#244: Brock Lesnar vs. Zach Gowen, WWE Smackdown (8/21/2003).

19 Feb, 2025

This is a request brought to me by one of my buddies at work. He has a sick sense of humor when it comes to pro wrestling, so if you know your history, you can probably guess why he requested this one.

Lesnar has recently turned heel and aligned himself with Vince McMahon, all in pursuit of regaining the WWE Championship from Kurt Angle. They have a match set for SummerSlam, but tonight, Angle doesn’t want a match – he wants a fight! Vince threatens to strip Angle of the championship should he lay a hand on Vince or Lesnar tonight. He gives Angle a match with Big Show, and he gives Lesnar a match...with Zach Gowen, the man who only has one leg.

That’s certainly one way to build sympathy for a guy: have the one legged sensation face off against the monster heel who could probably kill him by blinking his eyes. Did I mention that this is taking place in Gowen’s hometown of Detroit? Did I also mention that his mom will be sitting in the front row? To my friend who requested this – you are sick.

I’d like to add a comment from my wonderful girlfriend about Gowen while I’m reviewing this: “He looks like a Nazi.” Nice!

Lesnar is staring a hole through Gowen. To his credit, Gowen isn’t backing down. Lesnar leaves the ring to try and scare Gowen’s mom. He sticks his hand out for a handshake, and she looks completely disinterested. Gowen hits a springboard dive onto Lesnar, and he’s trying to attack him, but Lesnar clotheslines him with ease. Lesnar grabs the prosthetic leg and tosses it aside. Gowen takes the leg and attacks Lesnar with it, but Lesnar quickly knees him in the midsection.

Lesnar sends Gowen spine first into the steel ring post. He tosses Gowen back into the ring, as the bell officially starts. Gowen tries to battle back, but Lesnar easily overwhelms him. Lesnar hits several hard powerbombs to Gowen. He could easily pin him, but that’s sadly not what this match is about. He tosses Gowen to the outside, and then goes to grab a steel chair. Michael Cole is pissed on commentary about why someone like Lesnar would need a chair.

After staring down his mother, Lesnar drills Gowen in the head with a chair, causing the DQ loss. No big deal that the #1 contender for the WWE Title just lost. Gowen is busted open, and bad. Lesnar with multiple headbutts to Gowen. Lesnar lifts him up, and as he stares at Gowen’s mom, he hits the F5 into the ring post, to Gowen’s only leg. Lesnar grabs the chair, and attacks the leg, as his mom looks on. Referees come out to try and stop Lesnar, but he chases them off.

“He’s an ugly, ugly thing. I wish the other guy’s mom had beaten the hell out of him.” My girlfriend has better commentary than Michael Cole.

Another F5 into the ring post, as Lesnar finally lets up. Gowen’s mom jumps the barricade to check on her son. Michael Cole and Tazz both hope that Kurt Angle hurt Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. As Gowen is being wheeled away, Lesnar shoves the stretcher over, and his mom finally shows emotion for the first time in this entire segment.

It’s Brock Lesnar destroying Zach Gowen. It’s exactly what you think it is.