History of Brock Lesnar in Timeline

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Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist celebrated for his achievements across various combat sports. He stands as the sole individual to have clinched primary heavyweight championships in WWE, UFC, NJPW, IGF, and NCAA. Currently under contract with WWE but on hiatus as of 2023, Lesnar's career highlights his dominance and versatility in both professional wrestling and mixed martial arts, solidifying his place as a prominent figure in the world of sports entertainment and combat sports.

2 days ago : Brock Lesnar Facing Ban from Wrestling Following Allegations and Resulting Controversy.

Brock Lesnar faces a potential ban from wrestling after a scandal. Reports suggest he might be on WWE's 'ban list,' causing significant trouble for the former WWE and UFC champion and raising concerns about his future in the sport.

1950: Mid 20th century

This entry marks the beginning of the mid 20th century in 1950.

1969: Mid 20th century

This entry marks the end of the mid 20th century in 1969.

1975: Late 20th century

This entry marks the beginning of the late 20th century in 1975.

July 12, 1977: Brock Lesnar's Birth

On July 12, 1977, Brock Edward Lesnar was born. He is an American professional wrestler, former mixed martial artist, amateur wrestler, and professional American football player.

Others born on this day/year

1988: Longest title reign since 1988

As of 2018, Brock Lesnar's Universal Championship reign was the sixth-longest world championship reign in WWE history and the longest since 1988.

1997: NJCAA Nationals

In 1997, during his freshman year at Bismarck State College, Brock Lesnar placed 5th in the 275 lb. division of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

1998: NJCAA Heavyweight Champion

In 1998, Brock Lesnar was the NJCAA Heavyweight Champion.

1998: NJCAA Championship

In 1998, during his sophomore year at Bismarck State College, Brock Lesnar won the 275 lb championship at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

1999: Late 20th century

This entry marks the end of the late 20th century in 1999.

2000: Signs with WWF

In 2000, Brock Lesnar signed a developmental contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and was assigned to its Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) territory.

2000: NCAA Division I National Championship

In 2000, Brock Lesnar won the NCAA Division I national championship while wrestling for the University of Minnesota.

2000: NCAA Division I Heavyweight Wrestling Championship

In 2000, Brock Lesnar won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I heavyweight wrestling championship during his senior year.

January 2001: Lesnar arrested on suspicion of possessing illegal substances

In January 2001, Brock Lesnar was arrested in Louisville, Kentucky, on suspicion of possessing illegal substances. The charges were dropped when the substances were identified as legal hormones.

2001: Dark Matches

In 2001, Brock Lesnar took part in numerous dark matches before being called up to the main roster.

March 2002: WWE Televised Debut

In March 2002, Brock Lesnar made his televised WWE debut, immediately portrayed as a dominant force under the guidance of Paul Heyman.

2002: Birth of Lesnar's twins Mya Lynn and Luke

In 2002, Brock Lesnar had twins, a daughter named Mya Lynn and a son named Luke, with his former fiancée, Nicole McClain.

Others born on this day/year

2002: Main Roster Call-Up

In early 2002, Brock Lesnar was called up to the main roster of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

2002: WWE Championship Win

In mid-2002, Brock Lesnar won the WWE Championship at the age of 25, becoming the youngest performer to win the championship.

January 2003: Royal Rumble Victory

In January 2003, at Royal Rumble, Brock Lesnar defeated Big Show to enter the Rumble match, which he won by last eliminating The Undertaker, earning a title shot at WrestleMania XIX.

2003: Royal Rumble Win

In 2003, Brock Lesnar won the Royal Rumble match, earning a title shot at WrestleMania XIX.

2003: WWE Home Video released Brock Lesnar: Here Comes the Pain DVD

In 2003, WWE Home Video released a DVD chronicling Lesnar's career entitled Brock Lesnar: Here Comes the Pain.

