Articles on Triple H
Marked Man
"A man's greatest work is to break his enemies, to drive them before him, to take from them all the things that have been theirs, to hear the weeping of those who cherished them, to take their horses between his knees and to press in his arms, the most desirable of their women."-Genghis Khan 13th century
Passion. That's what brought Triple H back to the World Wrestling Federation after an eight-month absence. That's what got him through all those grueling weeks of physical rehabilitation to rebuild his ravaged left leg after the quadriceps tear suffered on Raw last May. Passion for the business is something Triple H possesses in his heart and soul. A driving force which has enabled him to place himself among the all-time greats through sheer will.
There's no questioning his dive and determination. Just the fact that he's back is testament enough to that. But one has to wonder if Triple H fully realized what he was getting into by lacing up the boots once again. Now more than ever before, he is a walking target. Before, he was merely one of the top-echelon Federation Superstars, which made him enough of a target to begin with. But since his return, he has developed a near-legendary aura that sets him apart as a true icon of the sport. In short, he may as well have painted a bull's-eye on his chest. In the cutthroat world of sports-entertainment, legends are never respected; they are looked upon as hungry competitors as a means of achieving power. As Ric Flair says, "To be the man, you've gotta beat the man." And right now, Triple H is "The Man."
For the first time in recent memory, he has no real allies. D-Generation X is a thing of the past. The McMahon-Helmsley Faction is long gone. Even his Two-Man Power Trip with Stone Cold Steve Austin quietly dissolved a while ago. For the "Cerebral Assassin," it truly is lonely at the top. And the bottom line is that for all his accomplishments, he has never proven that he can handle this kind of pressure over the long term.
In fact, there are dark rumors developing in the Federation locker room and among the industry insiders. Rumors that perhaps Triple H is not the man he once was. That certainly isn't the case physically, as anyone who's seen him on TV lately can attest. But what about mentally? This isn't a knock on his passion for the sport, but is it possible that "The Game" has gone soft? That he's lost a little of his killer instinct?
After all, he's clearly no longer quite the ruthless, Machiavellian tyrant who ruled the ring with an iron fist from mid-1999 to mid-2001. He's warmed up to the fans now, and enjoys taking in their adulation, much like fellow fan favorite The Rock--a man whose entire philosophy once seemed completely alien to his own. No doubt about it: this is a kinder, gentler Triple H. He cares what people think of him. And a man who cares what people think of him will be less likely to take a sledgehammer to his enemies than a man who doesn't.
In the canvas jungle of the World Wrestling Federation, any perceived weakness is an instant signal to pounce for any number of unscrupulous individuals. But there are some Superstars who Triple H needs to remain particularly watchful of:
Chris Jericho. "Y2J" has long been a thorn in the side of Triple H. In the months since Triple H's injury however, Jericho has grown to much more than that. After years of struggling, he finally won "The Big One," besting both the Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin in a single night at Vengeance to become the first undisputed World Heavyweight Champion in 41 years. That's not a man to take lightly, no matter what has happened in the past.
Jericho has driven Triple H to some of the finest performances of his career, most notably the Last Man Standing match at Fully Loaded 2000. While it's true that Triple H came out on top the vast majority of the time, on each occasion Jericho learned a little bit more. Now that he has tasted a level of championship success unknown in the sport of kings for generations, Jericho has emerged among the elite himself. He may not be the "Living Legend" he fashions himself to be--at least, not yet--but he's also not the frivolous "Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Roll-a" seen in the past. Years of relentless competition in the squared circle have hardened him into a dangerous and cunning man, and his new, championship pedigree makes him a bigger threat than ever.
It's funny how the tables have turned. Now Jericho is hated by the fans, and Triple H is the exalted hero. But perhaps just as Triple H once did, Jericho can channel that hate and bile, and use it to achieve victory. At this point in his career, "Y2J" is the least likely to allow Triple H to stand in his way. Not after he's come so far and sacrificed so much. He will do anything in his power to return "the Game" the where he in fact sent him in the first place--a hospital bed.
Undertaker. If you think that Triple H has gotten over his crushing loss to the Deadman at WrestleMania X-7, you're just fooling yourself. It's rare that the "the Game" is cleanly defeated in such an important match, and there is nothing he can ever do to erase that blemish on his record. When it comes down to it, even the mighty Triple H himself couldn't end Undertaker's WrestleMania undefeated streak.
Prior to their rivalry early last year, Undertaker made it a point to mention that Triple H had never beaten him--and "the Game" was powerless to change that fact. Don't think he's forgotten it. He knows Undertaker has his number, even if he won't publicly let on that he knows. Triple H would be wise to avoid 'Taker at all costs if he wishes to continue his successful comeback.
Since Triple H last met him, Undertaker has become a bitter angry man. More vengeful than fans have ever seen him, he is now fueled by the need to humiliate his opponents and beat respect out of them. Undertaker knows that even though he once proved himself to be the better man, he never gained the respect of Triple H. We saw how 'Taker snapped when he felt Jim Ross was disrespecting him. Can you imagine how he feels about someone of Triple H's stature disrespecting him? Kurt Angle. Angle's situation is the opposite of 'Taker's. Instead of feeling superior to Triple H, Angle has clearly had insecurity problems since Triple H returned. He made almost no attempt to hid this fact, throwing fits backstage during January 7's Raw, the night of Triple H's return. Angle was clearly consumed by jealousy, and even went so far as to interrupt "the Game's" triumphant celebration in the ring.
