Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar from SummerSlam 2012 is a feud that should have been one of the event's greatest. The industry icons had never had a feud of any kind. It was not only a fresh match, it was a dream match and WWE knew it. One of the only big-money bouts left for it to promote, WWE slated the titanic clash to occur on August 19 at the summertime spectacular. Disappointing booking, unsustainable momentum and two guys with very little chemistry made for a disappointing program and an unsatisfying main event. The inability by Triple H to recognize Lesnar's weakness and craft a match designed to hide them only hurt matters. Rather than a heated brawl that played up the intensity of their rivalry and the violence each looked to inflict on one another, The Game guided the Beast Incarnate through a more traditional wrestling match. Unimpressed with what was unfolding before them, the fans inside Los Angeles' Staples Center sat quietly, popping only for the occasional high spot. By the time Lesnar forced a submission with the Kimura armbar, the crowd could not be happier for the disappointing main event to conclude an uneventful SummerSlam pay-per-view. Unfortunately, the program would rage on well into 2013. Triple H and Lesnar worked an equally disappointing No Holds Barred match before wrapping things up with a slightly better Steel Cage match. It was a welcome conclusion for a rivalry that never lived up to its promise.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