2003: Feud with Goldberg and Title Loss

In late 2003, Brock Lesnar began a cross-brand feud with Goldberg, and later lost his WWE Championship to Eddie Guerrero after interference from Goldberg at No Way Out.

March 2004: Lesnar leaves WWE to pursue NFL career

Following his match at WrestleMania XX in March 2004, Brock Lesnar left WWE to pursue a career in professional football.

April 2004: Motorcycle accident and NFL pursuit

In April 2004, Brock Lesnar was injured in a motorcycle accident, suffering multiple injuries. Despite the setback, several NFL teams expressed interest and he worked out for the Minnesota Vikings in June.

2004: Lesnar appears at New Japan Pro-Wrestling show

In 2004, Brock Lesnar breached his non-compete agreement with WWE by appearing at a New Japan Pro-Wrestling show, leading to a counterclaim from WWE.

2004: Joins Minnesota Vikings

In 2004, Brock Lesnar departed WWE to join the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL), but was cut from the team during pre-season.

2004: Lesnar featured on Flex and Muscle & Fitness magazine covers

In 2004, Brock Lesnar was featured on the covers of Flex and Muscle & Fitness magazine.

2004: Feud with Goldberg

In 2004, Goldberg defeated Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XX, marking a blemish on Lesnar's WWE career according to Paul Heyman.

July 2005: WWE and Lesnar drop claims and negotiate renewal

In July 2005, WWE and Brock Lesnar dropped their claims against each other and entered negotiations to renew their relationship. WWE offered Lesnar a contract, but he later withdrew from any involvement with the company.

2005: Signs with NJPW and Wins IWGP Heavyweight Championship

In 2005, Brock Lesnar returned to wrestling and signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) where he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

2005: NJPW Debut and IWGP Heavyweight Championship Win

In 2005, after leaving professional football, Brock Lesnar returned to wrestling by debuting in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). On October 8, he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in his first bout.

January 4, 2006: IWGP Title Defense

On January 4, 2006, Brock Lesnar defended the IWGP title against Shinsuke Nakamura at the Tokyo Dome event.

January 14, 2006: Judge favors Lesnar in lawsuit against WWE

On January 14, 2006, Judge Christopher Droney stated that unless WWE gave him a good argument, he would rule in favor of Lesnar, giving him a summary judgment.

April 29, 2006: Lesnar announces intent to join K-1

On April 29, 2006, Brock Lesnar stated his intent to join K-1's mixed martial arts league, Hero's.

May 6, 2006: Lesnar marries Sable

On May 6, 2006, Brock Lesnar married fellow WWE performer Rena Greek, better known as Sable.

July 2006: Stripped of IWGP Championship

In July 2006, NJPW stripped Brock Lesnar of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship due to visa issues that prevented him from returning to defend it, although he retained physical possession of the belt.

June 2, 2007: First MMA Match

On June 2, 2007, Brock Lesnar won his first official MMA match by submitting Min-soo Kim with strikes in 1:09 of the first round.

June 29, 2007: Loss of IWGP Title

On June 29, 2007, Brock Lesnar lost the IWGP title to TNA World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle at the debut event of the Inoki Genome Federation (IGF).

2007: MMA Debut

In 2007, Brock Lesnar began his mixed martial arts (MMA) career for Hero's.

February 2, 2008: UFC Debut at UFC 81

On February 2, 2008, Brock Lesnar made his debut with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) at UFC 81 against Frank Mir. He lost via submission.

2008: UFC Signing

In 2008, Brock Lesnar signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

2008: Lesnar featured on Minneapolis' City Pages cover

In 2008, Brock Lesnar was featured on the cover of Minneapolis' City Pages.

July 11, 2009: Lesnar defeats Mir at UFC 100

On July 11, 2009, at UFC 100, Brock Lesnar fought Frank Mir, Lesnar won via technical knockout after landing heavy ground and pound. During the post-match celebration, Lesnar flipped off the crowd and made a disparaging comment about Bud Light, and endorsed Coors Light instead. Lesnar later apologized for his remarks at the post-fight press conference.

