So shocked I almost choked on my crumpet

[dd23beatlesfan1]

Triple H.

Top 5 Greatest Wrestlers of the Last Decade? Possibly. I'm not sure he'd be in the top 5 for pure talent, but as on overall figure in wrestling, there's no denying he should be near the top. The WWE in the 2000's was largely centered on Triple H like it or not. I personally feel that as far as talent goes, Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho are greater talents, and that Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit were both strong candidates for being better talents. But then when you take in influence/impact on the industry and accomplishments and add that into the criteria then Triple H probably moves above them all except Kurt Angle (Triple H has probably accomplished more, but Kurt is just too talented to put behind Triple H IMO, although he's certainly accomplished a lot in his own right so he's not a complete mismatch against Triple H in that department). Although I also personally believe that Shawn Michaels was better in the 2000's than Triple H as well. But if we're talking wrestlers who truly emereged in the 2000's than HBK doesn't count as he truly emerged in the '90s.

Anyways, but amongst the 5 greatest wrestlers of all-time? As in the entire history of pro wrestling which you can trace back to the 1860's up to today and around the entire world and considering hundreds of different promotions/territories throughout history? No way. Not even close. Triple H would be lucky to make the top 50. If we're also talking the top 5 in WWE history, I still wouldn't put Triple H in the top 5 in WWE history. Bruno Sammartino, Andre the Giant, Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Stone Cold, Mick Foley, and the Rock are just a few I would put ahead of Triple H. And that's talking about wrestlers before the 2000's. Triple H would obviously be much higher on a greatest WWE Wrestlers list than a 100 Greatest Wrestlers of All-Time list though. Triple H could and probably would make the top 20 in a Greatest WWE Wrestlers of All-Time list, where in a 100 Greatest Wrestlers of All-Time list (which includes all decades and promotions and countries), Triple would be lucky probably to even make the top 50.

Because while I just named about 12 WWE wrestlers that were greater than Triple H, then you start counting the early wrestlers like Frank Gotch, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Lou Thesz, Gorgeous George, Buddy Rogers, and foreign legends/icons like Antonio Inoki, Giant Baba, Rikidozan, El Santo, Tiger Mask, Jushin "Thunder" Liger, Mitsuharu Misawa, Blue Demon, etc. And then wrestlers from the '60s and '70s like Harley Race, Jack Brisco, Terry and Dory Funk Jr., Verne Gagne, Dusty Rhodes, etc. Wrestlers whom I and I'm sure most wrestling experts and historians would all agree are greater than Triple H.

Yeah putting Triple H in the top 5 in WWE history is really a stretch, let alone a top 5 wrestlers of all-time list, when you really sit down and think about all of the great wrestlers throughout the history of wrestling and in the different territories/countries/wrestling promotions around. Not just WWE. Many people seem to forget that there's more to wrestling than WWE. Hence why you see wrestlers like Goldust and Brian Pillman on top 10 greatest wrestlers ever lists (tremendous talents but nowhere near the top 10 in the entire history of wrestling). Triple H is nowhere near the top 5 honestly.

And I am not a Triple H hater by any means. While his politics annoy me somewhat, Triple was clearly a talent and top guy long before he even got into a relationship with Stephanie McMahon, so people that make that argument are just being ridiculous.

Triple H is a tremendous talent, one of the most important wrestlers in the world undoubtedly, but he is nowhere near the top 5 greatest wrestlers of all-time. Sorry, he just isn't. People can say he's one of their top 5 favorite, and there'd be no way to debate it or argue it as everyone has their own tastes. But saying he's one of the 5 greatest wrestlers in the entire history of pro wrestling is seriously ovverating the man.

 

[AdamDevine]

Very well said Beatlesfan. I wonder if Arn Anderson meant top five in wrestling today, as in currently still wrestling? Then HHH might be in that top 5, but that's only if you would just be counting WWE wrestlers not ones in TNA or ROH. Plus, what standards are you judging him by? The whole ROH locker room has more wrestling ability, in my opinion. But HHH does have one of the coolest entrances, so that must account for something. He is pretty good on the mic as well. Really thinking about it, maybe he's just an inbetween...

