Franklin Roberto Lashley, better known as Bobby Lashley, began as a NAIA student-athlete and reached the mountaintop as a WWE Champion. Off the mat, he has launched successful digital ventures aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and the sport of wrestling.

After graduating high school, he elected to be a Viking at Missouri Valley College where he was a member of the men’s wrestling team. During his freshman season, Bobby earned All-American honors as he finished fourth in the 167-lb weight class. After moving to 177 for his sophomore campaign, he finished the national tournament as a champion – something he would go on to repeat in his junior and senior seasons. Lashley was a large contributor in Missouri Valley capturing the 1996 and 1997 team titles.

With a trophy case featuring innumerable awards, some highlights from his amateur career include being a high school state champion and runner-up, three time NAIA champion, college wrestler of the year.

In 1999, Lashley graduated from MVC with a bachelor's degree in human-service agency management and recreation administration. After college, he joined the United States Army following in his father’s footsteps. He didn’t stay away from wrestling long as he competed in the army's World Class Athlete Program. During his three years in the Army, Bobby won a gold and silver medal in the International Military Sports Council senior freestyle wrestling event

After finishing his military service, Lashley put his sights on qualifying for the US Olympic Team for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. Unfortunately, during his time training his amateur career ended when he suffered a knee injury that required surgery.

Turning professional, he signed with World Wrestling Entertainment and debuted in 2005 appearing on SmackDown and won his first United States Championship. The next year, he was on the ECW brand and was the first wrestler of African-American decent to hold the title. Lashley did it twice.

In 2008, he pivoted and began competing in mixed martial arts with his first professional fight occurring in December. From 2008-2014, he won 10 out of the 12 fights he competed in alongside his professional wrestling matches. Lashley signed with Bellator MMA, winning all five of his bouts.

In 2009, Lashley began appearing in professional wrestling promotion Impact, which was known as TNA (Total Nonstop Action) at the time. Four-times he was the World Heavyweight Champion, one time X Division Champion, and earned the title of King of the Mountain.

Before the 2018 season, Bobby rejoined WWE, this time under the Raw brand, becoming a two-time Intercontinental Champion and winning two more United States Championship. He ultimately won the WWE Championship twice, becoming the third African-American to hold the WWE Championship belt.

Off the mat, he has made appearances in the WWE video game multiple times and has been in five motion pictures, two television shows, and one music video. His business ventures have included opening a health food shop and the launch of the Lashley Network. These digital brands encompass his official gym, nutrition stores, and social media outlets.

During the 2022 NAIA Men’s Wrestling Championship bouts on March 5^th, Lashley was a special guest much to the delight of the crowd and the wrestlers on site. It marked 25 years since he won his second NAIA individual title and MVC won the team championship. He was also present to honor longtime Missouri Valley coach Mike Machholz.

This year, he is back at the NAIA Championships to pick up some hardware. He is the newest inductee into the NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame, doing so during a special reception this evening.