Brock Lesnar’s secret life revealed: Ten things you didn’t know about WWE legend from hidden cabin life to ex-NFL star
BROCK LESNAR is one of the most decorated athletes of all time.
The Beast Incarnate has proven his sheer dominance in almost every combat sport to become a former NCAA Heavyweight Champion, WWE Champion and UFC Champion.
But the 42-year-old is notoriously private, allowing Paul Heyman to serve as his mouthpiece for the majority of his time in WWE since returning to the company in 2012.
Despite that, those closest to him know the real Lesnar - who was recently hailed by John Cena as "the best in-ring performer of all time."
Here SunSport details some little-known facts about the Beast...
1. A FIRST DEGREE MISANTHROPE
Lesnar has been WWE's top-heel for a number of years, with many fans believing the character he portrays on screen is an extension of his real-life persona.
The Beast refuses to appear at autograph signings and other public events and often restricts himself to his locker room at RAW or SmackDown.
He explained on the Stone Cold podcast back in 2015: "I don't like people. I wish I could say otherwise, but I just don't."
Lesnar's real-life close friend Heyman co-wrote the Beast's autobiography, "Death Clutch: My Story of Determination, Domination, and Survival."
In the book, the former ECW chief revealed that the ex-UFC star is a first-degree misanthrope - someone who dislikes human contact - which is why he prefers not to be around other people.
2. WAS CALLED 'BROCCOLI'
While Lesnar has since become one of WWE's most feared superstars, he once carried a more embarrassing nickname.
In the 2003 DVD, Brock Lesnar: Here Comes The Pain, WWE interviewed the Beast's childhood friend Justin Gaikowski, who revealed what the South Dakota native was called as a child.
He said: “I used to call him ‘Broccoli’. When you’re young, nobody likes to eat broccoli. I’d be like, ‘Hey, Broccoli! You’ve got bad taste!’”
3. BIG SHOW EXPLODED ON HIM
Lesnar usually prides himself on making his opponents "s*** scared" but one unfortunate experience with the Big Show may have made him regret that.
The two memorably broke the ring during a superplex spot during an episode of SmackDown, but there was another time their match got out of hand.
Rod Pedersen said: “Before long (Lesnar) was doing 300 shows per year around the globe and while he was making millions, it became a real grind. However he was never afraid of hard work.
“Lesnar told the amusing/disgusting story of how, one night during a show in South Africa, The Big Show had food poisoning.
“Lesnar slammed him to the canvas and his opponent exploded with diarrhoea all over him!”
He picked up a grown man after the play. It was a Royal Rumble: Minnesota versus Kansas City. ... That was a nasty suplex on the football field
Former Vikings receiver Nate Burleson on Brock Lesnar
4. HE SUPLEXED AN NFL RIVAL
SunSport revealed last year that Lesnar reportedly turned down a whopping £36.5MILLION offer from WWE to pursue his NFL dream in 2004.
The Lord of "Suplex City" enjoyed a short stint at The Minnesota Vikings as a defensive tackle and almost made the team but a motorcycle accident hindered his progress.
However, former Vikings receiver Nate Burleson admitted Lesnar more than made an impression during tryouts.
Recalling a joint practice with the Kansas City Chiefs, he told NFL Network in 2016: "Somebody cheap-shotted Daunte Culpepper late.
"And Brock was like, 'Who did it?’ The next play, he went and suplexed the guy. He picked up a grown man after the play. It was a Royal Rumble: Minnesota versus Kansas City. ... That was a nasty suplex on the football field."
5. HE LOVED EDDIE GUERRERO
Lesnar's rivalry with Eddie Guerrero is still revered as one of WWE's best in recent memory.
Latino Heat memorably captured the world title from the Beast at No Way Out in 2004 in a wrestling clinic that even made Vince McMahon cry
Guerrero would tragically die just 18 months later aged 38 due to heart failure but his late wife Vickie revealed Lesnar still tells her how much he misses Eddie.
She told The Payoff podcast: "Brock is just amazing. Brock loved Eddie. He'll hug me and say, 'I still miss Eddie every day.' And that's just something really special when I get to see Brock.
"I still thank Brock to this day when I see him because it was because of him that Eddie was able to have that great match. They were dancing in the ring and doing their own dance which was spectacular. Never forgotten."
6. HE PAID FOR WWE BAR
Corey Graves revealed Lesnar once paid extra to keep a bar open after WWE were forced to cancel RAW back in 2015 at the last minute due to a snowstorm.
He said on his After The Bell podcast: “The show was very interesting. They re-aired the Royal Rumble match from the night before [and aired] a few backstage interviews with Roman, Brock and many others, and allegedly, [the] now WWE Champion paid a significant amount of money to keep the bar wide open for everybody to make sure they made the best of a crappy situation.
“I, of course, stayed in a completely different hotel, but it led to me finding the only open establishment in the scenic Stamford, CT where myself and two-thirds of The Shield made sure that none of the beers at said establishment went unattended.
“What a day. Not all bad things came from that snowstorm: fun memories, fun times but let’s hope RAW doesn’t get cancelled ever again.”
Brock is just amazing. Brock loved Eddie. He'll hug me and say, 'I still miss Eddie every day'
Vickie Guerrero
7. HE WAS MISTAKENLY ARRESTED
Back in 2001 and still in WWE's developmental OVW, a young Lesnar was arrested by police and charged with possession of steroids.
The Beast was hit with a trafficking in controlled substances charge but was later exonerated four months later.
Lab tests later proved that the contents of the package were not steroids and Lesnar was cleared of all wrongdoing.
8. LIVES ON A FARM IN CANADA
Lesnar caused a storm when he tied the knot with former WWE star Sable – who is 10 years his junior - in 2006.
The couple never had a romantic storyline on TV, with American model Sable, 52, proving to be one of the stars of the Attitude Era in the 90s, a decade before Brock became the face of Ruthless Aggression.
Sable – real name Rena Marlette Lesnar – is now retired and living with the ex-NFL prospect on a farm in Maryfield in Canada with their two sons, Turk and Duke.
Brock, who also has two other children with his former partner Nicole McClain, grew up on a dairy farm in Minnesota and wanted his family to experience the same upbringing to install a strong work ethic.
9. REFUSED JAPANESE TRADITION
After his failed NFL venture in 2004, Brock spent the following years wrestling in Japanese promotions.
He won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship during his debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling but rejected one of the companies chief traditions.
NJPW rule that foreign grapplers wrestling for the first time must get slapped across the face by Japanese wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki.
Yet Lesnar wrote in his 2011 autobiography: “No one was going to slap me. Not Inoki. Not anyone. They got the point.”
10. HAS AMAZING TATTOOS
One of the most prominent features about Lesnar is his tattoos, which he is smothered in from his neck to legs.
The 42-year-old has a huge sword on his chest, going from his stomach all the way to his neck.
He explained in his autobiography: "I felt like life was holding a sword right up against my throat, so I went under the ink gun because I never wanted to forget exactly how I felt at that time.
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"The tattoo on my chest has so much meaning to me.
"In some ways, it’s funny, because the period of my life that I’m talking about is a time I so want to forget.
"But I know I can use this memory as motivation."
