Why Did Brock Lesnar Leave WWE in 2004?

Published 03/12/2021, 9:15 AM EST

Brock Lesnar is a no-nonsense guy. The man is an absolute ‘Beast’ not just inside the ring, but outside too! Lesnar skyrocketed on the top of the WWE mountain early in his career that saw him get immense success and fame.

Was this very fame and money that led to Brock Lesnar’s departure from WWE in 2004? Or something else altogether? Let’s find out!

Jim Ross reveals why Brock Lesnar left WWE after WrestleMania XX in 2004

Article continues below this ad

WrestleMania XX was the subject of this week’s episode of the Grilling JR Podcast. During the podcast, Conrad Thompson touched upon the list of reasons for Lesnar leaving WWE in 2004.

Wade Keller of PW Torch had listed nine reasons. Yes, nine reasons explaining what led to Brock’s WWE departure! Number one, Brock Lesnar didn’t like the travel schedule. Two, he didn’t have a passion for pro wrestling. Three, he believed he could play in the NFL. Four, he felt WWE did not appreciate him enough.

This doesn’t end here! The remaining three reasons will definitely perk your ears and raise your eyebrows.

Lesnar did not want to put over Eddie Guerrero for the World Championship, as he felt Eddie was too ‘small’ in front of him. To add salt to his wounds, the half-show attendance shot up after ‘Latino Heat’ became Champion, leaving Lesnar embarrassed.

WWE had plans for a Lesnar-Undertaker feud following WrestleMania XX, but Lesnar didn’t want to face Taker. He was also worried about the wear and tear on his body and felt he had nothing to prove.

All these nine reasons brewed inside Lesnar it seems, and it all culminated with his departure.

Article continues below this ad

And guess what? None of these reasons turned out to be false. In fact, JR backed up this information and said Wade Keller really had the inside scoop in the Brock Lesnar story.

“Wade Keller, ironically, is the Minnesota guy. So Wade was getting apparently inside information, or reliable information, at least from fellow Minnesotans,” said JR. He also added that fellow Minnesotans and Lesnar’s friends in the Vikings persuaded him with those nine points to leave the wrestling business.

Article continues below this ad

Do you think Brock Lesnar was getting ahead of himself back in the day? Should he have stayed in WWE? Let us know in the comments section below!

Can AEW Dethrone WWE in the UK Market in 2021?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Ishan Chavan is a WWE and AEW author at EssentiallySports. Being a Journalism graduate, Ishan has over six years of experience in the Media Production Industry, having worked with Viacom 18's streaming platform, Voot. A wrestling fan since childhood, Ishan's favorite wrestlers are Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, and Chris Jericho as he feels these three have the perfect blend of wrestling and promo skills, especially Jericho.

Why Did Brock Lesnar Leave WWE in 2004?

Jim Ross reveals why Brock Lesnar left WWE after WrestleMania XX in 2004

Trending

“Ricky Starks and”: Triple H’s WWE Backed to Sign Three Top AEW Talents From Tony Khan Following Dynasty

Brock Lesnar to Return Soon? Former WWE World Champion Uploads Cryptic Instagram Post

“Men Like It”: Sexual Connotation in Rhea Ripley’s Replacement Angle With Dominik Mysterio Highlighted After Major Raw Moment

Jey Uso Teases New Alliance With Roman Reigns & Bloodline After Unscripted Matching Gifts Emerge

Will Brock Lesnar Return at WWE Draft? Potential Spoiler Spotted Days Before Roster Selection