Bobby Lashley is one of the most dominant superstars in WWE history, with a list of achievements in a wide range of fields to rival almost anyone.

Lashley started with WWE in 2005, enjoying great success before surprisingly departing in early 2008. In the 10 years away before his 2018 return, he utilised his amateur wrestling background in MMA as well as winning 4 World Titles with TNA/Impact.

Since his return and particularly in the last two years, Lashley has hit new heights, establishing himself as one of the best superstars on the WWE roster with two WWE Championships to his name, as well as being the current US Champ.

Despite being so prominent on WWE TV, there is probably things about "The All Mighty" that fans are still unaware of, so GiveMeSport runs you through 10 things you didn't know about Bobby Lashley...


He was a National Wrestling Champion in college

Lashley was first introduced to amateur wrestling in 7th grade during the football off-season and went onto attend Missouri Valley College. Here, he was the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Wrestling Champion three straight years from 1996-1998 in the 177-pound category.

His wrestling career continued when he joined the US Army

Lashley followed his father into the US Army after completing his college degree, where he continued to compete in amateur wrestling. In his three years of service, he won a gold and silver medal in the International Military Sports Council senior freestyle event.

Bobby Lashley is one of the top stars in WWE right now

Lashley is one of WWE's biggest stars

His Olympic dream was cut short in a bizarre scenario

After leaving the army, his ambition was to make Team USA for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. In a wild turn of events, Lashley badly injured his knee diving for cover to avoid the gunfire of a bank robber. It ended his amateur wrestling career.

He won Rookie of the Year in 2005

After just a few dark matches, Lashley made his main roster TV debut in mid-2005. By the end of the year, he had already been a part of Team Smackdown in a Survivor Series match with Team Raw. As a result of his rapid development, he landed Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Rookie of the Year award.

He was the first ever African American ECW Champion

When he won the ECW Championship in 2006, he became the first ever African American ECW Champion. Mark Henry and Ezekiel Jackson later joined him.

Bobby Lashley open to a fight against Jake Hager

Bobby Lashley open to a fight against Jake Hager

He is one of only two men to win the WWE, ECW and Impact World Titles

Alongside RVD, Lashley is the only man to win these three titles, first capturing the ECW Championship inside the Extreme Eliminator Chamber in December 2006, then the Impact World Title in June 2014 and finally the WWE Title in March 2021. With ECW long since disbanded, it is highly unlikely anyone else will join this very exclusive club.

He is the second-oldest first-time WWE Champion

When Lashley defeated The Miz on the March 1st, 2021 episode of Raw, he became the second oldest first-time WWE Champion in history at the age of 44. The only man ahead of him is none other than Vince McMahon, who won the belt at 54 in 1999 before vacating it almost immediately.

He defeated Drew McIntyre in both WWE and Impact World Title matches

Lashley’s time in both Impact and WWE has seen him cross paths in both companies with Drew McIntyre (Drew Galloway in Impact). He has fought the Scottish Warrior for both titles, defeating him for the Impact World Title while defending it successfully against him at WrestleMania 37.

Drew McIntyre lost to Bobby Lashley at WWE WrestleMania 37

Drew McIntyre lost to Bobby Lashley at WWE WrestleMania 37

He had a very successful MMA career

After leaving WWE in 2007, Lashley stepped into the world of MMA. Over the next eight years, he had a 15-2 fight record across multiple promotions, notably Bellator and Strikeforce. His amateur wrestling and combat sports career is why his eventual match with Brock Lesnar had been so anticipated for so long.

He has two children with an ex-WWE superstar

Bobby has three children, two of whom are with former WWE superstar and his ex-girlfriend Kristal Marshall. Kristal’s time with WWE is best remembered for her on-air relationship with Smackdown General Manager Teddy Long, which ended with Long’s storyline heart attack at the wedding altar. Of course.