Brock Lesnar became the biggest rising star in WWE when he made his debut in 2002, but his career looked done before it had even started.
The WWE icon wrestled and beat everyone the company had to offer, except a match with ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin which fell by the wayside.
Lesnar’s two year run with the company between 2002 and 2004 saw him win World Championships and the Royal Rumble.
However, after competing at WrestleMania XX in 2004 against Goldberg, the star walked out on the company despite them offering him an incredible sum of money to stay.
Brock Lesnar turned down $45 million WWE contract in 2004
Lesnar walked out on WWE in 2004 after two years on the main roster, in which he became the company’s youngest ever World Champion.
The star cited travelling and burnout as the reasons, but there was something else on the WWE icon’s mind.
Lesnar left WWE to pursue a ‘lifelong dream’ of an NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings. The star was signed by the NFL outfit as a defensive lineman, but failed to make any appearances.
According to ESPN, The Beast Incarnate was offered a seven-year contract with WWE worth $45-million in 2004.
Lesnar was eventually cut by the Vikings and returned to wrestling away from WWE. The star wrestled in Japan, where he famously collided with WWE icon Kurt Angle.
After a stint in MMA with UFC, where he became the company’s Heavyweight Champion, Lesnar returned to WWE in 2012.
He famously broke The Undertaker’s streak at WrestleMania 30, and also picked up wins against the likes of John Cena and Roman Reigns.
Lesnar is still signed by WWE, but has not appeared for the company since wrestling Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2023.
How much does Brock Lesnar earn in WWE now?
Despite rejecting $6.4 million a year from WWE in 2004, Lesnar is still earning a pretty penny from the company since his return in 2012.
According to The Daily Mirror, Lesnar earns $5 million a year from WWE but on a much more reduced schedule.
The Beast has worked part-time in WWE since returning in 2012, wrestling just 79 times in the past 13 years.
Having not wrestled for nearly 10 years, Lesnar has picked up a pretty $10 million for virtually nothing at all.