Now Reading: Brock Lesnar’s old rival was afraid before making his return after 22 years in AEW
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Brock Lesnar’s old rival was afraid before making his return after 22 years in AEW
Brock Lesnar’s old rival was afraid before making his return after 22 years in AEW
Brock Lesnar has had numerous memorable feuds throughout his WWE career. However, his program against Zack Gowen still stands out in the minds of all Ruthless Aggression Era fans.
Zach Gowen may have only had a brief run in WWE, but his legacy is etched in wrestling history. As the first and only one-legged competitor in WWE, he stood out during his memorable feuds with Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar in the early 2000s.
Though he was released from the company in 2004, Gowen continued to wrestle on the independent circuit, with his last televised WWE appearance airing back in October 2003 on SmackDown.
Now, over two decades later, Gowen made a surprise return to mainstream wrestling on the May 8 edition of AEW Collision, followed by a match against Ricochet on the May 14 Dynamite: Beach Break special.
Speaking on a recent episode of Hey! (EW), Gowen was asked—jokingly—if he thought his new bleached hair might make him unrecognisable to fans. But the former WWE star gave a more heartfelt response, revealing that his real concern was that an entirely new generation of wrestling fans might not know who he was at all.
> “I was afraid people wouldn’t recognize me because I haven’t been on television in 22 years,” Gowen admitted. “There’s a whole new generation of fans that have zero idea who I am.”
Zack Gowens On returning after 22 years:
In a separate interview with Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown, Gowen opened up about what it means to return to the national spotlight after so long.
> “I haven’t been on a national platform like this since I was 20 years old in WWE,” he said. “Now at 42, with everything I’ve learned, I have such a greater appreciation for the gift that’s being presented to me. At the foundation of everything I do, it’s gratitude.”
Gowen’s return may have come as a surprise, but his story—and his perspective—continues to resonate with fans old and new.
The Story of Brock Lesnar vs Zack Gowen
Gowen’s feud with Lesnar in WWE was one of the most unique and emotional storylines of the Ruthless Aggression Era.
Debuting as WWE’s first one-legged wrestler, Zack Gowen quickly found himself targeted by Brock Lesnar, who was then the dominant WWE Champion. Their rivalry began in mid-2003, with Lesnar brutally attacking Gowen on multiple occasions, showcasing the intense physical contrast between the two.
Despite Gowen’s underdog status and real-life disability, he refused to back down, earning fan support for his resilience and heart.
The feud culminated in a memorable match at SmackDown in August 2003, where Lesnar viciously dominated Gowen, eventually defeating him in a display meant to generate maximum heat.
Though brief, the feud made a lasting impact, highlighting Gowen’s courage and Lesnar’s merciless heel persona. It remains a powerful example of storytelling in wrestling, where real-life adversity was woven into compelling drama.
Rudra is a passionate sports fan and has expertise in WWE and Cricket. His interest in Sports and Writing have led him to become a Sports Journalist.
He has previously interviewed some top names like Baron Corbin and Johny Mundo, among others.