In some ways, Angle's inferiority complex has made him exceedingly dangerous in his own right. Desperate men do desperate things. At this point, he is literally willing to do anything to derail Triple H. And despite how he may feel about himself, in some ways Angle is in fact superior to "the Game." (WHAT?!) For one thing, he has greater technical skill thanks to his Olympic background. There is nothing more threatening than someone who believes himself to be in inferior but is actually anything but.
Angle knows he needs another big win over Triple H to gain a greater amount of credibility in the eyes of the fans and Federation matchmakers. He got his first at last year's Royal Rumble, decisively defeating Triple H and preventing him from taking the Federation title from him in the process. That loss significantly bumped Triple H down the ladder of contention, and combined with the Undertaker defeat, did a lot of damage the "Cerebral Assassin's" aura of invincibility. Kurt Angle has come a long way from the goofy dork who failed at stealing Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley away from Triple H in the summer of 2000. Triple H would be wise to remember that.
Stone Cold Steve Austin. Of anyone in the World Wrestling Federation, Stone Cold Steve Austin has the most bizarre relationship with Triple H. They first crossed paths in October in 1996 at In Your House: Buried Alive Austin rose to dominance not long after, but Triple H would have to wait several more years before it would be "his time." He finally caught up with Austin in November 1999 when he orchestrated the heinous vehicular assault on the Rattlesnake that put him out of action for a full year.
Most fans figured Austin would never forgive Triple H for such an attack. At first it seemed so, when Stone Cold returned to the Federation and immediately tore into Triple H and his accomplice Rikishi. But it didn't take long before the two main-even Superstars appeared to bury the hatchet and join forces. But the so-called "Two-Man Power Trip" was just to volatile to last. The animosity was still there, and it became obvious once again when Austin showed absolutely no support for his fallen partner following his injury last May. Stone Cold had been using Triple H, just as he had used Vince McMahon and later the Alliance.
The reason he was using them was that at the time they seemed like the ticket to remaining at the top of the World Wrestling Federation. A remorseless and cynical character if there ever was one, the Rattlesnake was willing to temporarily ally himself with McMahon--who had once tried to bury his career--and Triple H--who had quite violently tried to end his career. Austin always said never to trust him, and certainly nothing has changed. Austin may have returned to the fans' favor these days, but rattlesnakes remain unpredictable; it is probably in "the Game's" best interest to refrain from reuniting with Austin.
In short, if Triple H is to have a prayer of surviving this multi-pronged attack, he must once again become the Triple H of old. The man who beat Mick Foley into retirement. The man who drugged Stephanie McMahon and told her from her father. The man who unflinchingly pounded Lita with a sledgehammer. His actions in those days were despicable and certainly not to be morally endorsed, but their results were indisputable. In the twisted landscape of sports-entertainment, his ultra-aggressive attitude was the key to success. And even though he has jumped back into the thick of things with impressive ease, if Triple H wishes to continue on this track for the long term, he must re-embrace his dark side. He must show no mercy. He must take no prisoners. Any other path leads to oblivion.
The Rating Game
Like it or not, people are never totally honest with one another. It's part of human nature, a matter of survival. Think about it: if you told an overbearing employer what you really thought about him (or her), you'd soon find your rear in the unemployment line. However, this cultivation of insincerity is more pronounced in the realm of entertainment, particularly in sports-entertainment.
In a place where competition is fierce and where pride and titles are constantly at stake, Federation Superstars can never be too sure just who is an ally and who is an enemy. thus, facades are fashioned, and Federation Superstars never truly know what others think of them.
With this in mind, World Wrestling Federation Magazine took the opportunity to ask various Superstars what they really think of one of the most controversial Superstars ever: Triple H.
Mick Foley: As everyone knows, Triple H and I have had more than our share of wars in the ring. He was the guy who ended my career, so there's not a lot of bad things I can say about him in the ring. But as a person, I could go on for days about what a jerk he is. Triple H is always calling himself "the Game," and going on about himself and his exploits, which leads me to believe that deep down he's pretty insecure. Who wouldn't be insecure after almost losing his wife to a guy like Kurt Angle?
Jim "J.R." Ross: As hard as it is for me to have to admit this, Triple H is one of the very best wrestlers I've ever seen. It's tough to admit because I also think Triple H is also one of the meanest, most sadistic SOBs I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with. The Intellectual Killer...the Cerebral Assasin. Triple H is so good, it's scary. His next World Wrestling Federation title reign--and there will be one--may last for years. Too bad he has to be such a jackass at times.
