Paul Michael Levesque[3] (born July 27, 1969)[4] is an American professional wrestler, wrestling executive, and actor better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Currently, Levesque works in the front office of WWE as the Executive Vice President of Talent and Live Events, and as Triple H appears on television as the Chief Operating Officer, and part-time wrestler.
Levesque began his wrestling career in the International Wrestling Federation as Terra Ryzing before joining World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994. After briefly using the Ryzing name, he changed his character to Jean-Paul Lévesque, a French-Canadian aristocrat[4] which would be similar to his character Hunter Hearst Helmsley, that he used in his early years with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from early 1995 to late 1997.[5] He later abbreviated his name to Triple H and adopted an alternative image in the D-Generation X (DX) stable. After the dissolution of DX, Triple H was pushed as a main event wrestler, winning several singles championships.[1] As part of a storyline Triple H married Stephanie McMahon, who later became his real-life spouse. In 2003, Triple H formed another stable known as Evolution,[1] and reformed DX with Shawn Michaels in 2006 and 2009.[6] He is heavily involved in the writing process of WWE programming, and holds complete creative control over his television character's storylines, win/loss record, and championship reigns.[7]
Overall, Levesque has won 23 championships in WWE. He is a thirteen-time world champion — the all-time record in the company — having won the WWF/E Championship eight times, and the World Heavyweight Championship five times, with the majority of those reigns being self-booked.[8][9] He was the first World Heavyweight Champion. In addition, Helmsley won the 1997 King of the Ring, the 2002 Royal Rumble, and was the second Grand Slam Championship winner. Outside of wrestling, Helmsley has made numerous guest appearances in film and on television.
| Triple H | |
|---|---|
 Triple H during his ring entrance. |
|
| Ring name(s) | Triple H Hunter Hearst Helmsley Jean-Paul Lévesque Terra Ryzin |
| Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1] |
| Billed weight | 255 lb (116 kg)[1] |
| Born | July 27, 1969 [2] Nashua, New Hampshire |
| Resides | Greenwich, Connecticut |
| Billed from | Greenwich, Connecticut[1] |
| Trained by | Killer Kowalski[1] |
| Debut | March 24, 1992 |
Early life
Paul Levesque was born in Nashua, New Hampshire.[10] In his youth, he was a fan of professional wrestling and his favorite wrestler was Ric Flair. Levesque became aware of bodybuilding at the age of fourteen; after graduating from high school in 1987, Levesque entered several bodybuilding competitions.[11] He was crowned Teenage Mr. New Hampshire in 1988.[12]Professional wrestling career
World Championship Wrestling (1994–1995)
In early 1994, Levesque signed a one year contract with World Championship Wrestling (WCW).[12][13] In his first televised match, Levesque debuted as a villain named Terror Risin' and defeated Keith Cole.[14] His ring name was soon modified to Terra Ryzing, which he used until mid-1994, when he was renamed Jean-Paul Lévesque.[5][15] This gimmick referred to his surname's French origins and he was asked to speak with a French accent, as he could not speak French.[16] During this time, he began using his finishing maneuver, the Pedigree.Levesque had a brief storyline feud with Alex Wright that ended at Starrcade 1994[5] with Wright pinning him.[17] Between late 1994 and early 1995, Levesque briefly teamed with Lord Steven Regal, whose snobby British persona was similar to Levesque's character.[15] The team was short-lived, however, as Levesque left for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in January 1995 after WCW turned down his request to be pushed as a singles competitor.
