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During this first WWE run, Brock Lesnar had the look of a Viking statue chiseled out of concrete. He was not as big as someone like Big Show, but the guy looked like a dominant athlete, and he lived up to his expectations, even surpassing said expectations by a country mile. Aside from his monstrous physique, Lesnar had a number of prominent tattoos that define who he was as a competitor.

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He has a tattoo of Yautja from the Predator movie on his left shoulder and that's pretty self-explanatory. On the opposite shoulder, a skull symbolizes his strength and defiance. On his back, Lesnar has the tattoo of a large demonic head that peers into your soul. This particular tattoo is associated with his persona and is on most of his merchandise.

Brock Lesnar Left WWE In 2004

Lesnar has not modified any of those aforementioned tattoos, but he did add another one after he left WWE in 2004. The Beast Incarnate was out of the spotlight for a few years following his departure, but when he back to the public eye, he had a sword tattoo on his chest, with the weapon pointed at his throat.

Long-time fans disliked the new tattoo and MMA fans ridiculed him because of it. That being said, the skull signifies strength, the demon head symbolizes his persona, and the predator defines who he is as a competitor. The sword tattoo is no different, as it means a great deal to Lesnar. It is motivation fuel and a reminder of the awful period after his WWE departure.

In WWE, Lesnar was pushed as the next big thing. His initial contract was worth a quarter of a million dollar dollars. That was a lot of money for Lesnar back then, but once he got onto the main roster, he kept raking in millions and millions.

Brock Lesnar v Big Show Judgment Day 2003 Cropped

Brock Lesnar Flopped In The NFL

Unfortunately, this came at a mental and physical price, and Lesnar found himself spiraling into depression as the constant travel and consistent injuries led him to consuming a lot of alcohol and pain pills. Eventually, Lesnar wanted out, and while he got his wish, Lesnar left on pretty bad terms with an awful deal. Vince McMahon was a ruthless business, and according to what Lesnar wrote in his book, he was presented with a no-compete contract, his only ticket to getting released.

The former WWE champion was now unemployed. Lesnar then tried out for the NFL, but he suffered a motorcycle accident and consequently, his performance at the try out was compromised. With Lesnar under a no-compete clause, that meant he could not wrestle anywhere else but Vince McMahon's WWE.

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In his book, Lesnar said that he deeply regretted signing the no-compete clause against the wishes of his lawyers. He was desperate to get out and that was this ticket, but it came back to bite him as he was unable to wrestle anywhere else in the USA.

Brock Lesnar's New Tattoo Served As A Reminder Of His Struggles

Lesnar NFL

Lesnar was still addicted to alcohol and painkillers, but this time he was not making any money and the problems were piling up. He admitted that he was angry, bitter, and depressed, and felt that life held a knife to this throat. One day, Lesnar ended up a bar in Phoenix, Arizona and found a tattoo parlor right next door.

The former pro wrestling star went in, got a sword tattoo to symbolize what he felt at that time, and then he went on to turn his life around by becoming the UFC heavyweight champion. The rest is history. Turns out, all he needed was some motivation. Currently, Lesnar is wrestling royalty, and he is regarded as one of the most accomplished athletes in WWE history, and one of the biggest draws in MMA history.

According to Lesnar, that sword tattoo became a family crest. At that time, it was his inspiration to fight back and a reminder that he was a warrior, not a quitter. Most importantly, Lesnar mentioned that the tattoo was a reminder that the bad times and bad phases in your life only make you appreciate the good times even more.