So much for pessimism over whether Triple H would put Brock Lesnar over at WWE Summerslam.
Though most critics applauded the booking and storytelling in this year’s Extreme Rules main-event, there remained some disapproval over WWE’s decision to give John Cena in the victory over Brock Lesnar. Lesnar, however, still looked strong in the bout, and in “breaking” Triple H’s arm in a follow-up on RAW, still kept much of his monster aura as he entered into the remainder of his contracted dates with WWE.
But would that momentum have been able to survive another loss? Skeptics were certain WWE would book Lesnar to lose at Triple H, a move that would have likely done significant harm to Lesnar’s marketability ahead of his next matches, one of which will certainly be a main-event at WrestleMania 29.
WWE did not take that risk Sunday, however, and booked Lesnar to defeat Triple H. After enduring two Pedigrees, Lesnar reversed a Triple H pinfall attempt with a kimura. He pulled guard, jerked his body to signify that he again “broke” Triple H’s arm, and The Game was forced to tap.
The submission concluded a fairly straightforward story; Lesnar spent much of the match working over Triple H’s once-injured arm until HHH finally gained some momentum by targeting Lesnar’s vulnerable stomach, a reference to his infamous battles with diverticulitis. Both men kicked out of the other’s finisher along the way, but it was Lesnar who ultimately left the ring the victor.
The crowd, which was not as excited for this match as some would have expected, notably booed Triple H after the match, with a vocal “you tapped out” chant consuming the arena. HHH was certainly not meant to come across as a heel or coward for his performance, so it was interesting to see the crowd turn on him to such an extent.
Using facials to reflect his disappointment and audible apologies to the crowd, HHH sold his frustration well, however, and slowly seemed to win some of the crowd back to his side. By the time the dejected Triple H made his way up the ramp, it appeared the majority of the audience–albeit a very slight majority–was in support of the babyface.
As the show went off the air, Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler questioned whether this was “goodbye” for The Game, who waved to the crowd while heading to the backstage area.