At WWE Great Balls of Fire 2017, two of the most dominant forces in professional wrestling collided for the Universal Championship as Brock Lesnar defended his title against Samoa Joe in a highly anticipated match. Billed as a clash of titans, this encounter showcased pure hard-hitting action, ruthless aggression, and an intense battle for supremacy.
The Build-Up: A Fight, Not a Wrestling Match
After winning a Fatal 5-Way Match at Extreme Rules 2017, Samoa Joe earned the right to challenge Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship. Unlike most of Lesnar’s past challengers, Joe didn’t show fear—he took the fight straight to the Beast. Over the weeks leading up to the event, Joe ambushed Lesnar, even choking out Paul Heyman with the Coquina Clutch, proving he was a legitimate threat to the champion.
Lesnar, typically composed, was visibly angry and on edge, knowing Joe was a dangerous submission specialist capable of putting anyone to sleep. The stage was set for a brutal showdown.
The Match Begins – Joe Attacks Before the Bell
Before the match even officially started, Joe launched a sneak attack, catching Lesnar off guard and sending him crashing through the announce table with a devastating uranage! The crowd erupted as the Samoan Submission Machine sent a statement that he wasn’t here to play—he was here to destroy.
Lesnar, visibly shaken, struggled to get back into the ring as the referee checked on him. But as soon as the bell rang, Joe was back on the attack, cornering Lesnar with brutal strikes and suffocating him with his aggressive offense.
Joe Controls the Match
For the first few minutes, Joe dominated, using his Muay Thai-inspired strikes, knee lifts, and submission holds to wear down the champion. He locked Lesnar in a tight guillotine choke, forcing the Beast to struggle for air. The crowd sensed a potential upset as Lesnar’s face turned red, but the champion used his raw power to escape.
Despite breaking free, Lesnar couldn’t mount much offense as Joe continued to target his neck and back, softening him up for the Coquina Clutch.
Lesnar Fights Back – Suplex City Begins
But Lesnar is never out of a fight. After surviving Joe’s relentless assault, The Beast Incarnate exploded with a flurry of German suplexes, launching Joe across the ring in classic Suplex City fashion.
Joe, however, refused to stay down, repeatedly countering Lesnar’s attacks and nearly locking in the Coquina Clutch once again. The champion was clearly in trouble, staggering as Joe squeezed tighter and tighter.
The Climax – A Sudden Ending
Just when it seemed like Joe had the match won, Lesnar countered the Coquina Clutch by hoisting Joe onto his shoulders and, with incredible speed, delivered a thunderous F-5!
In a shocking moment, Lesnar immediately went for the pin—1… 2… 3! Just like that, Brock Lesnar retained the Universal Championship in an abrupt but impactful ending.
Aftermath: Was Joe Cheated?
Despite Joe’s dominant performance, one F-5 was all it took for Lesnar to win—a result that left many fans frustrated. Samoa Joe had proven he could hang with The Beast and arguably had the best match of his WWE career, but he fell short when it mattered most.
The feud wasn’t fully resolved, as Joe continued to target Lesnar in the months that followed, but he never got the decisive victory over him. Nonetheless, this match remains one of the most intense and hard-hitting encounters of Lesnar’s title reign.
