10 Fascinating WWE SummerSlam 2003 Facts

4. Triple H Worked With A Serious Groin Injury

shawn michaels triple h elimination chamber summerslam 2003
WWE.com

For more than three weeks before the pay-per-view, Triple H abstained from in-ring performances, owing to a painful groin injury suffered some time in mid-July. The plan was always for Goldberg to be the one to end Helmsley's reign, but WWE wanted the title change to mean something, and for it to be a one-on-one match.

The injury prevented Triple H from doing much of anything physical, and the Chamber match was constructed as a way to disguise his limitations. What could not be disguised were the hideous bicycle shorts that Triple H wore in this time frame, likely serving as additional protection for his injury.

Helmsley did about 90 seconds of work after his pod opened, and even got to play dead for a spell when Michaels superkicked him (right as he entered). His interaction with Goldberg was brief, owing to his agonizing state, and the blowoff was postponed until September.

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Justin has been a wrestling fan since 1989, and has been writing about it since 2009. Since 2014, Justin has been a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine. Justin also writes for History of Wrestling, and is a contributing author to James Dixon's Titan series.