2009: Lesnar signs endorsement deal with Dymatize Nutrition

In 2009, Brock Lesnar signed an endorsement deal with Dymatize Nutrition. A CD containing footage of Lesnar training was included with Dymatize's "Xpand" product.

2009: Diverticulitis Diagnosis

In 2009, Brock Lesnar was sidelined with diverticulitis.

2009: Birth of Lesnar's son Turk

In 2009, Brock Lesnar's son Turk was born.

Others born on this day/year

January 2, 2010: Lesnar's fight with Carwin rescheduled due to illness

On January 2, 2010, Lesnar's fight with Shane Carwin was rescheduled for UFC 108 due to an illness. Lesnar initially sought treatment in Canada, but criticized the care he received and claimed that seeking better treatment in the United States saved his life.

January 2010: Lesnar announces UFC return

In January 2010, Brock Lesnar announced on ESPN's SportsCenter that he was scheduled to make a return to the UFC in the summer.

June 2010: Lesnar's non-compete clause with WWE expires

In June 2010, Brock Lesnar's non-compete clause with WWE expired, which had prohibited him from working for other professional wrestling companies.

November 19, 2010: Lesnar's hunting infractions

On November 19, 2010, Lesnar was charged with hunting infractions on a trip to Alberta.

2010: Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion

In 2010, Brock Lesnar defeated Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin to unify the heavyweight championships and become the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion.

2010: Lesnar is the cover athlete for UFC Undisputed 2010

In 2010, Brock Lesnar was the cover athlete for the UFC Undisputed 2010 video game.

2010: Birth of Lesnar's son Duke

In 2010, Brock Lesnar's son Duke was born.

Others born on this day/year

May 2011: Lesnar speaks at NRA annual meeting

In May 2011, Brock Lesnar made an appearance at the NRA's annual meeting to discuss his passion for hunting and his role as a spokesman for the Fusion Ammunition company.

May 2011: Lesnar tops ESPN's list of highest-paid MMA athletes

In May 2011, ESPN's magazine reported that Brock Lesnar topped the list for MMA, at $5.3 million, including bout salaries and pay-per-view bonuses.

December 15, 2011: Lesnar charged with hunting infractions

On December 15, 2011, Brock Lesnar was charged with hunting infractions related to a trip to Alberta on November 19, 2010. He later pleaded guilty to the charge of improper tagging of an animal.

2011: Lesnar co-writes autobiography Death Clutch

In 2011, Brock Lesnar co-wrote an autobiography with Paul Heyman, titled Death Clutch: My Story of Determination, Domination, and Survival, which was published by William Morrow and Company.

Death Clutch: My Story of Determination, Domination, and Survival
Death Clutch: My Story of Determination, Domination, and Survival

2011: First MMA Retirement

In 2011, Brock Lesnar retired from mixed martial arts (MMA) after struggles with diverticulitis and a couple of losses.

2011: Lesnar announces return to action and then retires from MMA

In the summer of 2011, Brock Lesnar announced his return to action. His return match was scheduled to be at UFC 141 on December 30. After being defeated by Alistair Overeem, Lesnar retired from MMA, citing his struggles with diverticulitis and said it was the last time he will be seen in the octagon.

April 2, 2012: WWE Return

On April 2, 2012, Brock Lesnar returned to WWE on Raw, confronting John Cena and establishing himself as a villainous figure.

2012: WWE Return

In 2012, Brock Lesnar made his return to WWE.

2012: Brock Lesnar: Here Comes the Pain re-released

In 2012, the DVD "Brock Lesnar: Here Comes the Pain" was re-released as a three-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray collector's edition to tie in with Lesnar's WWE return, expanding it to include new matches and interviews.

January 28, 2013: Attack on Vince McMahon

On January 28, 2013, Brock Lesnar returned on Raw, attacking WWE chairman Vince McMahon, resulting in a scripted pelvic injury.