World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment
The Connecticut Blueblood (1995–1997)
Although he was heavily pushed in the first few months after his debut, Levesque's career stalled during 1996, starting off with being mired in a feud with Duke "The Dumpster" Droese following a loss during the Free for All at 1996 Royal Rumble.[19][20] Up until that event, his angle included appearing on television each week with a different female valet (which included Playboy Playmates Shae Marks and Tylyn John).[5] Sable was his valet at WrestleMania XII, and after his loss to Ultimate Warrior,[21] as part of the storyline, he took his aggressions out on her. The debuting Marc Mero—her real-life husband—came to her rescue, starting a feud between the two wrestlers.[22]
During 1996, Helmsley appeared on an episode of WWF Superstars in a match against Marty Garner.[23] When Levesque attempted to perform the Pedigree, Garner mistook the maneuver for a double underhook suplex and tried to jump up with the move, causing him to land squarely on top of his head and suffer neck damage.[23] Garner sued the WWF, eventually settling out of court and later discussed the incident in an appearance on The Montel Williams Show.
D-Generation X (1997–1999)
Main article: D-Generation X
Helmsley's push resumed in 1997, when he won the 1997 King of the Ring tournament by defeating Mankind in the finals.[24][29] Later that year, Shawn Michaels, Helmsley, Chyna and Rick Rude
formed D-Generation X (DX). This stable later became known for pushing
the envelope, as Michaels and Helmsley made risqué promos—spawning the
catchphrase "Suck It", using a "crotch chop" hand motion,[30] and sarcastically deriding Bret Hart
and Canada. By that point, Helmsley had fully dropped the "blueblood
snob" gimmick, appearing in T-shirts and leather. During this period,
his ring name was shortened to simply Triple H.[24] Even after the DX versus Hart Foundation storyline ended, Helmsley continued to feud with the sole remaining member Owen Hart over the WWF European Championship. This ended in a match between the two at WrestleMania XIV, with the stipulation that Chyna had to be handcuffed to then-Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter.
Helmsley won after Chyna threw powder into Slaughter's eyes,
momentarily "blinding" him and allowing her to interfere in the match.
At WrestleMania XV, Triple H lost to Kane after Chyna interfered on his behalf, and she was thought to have rejoined DX.[11] Later on in the night, he betrayed his long-time friend and fellow DX member X-Pac by helping Shane McMahon retain the European Championship and joined The Corporation.[11] turning heel in the process. In April, he started to move away from his DX look, taping his fists for matches, sporting new and shorter wrestling trunks, and adopting a shorter hairstyle.[11] Levesque's gimmick changed as he fought to earn a WWF title shot.[11] After numerous failed attempts at winning the championship, Triple H and Mankind challenged WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin to a Triple Threat match at SummerSlam, which featured Jesse "The Body" Ventura as the special guest referee. Mankind won the match by pinning Austin.[34] The following night on Raw, Triple H defeated Mankind to win his first WWF Championship.[11]
Triple H dropped the WWF Championship to Vince McMahon on the September 16, 1999 episode of SmackDown! before regaining it at Unforgiven in a Six-Pack Challenge that included Davey Boy Smith, Big Show, Kane, The Rock, and Mankind. He defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin at No Mercy before dropping the title to Big Show at Survivor Series. Triple H then continued his feud with Vince McMahon by marrying his daughter, Stephanie McMahon. He then defeated McMahon at Armageddon. As a result of the feud, an angle with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon began which carried the WWF throughout the next seventeen months; together they were known as the "McMahon-Helmsley Faction".[35]
McMahon–Helmsley Era (2000–2001)
