Real Name: Paul Michael Levesque
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 246
Birthday: July 27, 1969
Hometown: Greenwich Connecticut
Finishing Move: The Pedigree
Favorite Quote: I am the Game and I am that damn good!
PWI Rankings: 225th in 1994; 84th in 1995; 79th in 1996; 31st in 1998; 26th
in 1999; 1st in 2000
Other: Triple H is the only person to have won both the Royal Rumble and King
of the Ring [2002].
Paul Levesque fought hard and suffered setbacks on his way to becoming a top WWF star named Triple H
"You want to know what's with that? I'll tell you what's with that. That's a year ago. You know and I know it should have happened then. I should have been the King of the Ring a year ago. But because of you and your politics, I never got my shot, did I? No, I didn't. Why? Because of your games and your politics. What I did last night was take my destiny, my career into my hands. Out of your hands because you couldn't get the job done. It's my turn. And nobody in the World Wrestling Federation...not even you (Vince) McMahon, will ever stand in my way again. The ring is now my house. Hunter Hearst Helmsley's back yard. My home." - Triple H on WWF Raw, June 9, 1997
Paul Levesque also calls Nashua, N.H., home. Known to wrestling fans as Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Levesque was born on July 27, 1969. As a child, he followed, with great fascination, the world of professional wrestling. As he viewed the grapplers competing on his television screen, he saw a place for himself in the sport, whether it be grappling in the ring or "cutting a promo" behind a microphone.
He graduated from Nashua High School in 1986, and his destiny as "The Game" took a brief detour as he embarked on a career as a bodybuilder. Trained by former WWF performer Ted Arcidi, Levesque won several regional bodybuilding competitions on the eastern seaboard. In 1992, a meeting with legendary Walter "Killer" Kowalski led Levesque to Kowalski's training school in Madden, Mass.
Levesque benefited greatly from Kowalski's training. The "Killer" instilled in the admittedly "green" sports entertainer a respect for the "old school" style of professional wrestling. Teacher instructed student in not only the work ethic, but also the willingness to listen to peers and, most of all, the fans' reactions. Kowalski taught Levesque the fundamentals of the business and, from there, Levesque went through a process of "trial and error."
In addition to his training school, Kowalski also operated the Intercontinental Wrestling Federation (IWF), an independent wrestling promotion based on the east coast. Levesque made his IWF debut as Terra Ryzing in March 1992 when he defeated Tony Roy in Burlington, Vt. Four months later, Levesque captured his first of many titles when he defeated "Mad Dog" Richards for the IWF heavyweight championship.
Terra Ryzing was an imposing 285-pound monster. Early on, he did not gain a reputation for his vast repertoire of wrestling moves or being a lithe competitor. Similar to the style of The Road Warriors, the super-heavyweight would hit the ring, "terrorizing" and pummeling his opponents into submission.
Terra Rises
World Championship Wrestling saw promise in the rookie competitor and signed him in the winter of 1994. On Feb. 1, 1994, Levesque debuted with WCW when he defeated Keith Cole in a non-televised match at the Center State Theater in Atlanta. It was a match that, according to WCW higher-ups, was not meant to see the light of day, since WCW planned to change his ring persona and name. A surprised Levesque later witnessed the purported "dark match" with his girlfriend while watching WCW programming.
Terra Ryzing had made his unlikely and unexpected debut on WCW television. What represented a "big break" soon grew into frustration for Levesque, who, by this time, had decided to drop some weight to improve his work rate and cardiovascular conditioning. WCW seemed to be unable to develop its young talent, and the promotion was barely utilizing his improving skills, choosing to focus on its established, marquee veterans.
Levesque found a savior in WCW and WWF veteran Terry Taylor, who began working with him, providing the newcomer with the training and guidance necessary to ascend to the next level of his career. Mentor and student even worked a short television angle together.
Ric Flair, then in charge of the creative end of WCW, approached Levesque in May 1994. The "Nature Boy" had a brainstorm to transform Levesque into a native Frenchman named Jean-Paul Leveque. While less than happy with the gimmick and questioning his ability to execute it, Levesque deferred to the veteran's knowledge and experience.
Up to this point, Levesque had never done a wrestling interview. The same day he learned of his new persona, Levesque was asked to "cut a promo" on Alex Wright, who, at that time, was a babyface, dancing sensation from Germany. Flair asked Levesque if he could speak with a French accent. Levesque informed Flair that he was not French and had no preparation to learn an accent. Flair simplified matters with Levesque by asking him to imitate Inspector Closseau of "Pink Panther" movie fame. Ignoring the silliness of the gimmick, he again deferred to his more experienced counterpart and taped and interview in his best French accent.