2013: Lesnar inspires character in Attack on Titan

In 2013, Attack on Titan author Hajime Isayama revealed that he drew inspiration from Brock Lesnar for the character of the Armored Titan.

2013: Feud with CM Punk

In mid-2013, Brock Lesnar began a feud with CM Punk, culminating in a no disqualification match at SummerSlam where Lesnar defeated Punk.

2014: Lesnar and Sable relocate to Canada

In 2014, Brock Lesnar and his wife, Rena Greek (Sable), relocated to a farm in Maryfield, Saskatchewan, Canada.

2014: Ending The Undertaker's WrestleMania Streak

In 2014, Brock Lesnar ended The Undertaker's undefeated WrestleMania streak.

January 25, 2015: WWE World Heavyweight Championship Retained

On January 25, 2015, Brock Lesnar retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against John Cena and Seth Rollins at the Royal Rumble.

March 2015: Lesnar closes door on MMA return

In March 2015, Lesnar revealed in an interview on SportsCenter that he had re-signed with WWE and officially closed the door on a return to MMA, even though he was offered a deal ten times more than what he had made previously in his MMA career.

March 24, 2015: Lesnar re-signs with WWE, closes door on MMA return

On March 24, 2015, Brock Lesnar revealed that he had re-signed with WWE and officially closed the door on a return to MMA, despite being offered a deal worth "ten times more" than his previous MMA earnings. He cited mental factors and a preference for part-time work with full-time pay as reasons for his decision.

2015: Hell in a Cell Victory

At Hell in a Cell on October 25, 2015, Brock Lesnar defeated The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match, ending their feud. The match was later voted "Match of the Year" during the 2015 Slammy Awards.

2015: SummerSlam Appearance

Brock Lesnar appeared at SummerSlam in 2015.

January 11, 2016: Raw Return and Attacks

On the January 11, 2016, episode of Raw, Brock Lesnar returned, attacking The New Day, The League of Nations, Kevin Owens, and Roman Reigns.

June 4, 2016: UFC announces Lesnar's return at UFC 200

On June 4, 2016, UFC announced that Brock Lesnar would return at UFC 200 on July 9.

July 15, 2016: Lesnar notified of potential anti-doping violation

On July 15, 2016, Brock Lesnar was notified by USADA of a potential anti-doping policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on June 28 that contained an undisclosed banned substance.

2016: SummerSlam Appearance

Brock Lesnar appeared at SummerSlam in 2016.

2016: UFC 200 Return and Overturned Victory

In 2016, Brock Lesnar returned to MMA at UFC 200, initially defeating Mark Hunt. However, the victory was overturned to a no-contest after Lesnar tested positive for a banned substance, violating UFC's anti-doping policy.

2016: SummerSlam Match and UFC Fight

In 2016, Brock Lesnar was revealed as Randy Orton's opponent for SummerSlam and was allowed a one-off fight for UFC 200, where he failed two drug tests. Lesnar defeated Orton at SummerSlam by technical knockout and attacked Shane McMahon.

2016: Brock Lesnar: Eat. Sleep. Conquer. Repeat. DVD released

In 2016, a new home video was released on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as a collector's edition, called Brock Lesnar: Eat. Sleep. Conquer. Repeat. and includes accomplishments from his second run in WWE.

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February 14, 2017: Lesnar notifies UFC of second retirement from MMA

On February 14, 2017, Brock Lesnar notified UFC that he was retiring from MMA for the second time.

July 9, 2017: Great Balls of Fire event

On July 9, 2017, Brock Lesnar defended his title at the inaugural Great Balls of Fire event, successfully retaining against Samoa Joe.

July 2017: Lesnar eligible to return to competition

In July 2017, Brock Lesnar was eligible to return to competition after serving a one-year suspension by the NSAC.

2017: SummerSlam Appearance

Brock Lesnar appeared at SummerSlam in 2017.

2017: Second MMA Retirement

In 2017, Brock Lesnar retired from MMA for the second time.