Triple H feuded with Mick Foley in early 2000. They both fought at the Royal Rumble in a Street Fight Match for the WWF Championship, which Triple H won after doing two pedigrees on Foley. The storyline would come to an end at No Way Out in a Hell in a Cell where if Mick Foley lost he would have to retire. Triple H retained his title at the PPV and thus ending Mick Foley's fifteen year career. Triple H pinned The Rock at WrestleMania 2000 to retain the title,[37] but lost it at Backlash to The Rock.[38] He regained it three weeks later, in an Iron Man match at Judgment Day,[39] only to lose it back to The Rock at King of the Ring.[40] Triple H then entered a storyline feud with Chris Jericho, which culminated in a Last Man Standing match at Fully Loaded. Afterwards, Triple H entered a feud with Kurt Angle, initially over the WWF Championship but then as a love triangle between himself, Angle, and Stephanie. On the August 3 episode of SmackDown!, Triple H and his wife, Stephanie McMahon, along with Kurt Angle, were booked in a Six-man tag team match by Commissioner Mick Foley, against the Dudley Boyz (Buh-Buh Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley), which Triple H, McMahon, and Angle won. After the match, as Triple H left the ring, Angle and McMahon hugged in a victory celebration, frustrating Triple H and marking the beginning of the Triple H-Angle feud. On the August 24 edition of Smackdown!, Angle kissed Stephanie McMahon after she was injured during a tag team match. At SummerSlam, The Rock defeated Triple H and Angle in a Triple Threat match to retain the WWF Championship after Angle received a concussion at the hands of Triple H. Angle had started taking a liking to Triple H's on-screen wife, Stephanie McMahon which made Triple H, jealous of Angle. On August 28 edition of Raw is War, Angle interfered in a match between Eddie Guerrero and Triple H by attacking both men with a chair. On September 11 edition of Raw is War, Angle interfered in Triple H's match with Chris Jericho and distracted Triple H, causing Triple H to leave the ring and chase Angle. Later that night, Angle attacked both Triple H and McMahon after his Handicap match against T & A. The feud would culminate at Unforgiven, where Triple H defeated Angle after a low blow from Stephanie and a Pedigree from Triple H.[40]
A later storyline feud between Triple H and Steve Austin started when it emerged that Triple H had paid off Rikishi to run down Austin at Survivor Series, causing him to take a year off. In storyline, Triple H said he had did it in order to shield Austin from the WWF Championship and end his career. In reality, Austin's previous neck injuries started bothering him again, forcing him to have surgery. In 2000, Triple H and Austin had a match at Survivor Series that ended when Triple H tried to trick Austin into coming into the parking lot to run him over again, only to have Austin lift his car up with a forklift and flip the car onto its roof 10 feet high. Triple H returned a few weeks later and attacked Austin. The feud continued into 2001 and ended in a Three Stages of Hell match in which Helmsley defeated Austin. In 2001, Triple H also feuded with The Undertaker, who defeated him at WrestleMania X-Seven.[41] The night after WrestleMania, Triple H interfered in a steel cage match between Austin (who had just won the WWF Championship) and The Rock where he joined forces with Austin and double teamed on The Rock,[42] forming a tag team called The Two-Man Power Trip. Triple H then defeated Chris Jericho for his third Intercontinental Championship on the April 5 episode of SmackDown!,[43] and won it for a fourth time two weeks later by defeating Jeff Hardy. Triple H then became a tag team champion for the first time at Backlash when he and Austin defeated Kane and The Undertaker in a winner-take-all tag match. As Triple H was still Intercontinental Champion, the win made him a double champion.[44]
During the May 21, 2001 episode of Raw, he suffered a legitimate and career-threatening injury.[5][45] In the night's main event, he and Austin were defending the Tag Team Championship against Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit. At one point, Jericho had Austin trapped in the Walls of Jericho. Triple H ran in to break it up, but just as he did, he suffered a tear in his left quadriceps muscle,[5][45] causing it to come completely off the bone.[12] Despite his inability to place any weight on his leg, Triple H was able to complete the match.[12] He even allowed Jericho to put him in the Walls of Jericho, a move that places considerable stress on the quadriceps. The tear required an operation, which was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. This injury brought an abrupt end to the McMahon-Helmsley Era, as the rigorous rehabilitation process kept Triple H out of action for over eight months,[5][12] completely missing The Invasion storyline.
