For the first time in WWE history a wrestler made his debut in a world title match.
No pressure, Cain Velasquez.
Today (Oct. 31) Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia opened up with the former UFC heavyweight champion, Velasquez, challenging Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship. Since making a surprise run-in on the first SmackDown on Fox, Velasquez has had as many hits on TV as misses.
Dressed like an MMA fighter, with heavy braces around his knee, Velasquez wrestled exactly like a pro wrestling rookie thrust into a world title match would. Lesnar vs. Velasquez was a very short match and the style was that of a light MMA sparring session.
Looks familiar... #WWECrownJewel @cainmma pic.twitter.com/HYuJH3V0zz
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) October 31, 2019
Most if not all of Velasquez’s offense consisted of strikes with a knee to the body and head kick knocking down the Beast Incarnate. Once on the ground Lesnar worked off his back and caught Velasquez with a Kimura lock submission.
Velasquez briefly tried to wiggle free but eventually tapped out. Just like that the match was over almost as quickly as it began.
Lesnar retained his title and then proceeded to beat on Velasquez with a steel chair post-match. Mysterio would run off Lesnar, perhaps setting the table for that feud to continue.
What did you think of Brock versus Cain?
Get complete Crown Jewel live results and play-by-play here.