Kurt Angle: think he's nothing but a hypocrite. He's the kind of guy who is only out for himself. He has a wife he doesn't care about. I believe when Triple H came to this company, he had a plan--he wanted to take over. His plan worked to a certain extent, but now I think he's bitter because he's seen other athletes like me come here and have success, and it upsets him. He sees other athletes like me having a real, true friendship with his wife, and he can't handle it. I think the guy is a lying, conniving, arrogant person who doesn't care about anything but himself. That kind of person can only go so far. He may be a four- or five-time World Wrestling Federation Champion, but after a while he's going to self-destruct. Triple H is going to end up at the bottom of the barrel...and that is true!
Stone Cold Steve Austin: Before I left, Triple H was certainly up-and-coming. He hadn't exactly reached the top of his game, no pun intended. While I was gone, Triple H kind of re-defined himself, discovering exactly who and what he was--which turned out to be a pretty sick and evil &@$#@&. The whole year I was gone, he was the dominant force in the World Wrestling Federation. His in-ring skills--everything about his game--improved to a top level. I look forward to some classic, hellacious matches with him in the future. Personally, I think Triple H is a piece of trash. Professionally, he's as good as they come, and that's the bottom line. He's got an @$#-whoopin' comin' from Stone Cold Steve Austin. At Survivor Series, I had a revenge-type match with Triple H. I achieved that--dropped him and that car 40 feet. That kind of settled the revenge issue. Now, it's the classic battle of who's best--Stone Cold Steve Austin or Triple H. There's going to be some very interesting times comin' up.
Chris Benoit: Triple H is a man after my own cold heart. Ruthless, sadistic, cruel--what more could you ask for? We had some problems when I first came to the Federation, but he quickly brought me around to his way of thinking. How could I not respect someone with the same love for inflicting torture as myself? Of course, if Triple H thinks that because I respect him, it puts him a notch above me, I may still have to take him to the Crippler's school of pain.
Edge: Edge believes that Triple H is a h@ll of an athlete and a h@ll of a wrestler, but beyond that I don't think much of him. Personally, I think he has a rather large nose and a rather small sense of humor. Christian and I tried to do him justice by performing his theme music on a kazoo, as one of the many Edge & Christian greatest hits, but he didn't take kindly to that. So in my opinion, I respect Triple H as an athlete, but as a person, uh-uh.
Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley: I think Triple H is the most incredible man I have ever met in every capacity. He is "the Game," and he is that damn good--in the ring and out. Nobody else could possibly measure up.
Chris Jericho: What do I really think of Triple H? The first thing that comes to mind is respect. I have a lot of respect for him. Do I like him? No. Do I feel like kicking his @$#? Yes. But I will say that the Last Man Standing match we had at Fully Loaded is probably the best match I've had in the WWF. I still think "Triple H" stands for Huge Humongous Honker, and that his wife is a filthy, dirty, disgusting, bottom-feeding, trash-bag ho. Beyond all that, I guess you could say that I do have respect for the guy.
Test: Basically, Triple H is someone who's enjoying my leftovers right now. That's really all I've got to say about him.
That Damn Good: The Saga of Triple H
He's a four-time (now five) World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion, and a man whose drive, ingenuity, and work ethic has been an inspiration even to his enemies. Whether he's swinging his ever-present sledgehammer, using his signature "Pedigree" finisher to tie up an opponent's arms and drive his head into the mat, or simply humiliating his rivals on the microphone, Triple H is always "the Game."
The Triple H now universally regarded as one of the most captivating performers ever to step through the ropes is dramatically different than the athlete who began his World Wrestling Federation career in 1995 as Hunter Hearst-Helmsley. Billed as a rich brat from Greenwich, Connecticut, Hunter often came to the ring accompanied by a beautiful woman.
To some, his taste for the ladies was a sign of weakness in an otherwise flawless arsenal, as Helmsley didn't always live up to his potential. And when he blamed the sultry Sable for a loss, he compounded his problems by sparking a feud with her defender, Wildman Marc Mero. In one encounter, Helmsley suffered an embarrassing defeat to Mero when Sable distracted the man then known as "the American Blueblood." Regrouping, Hunter revealed a devious streak that would later become the stuff of legend, conspiring with one of the greats of a prior era--"Mr. Perfect" Curt Henning--to take down the Wildman.
On October 21, 1996, Perfect showed up at the arena, pretending to be an ally of Mero's. But when the Wildman clashed with Helmsley, the former Superstar turned on Mero and helped the American Blueblood win his first Intercontinental Championship.
Still, Hunter wasn't the only dirty player in the World Wrestling Federation. Like Helmsley, another youngster was striving for recognition and believed an Intercontinental title win could achieve that end. Rocky Maivia and Helmsley had tangled before, feeling each other out and seemingly understanding that when they clashed in the future, the stakes would be higher. On February 13, 1997, they battled for Hunter's Intercontinental title. Suddenly, the flamboyant, unpredictable Goldust appeared, diverting the titlist's attention. Seizing the moment, Maivia--soon to be known as The Rock--pounced, pinning Helmsley and winning the title.
Rocky's win was overshadowed by a bizarre incident at ringside. During the clash, a striking, muscular woman emerged from nowhere and assaulted Goldust's manager Marlena. Fans marveled at the lady who'd seen be dubbed "the Ninth Wonder of the World." His loss notwithstanding, observers hailed Hunter as a genius for "discovering" Chyna and hiring her as his special bodyguard.