Return from injury and Shawn Michaels feud (2002)
In the interim, between the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, the McMahon-Helmsley Faction was brought to an official on-screen conclusion. By the time he returned, Triple H's on-screen marriage to Stephanie McMahon was on the rocks, so Stephanie faked a pregnancy in order to get him back on her side.[47] When he learned that it was fake, he dumped her publicly on Raw when they were supposed to renew their wedding vows.[47] Stephanie aligned with Jericho afterward,[47] but she was forced to leave after losing a Triple Threat match on Raw the night after WrestleMania when she was pinned by Triple H.[48] The divorce, and thus the storyline, was finalized at Vengeance.[49]
Meanwhile, Shawn Michaels had made his return to WWE and joined the New World Order (nWo). Michaels and Kevin Nash planned to bring Triple H over to Raw in order to put him into the group. Vince McMahon, however, disbanded the nWo following several backstage complications and brought in Eric Bischoff as the Raw brand's new general manager. One of Bischoff's first intentions was to follow up on the nWo's plan and bring Triple H over to the Raw roster. Triple H did indeed go to the Raw brand, reuniting with Shawn Michaels, but on July 22 he turned on Michaels by performing a Pedigree on him during what was supposed to be a DX reunion, turning heel once again. The following week, Triple H smashed Michaels' face into a car window to prove that Michaels was weak. These events led to the beginning of a long storyline rivalry between the former partners and an eventual "Unsanctioned Street Fight" at SummerSlam, in which Michaels came out of retirement to win. Afterwards, however, Triple H attacked him with a sledgehammer, and Michaels was carried out of the ring.[50]
Before September 2, 2002, WWE recognized only one champion for both the Raw and SmackDown! brands. After SummerSlam, champion Brock Lesnar became exclusive to SmackDown!, leaving Raw without a champion. Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff then awarded Triple H the Big Gold Belt (which had been used for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and WCW World Heavyweight Championship) making him the first World Heavyweight Champion of the WWE brand.[51] Triple H retained his title against Rob Van Dam at Unforgiven when Ric Flair hit RVD with a sledgehammer.
In October 2002, Triple H began feuding with Kane, leading to a match at No Mercy on October 20 in which both Kane's Intercontinental Championship and Triple H's World Heavyweight Championship were at stake. In the weeks preceding the match, Triple H claimed that, several years earlier, Kane had an unrequited relationship with a woman named Katie Vick.[52] He went on to claim that, after Vick was killed in a car crash, Kane (the driver) raped her corpse.[52] Triple H later threatened to show video footage of Kane committing the act in question; however, the footage that finally aired showed Triple H (dressed as Kane) simulating necrophilia with a mannequin in a casket;[52] Kane's tag team partner The Hurricane responded the following week by showing a video of Triple H (rather, someone wearing a Triple H series of masks) getting an enema. The angle was very unpopular with fans,[53] and was de-emphasised before the title match. Triple H went on to defeat Kane at No Mercy, unifying the two titles.[54]
Triple H eventually lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Shawn Michaels in the first Elimination Chamber match, at Survivor Series.[55] He defeated RVD for the title shot at Armageddon with Michaels as special referee. He regained the title from Michaels in a Three Stages of Hell match at Armageddon.[55]
Evolution (2003–2005)
Main article: Evolution (professional wrestling)
He then ended his feud with Michaels, defeating him in a Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood.[57] After another failed attempt, losing to Benoit at Vengeance, he focused on Eugene, beating him at SummerSlam.[58] Triple H then regained the title from former associate Randy Orton at Unforgiven.[59] Following a Triple Threat World Heavyweight title defense against Benoit and Edge on the November 29, 2004 episode of Raw, the World Heavyweight Championship became vacant for the first time.[60] At New Year's Revolution, Triple H won the Elimination Chamber to begin his tenth world title reign.[61] At WrestleMania 21, Triple H lost the championship to Batista,[62] and subsequently lost two rematches at Backlash and Vengeance.[63][64] After Vengeance, Triple H took hiatus from WWE due to suffering from his minor neck problems.[65]
After four month hiatus, Triple H returned to Raw on October 3, 2005 as part of WWE Homecoming. He teamed with fellow Evolution member Flair to defeat Chris Masters and Carlito. After the match, Triple H turned on Flair hitting Flair with a sledgehammer, sparking a feud between the duo.[66] Flair defeated Triple H in a Steel cage match at Taboo Tuesday for Flair's Intercontinental Championship.[67] Subsequently, Triple H defeated Flair in a non-title Last Man Standing match at Survivor Series to end their feud.[67]
D-Generation X reunion (2006–2007)
Although Triple H failed to win the Royal Rumble match at the Royal Rumble, another championship opportunity arose for Triple H in the Road to WrestleMania Tournament. He won the tournament, granting him a match for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 22. At WrestleMania, Triple H and John Cena fought in the main event for the title, which Triple H lost via submission.[68] Later that month at Backlash, Triple H was involved in another WWE Championship match, fighting Edge and Cena in a Triple Threat match, where he lost again. In an act of frustration, a bloodied Triple H used his sledgehammer to attack both Edge and Cena and then performed a number of DX crotch chops.[69] Triple H unsuccessfully attempted to win the WWE title from Cena on numerous occasions, blaming his shortcomings on Vince McMahon, which eventually led to a feud between the McMahons and Triple H.