As the career of "Jean-Paul Leveque" continued, Levesque was learning that he had to rely on his own creativity and ideas to bring his character to life. He would approach the "powers-that-be" in WCW for input, only to be rebuffed with a passive "come up with something, kid." Although he was growing to hate his foreign character, Levesque continued to incorporate elements that would draw the necessary "heat" needed to get over as a heel in WCW. He created and donned ring attire and portrayed an attitude necessary to garner a reaction of hatred from the fan faithful.
Levesque's fortunes were beginning to improve when WCW decided to pair him with "Lord" Steven Regal. The duo was slated to capture the tag team title with Sherri Martel as their manager and feud with Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner. However, Levesque had other ideas when it came to his career. He had been in the wrestling business for two years and felt he had limited options in a promotion that did not consider him - or seem interested in developing him into - one of its upper echelon stars.
Not many noticed Levesque's WCW pay-per-view debut at Starrcade on Dec. 27, 1994. Vince McMahon noticed and saw potential in Levesque as a future WWF superstar. Levesque and McMahon met soon after WCW's signature show and agreed to a deal that would commence following the expiration of Levesque's WCW contract on Jan. 31, 1995.
Ironically, WCW took issue with Levesque's jump and filed a four-month injunction to prevent an immediate federation switch. McMahon and the WWF successfully fought the injunction and, three months later, Levesque was free to join his newfound wrestling home.
In the WWF, Levesque was the last of the full-blown, gimmicked wrestlers. In 1995, wrestlers were still not just wrestlers. They had to possess an avocation such as a prison guard or a country music singer. McMahon saw elements in Levesque's WCW persona that he wanted to incorporate into his WWF character. However, McMahon wanted to change the snobby Frenchman into an equally snobby American. More specifically, a "Connecticut blueblood."
Hunter Hearst Helmsley was born.
Following his debut in April 1995, Helmsley wrestled in preliminary and mid-card bouts during the opening weeks and months of his WWF career. Just as he did in WCW, he stuck his nose in the air and looked down that same nose at the "unworthy" fans and fellow competitors.
Helmsley made his pay-per-view debut by defeating Bob Holly at SummerSlam on Aug. 27, 1995. Following that win, he embarked on his first major feud with Henry O. Godwinn, a "hog farmer," who ran afoul of the "blueblood." He scored several victories over H.O.G. as the feud culminated at In Your House 5 on Dec. 17, 1995, when Helmsley won an "Arkansas Hog Pen" match.
The character of Hunter Hearst Helmsley was gaining momentum, but McMahon saw limitations in the character. A preening and bowing aristocrat simply lacked any aggression or propensity for violence. Within six months to a year, there was consideration given to tweaking the character.
Helmsley's Wrestlemania debut on March 31, 1996, was nothing for the "snob" to gloat about, since the returning Ultimate Warrior easily dispatched him in less than two minutes. However, that "squash" would not compare to the career challenges that faced the young, rising star following his participation in a "farewell party" for some close, departing friends.
Curtain Call = Career Catastrophe
Helmsley had struck up close friendships with Kevin "Diesel" Nash and Scott "Razor Ramon" Hall and was sad to see them announce their departure for WCW. WCW signed Hall and Nash to long-term, lucrative contracts that would commence in May and June 1996, respectively. Their last bout with the WWF occurred on May 19, 1996, in New York's Madison Square Garden.
Both Helmsley and then-WWF champion Shawn Michaels informed McMahon of their intentions to "break kayfabe" and publicly say goodbye to their departing comrades. Eager to keep his remaining starts happy, McMahon agreed. The infamous "curtain call" occurred with all four men embracing each other in a sign of unity, following heel Helmsley defeating babyface Hall and babyface Michaels pinning heel Nash.
The fall-out following the farewell was something for which Helmsley could not prepare. Road agents and other veterans got in McMahon's ear and objected to what they perceived to be a grandstand play. Hall and Nash were reportedly difficult to deal with during the final days of their WWF tenure and made life difficult for others. The "curtain call" had taken on a life of its own in a very negative way, with even greater negative repercussions.
A meeting was conducted with punitive intentions. However, Nash and Hall were immune due to their imminent departures. At the time, Michaels was the world champion. An example needed to be made and McMahon's "sword of Damocles" fell on Helmsley.
