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Ex-WWE Star Explains the “Business” Behind Him Making the Fans Universally “Hate Brock Lesnar” When He Was Just 19-Years-Old

Published 11/23/2023, 1:30 PM EST

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It didn’t take long for Brock Lesnar to establish his dominance in WWE. With countless victims falling prey to his wrath, he has proven himself to be a very dangerous wrestler in the promotion. Despite being a heel for most of his career, the WWE Universe always showered him with love and support as if he were a babyface.

However, WWE wanted the fans to hate Lesnar as he was advertised as a heel. Therefore, to accomplish this, they put a 19-year-old boy up to the task two decades ago.

WWE used Zach Gown to establish Brock Lesnar as the ultimate heel

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Zach Gowen recently sat down with Chris Van Vliet and shared his experience working with WWE when they asked him to make Brock Lesnar look bad. WWE asked Gowen – the one-legged wrestler – to play the victim and take a beating from Lesnar.

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He said, “It was more of an angle than a match but I felt got a lot of fulfillment out of the match. Because the office came to me and said, ‘Listen, here is the business of this match. We want the WWE Universe to hate Brock Lesnar. He is a heel, but he’s getting babyface reactions. And we need to do something to make the people hate him.’” 

On the August 2003 edition of SmackDown, Lesnar brutally assaulted the one-legged wrestler, drawing negative reactions from the WWE Universe. Despite being mauled down by The Beast, Gowen admits that it was the best time he had in WWE.

Gowen is proud of his match with Brock Lesnar

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During the interview, Vliet asked Gowen to name one match he was most proud of during his time in WWE. Gowen stated that his match with Lesnar, where he was beaten to a pulp, is the one for him. The match took place in front of his mom.

Gowen revealed that he was greatly satisfied with his match. Though it looked like Lesnar hurt him badly, it was all kayfabe. He states that even 20 years later, he still feels good about the match whenever someone brings it up. He helped Lesnar to establish himself as the ultimate heel and nailed his job.

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What is your take on WWE asking Gowen’s help to alter Lesnar’s image in front of the audience?

Watch this story – Things Brock Lesnar Has Destroyed Over the Years

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Written by:

Monika Thapa

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Edited by:

Donna Eva