At Cyber Sunday during DX's feud with Rated-RKO, special guest referee Eric Bischoff allowed the illegal use of a weapon to give Rated-RKO the win.[71] At Survivor Series, DX got their revenge when their team defeated Edge and Orton's team in an Elimination Match.[72] In January 2007, at New Year's Revolution, DX and Rated-RKO fought to a no-contest after Triple H suffered a legitimate torn right quadriceps (similar to the one he suffered in 2001 but in the other leg) fifteen minutes into the match.[73][74] Surgery was successfully performed on January 9, 2007 by Dr. James Andrews.[73]
Record breaking WWE Champion (2007–2009)
Triple H made his return at SummerSlam, where he defeated King Booker.[75] Two months later at No Mercy, Triple H was originally scheduled to face Umaga in a singles match. However, at the start of the night Triple H decided to challenge newly named WWE Champion Randy Orton, reigniting his rivalry with Orton that had been interrupted following his injury. Triple H won the match, winning his eleventh world championship and sixth WWE Championship,[76] and then defended his title against Umaga in his regularly scheduled match after Mr. McMahon declared the match to be for the WWE title.[77] After that McMahon gave Orton a rematch against Triple H in a Last Man Standing match in the main event, and Triple H lost after failing to beat the ten count when Orton hit his RKO onto the announcer's table.[77] Triple H's title reign at No Mercy is the fifth shortest reign in WWE history, only lasting through the duration of the event.[77] After winning the Raw Elimination Chamber at No Way Out, Triple H gained a WWE Championship match, by outlasting five other men, last eliminating Jeff Hardy after a Pedigree on a steel chair.[78] However, at WrestleMania XXIV, Randy Orton retained after punting Triple H and pinning John Cena following Triple H's Pedigree on Cena.[79] A month later, at Backlash, Triple H won the title in a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match against Orton, Cena, and John "Bradshaw" Layfield, tying the record for most WWE Championship reigns with The Rock.[80] Triple H then retained the title against Orton at Judgment Day in a Steel Cage match and again at One Night Stand in a Last Man Standing match.[81][82] Orton suffered a legitimate collarbone injury during the match, thus ending the feud prematurely.[83]
At Survivor Series, Triple H was scheduled to defend the championship against Vladimir Kozlov and Hardy, however Hardy was kept out of the match after a scripted attack and injury. During the match, Smackdown General Manager Vickie Guerrero announced that Edge had returned and introduced him into the contest. Jeff Hardy interfered and hit Triple H with a steel chair meant for Edge, thus costing him the title and resulting in Edge winning his sixth World Title. Triple H entered seventh in the 2009 Royal Rumble, but was last eliminated by Randy Orton. In February at Elimination Chamber, Triple H won the WWE Championship in the SmackDown Chamber match, setting the record for most reigns at eight. That record stood until 2011 when John Cena won his ninth WWE Championship.
