“An Attraction That Can’t Be Replaced”: WWE Legend Slams WWE For Brock Lesnar’s “Illogical” Booking Against 7ft Tall Giant

Very few superstars enjoy the quick rise to the spotlight as Brock Lesnar did with WWE after his debut in 2002. On his debut, WWE touted him as the ‘Next Big Thing’ and booked him exactly like that. Only months after his first match, Lesnar won the King of the Ring tournament. He then defeated The Rock at SummerSlam to become the youngest WWE Champion in history.

However, after a couple of title defenses, WWE pulled the plug on Lesnar’s first reign as champion. A WWE veteran recently spoke about this booking decision and called it ‘illogical’.

Brock Lesnar lost his WWE title at Survivor Series 2002 to Big Show after Paul Heyman turned on him. Although WWE booked this as a way to surprise the audience, former WWE commentator Jim Ross didn’t understand the reason to do it. Ross said that the match should have never happened in the first place.

Jim Ross called WWE’s booking of Brock Lesnar ‘crazy’

WWE strapped the proverbial rocket to Brock Lesnar’s back when he arrived in 2002. He crushed everyone in his path and became the WWE Champion aged just 25, beating The Rock in the main event of SummerSlam. He then had two grueling title defenses against The Undertaker. In fact, he beat The Deadman inside Hell in a Cell to retain the title. By this time, to call him The Next Big Thing was an understatement. He was the big thing in WWE during this time.

But WWE unceremoniously pulled the rug from underneath The Beast at Survivor Series. Big Show, who had been a star in the Attitude Era for WWE, defeated Lesnar with help from Heyman to win the title. This was also the first time Lesnar was pinned in the promotion. Many people thought an established wrestler like Big Show didn’t need to beat a rising star like Lesnar and WWE should’ve gone in another direction. Veteran WWE commentator Jim Ross shares the same opinion and slammed WWE’s booking of Lesnar at Survivor Series 2002.

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Ross talked about the match on his Grilling JR podcast and said he would not have booked the match called the whole ordeal crazy. JR said, “It is crazy, It’s illogical. Why do we need to change the championship? I would have never booked that match. “That match should never have happened. If I had the old proverbial pencil, which has the most powerful weapon in all of wrestling on one end: the eraser. I would have never booked it. Again, protect your attraction.”

Moreover, the current AEW commentator also said Lesnar is an irreplaceable attraction. He added, “The 7ft 500 pound 400 pound whatever guys they’ll come along that often. He’s an attraction that can’t be replaced as far as look and perception and size. So crazy don’t book that match”.

In JR’s opinion, Lesnar should’ve wrestled a much more athletic guy and carried his reign forward as champion. It is important to note that this was the fifth year anniversary of the infamous Montreal Screwjob and this may have tempted WWE to swerve the audience as a throwback to the events of 1997 Survivor Series.

Still, it was a booking decision that baffled fans rather than surprise them. Lesnar had been on a hot streak and looked good to carry the title for a few more months. Indeed, WWE got people talking one way or the other after this match and that is what they wanted to achieve. Do you agree with WWE’s decision to have Big Show win the title against Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2002? Let us know in the comments.

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