2017: Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 33

In 2017, Brock Lesnar was quickly eliminated by Goldberg at the Royal Rumble. Subsequently, he challenged Goldberg to a match at WrestleMania 33, where he defeated Goldberg to win the Universal Championship on April 2, marking his fifth world title win in WWE.

January 28, 2018: Successful title defense at Royal Rumble

On January 28, 2018, Brock Lesnar successfully defended his title in a triple threat match against Braun Strowman and Kane at the Royal Rumble.

July 7, 2018: Lesnar challenges Daniel Cormier at UFC 226

On July 7, 2018, Brock Lesnar stormed the cage after the main event fight at UFC 226 and challenged the new UFC Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Cormier.

2018: SummerSlam Appearance

Brock Lesnar appeared at SummerSlam in 2018.

2018: Universal Championship Reign Ends

In 2018, after being threatened to be stripped of his title, Brock Lesnar defended his Universal Championship at SummerSlam. Roman Reigns capitalized on a distracted Lesnar and won the Universal Championship, ending Lesnar's title reign at 504 days.

January 2019: Lesnar has yet to pay the fine

As of January 2019, Lesnar has yet to pay the fine imposed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

January 27, 2019: Successful Title Defense at Royal Rumble 2019

On January 27, 2019, Brock Lesnar successfully defended the title against Finn Bálor via submission at the Royal Rumble.

2019: WWE Championship Victory and Feud with Cain Velasquez

In 2019, Brock Lesnar returned to SmackDown and quickly defeated Kofi Kingston to win his fifth WWE Championship on October 4. He then feuded with Cain Velasquez, defeating him at Crown Jewel before quitting SmackDown to pursue Rey Mysterio on Raw.

2019: Money in the Bank Win

In 2019, Brock Lesnar won the Money in the Bank ladder match.

2019: Sexual assault allegations

In 2019, Janel Grant alleged that WWE co-founder Vince McMahon had coerced her into a sexual relationship.

January 6, 2020: Lesnar enters Royal Rumble

On January 6, 2020, Brock Lesnar returned to Raw to declare he would enter the Royal Rumble match as entrant number one.

September 2020: White considers Lesnar vs. Jones fight

In September 2020, UFC president Dana White said he could organize a fight between Brock Lesnar and Jon Jones if both men wanted it.

2020: Sexual assault allegations

In 2020, Janel Grant alleged that WWE co-founder Vince McMahon coerced her into a sexual relationship and sexually trafficked her.

2021: Lesnar's hiatus from WWE

After losing the WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 36, Brock Lesnar was not under contract with WWE and did not appear until 2021.

2021: Sexual assault allegations

In 2021, Janel Grant alleged that WWE co-founder Vince McMahon coerced her into a sexual relationship and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.

March 2022: Lesnar confirms initial retirement

In March 2022, Brock Lesnar confirmed he had initially retired from professional wrestling after WrestleMania 36, until deciding to return in 2021.

October 2022: Feud with Bobby Lashley begins

In October 2022, Brock Lesnar returned and began feuding with Bobby Lashley, leading to a victory at Crown Jewel.

2022: Sexual assault allegations

Between 2019 and 2022, Janel Grant, a former employee at WWE global headquarters, alleged that WWE co-founder Vince McMahon had coerced her into a sexual relationship.

2022: Royal Rumble Win

In 2022, Brock Lesnar won the Royal Rumble match for the second time in his career.

2023: Lesnar's WWE Hiatus

As of 2023, Brock Lesnar is on hiatus from active competition in WWE.

2024: Lesnar Pulled from WWE Plans Due to Allegations

In 2024, Brock Lesnar was removed from WWE's creative plans, including the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania XL, due to allegations in a lawsuit filed by Janel Grant. He was also removed from the WWE SuperCard video game and the cover of WWE 2K24's "40 Years of WrestleMania" edition. Additionally, he was removed from WWE's weekly programming introduction video.