WWE: 5 of Brock Lesnar’s best moments on SmackDown

Rock and Brock: The Staredown

The Rock was the first main event wrestler to help make Brock Lesnar a star. Brock and Rock had a classic match at one of the greatest SummerSlam events ever. Before that monumental collision took place, the seeds for that feud were planted on an episode of SmackDown.

Rock was in the midst of a great match against Chris Benoit when Brock Lesnar would come down to the ring. The two gladiators did not say a word to another. The silent staredown said more than either man could or needed to.

Rock showed fans with his eyes that he took Brock seriously. Brock also showed that he was not intimidated by The People’s Champion. The visual of The Rock in the Crippler Crossface struggling to not tap out while locking eyes with Brock Lesnar was impactful. Brock stared down Rock like he was waiting for Rock to tap out in the middle of the ring. The intimidation factor was needed to make Brock appear legitimate.

This feud separated Brock from “just another new monster bad guy” to “future main event player”.  Rock knew what to do to make Brock the star he was destined to be. The stare down was the first step to propelling Brock to the WWE Championship.