In late 2005, Lashley joined WWE as a member of SmackDown. Lashley had the look and the power to be a formidable force on the blue brand. Years later in 2021, Lashley is one of the hottest commodities as he defeated The Miz on the March 1, 2021, episode of Raw to finally become the WWE Champion.

RELATED: 6 WWE Wrestlers Who Should Challenge Bobby Lashley For The WWE Championship (& 4 Who Shouldn't)

It was well long overdue, and there were some signs from Lashley's first batch of 10 pay-per-view matches that he was destined for greatness. Nonetheless, The Real Deal it mixed up with some of the very best in the business, and he was more than capable of holding his own by putting on some remarkable performances.

10 Bobby Lashley Vs. Simon Dean (No Mercy 2005)

On the September 23, 2005, edition of SmackDown, Bobby Lashley made his WWE debut and he defeated Simon Dean in his first televised match. However, that was not the end of their rivalry as Lashley made his pay-per-view bow against Dean at No Mercy 2005.

Dean being the arrogant heel that he is, proclaimed that he would eat all of the burgers that were present at ringside if he failed to defeat Lashley. That was a dangerous statement, and Lashley beat Dean with ease after utilizing his patented Dominator. The fitness guru paid the price, and he was involved in hilarious backstage skits with Lashley throughout No Mercy as he forced Dean to gobble the burgers, but he was clearly struggling.

9 Bobby Lashley Vs. William Regal & Paul Burchill (Armageddon 2005)

The early feuds of Bobby Lashley's WWE career were nothing spectacular but he was put through his paces by working with established in-ring performers. At Armageddon 2005, Lashley had a stern test by going head-to-head with the English duo of William Regal and his protege Paul Burchill in a two-on-one handicap match.

Burchill and Regal used the numbers advantage perfectly by dominating the early exchanges. Unfortunately, they were unable to keep up their intensity as Lashley raised his level. He powered through both men and planted Burchill with his Dominator for another easy victory.

8 Team SmackDown Vs. Team Raw (Survivor Series 2005)

In just his second appearance on pay-per-view, Bobby Lashley was already mixing it up with veterans at Survivor Series 2005. Lashley was still green but it was time for him to step up to the plate. The Real Deal was a member of Team SmackDown, who collided with Team Raw in the main event.

Lashley's partners were the World Heavyweight Champion Batista, Randy Orton, John Bradshaw Layfield, and Rey Mysterio. They collided with Raw's Shawn Michaels, World Tag Team Champions Kane and Big Show, Carlito, and Chris Masters. Lashley showed why he was The Real Deal as he plowed his way through Carlito, Masters, and Michaels. However, Lashley's involvement was brief as he was the first man eliminated when Kane illegally chokeslammed him, and HBK pinned him. D

7 Royal Rumble Match (Royal Rumble 2006)

Lashley made his Royal Rumble debut in the 2006 Royal Rumble match by entering eighth. Lashley had a brief staredown with Big Show, and he picked up The World's Largest Athlete in the World with ease.

RELATED: Every Royal Rumble Match From The 2000s, Ranked

Moreover, Show's Tag Team Championship partner Kane joined the fray, and Lashley showed his strength by nailing Kane with the Dominator. Lashley only registered a single-elimination by throwing Sylvan over the top rope rapidly. However, Lashley's dominance was short-lived as the reigning World Tag Team Champions collaborated by double chokeslamming him, and eliminated him afterward.

6 Team Cena Vs. Team Big Show (Survivor Series 2006)

For the second year in succession, Bobby Lashley was involved in a Survivor Series elimination match at the 2006 Survivor Series. Lashley was a member of Team Cena led by captain and WWE Champion John Cena. Kane, Sabu, and Rob Van Dam completed the lineup.

They collided with ECW Champion Big Show, MVP, Test, Umaga, and Finlay with Show the captain of his team. This was a solid outing from Lashley, who contributed to Test's elimination by executing a spear on him on the outside. Sabu took advantage and removed Test from proceedings. Furthermore, Lashley speared Finlay for his first official Survivor Series elimination, and he was a survivor alongside Cena after Big Match John executed his patented AA on Show.