Reportedly, McMahon looked Helmsley in the eye and emphatically said, "You're going to have to learn to eat shit and like the taste of it, kid."
Triple H was set to become the 1996 King of the Ring and have his push continued. The career ascension vaporized as Helmsley went from contender to also-ran, jobbing to Jake Roberts and Ahmed Johnson. The creative team placed Helmsley in every embarrassing situation it could devise.
For approximately 18 months, Helmsley remained in the WWF "doghouse." Ironically, it would be during this time that he would win his first WWF championship, the Intercontinental title, on Oct. 21, 1996, from Marc Mero. The politically charged atmosphere could still control his destiny, but could not control how the fans were reacting to Helmsley.
Helmsley was improving every day as a worker and gained the ability to carry an up-and-coming or mediocre worker to a good match. He still had his following with wrestling fans who were growing "smarter" every day with the advent of the Internet. They learned of the backstage wrangling and took his side in the matter. No matter how much the WWF "buried" Helmsley, fans would still show their support.
His character continued to evolve away from the pomposity and arrogance as he added a "bodyguard" named Chyna at Wrestlemania 13 on March 23, 1997. A year after the "crown" disappeared, Helmsley won the King of the Ring tournament on June 8, 1997. The following night on RAW, the new "monarch" broke new ground by "shooting" on Vince McMahon, his boss, acknowledging that he had been "held back" and would not take it any more. The ruffles vanished. The genuflecting was in the past.
The "Connecticut blueblood" was dead. Long live the King. Long live Triple H.
Career D-Generation
The WWF was changing. No longer was it a federation of cartoon super-heroes or a "new generation" of young stars. Steve Austin, with his defiance, colorful words and creative "sign language," was ushering in a new "attitude." But Austin was a beloved babyface. The WWF needed villains with an equally bad "attitude" to counter the heroics of Austin.
Enter D-Generation X.
Long before "Austin 3:16" became a catchphrase, Helmsley and Michaels approached McMahon about the idea to form the clique. McMahon was initially hesitant, but the more Austin was getting over with his antics, the more a group such as D-Generation X would be effective and entertaining to wrestling fans. In the summer of 1997, he agreed to allow Helmsley, Michaels and Chyna to act more like their "smart ass" selves and less like wrestling characters.
Helmsley and Michaels initially conceived DX as a heel organization with the late Rick Rude and former boxing champion Mike Tyson holding brief memberships. In the spring of 1998, Michaels was suffering from a career-threatening back injury, and his future was in doubt. Wrestlemania 14 on March 29, 1998, became his professional swan song as he lost the WWF title to Austin. Without Michaels, DX would continue, this time with someone else at the helm.
The following night on RAW, Helmsley proclaimed himself the new leader of DX and added X-Pac, late of WCW, to the mix. However, Helmsley wanted DX to have more impact than just replacing one member. Later that night, The New Age Outlaws of "Road Dogg" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn secured full membership.
Ironically, the Outlaws were an early choice of both Helmsley and Michaels, and they made their desire clear to McMahon in a meeting regarding DX's inception. The plan was to put James and Gunn together in a tag team and see if they jelled with each other and appealed to fans. If the two succeeded, they would join DX, making it a Four Horsemen-style group. The immediate and surprising success of the Outlaws caught everyone off guard, and the plan to add them to the DX "roster" was put on hold until March 30, 1998.
The WWF was starting to chip away at WCW's ratings dominance. The war over the Nielsen numbers was becoming more competitive. The term "war" was apropos as Helmsley and his DX comrades became soldiers in battle, invading WCW arenas and its corporate office. The video vignettes covering the "invasion" were entertaining, funny and all too close to home. The fans loved it. DX, with "General" Helmsley, was becoming cool and chic and quickly evolving into a babyface group with its leader emerging as a future main-event star.
The Game
Over the next year, Helmsley's popularity grew as did his credibility as a top-shelf superstar. Fans followed along with his Michael Buffer-style ring introductions. He captured another Intercontinental title on Aug. 30, 1998, from The Rock, who would become a frequent foe in arenas and at pay-per-view. Meanwhile, McMahon's Corporation continued to dominate WWF storylines. The faction added Triple H to the mix when he turned heel and joined the group at Wrestlemania on March 28, 1999.
