“He Wanted To Talk To Vince”- Jim Ross Reveals Brock Lesnar was Furious with his $250,000 WrestleMania XX Payday

Brock Lesnar was at one point WWE’s highest paid superstar, and it was no less than a year ago. The Beast Incarnate charged a hefty sum to become WWE’s biggest box office draw since Steve Austin. But in 2004, Lesnar expressed his unhappiness with the amount WWE paid him for a marquee WrestleMania match.

Brock Lesnar was allegedly unhappy with WrestleMania XX pay

At WrestleMania XX, Brock Lesnar faced Goldberg in a true clash of the titans. Both Lesnar and Goldberg were on their way out of the company, and WrestleMania was their farewell. While the crowd drowned the action in boos and vulgar chants, there was another factor upsetting Brock.

On the recent episode of Jim Ross’ Grilling JR podcast, JR revealed how Brock Lesnar was unhappy with his WrestleMania payday.

“Vince thought we were treating Brock well. He was making a lot of money, and I remember. I think the payoff, if I’m not mistaken, we did that show, I think he made $250,000, and so did Goldberg. I remember sitting in my office in Stamford, and Vince’s assistant said, ‘Brock Lesnar is on the line; he wanted to talk to Vince, and Vince wants him to talk to you.”

When Brock expressed his dissatisfaction with the amount of money he received, this is how JR reacted.

“I said, ‘What are you basing this on? Did you do a forensic study on the finances of this event, or did one of your buddies tell you that you got screwed on your payoff? What are you basing this on? You’ve got to give me something here.’ You didn’t like it? And he said, ‘I just think you guys screwed me. I said, ‘well, we didn’t screw you, and I’m sorry you feel that way.’ And he hung up on me.”

Lesnar’s first run with the WWE

Debuting in 2002, Brock Lesnar went on an absolute tear in his first year in WWE. He won the 2002 King of the Ring and the opportunity to challenge for the WWE Championship. At SummerSlam 2002, Lesnar beat The Rock to become the new WWE Champion. His first title defence came against the legendary Undertaker who he beat inside Hell in a Cell.

He lost the title to Big Show at Survivor Series, but paved his path to reclaiming the title by winning the 2003 Royal Rumble. He then beat Kurt Angle in their classic WrestleMania 19 main event where Brock attempted a terrifying Shooting Star Press, only to land on his head and neck.

Lesnar won the title and defended against Angle multiple times, before dropping it to Eddie Guerrero at No Way Out 2004. Brock found a new rival in Goldberg, who cost him the title against Eddie, and the two behemoths faced off at WrestleMania XX, Lesnar’s last match in the WWE. He would return in 2012 to face John Cena, and the rest, as we know it, is history.

Read more: How Did The Brock Lesnar – Sable Love Story Start in WWE?