At WWE Day 1 on January 1, 2022, the WWE Championship was on the line in an electrifying Fatal 5-Way Match featuring some of WWE’s top stars: Big E (the defending WWE Champion), Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley, Seth Rollins, and Kevin Owens. The match was originally scheduled to feature just four competitors, but a sudden change due to Roman Reigns testing positive for COVID-19 forced WWE to pivot, inserting Brock Lesnar into the bout at the last minute. With the Beast Incarnate in the mix, the landscape of the match changed dramatically.
The Bell Rings – All-Out Chaos Ensues
As soon as the match started, chaos erupted. Rollins and Owens, longtime allies in this match, tried to take control early by double-teaming Lesnar, hoping to neutralize the biggest threat. However, Lesnar immediately went Beast Mode, tossing both men around the ring with a flurry of suplexes.
Not wanting to be outdone, Lashley wasted no time confronting Lesnar, hitting him with a massive spear through the barricade, sending the crowd into a frenzy. This temporarily took Lesnar out of the equation, allowing Big E, the reigning champion, to take control inside the ring.
Big E targeted both Owens and Rollins, showcasing his raw power with belly-to-belly suplexes and a big splash on both men. However, Rollins and Owens quickly rebounded, using their speed and teamwork to hit a combination of superkicks and frog splashes to weaken Big E.
Lashley and Lesnar Collide Again
With Lesnar recovering, Lashley and The Beast found themselves face-to-face once again, teasing a long-awaited dream match. The two titans traded explosive strikes, with Lashley overpowering Lesnar momentarily and lifting him up for a huge spinebuster. But before he could capitalize, Rollins and Owens attacked Lashley with steel steps, momentarily taking him down.
Owens and Rollins then turned their attention to Big E, attempting a double-team powerbomb through the announce table, but the champion fought back valiantly. However, their numbers advantage proved too much, and they finally drove Big E through the table with a brutal double suplex.
Lesnar Takes Over
With bodies scattered around ringside, Lesnar re-entered the fray and went on a suplex rampage, hitting German Suplexes on Owens, Rollins, and even Big E once he recovered. However, before Lesnar could go for the F-5, Lashley struck again, locking in his Hurt Lock on Lesnar in the center of the ring.
For a moment, it seemed like Lashley was about to make Lesnar tap, but Big E broke it up just in time. The WWE Champion then lifted Lashley for the Big Ending, looking to seal his victory—but before he could hit it, Lesnar intercepted and nailed Big E with a devastating F-5!
The Shocking Finish
With everyone else down, Lesnar quickly covered Big E for the three-count, winning the WWE Championship in shocking fashion. The Barclays Center erupted in disbelief as Lesnar stood tall as the new WWE Champion, while Lashley, Rollins, Owens, and the former champion Big E looked on in frustration.
Aftermath
Lesnar’s victory set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown with Bobby Lashley at the Royal Rumble. Meanwhile, Big E’s title reign ended abruptly, leaving many fans disappointed, as he never got a proper one-on-one rematch.
The Fatal 5-Way at WWE Day 1 was a high-energy, fast-paced, and unpredictable affair that showcased the chaos and excitement of multi-man matches, but in the end, it was Brock Lesnar who reigned supreme.
