“He Was Our Michael Jordan, Man”: WWE Legend Jim Ross’ MJ Prediction That Became a Reality

Brock Lesnar has had one of the strangest journeys in WWE. His rise to fame was very fast, but he left the company at a very weird time. Even his rise in the UFC felt like the same pattern all over again. But in hindsight, these two journeys only made him a bigger star. As well as giving the man full control over his bookings and his matches.

A rise and fall and rise in career are pretty common in underdogs or underrated athletes, but with Lesnar, everything was different. He was the main event star that Vince McMahon had been looking for ever since the golden days of wrestling. He came to the WWE at the perfect timing as both The Rock and Steve Austin were on their way out. WWE even crowned him the youngest WWE Champion at the time. So what happened?

Jim Ross reveals the initial plans for Brock Lesnar in the ’00s

Jim Ross, one of the most instrumental people in bringing new talent during the Ruthless Aggression Era, said in an interview with Grilling JR, “We’re protecting what we believed to be Michael Jordan. We believed that Brock Lesnar was going to become the greatest in-ring talent that we ever had… He was our [Michael] Jordan, man.”

READ MORE: “I Wasn’t in the Mood for His Sh*t”: Brock Lesnar Snubbed a Wrestling Veteran and Got Away During His Early Days in WWE

Michael Jordan is one of the biggest stars the NBA has ever produced. His influence has seeped over into many sports and media. Being compared to such a legend is an immense honor for any athlete. But JR saying that they wanted to make Brock Lesnar into another Jordan goes to show the trust they had in the man himself.

Ever since his debut, the man has been giving his all. While not a technical wrestler, he knew how to deliver an action movie full of devastating spots and memorable moments. In just 20 minutes, the man could do wonders in the ring. While his later career would be defined by matches with John Cena or The Undertaker, the real gems are in the classics.

WATCH THIS STORY: Brock Lesnar’s Carnage in WWE

His match with Eddie Guerrero or Kurt Angle took the action and doubled them up in magnitude. The spot where he destroys the ring by giving a Superplex to the Big Show is still an iconic SmackDown moment. Tell us about your favorite moments from young Lesnar’s career.