The 411 Wrestling Top 5 2.01.12: Week 159 – Desired Brock Lesnar Opponents

Posted by Larry Csonka on 02.01.2012

From the Undertaker, John Cena and AJ Styles to the Rock, Mark Henry, CM Punk and more, the 411 staff breaks down their top 5 desired opponents for Brock Lesnar’s return!



Hello everyone and welcome to 411 Wrestling's Top 5 List. What we are going to is take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 wrestling will have the ability to give us their Top 5 on said topic, plus up to three honorable mentions. Most of our topics will be based on recent events in the Wrestling World, looking at those events that make us think of times past.

So, on to this week's topic…

TOP 5 DESIRED BROCK LESNAR OPPONENTS

Should Brock return to wrestling, not just WWE.




Ryan Byers
5. John Cena - I know that this is the internet, and, as a result, I'm not allowed to mention John Cena's name in any sort of positive light. Here's the deal, though: If somebody who is as big of a star as Brock Lesnar is going to come back, I want to see him facing another star. There are very, very few guys in WWE who are legitimate stars. Punk, Bryan, Del Rio, Ziggler, Miz, Truth, Swagger and on down the line are all talented performers, but at the end of the day they're booked a lot more like midcarders than they are main eventers, let alone the sort of transcendent main eventer that virtually every fan has a strong opinion about. Like it or not, Cena is one of those transcendent stars. So, if you want to see a star vs. star match, which will have more of a buzz than your typical main event, Cena is one of only about five guys in all of WWE that you can go to in order to have that match. He makes the list by default if for no other reason.

4. Randy Orton - Speaking of stars, Orton is one of the very few guys in WWE who is portrayed as being on the same level as Cena. However, he makes it slightly higher up on the list for two reasons. The first is that he's the better in-ring performer of the two, so the Lensar/Orton match would no doubt be better than the Lesnar/Cena match. The second is that I think there is a more interesting backstory for a Lesnar/Orton match. To the best of my recollection, the two of them never had a significant program when Lesnar was in his first run as a wrestler, and, moreover, WWE was promoting Brock as its youngest world champion ever and promptly had Orton snap up the mantle when Lesnar left them. That statistic, combined with the fact that the two have never really met and the raw talent of both men, could make for a fun angle and eventual match.

3. The Undertaker - I'm writing this list without seeing any of my colleagues' entries, but I'm willing to bet that 'Taker is probably at the top of the majority of the lists that are being submitted here. Of course, most of this would be a result of the infamous UT/Lesnar showdown at a UFC event some time ago. I too think that an Undertaker/Brock match, particularly at Wrestlemania, would be awesome. However, I can't quite put Undie at number one here because his advancing age means the match wouldn't quite be as great as it once was and because, frankly, I remember seeing these two go at it many times in the past, which takes some of the edge off. Don't get me wrong, I would still love to see these two in the ring one more time, but it wouldn't quite top my list.

2. The Rock - Like it or not, the Rock is the single biggest name and the single biggest drawing card in WWE today, and putting him up against Brock Lesnar would excite fans more than just about any pairing that the company could produce. I don't like to use too many cliches but it would, simply put, be electrifying. In addition to their respective drawing powers, Brock and Rock could have a critical success of an angle if the promotion hit the sweet spot in terms of playing off the fact that it was a Rocky/Brock WWE Title match was the last bout Lesnar had to win before being cemented as an absolute superstar in the world of combat sports. Some fans would hate the match because they'd be too busy crying about one guy "selling out" to go do movies and the other guy "selling out" to compete in UFC, but they would be a vocal minority well worth ignoring for the pure awesomeness that would be this confrontation.

1. Mark Henry - If Mark Henry charges for air, you keep your bill paid. Nobody in professional wrestling right now gives off the aura of being a legitimate badass more than Mark Henry. If that's the case, who better to put him up against than the guy who has just spent the last couple of years - both in the octagon and in his own medical struggles - proving that he truly is a legitimate badass? Henry might not be the best guy to wrestle Lesnar if you're looking to have a ***** classic, but, with the time off and illnesses that Brock has had, you're probably not going to get a ***** classic out of him anyway. If that's the case, you might as well go with the match that will have the greatest air of believability. I think Henry/Lesnar would have that, and, as a result, it would probably be the match on this list that I would find the most personally entertaining.

