5 WWE SummerSlam backstage dramas: 2-time World Champion threatened to quit, altercations involving Brock Lesnar and Batista

#2 Chris Jericho’s confrontation with Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2016

Brock Lesnar defeated Randy Orton via TKO in the main event of WWE SummerSlam 2016, but the biggest story following the show revolved around Chris Jericho and his off-screen confrontation with The Beast.

Jericho, who teamed with Kevin Owens to defeat Big Cass and Enzo Amore in the opening match of SummerSlam 2016, watched on from backstage as Lesnar busted Orton open with a series of elbows to his SummerSlam opponent’s head.

Concerned about Orton’s well-being, Jericho wanted to know whether Lesnar was supposed to legitimately hurt The Viper at SummerSlam or whether he had gone too far, but nobody would give him a straight answer.

The nine-time Intercontinental Champion confirmed in a September 2016 interview on Chael Sonnen’s podcast that the SummerSlam altercation took place. However, he was reluctant to reveal exactly what happened.

“I’m not the type of person to back down from anybody — to my detriment. Hothead fire off and we were in each other’s face and that happens sometimes. I guess I kind of have a reputation for it too, I never back down. In the case of guys his size, they think people are just going to wilt, and most people do ... I’m glad he didn’t eat me. Basically, there was a face-to-face confrontation and I’ll leave the rest between the two of us.” [H/T Forbes]

Pro Wrestling Sheet’s Ryan Satin reported after SummerSlam that Vince McMahon eventually calmed the situation down by telling Jericho that the main-event finish was scripted.