Whether it’s in the UFC or WWE, The Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar is best known for taking people to Suplex City. What is often overlooked however, is his short stint in Football back in 2004 when he signed with the Minnesota Vikings NFL Team.
After his rather abrupt exit from WWE after his first match with Goldberg at Wrestlemania XX, Brock Lesnar decided take his athletic talents over to the NFL. Although the star hadn’t played football since he was in high-school he was determined to see whether he could make it at the top of the sport. Lesnar gave a strong showing at the NFL combine, but was later involved in a motor vehicle accident, suffering a broken jaw, broken left hand, bruised pelvis and pulled groin. Despite this, Lesnar eventually signed with the NFL Vikings and played in several pre-season games.
Brock Lesnar Delivered Crushing Suplex To Football Rival
Lesnar was keen to impress officials with his talents, but apparently couldn’t help his pro wrestling side from emerging. NFL veteran Nate Buleson told a story about Brock Lesnar’s legendary suplex on the football field.
“You remember Brock Lesnar, WWE? He came out and somebody cheap-shotted Daunte Culpepper late, and Brock was like, ‘Who did it?’ The next play he went and suplexed a guy,”
Durleson goes on to say:
“Different type of nasty but he picked up a grown man, and after the play, it was a Royal Rumble—Minnesota and Kansas City in Mankato during training camp. That was a nasty suplex on the football field.”
The story was so intriguing to those that heard it, that CBS Sports even made the story into an animated short:
Whilst Lesnar narrowly missed out on making the main roster as a defensive tackle, The Vikings did offer him the equivalent to a development deal to represent the brand in the Europa League.
It was at this point that Lesnar decided to pivot over to UFC where he quickly became the Heavyweight champion within only 4 professional fights. After this massive win and unprecedented quick rise to the top, Lesnar went on to become one of the biggest PPV draws in MMA history, even once returning to save the UFC 200 card whilst under contract to WWE.
As well as being insanely dedicated and athletically gifted, from this story it is clear that Lesnar leaves a memorable impression wherever he goes. Brock Lesnar is also one of the longer serving members of the WWE roster, especially in the main event scene. Given his significant hiatus starting in 2004, it can sometimes be easy to forget that Lesnar began his journey under the WWE banner as early as 2000, originally starting his training in Ohio Valley Wrestling.
H/t to VikingsWire