Has anyone ever..played the game like HHH?

[LionheartY2J]

This is just an extended brain fart, but it has me thinking. And I'm not even talking about just pro-wrestling. I'm talking about business in general. There's always going to be your corporate suck ups or bosses kids/nieces/nephews who leap frog others. But HHH has gone above and beyond any of that.

He immediately latched on with the most influential guys in the locker room.

When "The Hug" went down, he diligently took his punishment, while HBK essentially told them to..you know.

To this day, he's pleaded the 5th regarding the Montreal Screw Job.

He's remained with WWF/WWE without any long term absences.

He dated the bosses daughter- truthfully, I'm not sure when that actually began. To my knowledge, it was around the time of the whole stealing her from Test/forced marriage angle.

He married the bosses daughter.

I have to wonder where he'd have ended up without all of this. Perhaps a Val Venis/William Regal/Dustin Runnels-esque career mid carder/behind the scenes main stay? I'm not certain if he'd have even reached the level of Chris Jericho or Edge, who he essentially called out as B players during the Daniel Bryan angle. And he certainly never would have reached the upper eshelon of The Rock and Stone Cold.

 

[nwocongo]

You forgot the steroids. I kid, but I can't imagine any scenario where he could have worked his way to the level of Stone Cold, The Rock, Undertaker or Mick without having Vince's ear.

I think that getting in with the Kliq and HBK may have been enough that he could have worked his way to the main event and possibly some title run because of how much pull they had backstage. Dating and eventually marrying the boss's daughter just cemented it and put him in an untouchable spot.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

People act as if it's all down to Vince and Shawn when in reality Nash and Hall have far more involvement.

Reality is that they knew Paul from WCW and played a part in getting him over there. By that time Kev and Scott were as big if not bigger than Shawn as draws and had Nash had Vince's ear far more than Shawn did.

Paul came over and was part of their group far more than just a bag carrier, indeed as their designated driver - he was an integral part of their crew. In reality Waltman and LeVesque were both in the running and while Waltman was further ahead at the time, he was also a cautionary tale of what NOT to do backstage in WWE.

Don't for a second be fooled that Hunter took the fall for a hug... he was taking the fall for Nash and Hall walking away from Vince. As much as he "couldn't match" the offer, it would still have smarted like mad (remember this was barely 2 years after Savage walked) to lose them. He needed to move Shawn up immediately, but even then he was seeing Hunter as someone reliable for the future - didn't party, looked good and the odd test can be covered up right?

That he was able to "eat shit and like it" with his burying only sealed what Vince already knew... he was someone to build things around long term.

If anything, dating Steph delayed his push to the title, he could have had it earlier in 99 or late 98 in place of The Rock... but the fledgling relationship meant it was postponed.

What he THEN did is up for question... that he buried talent's isn't... he took full advantage of the unique position and access to Vince he now had and that Shawn then came back and was also a top guy in Vince's ear helped sustain him as a draw far longer than he would have otherwise. A DX reunion every 5 years or so was worth Vince keeping Shawn around and Hunter close.

In the main, he's been vindicated. Few of his calls have gone bad, NXT has flourished and even this current title run isn't the abomination that Reigns' was. The blots on his copybook are guys like Booker T at WM19 and Jericho's first reign... but both guys got "make ups" later in their career and arguably did better for that experience. King Booker worked BECAUSE of the Trips burial earlier... and Jericho in particular got a lot of rub in that Shawn feud... Shawn knew how he'd taken the earlier "slights" and proven he could put the show ahead of personal gain... when Jericho was knocking it out of the park, Trips would have had a big part in getting him the title.

Had he not gotten with Steph, his title run would still be there, maybe three tops... not the 14 or whatever he now has but the reality is that he WAS a draw in that late Attitude Era in his own right, it wasn't "just DX" or "Just cos of Steph" - The biggest difference would have been Jericho in reality - he could have been much bigger a star earlier had Trips had the mindset he has today... but I'm pretty sure he'd admit that himself.

 

[Piss Bucket]

I don't really like HHH as a wrestler or a person, but even I have to admit he's not daft when it comes to the Business, early in his career he knew whose arse to kiss etc.

 

[Makaveli31]

I seriously doubt that. By 1995 and certainly '96 Shawn was the de facto leader of the "clique" and had Vince's ear more than anyone. By '95 Hall was on his way down, that's why Vince never made a big push to retain him when he was approached by WCW (maybe Vince also felt Hall would never leave the WWE). Nash had bombed as champion and Vince was already looking towards Shawn as champion. Both Kevin and Scott had left WCW by the time HHH debuted there. HHH had been hired by Bischoff.

There are conflicting stories about how HHH became part of the clique. If you hear Shawn tell it (whose memory is albeit foggy around that time period) HHH basically walked up to him and Nash after WM 11 and said "I want to ride with you guys." Nash and HHH both tell the story of HHH waiting for a rental car when Nash drives by and offers him a ride.

