Brock Lesnar – The current WWE Champion captured the gold in extraordinary circumstances after being a last-minute entrant into the title bout at Day 1, but the drama surrounding the main event wasn’t the only noteworthy point about the big win.
As noted by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Lesnar’s latest reign – his sixth run with the title – comes 19 and a half years after his first, when he beat Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson at SummerSlam 2002.
This puts him beyond Hogan’s previous record, with the Hulkster’s most recent reign coincidentally starting earlier that same year – and also marking his sixth stint as champion – as he beat Triple H for the coveted prize.
It marked his first run with the title since he first stint began in 1984, meaning he had an 18-year gap between his first and last reigns.
It’s hard to imagine Lesnar breaking another of Hogan’s records though, with that initial stint lasting 1,474 days, putting the Hall of Famer in third place behind Bob Backlund (2,135) and Bruno Sammartino (2,803).
Of course, the Beast Incarnate is no stranger to making history as Brock was the first superstar to ever beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania, when he pinned the Dead Man to end The Streak eight years ago.
Before that night, ‘Taker had won 21 straight matches at the annual extravaganza, with many feeling like he would retire with the run in tact.
However, it wasn’t to be, and the Phenom would go onto compete in five more matches at the iconic event, with his only other loss coming at the hands of Roman Reigns.
Indeed, he felt like either the current Universal Champion or Bray Wyatt – who lost to ‘Taker at WrestleMania 31 – would have been been a better fit for the honour of ending the Streak.
‘I think Roman Reigns or Bray Wyatt, it would have elevated them quicker to a higher status,’ he previously told Metro.co.uk. ‘I think probably Roman could have used the victory more so than anybody.’
He added: ‘I don’t think Brock needed that win. I had no problem doing it, obviously. I just don’t think he was the guy that needed it.’