WrestleMania 29 preview: Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H

No Holds Barred match with "The Game's" career on the line

Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar

When Lesnar returned to WWE and finished his quick business with John Cena, done to pop a good buyrate for Extreme Rules, he quickly moved on what he was apparently brought back solely for: a program with Triple H. Brock broke his arm twice, once in the lead-up to their match at SummerSlam 2012 and then again in the match itself. He gave a halfhearted retirement speech shortly after but it was always understood around the water cooler that a rematch would occur and now it's all set to go down later tonight (Sun., April 7, 2013) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at WrestleMania 29.

The Road to WrestleMania 29

After a long time away, Lesnar made his return during a segment where his manager, Paul Heyman, was in the middle of a performance review from WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. Actually, Vinny Mac was about to fire the weasel but because WWE Logic dictates that never actually saying the words means it isn't so, Brock interrupted in between the words "you're" and "fired," stopping Vince short.

He then delivered an F-5 that (kayfabe) broke McMahon's hip.

This was done for two reasons: 1) McMahon actually needed hip surgery and this was a great way to work it into storylines and, 2) This would be the tool used to get Triple H to come back into the fold.

After this happened and Vince had his surgery, he returned in a remarkably short time -- nothing new for the genetic jackhammer -- so he could set up a "fight" with Heyman. He went through with it too, getting just physical enough to overcome Heyman, leading to Lesnar coming out to save his manager.

And that led to Triple H's big return. And a monster brawl that saw Brock get bloody and "The Game" apparently piss his pants.

The next week on Raw, Triple H explained why he came back to battle the behemoth and revealed his intentions to challenge the big man to a match at WrestleMania 29.

Lesnar and Heyman responded to this by destroying the New Age Outlaws, Triple H's old running buddies in D-Generation X, and accepting the offer for a match at the "Showcase of the Immortals." But it came with a condition: Trips was told to blindly sign the contract, one that would have an added stipulation of their choosing.

"The Game" did, of course, agree to the match and signed the contract after a prolonged and uncomfortable segment with Heyman that saw him rip his clothes off and smack him around behind signing the contract and bringing out Lesnar for the big reveal.

The added stipulation is that it will be a No Holds Barred match and Triple H will be putting his career on the line.

Then on the go home edition of Raw, Triple H's old D-Generation X running buddy Shawn Michaels reappeared to give him a pep talk and announce that he would be in his friends corner at WrestleMania to watch him take out Lesnar.

This, of course, led to Brock making his way out so Heyman could make some magic with the microphone to provide a solid lead in to their match this weekend:

Here we go...

What's at Stake?

The stipulation the entire match was built on: Triple H's career as an active wrestler. It's important to note that WWE did not specify that he was putting his wrestling career on the line on television, but rather made mention in an article on its website that if he is to lose, he would simply disappear to work behind the scenes in his role as Chief Operating Officer.

It's close enough to reality that the smart fans get it and for the ones who don't, well, it still works.

Of course, an attempt was made by the writing team to explain away the issue of Triple H simply disappearing behind the curtain to work with a short interview where Heyman claimed that aspect of his career would also end because that's how bad the beating from Brock would be.

The big question we have to ask is whether or not "The Game" is willing to lose on his way out and whether or not he's willing to do it to Lesnar. He never did get his win back after losing to Brock at SummerSlam last year and Trips is an old school guy.

And in the old school, you get your win back when you do the job.

Then again, you also go out on a loss and put over the guy who will be sticking around because that's what's good for business. So if Triple H has no real plans to return for another run as an active wrestler, he should absolutely be laying down for the three count here.

We shall see if that's what happens.

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Although this match seems as predictable as can be, you can never rule out a swerve. Or, at the very least, the two of them could make it interesting and go all out within the match in the hopes that they'll steal the show over the other two big money matches taking place on the same night. You have to hold it in your mind that this could be Triple H's final match, even if you know it won't. Stay tuned, Cagesiders!