On May 22 in a match with Steve Austin against Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho, Triple H suffered a torn quardriceps muscle at the hands of the new undisputed champion, Chris Jericho. At the time, Hunter's injury was thought to be career threatening. However, Dr. Andrews assured him that with proper conditioning he should be able to return to the ring. That's all that Triple H needed to hear because following his June 1 surgery he began to work out in earnest for his return to the ring.
Actually the grueling rehabilitation program that followed his June 1 surgery would have been too much for most people, but Triple H never missed a day. His goal was to return to the ring in better shape than when he left and by the looks of things he certainly has accomplished his mission.
From 1992 when the award winning bodybuilder from Nashua, New Hampshire began his initial training for the ring by WWF Hall of Famer Killer Kowalski to August 23, 1999 when he captured his first WWF world title belt from Makind, albeit for only 22 days, Hunter Hearst Helmsley has come a very long way.
Today Triple H is a bonafide superstar. Gone is the rich brat, highbrow Greenwich, Connecticut gimmick and old friends Jeff Jarrett, Ken Shamrock and Ahmed Johnson are no longer employed by the WWF. Bodyguard Chyna, who became triple H's ringside shadow in January 1997, has exited wrestling completely and his D-Generation X sidekicks Billy Gunn and X-Pac have gone their seperate ways. In addition management released his tag team partner Road Dogg, but Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, members of his one time "clique" who left the WWF to start the nWo, are ready to return to the scene. Also since returning to the WWF Triple H appears to be having marital problems with his wife Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley. During his rehabilitation Stephanie went out and purchased ECW and merged her group with her brother's WCW to form the Alliance. While this didn't work out, Stephanie flaunted her new found fredom during Hunter's absence and now that he is back there appears to be problems between the two. By this it is pbvious that much has changed for HHH, but through it all the one thing that has remained constant is his determination and his love of the game.
As a youngster growing up in New England, Nature Boy Ric Flair, the current WWF co-owner, was one of Triple H's ring heros. In fact early in his career he patented his look and style after the Nature Boy. In early 1995 after learning the ropes from Killer Kowalski and wrestling on independent cards throughout New England, Hunter joined WCW and it was there that he first came into contact with his hero. Now the prospect of either directly or indirectly confronting Flair has the Game pumped up.
Through the years HHH has proven to be the most physically dominant performer on the WWF roster. He has always excelled in every conceivable match with the most physically punishing stipulations. Whether it was an iron man match, a street fight, a chain match or a Hell in a Cell encounter, Triple H always survived. However will this still be the case after his surgery?
Meanwhile now that he is back to full time action Triple H will have to prove that he belongs in the same ring with such stars as The Rock, Steve Austin, Kurt Angle and the undisputed champion, Chris Jericho. By virtue of his victory at the Royal Rumble Triple H has already earned a shot against the champion in Toronto at Wrestlemania, and you can be sure that he will be at the top of his game by the time Wrestlemania rolls around.