Reports: Brock Lesnar And Chris Jericho Fought Over Bloody SummerSlam Ending

Sunday’s SummerSlam ended with Brock Lesnar opening up a huge gash on Randy Orton’s head via a series of very real punches and elbows. As is often the case when blood is spilled in the ring, it was hard to tell whether Lesnar tearing a hole in Orton’s head was a work, but a pair of reports from the aftermath of the match suggest that Lesnar went further than he was expected to.

The first report came from the Wrestling Observer’s, who described a backstage clash between Lesnar and Chris Jericho, who was concerned that Orton had been seriously hurt and angry at Lesnar for taking things too far. Meltzer reports that the two got into a shoving match, and that Lesnar challenged Jericho to either punch him or kiss him.

This version of events was later confirmed by Pro Wrestling Insider who reports that the Lesnar-Orton match was supposed to end with Lesnar “knocking out” Orton—something which had apparently been kept secret from the locker room—but that the blood was unplanned. From Johnson’s story:

There have been a few versions of what happened next floating around since Meltzer’s initial report but the version that has been relayed to me that most feel is correct is that Lesnar (perhaps not realizing that Jericho was upset) made a comment that exacerbated the situation with Jericho then confronting Brock and even “backing him up.”

It was described to me by someone I spoke to that at that point, each of them them waited for the other to throw a first punch with Lesnar allegedly remarking that Jericho should either punch him or kiss him.

It’s not surprising that Jericho would be upset over what happened to Orton given that Lesnar, who has another successful career as an MMA fighter, is known for taking things too far in the wrestling ring and causing real physical harm to his opponents. Pro wrestlers already take plenty of damage, and it’s hard to imagine any of them appreciating an opponent who makes what they do even riskier than it already is.

[WWE]