The Legacy feud and DX farewell (2009–2011)
At the October pay-per-view Hell in a Cell, DX defeated Legacy in a Hell in a Cell match.[92] DX would challenge John Cena for the WWE Championship in a triple threat match at Survivor Series with both men failing to win the title,[93] although they were able to retain their friendship and tag team partnership. On December 13 at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, DX defeated Chris Jericho and The Big Show to win the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match;[94] the first tag team championship reign for Michaels and Triple H as a tag team.
On December 21, Triple H announced that Hornswoggle was the new DX mascot.[95] This came about after Hornswoggle sued DX for emotional and physical distress due to them not allowing him to join DX.[95] After being taken to court where they were ruled guilty by a jury and judge consisting of dwarves, Michaels told Triple H that Hornswoggle could be the mascot. Triple H agreed to it only if the charges were dropped, which Hornswoggle agreed to.[95] On January 11 Mike Tyson, who was the Raw guest host for the night, teamed with Jericho to face DX; however, at the end of the bout, Tyson turned on Jericho and aligned himself with Michaels and Triple H.[96] On the February 8, 2010 episode of Raw, DX lost their Unified Tag Team Titles to ShoMiz (The Miz and The Big Show) in a Triple Threat Elimination Tag Team match also featuring The Straight Edge Society (CM Punk and Luke Gallows.) On the March 1 episode of Raw they lost their rematch for the titles which would be their last televised match before Michaels retired.[97] Michaels and Triple H had a non-wrestling reunion at the 2010 Tribute to the Troops.
On February 21, Triple H eliminated WWE Champion Sheamus in an Elimination Chamber match, though he would not win the title himself. Sheamus attacked him weeks later, setting up a match between the two at WrestleMania XXVI, where Triple H was victorious.[98][99] Also at WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels lost to The Undertaker and was forced to retire, but while giving a farewell speech the next night, Sheamus attacked him. This would set up a rematch at Extreme Rules where Sheamus attacked Triple H at the start of the show ahead of a win in their scheduled contest to allow Triple H time off to recover from injuries.[100] Triple H made an untelevised appearance on October 30 at the WWE Fan Appreciation Event and also at the 2010 Tribute to the Troops.[101]
Feuds with The Undertaker and Chief Operating Officer (2011–2012)
At the end of the July 18, 2011 episode of Raw, Triple H returned on behalf of WWE's board of directors to relieve his father-in-law Vince McMahon of his duties.[103] This was followed by the announcement that he had been assigned to take over as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the WWE. This was during a storyline where CM Punk had won the WWE Championship and left the company. Though a new champion was crowned, Triple H helped resign CM Punk and upheld both championship reigns. He announced he would referee a match to unify both WWE Championships at SummerSlam. Although he counted a pinfall for CM Punk to win, John Cena's leg was on the ropes which would break the pin. Regardless, Triple H's longtime friend Kevin Nash attacked Punk immediately after the match to allow Alberto Del Rio to become champion.[104] Though Nash and Punk demanded a match against each other, Triple H fired Nash for insubordination and booked himself in a No Disqualification match at Night Of Champions with his position of COO on the line.[105] He won the match despite interference from John Laurinaitis, Nash, The Miz and R-Truth.[106] After repeated attacks from these wrestlers in various matches, the majority of WWE's on-screen staff gave Triple H a vote of no confidence. Mr. McMahon returned to relieve him of his duties on Raw though he remained COO. He was replaced as General Manager of Raw by Laurinaitis, who booked him in a tag team match against Miz and R-Truth at Vengeance.[107] During the match, Nash once again attacked him and did so the following night on the October 24 Raw, hospitalizing him.[108] WWE later announced that Triple H sustained a fractured vertebrae which would remove him from television until his return on December 12, as part of the Slammy Awards. On December 18, Triple H defeated Nash at Tables, Ladders, and Chairs in Sledgehammer Ladder Match where he used the sledgehammer against Nash.[109]
