We are four nights removed from the biggest show of the summer, WWE SummerSlam and the main event between Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar. To be perfectly honest, most of the matches on the card did not leave a lasting impression. However, this one did and then some. Randy Orton lost to Brock Lesnar via TKO. Many speculated on how close to script the finish of this match was.
In the closing minutes of the match, Lesnar drilled Orton in the head repeatedly with savage elbow strikes. The second one busted Orton wide open, leaving a puddle of blood in the ring. The referee and even the medical staff attempting to tend to Orton, looked completely baffled. Superstars in the back were confused, even agitated by the juice that was spilled. Locker room veteran Chris Jericho was backstage at gorilla position right near the entrance ramp and was demanding answers. This led to an altercation between Jericho and Lesnar that several people, including WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and C.O.O. Paul “Triple H” Levesque, had to break up. Well sources have now revealed that the finish to the match was a complete work.
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the finish was planned, however was put together that very day. Orton was told earlier that day that this wouldn’t be a standard main event that he expected to perform in. Creative wanted not only a squash match that would make Lesnar look like a dominant monster, but with the finish, what they wanted was to create a scenario where nobody knew where reality ended and where people thought Brock Lesnar was going against what was scripted.
Though people have given Orton a hard time for allegedly not being a team player or manipulating to get his way in the past, I have to give props to Randy. He went along with this huge impromptu change with nary a complaint.
Did you enjoy the finish to the main event of SummerSlam? Did it leave a bad taste in your mouth? Or are you still baffled by the booking of this match?