 

[Vega]

I wonder if Arn Anderson meant top five in wrestling today, as in currently still wrestling? Then HHH might be in that top 5, but that's only if you would just be counting WWE wrestlers not ones in TNA or ROH.

Yeah, that would make it logical, even with outside-WWE-talent. In my opinion, then he'd be #6 behind Taker, Sting, Kobashi, Jericho and Angle. But probably Anderson was told what he was going to say or he didn't really think about what he was saying.

 

[Caitiff]

Triple H is good, but, if you're talking about his memorable matches, they're always against major names, who are almost universally known for being great wrestlers. Whether it was Owen Hart, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Randy Orton, Kurt Angle, or Ric Flair, Triple H has, for the most part, been blessed with opponents who are more than capable of making him look better than he is. I quote Jim Cornette a lot, but that's because the guy can produce a damn fine soundbite. So, "Triple H is the guy who works with the guy who draws the money."

Is Triple H charismatic? Of course, he is. Is he good on a microphone? No doubt. Is he a good wrestler by today's standards? He's one of the best working today. Is that really saying a lot? No. Comparing eras of wrestling is very seldom good practice, since the tastes of the audience will inevitably change. However, if you look at the people who should be listed among the greatest aoff all time, can you really put Triple H in the same list as Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and Bruno Sammartino? There's no way in hell you could get away with that. Well, not with long term fans.

But, even among the current generation of WWE "Superstars," (I hate that term. I hate "Sports Entertainment." But, I digress.) I would have trouble putting Triple H among the Top 5. Is he actually a better wrestler than the Undertaker? How about Chris Jericho? CM Punk? Edge? Randy Orton? I can't even put Triple H past The Miz anymore.

Is Triple H good? Yes. Can he carry a promotion? No. I think that WWE from 2002-2006 kinda proved that. Should he be listed in the Top 5 ever? Hell no. If I really put thought into a list, I would likely have a hard time justifying, to myself, putting him in the Top 100of all time.

 

[jholcomb22]

Top 5 in WWE, maybe. In all of wrestling, get real. Hogan and Flair headline the list. Stone Cold, The Rock, Bret Hart follow. If not for injuries or death, Kurt Angle, Eddie, Benoit are all up there as well. The hardest part about this argument is the title count. Everybody seems to bring up the number of titles for wrestlers. Triple H has 13. The only problem with this logic is that when up until the brand split, there was only one title. Only one guy had it. Now there are two, so a guy like Rey Mysterio can have multiple title runs, or Edge, who spent 30 years in the tag division, can still be a 10 time champion in a span of 2 years.

Forget the fact that Triple H married Steph, he's great at backstage politics, the accomplishments would have come regardless. But based on wrestling talent alone, he is still behind the performance and/or technical level of most of the guys mentioned above.

 

[flocker]

Let's play a word association game...
I type two words and you say what comes next. Here goes:

Steamboat.
Anderson.

Ok, if you don't think Flair, well, you don't know classic wrestling. They had Flair's long time friend and enforcer talking about the man who had his best, most famous, all-time bestest ever match against a wrestling "GOD"... And they swapped out his name for somebody else. That's just good writing. everybody, everybody, everybody knew the name that belonged there, right then, coming out of THAT guy's mouth should have been Flair. Period.
You can argue that HHH is or is not "top 5 ever". Personally, I'd say no.But I would not say your argument was rediculous. (Unless you made a rediculous argument to support a valid point). And, he *might* be top 5 before he's done. But not putting Flair in as one of the other 4 ruins the argument. Flair is better than HHH. Period. Unless you have a "driving a tank and carrying a sledgehammer" match. Even then, my money is somehow on Flair to nutshot the tank while somebody else keeps the hammer busy.
But it was well written and well done. They made all us smarks yack on the internet... Got a rib in on Flair... And told the kiddies what they want the younguns to think.
***golf clap***
Well done, wwe.jolly good show.