With Chyna by his side, Hunter won the 1997 King of the Ring, beating Ahmed Johnson in the semifinals and Mick "Mankind" Foley in the final. Then, in a move that shocked mat watchers, Helmsley invited Chyna to join him in battering Mankind with the crown and scepter that had been awarded to the winner of the tournament.
Rechristening himself Triple H, Hunter--with Chyna and the late Rick Rude--joined forces with the "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
With his swiveling hips and daredevil maneuvers in the ring, Michaels was arguably the most intriguing World Wrestling Federation Superstar at the time. He also happened to be Triple H's best friend.
On television, the group behaved the way they did in the dressing room, putting on outrageous skits about rival Superstars and always pushing the envelope on decency. When former World Wrestling Federation Champion Sergeant Slaughter--a onetime drill instructor then serving as the WWF's Commissioner--tried to tone down the group's antics, Triple H humiliated him in a No-Holds-Barred "Boot Camp" match. Later Slaughter tried to gain a measure of revenge by ordering Michaels to defend his World Wrestling Federation European Championship against his stable mate. When the duo locked up, though, Triple H and the Heartbreak Kid laughed and smirked in the ring before Michaels simply laid down on the mat and allowed his friend to pin him, making a mockery of the title.
Michael's perennial rival Bret "Hit Man" Hart was among those disgusted by the group's displays and derided them as "degenerates."
Instead of being offended, the rowdy clique celebrated the label. calling themselves "D-Generation X," then then simply "DX." Today, many credit the unit with transforming the World Wrestling Federation into an organization with cutting-edge "Attitude."
On March 29, 1998, Michael's lost his World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV. Historians would later claim that the "Steve Austin Age" of the World Wrestling Federation officially began on this night. But a new era for DX was also dawning.
For months, HBK had been suffering from numerous injuries, but concluded that as WWF Champion, he could not afford to take time away from the ring. Now, with the title in Austin's possession, HBK went on sabbatical, and Triple H became the de facto head of DX, joined by Chyna, X-Pac and the New Age Outlaws tag team of Badd Ass Billy Gunn and Road Dogg Jesse James.
Even after finally losing the European title to D'Lo Brown, Hunter's momentum continued to build. At Summer Slam '98 at New York's Madison Square Garden, he engaged in what at the time was the most important battle of his life, a grueling ladder match against the Rock--with Triple H's old foe putting up his Intercontinental crown.
To no one's surprise, the metal stairway was used as a weapon. Triple H executed a baseball slide into the object, cutting open his adversary's head. The Rock delivered his People's Elbow onto the ladder, squashing the champion, who happened to be positioned underneath. The Rock's ally Mark Henry intervened, tossing powder into the titlist's face. But Chyna evened the score, hitting the Rock with a low blow, thereby allowing Hunter to scale the steps and snatch the IC belt which was suspended from the arena ceiling.
The new Intercontinental kingpin limped out of the fight with a knee injury. Title defenses became few and far between, and two months after Summer Slam, Triple H was stripped of the championship.
An eight-man tournament was held to determine the next titlist. Triple H made his preference no secret: fellow DX member X-Pac. But when X-Pac fell to Ken Shamrock in the finals, "the Game" was ordered to hand over the belt.
All was not peaceful in DX, however. After a brief feud with one another, Triple H and Chyna joined Federation owner Vince McMahon's "Corporation," believing better opportunities awaited them if they sided with the boss. But the pair remained competitive. In the weeks leading up to Summer Slam '99, both expressed a desire to win the World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship and were placed in a Triple-Threat match with Undertaker for the No. 1 contender's slot. In the pandemonium that followed, Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin inserted himself into the fray, flooring Triple H and allowing Chyna to score the pin on her associate.
Before a Chyna/Triple H clash could be staged, though, Mankind challenged--and defeated--the Ninth Wonder of the World for the No. 1 contender's position.
Thus, on August 22, 1999 at Summer Slam, Triple H found himself in another Triple-Threat donnybrook, this time with Mankind and Stone Cold--with Austin's title at stake. With special referee--and recently elected Minnesota governor--Jesse "the Body" Ventura officiating, Mankind slipped his signature sweat sock "Mr. Socko" on his right hand and jammed it down Austin's throat to disable the champion and take the title.
Triple H looked on helplessly as Foley was awarded the prize. Overcome with frustration, "the Game" attacked Austin with a chair after the contest, temporarily placing him out of commission. Then, the next night, the "Cerebral Assassin" demanded the right to challenge Mankind in his first title defense. Never one to back down from a dare, Foley agreed.
Shane McMahon was the special referee in the contest, but he seemed to be biased in favor of the No. 1 Contender. When Mankind had his rival in a pinning combination, Shane refused to log the fall. Foley's response: introducing Shane to Mr. Socko--a fate Chyna also suffered when she drifted too close to the action. Chyna eventually recovered and helped Triple H batter his opponent outside the ring, prompting The Rock to enter the ring and go after the "Cerebral Assassin." But "the Game" was determined to win back his title, and even the People's Champion could not derail him. After Triple H hammered both the Rock and Mankind with a chair. Shane rolled the champion into the ring, where the challenger delivered a Pedigree and covered Foley, as a second referee counted to three.
