3 Mistakes WWE made during Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi at Clash in Italy

Brock Lesnar ran it back with Oba Femi at WWE Clash in Italy. The match delivered plenty of hard-hitting action and memorable moments. However, several creative decisions left fans scratching their heads.

Although Lesnar ultimately picked up the victory, WWE may have made a few mistakes that prevented the bout from reaching its full potential.

This article will look at three mistakes WWE made during the Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi at Clash in Italy.

#3. Oba Femi getting back into the ring at the count of eight made little sense

One of the biggest talking points from the match came near the finish when Oba Femi found himself on the outside. This was after he absorbed a brutal beating from The Beast Incarnate.

After taking multiple devastating moves, Femi struggled to his feet as the referee’s count continued. However, he somehow managed to walk back into the ring at the count of eight, only to get pinned a few minutes later.

The sequence raised several questions. If WWE wanted to protect Femi, allowing him to be counted out after enduring a war could have been a reasonable finish. Instead, the young star returned to the ring and still got pinned a few minutes later.

The decision seemingly made The Ruler look less intelligent than resilient. Fans understand that babyfaces are supposed to fight until the end. However, there is a fine line between showing heart and making questionable decisions. The count-out tease created drama. Still, the payoff seemingly didn’t justify the setup.

#2. The match featured far too many F5s

The F5 has been one of the most protected finishers in WWE history. For years, a single F5 was enough to put away some of the biggest names in the industry. However, that wasn’t the case at Clash in Italy.

Throughout the match, Brock Lesnar repeatedly planted Oba Femi with the devastating maneuver. By the time the bout ended, fans had witnessed approximately seven F5s before Femi finally stayed down for the three-count.

Although WWE clearly wanted to portray Oba Femi as a monster capable of surviving punishment that few others could endure, the execution may have been excessive.

Pro wrestling finishers are designed to showcase a superstar’s most powerful and dangerous moves. Hence, when the same finisher, like the F5, is used repeatedly in a single match, it loses its surprise and impact. Hence, instead of thrilling the audience, the repeated execution of the same move makes it predictable and less exciting.

A shorter sequence with fewer finishers could have achieved the same goal while maintaining the move’s aura.

#1. WWE effectively buried Brock Lesnar’s finisher

The biggest mistake WWE made during the match was the long-term damage seemingly done to Brock Lesnar‘s signature move.

The F5 has finished legends, world champions, and even top attractions throughout Lesnar’s career. It has always been portrayed as one of the company’s most devastating finishers.

However, having Oba Femi kick out of or survive multiple F5s significantly weakened that perception.

Protecting rising stars is important, especially someone with the potential of Oba Femi. Yet WWE may have gone too far in its effort to establish him as an unstoppable force. When a finisher requires six or seven attempts to secure a victory, it risks losing the credibility that made it special in the first place.

The match certainly elevated Oba Femi. However, it also raised concerns about the future effectiveness of Lesnar’s most iconic weapon. Going forward, the company may need to rebuild the F5’s reputation if it wants fans to view it as the match-ending move it once was.