena.

John Cena on 'gracious performer' Lesnar

John Cena has consistently faced the wrath of Brock Lesnar, including at SummerSlam in 2014, when he was taken to 'Suplex City' and hit with 16 German Suplexes. He was also on the receiving end of vicious elbows during their feud in 2012 after the Next Big Thing had returned.

The 17-time world champion opened up on what it's like to face Lesnar by recalling their exchange on RAW. He told WWE's YouTube channel:

"Every one of those [elbows] are pretty decent hits … Brock is one of a kind … you're in a fight for your life, but he’s also the most giving, gracious performer. He gives it all, and there’s no way for you to question his legitimacy."

Cena is likely to collide with Lesnar again next month following the Beast's ambush at SummerSlam, and they could square off at the reported September PLE. WWE are expected to revive the old ECW PPV 'Wrestlepalooza' to go up against AEW's All Out event on September 20.