The victory seemed to realign the new champion's priorities. He renewed his alliance with his original DX partner, Shawn Michaels, who while working as WWF commissioner chose friendship over corporate responsibility, and assisted "the Game" in a title defense over the Rock.
Never comfortable in his role as a lackey to the World Wrestling Federation owner, the champion not only severed his ties with Vince McMahon but actually wrestled him for the title.
When Mr. McMahon's wife Linda scheduled a title defense against Steve Austin, Triple H resoundingly disapproved, and menaced Linda on television to emphasize his displeasure. When Vince came to her aid, the titlist further disgraced the honcho by questioning his manhood. Perhaps naively, McMahon challenged the brazen kingpin to a match on September 14, 1999. Triple H not only consented, but agreed to allow Shane McMahon--then aligned with his father--to act as special referee.
Despite the odds, Triple H had a relatively easy time with both McMahon's crashing Vince through a table and cracking a chair across Shane's cranium. But "the Game" never expected Austin to shift the tide of the match. Out of nowhere, the Texas Rattlesnake appeared, executed a Stone Cold Stunner on the titlist and placed Vince on top to score the win.
McMahon's reckless bravado has always been a source of pride to the WWF owner, but he wasn't foolhardy enough to believe that he could run a billion-dollar company and defend the title at the same time. Days after the stunning triumph, he relinquished the championship, and Triple H won it back on September 26, in a special "Six-Pack Challenge" against the Rock, Kane, Mankind, Big Show and British Bulldog.
Once again, "the Game" ruled the World Wrestling Federation. But behind the scenes, Triple was said to be worried about another confrontation with Austin, who vowed to recapture the title at the 1999 Survivor Series in a Triple-Threat match against "the Game" and the Rock. Before the contest could be held, Austin was hit by a car in the underground parking garage of the Joe Louis Arena. While fans and Superstars speculated about the identity of the driver, Big Show was substituted in Austin's place. With Vince McMahon's help, Big Show shocked the sports-entertainment world, capturing Hunter's championship after a choke-slam.
In Vince McMahon, Triple H had met an adversary more cunning than himself. The dethroned titlist was anxious to outshine his boss, but knew that it would take a special type of evil resourcefulness to achieve that end. Just beating up the World Wrestling Federation owner wouldn't do. Triple H decided to hit McMahon where he was most vulnerable, targeting his beloved daughter Stephanie.
The plot began to unfold shortly after Stephanie's engagement to Test. Following her bachelorette party in Las Vegas, a seemingly intoxicated Stephanie was whisked away by Triple H to one of the city's drive-thru wedding chapels. The "Billion-Dollar Princess" appeared barely aware of her surroundings as "the Game" led her through a marriage ceremony.
Quite predictably, Stephanie's relationship with Test disintegrated--and Vince was out for vengeance. At Armageddon, the WWF owner met his son-in-law in a match with specific conditions. If McMahon won, the marriage would be annulled, but if Triple H emerged victorious, he'd receive a rematch against Big Show for the title.
In the middle of the batter, Stephanie jumped into the ring, seemingly to aid her battered father. Then, fans watched a curious chain of events. As the elder McMahon lifted a sledgehammer to pound his foe, Stephanie pulled away the weapon. Triple H took possession of the giant mallet and appeared ready to strike his bride, when he suddenly stopped. Instead of cowering, Stephanie broke into a grin and embraced Triple H. It had all been a plot. For years, Steph resented her father for controlling her life. Now, out of spite, she married the man he hated the most. The "McMahon-Helmsley Era" was born. As promised, Triple H received his rematch with Big Show.
The new millennium began with "the Game" winning the World Wrestling Federation gold for the third time on January 3, 2000. Mick Foley, the man Triple H dethroned for his first championship, was first in line for a title shot. Their animosity could be traced back to SummerSlam '97, when Foley paid homage to his idol "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, by scaling the top of a steel cage and flattening "the Game." At the 2000 Royal Rumble, the two enemies tore into each other in a specially sanctioned Street Fight; Triple H retained the championship by delivering a Pedigree to his opponent on a pile of thumbtacks.
At No Way Out, the two agreed to meet in an enclosed cage in a brutal Hell in a Cell match. For this contest, Foley dusted off his old Cactus Jack persona--the crazed character he boasted during the early part of his career--and vowed to retire if he didn't win the title. The battle was even more brutal than the duo's prior encounter. Somehow, they managed to wind up on top of the cage, where Cactus Jack attempted a pile-driver, but was instead backdropped--breaking through the roof of the cage, and plummeting downwards, hitting the ring with such force that his body caved in the canvas.
Seeing his hated opponent in perhaps the most vulnerable state of his career, Triple H descended into the mat and won the fracas with a Pedigree.
Although Foley had vowed to retire from the mat game upon losing, the tempting lure of the biggest stage in all of sports-entertainment was too much to resist.