In any case, HHH was taking a huge risk aligning himself with a very unpopular group in the locker room. If things went south, it would haunt him for the rest of his career. (and it almost did) Despite his corny blueblood gimmick there was no doubt HHH had talent. He was a solid mid-card who would eventually be main event.

His relationship with Steph was another huge gamble. I agree it delayed his push for about a year. And again, if things went south it would end his career in WWE.

One things I like about HHH he does not forget the history of pro wrestling and WWE. He brings guys back. Guys like Superstar Billy Graham, Bruno Sammartino, Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage. He has respect for guys like Rock, Hogan, and Austin and happily takes a back seat to them at special events and WrestleMania's.

 

[dsotm5150]

Triple H has done amazingly well for himself in this business, regardless of how he's done it. He worked his way up through the ranks in the '90s, but once he got in a position to I'm sure he politicked himself the rest of the way. You don't hang around Kevin Nash and Shawn Michaels, who have both admitted(Nash moreso than Michaels) they were in it to make the big bucks, and not learn how to play the politics game.

It's more or less the association's Hunter has had throughout his career that brings the biggest criticism. To align yourself with two of the biggest politicians early in your career, followed by marrying Stephanie McMahon, both major gambles that paid off.

 

[Azane]

Am I the only one who finds HHH's Political history, and romance to FemVince, entertaining?

Like, 80% of why I watch wrestling is because of all the backstage real life shenanigans that happen around the Kayfabe. I find all the things HHH did backstage to be more entertaining than anything he's done in front of the camera.

That aside

Where would he be without the political pull? Well, after HBK retired the first time, I think HHH started putting himself out there as someone who could actually be a leader. DX didn't die with Shawn, thanks to Hunter stepping up. Later on when he was given a singles push, he never really let us down. HHH was simply an amazing heel, if the Political backstage added to that, it added to it. The Stephanie connection basically became a key component to HHH's character on camera ever since the Attitude era ended.

He had the mic skills, (When he was in DX), he had a fine wrestling form and figure, he only needed muscles post-DX to get in the Main Event (Which he got plenty of muscles out of nowhere). He would of been at least a few times World Champion.

 

[King Patrick Star]

The Connecticut Blue Blood. The Cerebral Assassin. The Game. The King Of Kings. Triple H. Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Whatever you want to call him, there is no denying that HHH is “Best For Business”. He the mind for Professional Sports Wrestling Entertainment like no other, not even Mr. Vincent Kennedy McMahon himself. He is the hardest and smartest working man in the # 1 company right now and it’s going to stay that way for a long time to come.

Yes, he joined the Clique / Kliq, but he did so to his advantage. He was the good guy in the bad group. He was Rob Van Dam in the WCW / ECW Alliance. He learned what he needed to learn from his friends and avoided doing what they did wrong.

Yes, he married the Boss’s daughter. I believe their relationship is real. Yes he has / had a lot to gain from marrying the Princess of the WWE, but he also has / had a lot to lose if he ever messed up.

Yes, he may or may not have necessarily deserved all 14 WWE / World Heavyweight Championship Title reigns, but if not him, who?? I tell you this much, I sure didn’t like him from the time Eric Bischoff handed him the Big Gold Belt and declared Hunter as the World Heavyweight Champion up to WrestleMania 21, where Batista won his first World Championship. He was just doing exactly what Flair used to do at the peak of his career. To be the Man, you have to beat the Man, and from 2002 to 2005, Triple H was indeed, the Man.

It does look a little odd that HHH is the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion, but he is on reign # 14 right now, due to unforeseen circumstances. To be honest, I would rather see Mr. Leveaque break Ric Flair’s “record”, instead of John Cena.

Everything he is doing for WWE’s past, by bringing Legends back and making them into Hall Of Famers is great. The Legends who deserve to cement their place in history officially are doing so thanks to the King Of Kings.

Everything he is doing for WWE’s present, by essentially becoming a “player-coach” this year, is great. When the team is dropping the ball, leave it to the Game to step away from the war room and march right into the war.

Everything he is doing for the WWE’s future, by changing NXT from a hybrid between reality show and wrestling show, to WWE’s own Professional Sports Wrestling Entertainment “college” is great. Think and execute, that’s main quality of the Cerebral Assassin.

He is truly the Connecticut Blue Blood. It’s as if he was made exactly to be exactly where he was, where is today, and most importantly where he is going.

 

[S.J. Maximus]

It is honestly a damn shame that people can never give one of the all-time greatest performers his credit. At least twice a year I have to throw my hat into the ring because someone creates one of these threads completely devaluing arguably the most successful career in the history of professional wrestling.

Regardless of people's opinion one fact will always remain: The genuine ability and talent of Paul Levesque helped propel Triple H to top draw status during the Attitude Era.

