Maturi Pavilion will be the place to be for Gopher fans Friday night as ex-Minnesota wrestling champion Brock Lesnar will be on hand for Minnesota’s duel versus Big Ten rival Wisconsin.
Lesnar will serve as an honorary coach for the Gophers as the university celebrates the 20-year anniversary of Lesnar’s individual heavyweight championship in 2000. In that championship match, Lesnar, who finished 31-1 that season, defeated Wes Hand of the national champion Iowa Hawkeyes 3-2 in double overtime to win the title.
The year prior, Lesnar lost in the national championship match 3-2 to Stephen Neal of Cal-State Bakersfield.
In that championship match, Lesnar, who finished 31-1 that season, defeated Wes Hand of the national champion Iowa Hawkeyes 3-2 in double overtime to win the title.
Tickets to Friday’s dual cost $5 to $15 and all students in eighth grade or younger will have a chance to take a group photo with Lesnar.
Better known for his time in the WWE and UFC – and even a training camp stint with the Vikings – Lesnar was a dominant force on the mat for the Gophers, winning 55 of 58 career matches.
Meanwhile, Lesnar is still an active force in the WWE as the reigning heavyweight champion of the world, and news broke Monday that he’ll be the first entrant at Royal Rumble on Jan. 26.
