20 Years Before Brock Lesnar’s Rare SummerSlam Moment, WWE Legend Reveals Major Disappointment Over His Own Match With The Beast

Brock Lesnar had a marathon by his standards as he took on Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2023. The August 5 PLE hosted the third match between the two rivals. With three consecutive Cross Rhodes, The American Nightmare was able to tame The Beast for the second time, joining an elite list. After the loss, however, Lesnar indulged in an unusual behavior that stunned many. At the same marquee event, Lesnar had gone toe-to-toe with another WWE legend, 20 years ago. His opponent from 2003 opened up about a major disappointment from their match.

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle spoke about it on his namesake podcast and recalled why the match was such a ‘hard pill to swallow’.

Kurt Angle opens up on the pain of missing the main event at SummerSlam 2003

Before feuding with the current lot of superstars, Lesnar had iconic rivalries with the likes of John Cena, The Rock, Kurt Angle, Big Show, and others. A highlight of his first stint in the WWE, which lasted from 2002 to 2004, was his matches with Kurt Angle. The duo had a background in amateur wrestling, which made it easier for them to jostle one another.

After taking the WWE Championship from Angle earlier in 2003 at WrestleMania, Lesnar lost it to his iconic foe at Vengeance in a triple threat match, which also involved Big Show. This led to a showdown at SummerSlam that year. Though Angle and Lesnar main evented ‘The Showcase of the Immortals’, their bout at SummerSlam wasn’t granted the same prestige. When asked about it recently, Angle shared his views.

“Well, that was a hard pill to swallow, but I do understand,” he said. The WWE Hall of Famer then gave a possible reason for the promotion to keep another match as the main event as opposed to his bout. “Having Hell in a Cell match in the middle of the show then you have to tear down the cage and it’s just a pain in the a**. So, you want to do it at the very end and set it up, then you can tear it down,” he said.

In case you’re confused, Angle was referring to the Elimination Chamber match between Chris Jericho, Goldberg, Kevin Nash, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, and Triple H. The Game defended his World Heavyweight Championship successfully by pinning Goldberg in the end.

Read More: “I Don’t Think Vince Wanted Us…”: Kurt Angle Reveals How Infamous Brock Lesnar WrestleMania Match Almost Never Happened

Meanwhile, Lesnar re-created a scene from one of his bouts in the recently concluded SummerSlam.

Brock Lesnar recalls 2003 WrestleMania as he passes the baton to Cody Rhodes

Right after his defeat, Brock Lesnar threw away his gloves and slowly went toward Cody Rhodes, giving the vibe of another assault. Rhodes himself was on guard, not knowing what to expect from the man who has been synonymous with ruthless aggression.

But to his and others’ surprise, Lesnar extended his hand, shook it, and even gave Rhodes a hug. He also passed the torch to The Prince of Pro Wrestling by raising his arm and acknowledging the crowd.

But did you know this was a recreation of WrestleMania 19? After winning the WWE Championship against Kurt Angle, the two wrestlers shook hands and hugged inside the ring as the event came to a close.

Who knew that 20 years later, Lesnar would take inspiration from one of his classics to win the crowd over, again? Some things clearly have a greater recycling value than others. I Hope Kurt Angle isn’t complaining about this one though. It was something that he passed on to a younger wrestler, who managed to pass it down further, thereby creating a legacy.

Watch This Story: Brock Lesnar And Cody Rhodes Set A Vital Precondition Ahead Of SummerSlam Showdown