Brock Lesnar went off script at SummerSlam.
The Beast was defeated by Cody Rhodes at the WWE premium Live Event, being pinned following 3 consecutive Cross Rhodes by the WrestleMania main eventer, ending the rivalry with 2 victories for Rhodes and 1 for Lesnar.
After the match, Lesnar was seen removing his gloves and hugging Rhodes, acknowledging The American Nightmare as the victor. Following the event, it has been confirmed that the wholesome moment was not in the original plans.
Speaking at the SummerSlam Press Conference, Triple H simply stated the following about the post-match angle:
“Completely unplanned, completely in the moment.”
During Rhodes’ segment of the Press Conference, the SummerSlam victor commented on his return to the company, reflecting on his trilogy with Lesnar.
I got asked the question of, right after it was over, we were filming some behind the scenes content. I don’t think it’s dawned on me what a moment like that really means. This run, since I came back to WWE, has been consistently surprising to me in every way. I think that’s why I am so touched by it all. It’s real. It’s as real as it can get in this world. That will be something that I look at and have a very deep appreciation.
The guy also hocked a loogie on me in the middle of the match. He had given me more German suplexes, more F5s, F5s through tables, absolutely eviscerated me on many levels. Somehow, some way, I felt like there was this bond by battle in that final moment. I’m very grateful for what’s happened. I don’t want to wrestle Brock Lesnar again, but I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and to compete at his level.
The American Nightmare concluded by praising Lesnar as a once in a lifetime athlete:
When he’s gone, I don’t know when that’s going to be, because he can go, when he’s gone, I think the world will realize what we’ve got. He’s a unicorn, a very unique, once-in-a-lifetime individual. To have that moment at the end, I thought a lot about Brock, looking at him tonight, and it reminded me of how my dad [Dusty Rhodes] looked at Harley Race. I thought, maybe I’ve got my Harley Race, because there is nobody tougher. That was a special moment. I’ll know what it really meant in the days to come.”
Featured image: WWE
