Background: Though familiar with each other after spending time in Ohio Valley Wrestling trying to make it to the main roster, then-WWE Undisputed Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar took an opportunity to showcase his skills against Randy Orton for the first time in WWE.
Smackdown
Green Bay, WI
September 3, 2002
Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton
Orton took the fight to the champion immediately, trying to chop him down as dey started a clubberin’, Tony! Sweeping Lesnar into a pinning combination didn’t end well for Randy as the champ kicked out and overhead belly-to-belly suplexed his opposition across the ring. Taking his sweet time, Lesnar pitched Orton over the top rope so Randy’s chest was almost impaled by the steel ring post. When Orton tried to fight back once he was thrown back inside the ring, Lesnar utilized an STO to stop any momentum Randy looked to gain. The fans groaned alongside Orton when Lesnar almost ran through him with the shoulder ram against the turnbuckles and a clothesline. Almost on the verge of being disqualified was the champion as he tried to skin Orton’s face with his boot. Yet, Orton refused to stay down even when it seemed Lesnar was simply toying with him before the inevitable. Slipping off of Lesnar’s shoulders when the champion’s offense got took predictable, Orton executed a backbreaker with his own back. Rather than go for the pin, Orton scaled the ropes before coming off the top with his patented frog cross body block. In a shocking show of strength, Lesnar caught Orton in his clutches while rolling through the impact. Hoisting Orton into the air, Lesnar pitched Randy across the ring with the F-5 to pin the upstart.
Winner: Brock Lesnar (5:27)
Is It A Classic: That was actually really fun for what one would consider a “squash”. Randy Orton, though unproven at the time, obviously had something special. And Lesnar looked like the monster he was and still is by manhandling someone of substantial size. Not a classic, but highly enjoyable – probably even more so than their most recent battle.
