John Cena vs Brock Lesnar 2012: The biggest WWE Extreme Rules match ever

With WWE Extreme Rules set to take place this Saturday, memory is cast back 10 years to undoubtedly the biggest match in the event’s history between John Cena and the returning Brock Lesnar.

Lesnar had been away from WWE for eight long years at this point following his abrupt departure from the company following WrestleMania 20. Burnout from the intense travel schedule and a desire to attempt an American Football career were cited as main reasons.

It is hard to believe that his initial run on the main roster lasted just two full years such was the level of accomplishments in that period. He was a 3-time WWE Champion, a Royal Rumble and King of the Ring winner and had defeated The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan and Kurt Angle amongst other huge names.

Quite simply, Lesnar was the man in WWE. The face of the company post Attitude Era, and his departure was a major blow that left a gaping hole in their main event scene as well as plans for the future.

Up step John Cena. Cena had graduated from the fabled OVW “Class of 2002” alongside Lesnar, as well as Batista, Randy Orton and Shelton Benjamin. He was the same age as Lesnar and had enjoyed considerable success as “The Doctor of Thuganomics,” capturing the United States Championship.

Now, he was primed to replace Lesnar as the franchise player on Smackdown and by virtue of his age, the future No.1 guy in the company. This of course happened, with his coronation coming at WrestleMania 21 when he defeated JBL (a character created as Lesnar’s departure left the main event very thin) for the WWE title.

In the next seven years, Cena cemented himself as the Champ, the face that runs the place, Super Cena, Big Match John and so on. His position on top was unrivalled. That was