Spike Dudley recalls Brock Lesnar's Raw debut and Test incident

Former WWE and ECW star Spike Dudley recounted two stark memories from his in-ring career during a recent appearance on the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast, describing both Brock Lesnar’s violent WWE television debut on March 18, 2002, and a rough house-show encounter with the late Andrew Martin, better known as Test. Dudley said the anecdotes illustrate how quickly routine spots can turn dangerous and how performers help shape one another’s early reputations.

Dudley said Lesnar, who would go on to become one of WWE’s most dominant champions, made an immediate impact in his first televised outing on Monday Night Raw. Dudley and Funaki were among the talent Lesnar flattened to establish him as a force on the roster. “It was easy for him to toss me around. I mean, he was a f monster,” Dudley said, adding that Paul Heyman relayed Lesnar had specifically asked to work with Dudley and Funaki so he could be presented as overpowering. “Brock was always extremely respectful,” he added.

One sequence from that night remains particularly vivid for Dudley. The planned spot called for Lesnar to hit Dudley with five powerbombs; Dudley said the sequence ended after three because he could...