It had been Foley's dream to headline a WrestleMania, and when the idea for a "Fatal-Four-Way" was presented to him--with the possibility of getting even with Triple H as a bonus--it was too much for the eccentric icon to resist. The main event has a McMahon in every corner; Linda seconded Mankind; Vince backed the Rock; Shane accompanied Big Show; and naturally, the champion came to the ring with his wife Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.
When the night ended, Foley had fallen to Triple H again, and fans realized that The Rock had placed his fate in the hands of the wrong McMahon. Vince turned on his charge, bashing him with a steel chair and setting him up for a Triple H triumph.
If anyone questioned the titlist's skills, this reign ended their skepticism. Night after night, Triple H was at his best, ignoring the nagging injuries that come with going full throttle defending the championship, and establishing himself as one of the legends of the sport of kings.
But the Rock was also reaching the apex of his career. And, in a series of confrontations that will be remembered for generations, the "Cerebral Assassin" and the man dubbed the People's Champion would trade the title back and forth.
On April 30, 2000, The Rock took the championship at Backlash, thanks to an unexpected assist from Austin. A month later, the pair met again at Judgment Day in an Ironman match officiated by none other than Shawn Michaels. The contest would last 60 minutes. Whichever gladiator scored the most pinfalls in that time period would go home with the title. The bout was tied at five falls apiece when a number of Triple H's allies intervened. Suddenly, Undertaker sped to the ring on his motorcycle and chock-slammed "the Game." Michaels, who'd previously been knocked out in the skirmish, revived. Seeing the American Bad Ass in the ring, the Heartbreak Kid called for the bell, awarding the match to his old friend via disqualification.
With Michaels firmly in Triple H's camp, the titlist tried cementing his bond to Vince and Shane McMahon, teaming with the duo at the 2000 King of the Ring against the Rock, Kane and Undertaker. But in an unpredictable move, Linda McMahon--the one relative with whom Triple H hadn't made peace--decreed that whichever competitor scored the pin would leave the ring with the World Wrestling Federation title.
Triple H also didn't count on his father-in-law making another run for the title during this match. While "the Game" was preoccupied with his opponents, Vince attempted to snare the championship by delivering the People's Elbow to the Rock. To no one's surprise, the efforts were fruitless, and the Rock found himself winning yet another World Wrestling Federation title after a Rock Bottom to the boss.
With another title loss, Triple H felt more than a modicum of contempt for the family he'd chosen to join. As it was, keeping the home fires burning was always a challenge with the high-maintenance woman who came to be known as the "Billion Dollar Princess." When Chris Jericho disparaged her as a "bottom feeding trash bag ho," "the Game" threw himself into a draining feud to defend Stephanie's honor. Now, Triple H saw a threat coming from another source, American hero Kurt Angle.
Despite denials from both parties, Angle and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley had carried on a flirtation for several months, enraging "the Game," and at times, throwing off his game plan. Angle insisted that he was nothing more than a sympathetic "friend," willing to listen to Mrs. McMahon Helmsley bemoan her mounting marital woes. But Triple H saw the 1996 U.S. Olympic medalist as an obstacle for both his wife's affections and his aspirations of recapturing the World Wrestling Federation Championship.
At SummerSlam 2000, The Rock agreed to put his title on the line in a three-way brawl with both Angle and Triple H. Manipulating the ill will his opponents felt for one another, the Rock had little more to do than stand back and watch the duo fight. At one point, Triple H attempted to slug Angle, but blasted Stephanie instead. Angle then smashed "the Game" with his own sledgehammer, permitting the Rock to win the match with the People's Elbow. As the show was going off the air, Angle was seen carrying a lightheaded Stephanie to the dressing room.
Eventually, Triple H demanded that his wife choose between her husband and her confidant. Stephanie expressed preference for her groom in dramatic fashion, kicking Angle in the groin. Still, the American Hero was such an obnoxious presence in the World Wrestling Federation that fans sometimes felt they had no choice but to cheer Triple H--that is, until they learned the details of the accident suffered by Stone Cold Steve Austin just prior to the 1999 Survivor Series.
It took the Texas Rattlesnake months to recover, then some time before he discovered the truth. The facts stunned the wrestling public: the gigantic Rikishi had driven the vehicle that ran over Austin--under orders from Triple H, who feared losing the World Wrestling Federation Championship to Stone Cold.
Upon digesting this information, Austin went wild, trapping his enemy in a car, then using a piece of heavy equipment to hoist the vehicle off the ground and drop it 20 feet to the pavement.
Now, "the Game" was the one who was out of commission. But when he returned to action, he showed little remorse. In fact, he demanded a special two-out-of-three falls match at No Way Out in early 2001 to finally establish his superiority over his rival. The first fall was supposed to be a straight wrestling contest, but the two ignored scientific maneuvers and commenced their confrontation with flying fists. Triple H hoped to break Austin's spirit in this round, but the Rattlesnake was the one who gained the psychological advantage, countering the "Cerebral Assassin's" best maneuvers to win the fall with the Stone Cold Stunner.