During the following few months, Helmsley and The Undertaker argued over control of the now-merged Corporate Ministry. By the summer of 1999, Triple H declared not only his independence, but his status as a main-event performer. He dubbed himself "The Game."
WWF fans began to attach the "next WWF champion tag" to Triple H. On July 25, 1999, at Fully Loaded, Triple H faced The Rock yet again. This time, they battled for the No. 1 contender spot and a world title match at SummerSlam. In a falls-count-anywhere, strap match, Helmsley defeated the "people's champion." There was a sense that it was just a matter of time before Helmsley held the top spot in the WWF.
Mick Foley shocked WWF fans when he defeated Helmsley and defending champion Steve Austin in a "triple-threat" bout on Aug. 22, 1999. His reign lasted only one day. The following night on RAW, Helmsley achieved a lifelong dream and realized his destiny when he became the WWF world heavyweight champion.
While other promotions may refer to their top championship as a mere prop, the WWF still emphasizes its title as something important and special. For Helmsley, a "worked sport" became all too real on that night. Helmsley also realized that he was under a microscope with many skeptics in the promotion, along with WWF fans, watching his every wrestling move.
His first and second title reigns were measured in weeks, as opposed to months. Short runs as champion are commonplace in today's world of "short attention span" sports entertainment. However, Triple H's third title stint defied the pattern of championships changing hither and yon as he held the belt from Jan. 3, 2000, to April 30, 2000. For four months and three consecutive pay-per-views, including Wrestlemania, Triple H remained on top of the WWF.
Whether as champion or challenger, Helmsley remained the top WWF heel. In November 1999, the WWF ring was a place for love in addition to violence. Stephanie McMahon had planned to "marry" longtime beau Test, but few in the creative end were confident of where the story would end. Helmsley devised the idea of having Stephanie become his "wife" and successfully pitched the plot twist. What was originally a short-term storyline became a long-term saga focused around the McMahon-Helmsley Faction.
Feudin' With Foley
His third reign as WWF champion seemed to be the high point of Helmsley's young career. It was not only the storylined power. It was not about being champion and top heel. What made the first few months of 2000 so special was his feud with Foley that ended with the retirement of the hardcore legend.
Both men initially crossed paths wile they worked for WCW in 1994. Foley was one of the few who would give the rookie wrestler the time of day. They feuded before in the WWF, but it was while both men were mid-card wrestling characters. When the WWF opened a new chapter of their feud, Foley decided it was time to end his career, but only as "Cactus Jack."
Hype was at a fever pitch for their "no holds barred" match at Royal Rumble on Jan. 23, 2000. Both Helmsley and Foley worried that the intense promos and angles leading up to the match would overshadow the bout itself, and expectations would be unreasonable. The day of the bout, they discussed the layout of the match, and both men were at ease and confident that the match would be one of the best of their respective careers.
The bout was a critical success and, in a classy move, Foley thanked Helmsley afterward for the best match of his career. Helmsley's victory led to Foley's "Hell in a Cell" retirement bout at No Way Out on Feb. 27, 2000. Behind the scenes, Helmsley was honored to be a part of wrestling history and to properly send off a wrestling icon.
Triple H's Place In History
Helmsley's "career highs" continued into Wrestlemania, which became a crowning achievement for the ruling WWF champion. His successful title defense against The Rock on April 2, 2000, was historic, as he joined a short list of champions (Hulk Hogan, Kevin "Diesel" Nash and Yokozuna) who emerged from Wrestlemania with their titles "intact." Wrestlemania is usually the start of the WWF's "storyline year" with new eras dawning. Most expected Helmsley to lose the belt to the more popular Rock, as has happened to heels in the past. The Helmsley era did not end.
Although Helmsley eventually lost the title at Backlash on April 30, 2000, he recaptured the belt at Judgment Day on May 22, 2000, in an "Iron Man" match with The Rock. The bout had its share of skeptics among fans and wrestling "old timers," but Helmsley's careful and detailed planning made the hour-long affair a modern-day classic. It was also a proud, career moment for its "architect," who wanted to prove the critics wrong.
Currently, Helmsley is on the verge of becoming a top babyface in a company that he ruled as a hated heel, thanks to a heated feud with Kurt Angle over the affections of his television wife. The long road from ring bully to aristocrat to an upper echelon start has been filled with opportunity and fraught with setbacks. Paul Levesque has persevered and overcome every obstacle in his way thanks to his dedication to the industry that has made Hunter Hearst Helmsley a superstar and a household name.