It is that fact alone that makes me so angry when people try to bring Steph or the Kliq into it. Get over it!!! They dated, got married, cool. He was a 3-time WWE Champion before their first date, and was the head of the most popular faction in wrestling before that date as well.

Was it the Kliq? Because I don't see any world title reigns for Sean Waltman, who joined both The Kliq and WWE earlier than Hunter did. As a matter of fact, with the Kliq being so influential and powerful, why did the other 4 members only combine for 4 world title reigns in the history of WWE while Hunter had that many in 4 years.

As a side note, I was under the belief that it was public knowledge Hunter suggested the Montreal Screwjob but I can be wrong about that.

Did "kissing ass" help him compete in multiple 5-star matches over his 20+ year career? Because I'm pretty sure there have been plenty of "pet projects" of Vince McMahon over the years who he had to give up on simply because they weren't connecting with the fans. No amount of ass-kissing can make you a good wrestler, please watch HHH's battles with Foley in 2000, his legendary rivalry with HBK in 2002, and his participation in one of the greatest triple threat matches ever at WrestleMania XX and tell me he isn't a good wrestler. He's one of the best, period.

Fans connected with him outside the ring (whether he was face or heel), and fans paid money to see him perform inside of it for over 15 years as a main event superstar. If he wasn't good enough, the fans would've lost interest and stopped paying, but that never happened. Unfortunately his personal life has opened the door for ignorance and conspiracy theories but I don't know how you can discredit his body of work. Had Austin or Rock stayed in the WWE full-time past 2002 they would also be looking at 14+ world titles, but Hunter was the only one of them who did. He was the top heel of the Attitude Era so they let him stay there for the Ruthless Aggression Era (2002-2005) and in the process he led the most successful faction of the 21st century in Evolution and made stars out of present day legends Randy Orton, Batista, and John Cena.

He's not even my favorite wrestler or anything, but the guy is a living legend in the business. I hope one day people will start realizing his accomplishments on screen and stop trying to scrutinize his personal life off of it.

 

[Navi]

He has a head for this business, and personally I don't care who he's married too, who's ass he kissed or who he stepped on to get to the top. He took full advantage of the chances that came his way, and he's a smart guy for doing so.

Besides if HHH hadn't reached the point he has, it's doubtful that we would have NXT. So we wouldn't have the Shield, Styles, Balor, Owens, Zayn, Banks, Charlottle and all the rest who are coming up behind them.

Yes I'm glad he took full advantage because the WWE is in good hands going forward.

 

[nwocongo]

I seriously doubt that. By 1995 and certainly '96 Shawn was the de facto leader of the "clique" and had Vince's ear more than anyone. By '95 Hall was on his way down, that's why Vince never made a big push to retain him when he was approached by WCW (maybe Vince also felt Hall would never leave the WWE). Nash had bombed as champion and Vince was already looking towards Shawn as champion. Both Kevin and Scott had left WCW by the time HHH debuted there. HHH had been hired by Bischoff.

There are conflicting stories about how HHH became part of the clique. If you hear Shawn tell it (whose memory is albeit foggy around that time period) HHH basically walked up to him and Nash after WM 11 and said "I want to ride with you guys." Nash and HHH both tell the story of HHH waiting for a rental car when Nash drives by and offers him a ride.

In any case, HHH was taking a huge risk aligning himself with a very unpopular group in the locker room. If things went south, it would haunt him for the rest of his career. (and it almost did) Despite his corny blueblood gimmick there was no doubt HHH had talent. He was a solid mid-card who would eventually be main event.

His relationship with Steph was another huge gamble. I agree it delayed his push for about a year. And again, if things went south it would end his career in WWE.

One things I like about HHH he does not forget the history of pro wrestling and WWE. He brings guys back. Guys like Superstar Billy Graham, Bruno Sammartino, Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage. He has respect for guys like Rock, Hogan, and Austin and happily takes a back seat to them at special events and WrestleMania's.

I do recall that both Hall and Nash stated in interviews they put in a word from bringing HHH in from WCW, apparently they liked what they saw and knew he had potential. So they may have helped get his foot in the door but in the following years I'd have to speculate it was mostly his relationship with HBK and Vince that furthered his career.

 

[KromyD]

He has a head for this business, and personally I don't care who he's married too, who's ass he kissed or who he stepped on to get to the top. He took full advantage of the chances that came his way, and he's a smart guy for doing so.

Besides if HHH hadn't reached the point he has, it's doubtful that we would have NXT. So we wouldn't have the Shield, Styles, Balor, Owens, Zayn, Banks, Charlottle and all the rest who are coming up behind them.

Yes I'm glad he took full advantage because the WWE is in good hands going forward.

Well the soap didnt pick itself up did it, for that we thank you Navi lol