Feud with Brock Lesnar & retirement (2012)
Triple H returned on Raw four weeks later, to tell Brock Lesnar that he will only accept the original contract agreed upon before having his arm broken by Lesnar.[114] It was later announced on WWE.com that in addition to a broken arm Triple H had suffered severe ligament and tendon damage around the elbow and that it would require surgery.[115] Triple H returned two weeks later, only to be confronted by Lesnar's legal representative Paul Heyman who announced Lesnar was filing a lawsuit against WWE for breach of contract. Following this announcement, he physically accosted Heyman which led to another lawsuit being filed against Triple H for assault and battery.[116] Triple H appeared at the No Way Out pay-per-view in June, addressing Lesnar, Heyman and the lawsuits brought against him and the WWE, before challenging Lesnar to a match at SummerSlam.[117] The following night on Raw, Heyman declined the challenge on Lesnar's behalf before Triple H assaulted him.[118] On July 23, during the 1,000 episode Raw, Heyman accepted Triple H's challenge after Stephanie McMahon came out and assaulted him. Following this, Lesnar returned and had a brief brawl with Triple H before he was chased from the ring.[119] In a psychological bid, Lesnar would break the arm Shawn Michaels with the Kimura Lock on the August 13 episode of Raw, further enraging him.[120] Six day later at SummerSlam, Triple H was defeated by Lesnar via submission, breaking his arm again. There is much speculation that his in-ring career may be over.[121][122] On the August 27th episode of Raw, Triple H returned, and announced he was unsure of his future,[123] although on an article on WWE.com, it was stated that the speech given that night was in fact a farewell speech.[124]Backstage roles
In 2010, Levesque's role as an Executive Senior Advisor was officially formalized as he was given an office at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.[125] Levesque was named Executive Vice President, Talent in 2011. In this role he oversees the talent relations and talent development departments, training of performers and management of worldwide recruitment. In addition to his talent duties, Levesque has worked as a director and producer of the creative direction and storylines of WWE’s programming.[126]Following his departure from TV after the 2012 SummerSlam, TMZ.com reported a recent photo of Levesque with a buzz cut, a far departure from his long locks that he had been known for.[127] WWE.com later confirmed the new hair cut legit, mentioning that Levesque got the hair cut for informal attire-based reasons due to his backstage involvement with the company.[128]
Personal life
In 2000, Levesque began dating Stephanie McMahon and they married on October 25, 2003.[129] He had previously been in a long-term relationship with former WWE wrestler Chyna.[130] He and McMahon have three daughters.[131] On January 8, 2006, WWE announced that McMahon and Levesque were expecting their first child, due on July 27, 2006.[132] Stephanie McMahon continued to work and travel with WWE throughout her pregnancy, giving birth to an 8 lb, 7 oz (3.8 kg) baby girl, Aurora Rose Levesque, on July 24, 2006.[133] The couple had their second daughter, Murphy Claire Levesque, on July 28, 2008.[134] The couple welcomed their third daughter, Vaughn Evelyn Levesque, on August 24, 2010.[135]He has a sister named Lynn.[12]
In late 2004, Levesque released a book titled Making the Game: Triple H's Approach to a Better Body.[136] Mostly devoted to bodybuilding advice, the book also includes some autobiographical information, memoirs, and opinions.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Pacific Blue | Triple H | |
| 1998 | The Drew Carey Show | The Disciplinarian | |
| 2001 | MADtv | Himself | |
| 2004 | Blade: Trinity | Jarko Grimwood | |
| 2005 | The Bernie Mac Show | Triple H[137] | |
| 2006 | Relative Strangers[138] | Wrestler | Uncredited |
| 2011 | The Chaperone | Raymond "Ray Ray" Bradstone | |
| 2011 | Inside Out | Arlo "A.J." Jayne |
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Inverted Indian deathlock – WCW;[139] used rarely as a regular move thereafter in WWE[140][141]
