>>5192511Bret Hart went over Steve Austin in that submission match and was gone from WWE later that year without Austin getting a real win back.
It worked. It even got Austin more over.
Stop reading "How to Book Wrestling 101" and thinking that textbook knowledge applies universally to every situation. Sometimes, yes, the older dude goes over the younger dude in their retirement match or in a high profile match on the way out and it helps the younger talent regardless.
It's all about story in the end. Especially if we're talking about a retiring babyface. If the heel plays their role well, or if it serves the story for the babyface to go over, then you put the babyface over, period.
