Celebrating 5 great Luke Harper and Brodie Lee moments from WWE, AEW

5) Brodie Lee/Luke Harper confronts the Viper

Brodie Lee / Luke Harper had huge potential as a babyface in the spring of 2017.

Trying something different, WWE decided to cast Brody Lee (then Luke Harper) as a babyface in the spring of 2017. Having been a central pillar of the Wyatt Family for a number of years, Harper seemed poised to break out as a singles competitor.

Growing wary of Randy Orton's true motives within the family, Harper added another layer to his character, displaying a willingness to go it alone and chart a new path forward. The fractured relationship between Orton and Harper led to a one-on-one match at Elimination Chamber, arguably the biggest of Harper's career up until that point.

Opting not to capitalize on Harper's newfound fan support, WWE had Orton pick up the victory, badly undercutting his momentum at a critical career juncture. While a program against his former leader Bray Wyatt for the WWE championship felt like an obvious direction to take, sadly, this was the closest Harper would come to a main event push in WWE.

Remembering Brodie Lee

Brodie Lee made up for a lot of lost time by showcasing his skills on the microphone in AEW.

The tragedy of Brodie Lee's death will be felt by fans across the globe for some time, particularly for those who were fortunate enough to see him perform on the independent scene, as a member of the Wyatt family, or most recently as the leader of The Dark Order in AEW.

In 2020, Brodie Lee finally had the opportunity to deploy his skills in a more creative and fulfilling environment, quickly making up for the lost time spent being mishandled on the WWE roster. His nine-month tenure with AEW saw Brodie Lee climb to new heights as a performer, both on the microphone and in the ring. The tone and tenor of his mic work added credence to the belief that Brodie Lee was badly miscast by WWE as a mute.

It is a great shame that Brodie Lee never had the chance to perform in front of a stadium full of appreciative AEW fans. His coronation moment as TNT Champion would have made for a great moment in a live crowd setting. Irrespective of his role as a heel character, Brodie Lee capturing singles gold would have yielded a massive reaction from fans familiar with the struggle and toil endured over the course of his WWE run.

Brodie Lee leaves a legacy that will forever be remembered among professional wrestling fans worldwide. Versatility, perseverance, individuality are just some of the words that capture the essence of Brodie Lee's distinguished career. Gone far too soon.