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Greg DeMarco
5. Daniel Bryan - Daniel Bryan can work a great match with anyone. Anyone. I would love to see him and Brock tear it up in the ring. This actually should be my #1, because I think it would be the best match. Bryan works a style that would keep Brock safe, allow him plenty of rest time during the match, and you know "My Boy D-Bryan!" would sell like a champ for Brock.

4. AJ Styles - Larry said they didn't have to come from the WWE! AJ Styles works the type of match that can work with a big opponent. His highflying offense would play off of Brock nicely, and AJ could effectively take Brock's offense, too. I can't think of a scenario where this match isn't exciting.

3. Brodus Clay - Yes, I am serious. The big man can work, and his style would mesh well with Brock. The build would be tremendous, and it's an awesome opportunity to show that Brodus Clay isn't just a comedy act. As for the build, imagine Brock Lesnar coming out in a red tracksuit, dancing with Clay's dancers. Imagine the promos, where Clay gets more and more intense each week. And then Brodus finally snaps during the match, adding a mean streak and killer instinct to his gimmick.

2. The Undertaker - This might be the worst in-ring affair of the five I have listed. But the feud is already set thanks to The Undertaker's previous UFC PPV appearance. The only place to do a match like this is WrestleMania, possibly to end Taker's career. Brock's size might be an issue for ‘Taker if he wants to use the Tombstone, but that can be worked into the story of the match. Hell's Gate is the obvious finish, but will Brock tap? Plus, this match would be an excuse to bust out this match in preparation...



1. Dolph Ziggler - I am picking this match and putting it at number one for two reasons. First off, I think it would be a great match. Remember how I mentioned that Daniel Bryan would sell like a champ for Brock? No one sells better than Dolph Ziggler. Brock's offense would only be elevated working with a man who can sell like Dolph Ziggler. Second, it could easily be the final step in the elevation of Dolph Ziggler. He can ditch Vickie & Swagger during training, but stay heel. The promos he could cut on a man with the history of Brock Lesnar would resonate with fans of all levels. And if anyone on this list should get the win, it's Dolph. Now that's elevation.

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TJ Hawke
5. Daniel Bryan - If you have seen any of Bryan's matches with Takeshi Morishima in ROH, then you know that the American Dragon is excellent in big man-little man matches. Of the all the matchups I list here, I think this one would actually lead to the "best" match.

4. The Rock - Simply put, their 2002 WWE Title match is one of my favorite WWE Title matches, and I want to see a rematch. These two know how to make a matchup feel special during the build and how to make the match feel like a big moment while it is going on. Both men are in (relatively) excellent physical condition, and this is the definition of a true All-Star Wrestling dream match.

3. Orton - Orton and Brock both came up in the WWE system around the same time and I think there is a lot of potential in the story that Orton was "tough enough" to survive the rigors of the WWE, whereas Brock chose not to participate in that life. Orton is near the top of his game at the moment, and I would love to see what he could do with Brock.

2. John Cena - Cena challenging Brock has the same story as Orton, but with the additional Blockbuster value that comes with Cena being the biggest star in the company. Cena has been criminally underrated as a "worker" over the years, and I think there is no doubt that these two would have a fun match.

1. CM Punk - CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar has the potential to produce excellent storytelling, big television moments, and a great main event of a PPV. Punk and Brock are so similar, but also different in critical ways that they are such natural rivals. Punk stayed in WWE and tried to fix the company from within, while Brock left and looked for greener pastures. Paul Heyman would add a lot to the buildup to this matchup (and really all the matchups, but especially this one).

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Wes Kirk
5. Bill Goldberg - Why should Goldberg be the one to take on Lesnar? Frankly put, neither man was really into giving the absolute best they had at that one match years ago. For the most part, Goldberg was not even bothering to appear and it seemed more like special guest referee Steve Austin was the guy feuding with Brock rather than Goldberg himself, but at the right time for the right amount of cash I think the two could put on a pretty entertaining match if Lesnar still has the technical prowess he had during his two year run. In the end, I think this should also be given away free to anybody who bought WrestleMania in 2004 considering how disastrous that turned out to be!