But, as he had in the past, Triple H rallied in the face of adversity. In the second fall--a "street fight"--Austin and "the Game" brawled through the stands, incorporated the ring steps, television monitors, beer cans and the ring bell into the battle, and even reintroduced the barbed wire-adorned 2x4 that last made an impact in Triple H's encounters with Mick Foley. As blood flowed from both combatants, Triple H evened the match after blasting his foe with a sledgehammer, followed by a Pedigree.
Now, a cage slowly descended from the top of the arena. The third fall would be decided within its confines. Both men tried their finishes on one another, but neither was ready to quit; Triple H weathered a Stunner, and Austin fought back a Pedigree. Eventually, each grabbed his weapon of choice: Austin the barbed wire 2x4, Triple H the sledgehammer. Rushing forward, they swung the objects, making contact simultaneously. As they crumpled to the canvas, "the Game" landed on his adversary, remaining in the dominant position while the referee counted to three, awarding the match to the "Cerebral Assassin."
Incredibly, the pair would soon join forces. At WrestleMania X-Seven, Stone Cold Steve Austin shocked fans and onlookers everywhere when he aligned himself with his old enemy Vince McMahon. The next night, Triple H joined the axis, convinced that his association with the two powerhouses would lead to future glory.
The choice initially appeared wise. Two days after WrestleMania X-Seven, the "Cerebral Assassin" won the Intercontinental title. Although he lost the championship to Jeff Hardy in a stunning upset on April 10, 2000, he quickly recaptured the gold on April 16. Then on April 29, Triple H and Austin--then known as the "Two-Man Power Trip"--dethroned Undertaker and Kane for the World Wrestling Federation Tag Team titles at Backlash.
But the streak didn't last. On May 20, "the Game" dropped the Intercontinental title to Kane. The next night was more calamitous. The Two-Man Power Trip was defending the Tag Team Championship against Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho, when "Y2J" caught Austin in the Walls of Jericho.
As Triple H rushed into the ring to interfere, he planted his leg on the canvas, but it gave out. He was diagnosed with a torn quadriceps muscle in his left leg. Despite intense pain, he kept fighting, even enduring the painful Walls of Jericho on the announcer's table.
Within days, he was in the operating room, now placing his future in the hands of famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. But even during his long stay on the shelf, speculation swirled over what Triple H would do upon returning to the fold of the World Wrestling Federation. Was the Two-Man Power Trip going to reconvene, or would "the Game" renew his perennial rivalry with Stone Cold? While Hunter was enduring the rigors of physical therapy, the World Wrestling Federation was invaded by WCW and ECW.
Either way, the Superstar often deemed the hardest working man in sports-entertainment will undoubtedly rumble his way to the top again, entrancing fans with his originality between the ropes, and surprising them with decisions only he understands--rising to every challenge and playing the game as only he can play it.
Triple H tears quadriceps muscle
The Game" can replay the incident in the slow-motion replay of his mind. Triple H was nearing the end of a high stakes match to which he and Steve Austin were defending the WWF World tag team title against Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit in San Jose, California. Y2J had Austin snared in the Walls of Jericho.
Helmsley planted his left leg just before lunging toward Jericho and breaking the hold. He felt a severe tear--as if a muscle had rolled up inside his thigh. Later, during an interview on wwf.com, Triple H said it felt as if he'd been shot in the leg.
Determined to finish the match, he brawled with Jericho on the arena floor. Unfortunately, Triple H wasn't able to simply run out the clock. Y2J dragged Helmsley onto the announcers' table and applied the Walls of Jericho on top of it. "It felt like he was ripping my leg off," Triple H confirmed later. "It really did."
Eventually, he hobbled into the ring and accidentally hit Austin with a sledgehammer, enabling Jericho to pin "Stone Cold" and win the World tag team title for his team. Helmsley immediately rolled onto the arena floor, where he clutched his leg in silent agony.
Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley tried to comfort him as paramedics and trainers arrived at ringside. They helped him to the backstage area, where the team doctor for the San Jose Sharks scheduled an immediate MRI. The test confirmed the lower layer of his quadriceps muscle, the long thigh muscle connecting at the knee, was torn.
Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery three days later in Birmingham, Alabama, estimated it would be at least four months before "The Game" could return to the game. That was a conservative estimate.
Hellacious Hard-Nosed Heel
Triple H paid his dues by creating a character everyone loves to hate.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley is finally atop a ladder that has taken him four years to climb. During his ascent, the 6-feet-5, 274-pound performer has seen many changes in the wrestling business, the characters he has portrayed and his personal life.
In four short years, Triple H has gone from scapegoat in a incident that changed the wrestling business to one of the World Wrestling Federation's brightest young stars. He has been the WWF's overall and Intercontinental champion and King of the Ring winner, and he is the current leader of D-Generation X, the most popular on air clique in wrestling.
The Boston native has finally made it. The arduous climb is over, but it is one Triple H will never forget. "I'm finally beginning to enjoy what is happening to me" said Triple H, who began his career in World Championship Wrestling in 1994 as Terra Ryzing before moving to the WWF in 1995. "I'm enjoying taking it all in. I feel like I paid my dues." Some of those dues are ones that never had to be paid.
