Jim Ross Recalls Vince McMahon Meeting Brock Lesnar For the First Time, Talks Why Lesnar is the Best Combat Sports Athlete Ever

July 9, 2016

Steven Muehlhausen of Sporting News recently spoke with WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross ahead of tonight’s UFC 200 event, and below are some interview highlights:

On Vince McMahon first meeting Brock Lesnar:

“We were in Minnepolis and I had Gerry (Brisco) call Brock and Shelton Benjamin, who was a graduate associate and workout partner during Brock’s senior year,” Ross said. “Shelton had also wrestled at Minnesota, a great athlete. So we had invited them to come to our TV taping. And I told Vince before the show and said, ‘Hey, we got those two kids we recruited from Minnesota coming to the event tonight.’ And he’s pre-occupied. I didn’t ask [McMahon] to meet [Lesnar]. They were not immersed on who Vince was and that he was the boss. But when Vince came out of his office and was walking to his place to get ready for the show, he locked eyes and saw Lesnar standing there and made a beeline to him.

“And that’s the first time he had ever done that. Vince saw the same thing I saw. And Vince had never spoken to the guy, never seen him wrestle. He’s in street clothes. And he walked over and I introduced him. I remember him asking Brock, what do you want to do when you get out of college? Brock’s answer was very quick and very succinct, ‘I want to be an entertainer.’ Basically, Vince’s eyes lit up and figuratively saying, Boy, do we got a deal for you. Vince loved his look. How could you not for what WWE does? His look was extraordinary. Again, he draws your eyes to him.”

On Brock Lesnar being one of the best combat athletes of all-time:

“Absolutely, no doubt. People don’t understand how unique the skillset is to be a sports entertainer. It’s a real niche world and you got to be really skilled, have a good feel for the charisma side and the showbiz side. There deal there is he’s got to look like he’s killing somebody and not even though he’s more physical than anybody on the WWE roster even in the showbiz presentation of the genre.”

Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.

Nick attended New York University and graduated in 2001 with a degree in Drama.

Nick first entered the internet wrestling community back in 2004 when he became the co-host of The Voice of Wrestling Radio Show. From there, Nick made the transition from radio personality to editor when he began working with WrestleZone in 2008.

Nick is a member of two Off-Broadway theatre companies, Another Urban Riff, and the Drama Desk Award winning Godlight Theatre Company. Nick has appeared in over a dozen Off-Broadway plays since he moved to New York City, and has shot several short and feature length films. In 2010, he completed principle photography on a film titled "How to Score Your Life," which also features TNA Knockout ODB.

Inspiration in his life has come from many people including his family, Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, Jack Nicholson, The Beatles, and of course, Lassie.