4. CM Punk - I'd love to see Lesnar actually on the defensive against CM Punk's considerable mic skill and the way he could portray Brock to the fans, which likely would also include a few shots at Sable as well to make Brock look like a complete idiot. Brock would, naturally, have a major size advantage and be the "bully" in the match while Punk would be the creative, resourceful face who happens to also have a few mixed martial arts moves in his arsenal just like Lesnar. The match would be entertaining and probably pretty stiff and simply to hear Punk run the man down on the mic would likely be an added bonus for the locker room that was there when Lesnar walked out on all of them.

3. The Rock - I think The Rock deserves another shot at Lesnar considering that Rock was being booed out of the building at the time he faced Lesnar at SummerSlam 2002 and now the likelihood would be Lesnar being booed out of the building by any smart crowd in places like Chicago, New York, or Philadelphia. Rock was never the best in-ring technician but he has the charisma and the selling to make any match interesting and Brock could bring the power and the more technical style now that both men have matured and can still go in the ring.

2. AJ Styles - It would be interesting if Lesnar ended up going to TNA and faced off with the one and only AJ Styles because frankly, it would really be a closer match than people think. Lesnar actually had the SSP mastered at one time and combined that maneuver with several good technical moves while AJ Styles can pretty much do anything with ease. To see these two guys go at it and leave everything in the ring would not only pop a buyrate but frankly would showcase that AJ Styles belongs in the ring at a main event level with anybody and also helps to restore some confidence for Lesnar that he'd do the right thing for the business.

1. The Undertaker - We all knew this was coming, right? There is nobody who needs to have a match with Brock Lesnar more than The Undertaker and the main reason behind it would be the animosity that still exists between the men from Brock quitting the WWE back in 2004 during his huge push without really paying many dues at all. Undertaker may not be the same man he was back then, but considering how many people love to see Undertaker perform in general and the likely performance he would be motivated to give against Lesnar along with that classic UT/Brock confrontation at the UFC to show in the promos this could really be a match that allows the WWE to print money for the PPV it is held at.

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Chad Nevett
5. The Undertaker - The most obvious choice given their history and their little confrontation at a UFC event. But, the obviousness of the match and the Undertaker's unknown condition these days puts it at number five for me. Would I like to see it happen? Yes. Would it make sense? Yes. Does it seem likely? No.

4. Jack Swagger - In some respects, Jack Swagger is a little like 'Kurt Angle, Jr.' with the amateur wrestling background and use of the Anklelock. But, he's also a pretty big guy and much more quick and agile than he's usually given credit for. I think he could really excel in a match with Brock Lesnar where he needs to push himself a little more. He always seems on the verge of realizing his potential and Lesnar looks like a man who could bring it out of him.

3. Chris Jericho - Because, when asked who I think someone should wrestle, I will always answer Chris Jericho. One of the big positives about seeing someone work a program with Jericho is how each match builds on the previous one. The third match of a Jericho program is better than the second, which is better than the first. He's the sort of guy who can bring out several great matches from someone and that's a very underrated skill -- and something I think would be very entertaining to see with Lesnar.

2. Triple H - Triple H is still a draw and he never really feuded with Lesnar during Brock's run in the WWE. Hell, aside from that Global Warning match, I'm not sure that they ever wrestled in the same ring. I'd love to see what these two guys could do. Triple H would definitely bring his A game and, when he's on, he's damn good in the ring. I'm curious to see what they would do in the ring against one another.

1. John Cena - The two had a brief feud before John Cena rose to the top of the company. Would that have happened if Lesnar had stuck around? Possibly. But, in some ways, John Cena stepped up and filled a role that Lesnar left open, and that seems like a natural place to start a program between the two. And, honestly, John Cena is the biggest currently active star the WWE has and, if you're not putting Lesnar up against your biggest star, why bother?

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YOUR TURN KNOW IT ALLS
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