In early 1996, the WWF believed Triple H could help lead the organization back to prominence. After participating at the 1996 Royal Rumble, Triple H then a pompous, money-hungry, valet-carrying heel- was slated to win the King of the Ring tournament, a victory that usually serves as a springboard for further success.
At the time, Triple H had become close friends with Kevin Nash (Diesel), Scott Hall (Razor Ramon), Shawn Michaels, and the 1-2-3 Kid (Sean Waltman), now known as X-Pac. the four were known as the "Clique" and had a reputation for the kind of deep, real friendships that rarely exists in the wrestling business. Those friendships ultimately took Triple H from being the next headliner to serving a extended WWF detention.
The Going Away Party
In May 1996, Michaels was the WWF Champion and Hall and Nash were lured away by WCW. The Clique was going to be broken up, and a tribute was in order.
The group planned it's going away party for a May 19, 1996, house show at New York's Madison Square Garden, where Hall and Nash would be wrestling their final WWF matches. The plan was known throughout the locker room. At the end of the Michaels-Nash cage match, the Clique was going to break character and publicly acknowledge their friendships, a violation of one of wrestling's most scared, unwritten rules of keeping the business's inner workings a secret.
WWF owner Vince McMahon had warned of repercussions if the plan was carried out, but the wrestlers ignored those warnings. At the end of the show, Michaels, Hall, Nash, and Triple H stood in the ring, saluted the fans and acknowledged each other. McMahon was furious, but was left with only one person to blame.
Waltman was still in the WWF, but was not at the house show. Hall and Nash were leaving the company. Michaels was the WWF champion and, at the time was helping carry the company.
"In the WWF, there is only one boss and you better not (make him mad)." said one WWF personality. "It;s not like WCW, where there are eight bosses. Here there is only one, and when Triple H made him mad he paid for it."
Though he was never publicly suspended, it would be almost a year before Triple H returned to prominence. The person who was supposed to win the King of the Ring was taken off television and, after his May 26, 1996, pay-per-view match, did not wrestle until the October pay-per-view. Triple H's downfall led to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin winning the 1996 King of the Ring and subsequently launched the Austin 3:16 craze.
"Looking back it was probably a mistake" Triple H said. "But we did what we said we were going to do. I was the only one who paid, but so be it. It made me enjoy where I am today even more."
A Career-Altering Turn
Triple H returned to television that fall and won the Intercontinental title from Marc Mero on October. 26. He lost the title on Feb. 13, 1997, to a up and comer named the Rock, but, a month later, Triple H's tenure took another career defining turn.
At Wrestlemania 1997, Triple H dropped his "butler" Mr. Hughes, in favor for a muscular, female bodyguard named Chyna, who had trained with Triple H back in the early 1990's at Killer Kowalski' s wrestling school. Five months later the WWF put Chyna, Triple H, and Michaels together and decided to play off the 1996 Madison Square Garden incident. On August 4, 1997 the three showed the incident on RAW, claiming they were tired of the way the WWF was operating, and said they wanted to be fired so they could "join their boys down south".
The promo marked the beginning of D-Generation X and the start of a character change for Triple H. To that point Triple H was still the arrogant, greedy character. As Michaels and Triple H started a rebellion, Triple H evolved into Michaels quick-witted sidekick.
"In this business you are always striving to change your character to make it new." said Bad Ass Billy Gunn, Triple H's future DX stablemate. "What Hunter did was pretty amazing. He went from being one character and didn't change names. That takes some talent."
DX was supposed to be heel, but because of the wrestler's interview skills, their trashing of WCW and willingness to talk openly about the business, fans embraced the new group. At that time, WWF fans were looking for a reason not too switch the channel. DX with it's new, rebellious approach gave them that reason.
Triple H and Michaels played off each other well. Michaels was a superstar, and Triple H was developing into one. The time with Michaels was good for Triple H not only because it gave him legitimacy with fans but it also allowed Triple H to establish himself.
When injuries forced Michaels out of the ring in 1998, Triple H took over DX and recruited Gunn, X-Pac, and Road Dogg as new members. With three new playmates, Triple H thrived. He led "attacks" on WCW arenas. He talked openly about a blatant disregard for rules and became wrestling's rebel.
The Next Level
With his status entrenched, Triple H headed to another level. At SummerSlam on August 22, 1999, he got a title shot in a triple threat match against Mankind and Austin. The WWF wanted Triple H to win the title but Austin who was champion at the time, would drop the title only to Mankind.
Though the incident hurt Triple H, he won the belt from Mankind the next day on RAW. A short time later, he rejoined his DX buddies and brought Stephanie McMahon into the mix as the "evil" cohort in the Helmsley-McMahon plot too take over the WWF. The alliance, along with another title run, has finally elevated Triple H to the top heel in the company.
"Triple H is the ultimate heel" said one WWF performer. "When I first came here, I didn't think much of him, I didn't think he was going to be where he is now. I know (then WCW vice president Eric) Bishoff thought he was stale and didn't have charisma. But Hunter has won me over. He's a heel's heel. He's the headliner. It's a spot I didn't think he would ever get too when I came in, but he's proved himself very worthy."