Recently Released Superstar Reveals Why Brock Lesnar’s Move That Almost Killed Him 20 Years Ago Was Unlike Anyone Else

At 46, Brock Lesnar isn’t like most of his peers. With an imposing physique and an explosive style, The Beast Incarnate shows no signs of slowing down, as evident in the last bout he had, against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam in August. While Lesnar has matured with age and had upped his in-ring performance, he was still a force to reckon with during his early days.

A former WWE superstar, who was recently released from the promotion, and had watched the icon from close quarters, shared a few weeks ago how athletically gifted the former WWE champion was.

When Brock Lesnar left his training partners in awe

Shelton Benjamin, who debuted in the WWE the very year Lesnar did- 2002- has trained with The Beast since his early days in Ohio Valley Wrestling. They were also tag team partners in WWE’s then-developmental territory.

Benjamin, who was among the 20 wrestlers to be released by WWE in a mass layoff a week ago, was a guest on Chris Van Vliet Insight podcast which premiered on August 17. The duo spoke and discussed Brock Lesnar among other things.

Van Vliet shared his first recollection of Lesnar, stating that he had seen the former UFC champion do the Shooting Star Press. CVV stated that his initial reaction was that a man of Lesnar’s physique had “no business doing a shooting star press”. Reacting to the comment, Benjamin narrated how Lesnar started doing the move.

He said they were in Louisville, Kentucky, when Lesnar, after hearing about the Shooting Star Press- a move executed from the top rope, wherein a wrestler launches themselves and hits the opponent- decided to try it.

After Lesnar nailed the new move a few times on the trot, the others were left wondering about his technique, with the common question- “How’s he doing it?” Benjamin explained, “What was so crazy about his shooting star press was, most guys kind of go right up and right down. Brock would go up and out and land in the middle of the ring rather than, you know, a little closer to the corner.”

 The move, even with all its difficulties, has been mastered by some, but none were as big as Lesnar in terms of physique and that is what made others curious. Lesnar, however, had to stop doing it after a few years and he learned his lesson the hard way.

WrestleMania XIX proved to be a new lesson for Brock Lesnar

In just a year’s time since his debut, Brock Lesnar was already headlining the biggest pay-per-view event in the pro wrestling industry- WrestleMania. Lesnar and Kurt Angle’s bout at WrestleMania XIX in 2003 was the main event at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington.

Read More: “Doesn’t Get Enough Respect”: Continuing His Praise, WWE Hall of Famer Heralds Brock Lesnar for Achieving Immeasurable Feat for Pro-Wrestlers

It was a match that featured two trained and highly gifted grapplers, who had a rich history in amateur wrestling. Kurt Angle, then the WWE Champion, put his title on the line as he locked horns with his young challenger.

While Lesnar ultimately won the bout and the belt, he was also part of a massive botch that could have seriously injured him on the spot. Lesnar attempted a Shooting Star Press and instead of hitting the target, he fell thud on the mat. Angle, with his experience, was able to cover up for the mistake and save further blushes, but it left Lesnar with a concussion, and he admittedly had help from his opponent to finish the rest of the match.

This left him with a lesson and Lesnar resorted to other close maneuvers while giving up on the high-flying move. Were you aware of the difference in Lesnar’s version of the shooting star press? Let us know in the comments.

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