5 Bobby Lashley Vs. John Bradshaw Layfield (No Way Out 2006)

Five months into his WWE career, Bobby Lashley still boasted an unbeaten record. At No Way Out 2006, Lashley clashed with former WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield. Before the match got underway, Finlay assaulted Lashley, and JBL tried to take advantage by making his way down to ringside.

This was a hard-hitting contest, and it is an underrated match between the two. Layfield was showing the effects of this clash by bleeding profusely under his eye. Finlay returned and he clocked Lashley with his Shillelagh. JBL executed a picture-perfect Clothesline From Hell to hand Lashley his first pinfall loss in a WWE ring.

4 Extreme Elimination Chamber Match (December To Dismember 2006)

It became abundantly clear that Lashley was receiving a push, and he was one of the favorites to win the ECW Championship inside the Elimination Chamber at December To Dismember 2006. This event is widely received as one of the worst pay-per-views in WWE history.

RELATED: The First 10 Elimination Chamber Matches, Ranked From Worst To Best

WWE's revival of ECW failed, and this iteration of the Elimination Chamber match was called an "Extreme Elimination Chamber match." Big Show defended his title in the unforgiving structure against Lashley, CM Punk, Test, Hardcore Holly, and Rob Van Dam. Punk was the sentimental favorite to win but he was eliminated first. Moreover, Lashley was the penultimate entrant and it was a dominant performance. He removed Test with a Spear, which left him and Show to do battle. Lashley destroyed Show, and the reigning champion wore the proverbial crimson mask. The Real Deal captured his first ECW Title, which led to Paul Heyman's departure as he believed that Punk should have prevailed.

Even if the wrong man won, the match was still a solid and brutal affair and most importantly, a great showing for Lashley.

3 Money In The Bank Ladder Match (WrestleMania 22)

The second edition of the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 22 featured three superstars from Raw and three from SmackDown. Lashley, Finlay, Matt Hardy, Rob Van Dam, Ric Flair, and Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin battled it out to be Mr. Money in the Bank.

However, despite having a fear of heights, Lashley put on a magnificent performance. He recovered from getting powerbombed off a ladder by Benjamin, Hardy, and Finlay. Lashley retaliated by knocking Benjamin and Finlay off the ladder by using another ladder as a weapon. Ultimately, he was on the receiving end of a few bumps with Van Dam going on to win the match.

2 Bobby Lashley Vs. Booker T (Judgment Day 2006)

After a four-year hiatus, The King of the Ring tournament returned but it was exclusive to SmackDown. Lashley feuded with Booker T, and it made sense that these two rivals would be on a collision course to be crowned as the 2006 King of the Ring winner in the tournament final at Judgment Day 2006.

This was another stellar performance on Lashley's resume, mixing it up with someone of the caliber of Booker. Lashley kicked out of Booker's Scissors Kick which Booker was in disbelief. However, Sharmell proved to be resourceful by distracting the referee, which allowed Finlay to hit Lashley with his trademark Shillelagh. Booker seized on the opportunity by nailing him with his patented Scissors Kick to become the new King of the Ring.

1 Bobby Lashley Vs. King Booker Vs. Batista Vs. Finlay (No Mercy 2006)

The biggest match in Lashley's WWE career at that point came at No Mercy 2006. Lashley competed in a Fatal 4-Way match for King Booker's World Heavyweight Championship which included Batista and Finlay. Originally, Lashley was due to challenge Booker for the title in a one-on-one match.

This was a high octane Fatal-4-Way match that was competitive, and all four had a good outing. Batista sustained a nasty cut to the head, which saw him ooze blood. In the closing stages, Batista executed his Batista Bomb on Finlay, and Lashley speared Batista, which allowed Booker to pick up the scraps by pinning Finlay to escape with his World Heavyweight Championship once more.

NEXT: The First 10 WWE World Heavyweight Champions, Ranked From Worst To Best