A sure-fire, first-ballot WWE Hall of Famer, the man once known as the aristocratic blueblood Hunter Hearst-Helmsley has evolved into the standard-bearer for the most successful sports-entertainment company in history.
It was a long and perfectly orchestrated rise to the top - perfectly fitting for a man now known by millions as the "Cerebral Assassin" for his ingenious plots to stay there. When WWE was making waves during its "Attitude" era, Triple H was among the vanguard that led the charge, along with fellow Superstars such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and Undertaker. But it was really a rivalry with "Hardcore Legend" Mick Foley that put him over the top as one of the true greats.
Though most people remember the unforgettable trio of matches the two had in early 2000, which culminated in Foley's career finale at WrestleMania XVI, it was actually a rivalry months in the making. The feud stemmed from a SummerSlam 1999 match when Foley, as Mankind, defeated Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Triple-Threat Match to win the WWE Championship. The next night at Raw, the "Cerebral Assassin" defeated Mankind to win his first-ever WWE title. A rivalry was born, and as it grew, so did the animosity. Because Mankind was the veteran, most expected him to come out the ultimate victor. But in three successive pay-per-view main events-Royal Rumble, No Way Out (in an unforgettable Hell in a Cell match) and WrestleMania XVI - Triple H emerged the winner, and retired Foley in the process. That monumental task complete, his fate was sealed as "The Game."
Immediately, he vaulted to the sport's pinnacle, a place where he has stayed with an incredible resume, which includes, at press time, seven reigns as World Champion. In addition to that, he also co-founded one of the most influential factions of all time, D-Generation X, and another group that is heading in the same direction, Evolution.
On December 15, 2002, Triple H defeated his former best friend, Shawn Michaels, in a Two-out-of-Three Falls Match to regain his World Championship. It was the beginning of a reign that lasted nine months. In this era, where titles are won and lost more rapidly than at any time in history, that is a monumental reign, and in fact, the longest since Diesel held the title for a full year, from November 1994 to November 1995.
While clearly already one of the top 50 all-time WWE performers, with his lights-out Pedigree finisher and one of the strictest workout regimens in the sport, Triple H promises to bolster his argument as possibly the greatest in the sport's history.As a child, he religiously watched sports-entertainment. As a teenager, he dreamed about following in his heroes' footsteps. As an adult, Triple H has outdone almost everyone who has come before him.
A sure-fire, first-ballot WWE Hall of Famer, the man once known as the aristocratic blueblood Hunter Hearst-Helmsley has evolved into the standard-bearer for the most successful sports-entertainment company in history.
It was a long and perfectly orchestrated rise to the top-perfectly fitting for a man now known by millions as the "Cerebral Assassin" for his ingenious plots to stay there. When WWE was making waves during its "Attitude" era, Triple H was among the vanguard that led the charge, along with fellow Superstars such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and Undertaker. But it was really a rivalry with "Hardcore Legend" Mick Foley that put him over the top as one of the true greats.
Though most people remember the unforgettable trio of matches the two had in early 2000, which culminated in Foley's career finale at WrestleMania XVI, it was actually a rivalry months in the making. The feud stemmed from a SummerSlam 1999 match when Foley, as Mankind, defeated Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Triple-Threat Match to win the WWE Championship. The next night at Raw, the "Cerebral Assassin" defeated Mankind to win his first-ever WWE title. A rivalry was born, and as it grew, so did the animosity. Because Mankind was the veteran, most expected him to come out the ultimate victor. But in three successive pay-per-view main events-Royal Rumble, No Way Out (in an unforgettable Hell in a Cell match) and WrestleMania XVI-Triple H emerged the winner, and retired Foley in the process. That monumental task complete, his fate was sealed as "The Game."
Immediately, he vaulted to the sport's pinnacle, a place where he has stayed with an incredible resume, which includes, at press time, seven reigns as World Champion. In addition to that, he also co-founded one of the most influential factions of all time, D-Generation X, and another group that is heading in the same direction, Evolution.
On December 15, 2002, Triple H defeated his former best friend, Shawn Michaels, in a Two-out-of-Three Falls Match to regain his World Championship. It was the beginning of a reign that lasted nine months. In this era, where titles are won and lost more rapidly than at any time in history, that is a monumental reign, and in fact, the longest since Diesel held the title for a full year, from November 1994 to November 1995.
While clearly already one of the top 50 all-time WWE performers, with his lights-out Pedigree finisher and one of the strictest workout regimens in the sport, Triple H promises to bolster his argument as possibly the greatest in the sport's history.