- Pedigree[1] (Double underhook facebuster) - 1995–present
- Pedigree Pandemonium / Pedigree Perfection (Cutter) - 1994-1995 [142][143][141]
- Signature moves
- Abdominal stretch[3]
- Blatant choke[3]
- Chop block[144]
- Facebreaker knee smash,[3][145] often as a back body drop counter
- Figure four leglock[3]
- Flowing DDT[3]
- High knee[3]
- Jumping knee drop[3]
- Mounted punches[3]
- Running clothesline[3]
- Running neckbreaker[3]
- Sleeper hold[3]
- Spinning spinebuster[3]
- Managers
- Chyna
- Ric Flair
- Rick Rude
- Mr. Hughes
- Mr. Perfect
- Stephanie McMahon–Helmsley
- Vince McMahon
- Shawn Michaels
- Lord Steven Regal
- Sable
- Hornswoggle
- Nicknames
- The Connecticut Blueblood[146]
- The Cerebral Assassin[65]
- The Game[5]
- The King of Kings[65]
- Entrance themes
- World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment
- "Blue Blood" by Jim Johnston (April 28, 1995 – December 15, 1996)
- "Symphony No. 9 (Fourth movement)" by Ludwig van Beethoven (December 15, 1996 – November 10, 1997)
- "Break It Down" by The DX Band (November 10, 1997 – April 5, 1999; June 19, 2006 – April 2007; August 24, 2009 – March 1, 2010; July 23, 2012)
- "Corporate Player" by Jim Johnston (April 25, 1999 – May 10, 1999)
- "Higher Brain Pattern" by Jim Johnston (May 16, 1999 – June 21, 1999)
- "My Time" by The DX Band (June 27, 1999 – December 10, 2000)
- "The Game" by Motörhead (January 8, 2001–present)
- "The Game" by Drowning Pool (used for advertising promos; March 2002 – March 2011)
- "King of Kings" by Motörhead (used for promos and as prelude to "The Game"; April 2, 2006–Present)
- "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Metallica (WrestleMania XXVII prelude to "The Game")
- World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment
Championships and accomplishments
- Independent Wrestling Federation
- IWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[4]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Feud of the Year (2000)[147] vs. Kurt Angle
- PWI Feud of the Year (2004)[147] vs. Chris Benoit
- PWI Feud of the Year (2009) vs. Randy Orton
- PWI Match of the Year (2004)[148] vs. Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit at WrestleMania XX
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (2003–2005)[149]
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Decade (2000–2009)
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (2008)
- PWI Wrestler of the Decade (2000–2009)
- PWI ranked him #1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2000[150] and 2009[151]
- PWI ranked him #139 in the PWI Years in 2003[152]
- World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
- Executive Vice President, Talent & Live Events - current
- Chief Operating Officer - current
- WWF/E Championship (8 times)1[153]
- World Heavyweight Championship (5 times)[154]
- WWF European Championship (2 times)[155]
- WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (5 times)[156]
- WWF/E World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Steve Austin (1) and Shawn Michaels (1)[157][158]
- WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Shawn Michaels (1)[159]
- King of the Ring (1997)[1]
- Royal Rumble (2002)[160]
- Second Grand Slam Champion
- Seventh Triple Crown Champion
- Slammy Award for Best Hair (1997)
- Slammy Award for OMG Moment of the Year (2011) - Triple H kicking out of a Tombstone Piledriver at WrestleMania XXVII
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Feud of the Year (2000) vs. Mick Foley[161]
- Feud of the Year (2004) vs. Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit[161]
- Feud of the Year (2005) vs. Batista[161]
- Most Overrated (2002–2004, 2009)[161]
- Readers' Least Favorite Wrestler (2002–2003)[161]
- Worst Feud of the Year (2002) vs. Kane[161]
- Worst Feud of the Year (2006) with Shawn Michaels vs. Vince and Shane McMahon[161]
- Worst Feud of the Year (2011) vs. Kevin Nash[162]
- Worst Worked Match of the Year (2003) vs. Scott Steiner at No Way Out[161]
- Worst Worked Match of the Year (2008) vs. Vladimir Kozlov and Edge at Survivor Series[161]
- Wrestler of the Year (2000)[161]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2005)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please take some time to comment on the post above.......