Zeus destroys him. I wouldn't consider the Hulk and Zeus fight as anything to hold as evidence of anything though. That was a calm Hulk that went to Zeus to sacrifice his life for his family to get rewarded for aiding in defeating Chaos King.
He wasn't WB. But...thats it. He was still WWH levels. He did go to make a sacrifice, but it wasn't that he wasn't trying. He was making a sacrifice because he knew how outmatched he was and that he didn't have a chance. He still tried to fight.
He tried to "plea". He was also in a calm state as well (not WWH levels). He tried to fight but he wasnt fighting anywhere close to his Prime or WWH levels. Against he went there to kill himself, not to beat Zeus.
He came there to fight. And he very impressively fought his way to Zeus' front porch. Why are you saying he was calm? He didn't really have time to be in contorted rage (what with puking up his blood and all) but that doesn't mean he was there to like chat. Hulk was there to fight and die. Correct. But not from lack of trying to win. He was there to die because he knew he could not win. And since the hulk of that time without being WB was for all intentions and purposes WWH level...he was WWH level.
There were instances where Hulk tried to reason with him during the fight and actually asked Zeus to repay the Hulks for what they did. Hulk didn't have a choice but to fight all the way to Zeus front porch because let's not forget, they attacked Hulk first.
He was in a calm state. He wasn't in a pissed state like WWH was. There was nothing stated before or after that fight that "Hulk believed he couldn't beat Zeus". I don't know where you got that from.
Because then it doesn't make sense. This what you're saying: "I'm gonna go let Zeus beat the puke outta me and hope he gives me my wish. I'll be there to die though." This is what I'm saying: "I'll fight Zeus until he gives me my wish. I'll die fighting if I have 2."
Hulk always scream and what Hulk meant by that is that if they interfered, Zeus might not grant Hulk what he came there for. He wasnt there to fight Zeus or to beat him to a pulp, he was there to reason with him, ask him to grant his family the peace that they deserve. That WWH power was not there during that scuffle.
Yet he wasn't calm...and seeing as how his power responds to his rage...
I honestly don't see how you can say he was there to reason lol. He purposely antagonized him as well as rushed and struck him while his back was turned. That was no debate.
Hulk was there to win his family what it deserved. He just knew he couldn't win. He's not stupid. He plain and well knew Zeus was well above him. Unless you're saying hulk was there thinking he had to hold back against Zeus lol? So.....Unless there is anything else to the contrary it was WWH. The same one that fought the heroes. Just not WB obviously.
Zeus beat the snot out of the Hulk literally, and there really aren't any take backs, or but he coulda, or shoulda did anything. Until the Hulk steps to Zeus again and wins (which he won't) Zeus is the Champ. HP DD would get the beats as well. All Hulk lovers should also keep in mind, Zeus would own nearly anyone below mid Sky Father, so this is not necessarily a bad thing. The Hulk just picked a plate that was too big for him to eat.