WrestleMania 42 delivered one of its most unexpected moments on Sunday as Nigerian professional wrestler Isaac Odugbesan, better known as Oba Femi, defeated WWE icon Brock Lesnar in under five minutes during a headline clash that sent shockwaves through the wrestling world.
The 27-year-old, making his WrestleMania debut, overpowered the 10-time WWE Champion in a match that flipped dramatically after an early exchange of dominance. The result instantly became one of the night’s most talked-about storylines.
The encounter began with both athletes testing each other’s strength, with Lesnar briefly gaining control through a series of aggressive takedowns and signature offence. However, the momentum shifted as Femi absorbed the pressure and gradually asserted dominance.
Lesnar managed to land his trademark F5, but Femi recovered quickly, countering with a chokeslam that changed the tone of the match completely. The Nigerian star then sealed the victory with his devastating “Fall From Grace” sit-out powerbomb to secure the pinfall.
What followed added even more intrigue to the result, as Lesnar left his wrestling gear in the ring after the match — a symbolic gesture in professional wrestling often interpreted as retirement or a farewell signal, though no official statement has been made.
Oba Femi, also known as “The Ruler,” has risen rapidly within WWE since signing through the company’s NIL programme in 2021. A former shot put athlete from Lagos, he transitioned from track and field to wrestling and quickly established himself as one of the company’s fastest-growing stars.
Before his main roster breakthrough, Femi built an impressive résumé in NXT, where he became a two-time NXT Champion and also held the NXT North American Championship. He also won the 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament and the 2024 Iron Survivor Challenge.
Social media exploded after the upset victory, with fans praising the Nigerian star’s performance and debating what the result means for Lesnar’s future in WWE.
The post-match buzz intensified further when Femi addressed fans during the WrestleMania Sunday post-show, directing a message toward Roman Reigns, the “Original Tribal Chief,” hinting at a possible title pursuit before the end of the year.