 

[XgringolocoX]

The theories are fun though ain't they?
I too don't see this as anything but picking the top of who's still affiliated with the coompany that the younger fans would know. It just makes good business sense to promote your OWN stars and company.
Sorry, but Ric aint here no more. Hogan aint neither, thank God.
Trips gets way to much flak for being married to Steph. Does he pull his weight at times, sure. Just like anyone in that position. However, like it's been said here, he's all for pushing new talent and building the next generation. Give the guy due credit and not just rag on him for nailing the boss's daughter.

 

[Showstopper530]

Well, for my two cents, this is who I consider the top 5 of my time watching wrestling. I'm 35 years old and I have been watching wresting since 1985. I have no reason to play favorites or be biased towards anyone. This is just plain and simple who I think are the most passionate, innovative, athletically gifted, intense, funny, entertaining men to ever get in the ring. Some may not have all of these qualities, but they all have some variation of most of them. So, humbly, this is who I feel are the top 5 of at least the last 25 years.


5. The Rock
4. Kurt Angle
3. Triple H
2. Bret Hart
1. Shawn Michaels

So yes, I do firmly believe HHH is one of the top 5 all time. More importantly, I have heard Jim Ross, Arn Anderson, Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, & Undertaker all say the same thing.

 

[The Best At What I Do]

I think this was mentioned because HHH is on his way back, so I think we'll be hearing his name dropped more often just to put his image in peoples mind so there is a big pop for his return.

As for top 5, i think not. He is right outside of my top 5 though so definatley top 6 or 7 in my book. You can say what you want about his backstage politics, but he is good at what he does and nothing I have seen him do has been boring. Any one with more than 10 title reigns needs to be top 10. He has 13 by my last count.

Any one with more than 10 title reigns needs to be top 10? No offense but that has to be the dumbest thing I've ever read in all this forum... Well a little offense. Title reigns mean absolutely nothing in today's wrestling world where a man can become a 9 time world champ within the span of 2 years.

Speaking of which, answer me this. John Cena and Edge are both 9 time world champions and barring any unforeseen circumstances will undoubtedly be 10 time champs. Will they both be in the top 10 wrestlers of all time? Randy Orton is on track to reach that 'accomplishment'. From your sig I assume you wouldn't mind him in your top 10 though. I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff Jarrett gives himself 10 reigns in the near future. Will he be in your top 10? Will Kurt Angle?

I hope you see the dangerous precedent you're setting with your line of thinking. Soon your top 10 won't have room for The Rock, Stone Cold, Hulk Hogan or whoever the hell you like just because of some arbitrary number counting their title reigns.

 

[Validus]

formed d-generation-x one of the greatest stables of all time.

No , HBK formed DX . He was the true founder of it . When HBK left , HHH took over .

---ANYWAYS---

Triple H is in the top 10 for me . I don't know about top 5 because I'm not listing wrestlers . He has numerous world titles and is a solid in-ring worker . He is good on the mic aswell . I honestly thought that Triple H was a better entertainer in the late 90's - early 00's . And he was way better than HBK in DX for the last couple of years . (No harm to HBK , he's my favourite .)

But really , Arn Anderson probably meant he is the top 5 for current wrestlers . Or maybe that's just his opinion , so no need to choke on your jolly good crumpet .

P.S -> Don't get worked up over a dude's opinion . Maybe you don't think HHH is in the top 5 but other people , (as you can see) do .

 

[vertigolowe]

Another reason is probably to help keep putting Sheamus over. Sheamus took out HHH and Anderson considers HHH one of the top 5 of all time. Right when he started that part of the speech I thought he'd just cut it short at something like, "When people talk about the best of all time, Steamboat is always in the top 5."

Another thing is that the whole thing may have been a shot at Flair. The whole segment (up to Nexus coming in) reminded me of the Flair retirement. Maybe it was meant to so that it was even more obvious that Flair (and Hogan) weren't mentioned by anyone.

 

[RockFan89]

[YOUTUBE]CIW7rEglTRA[/YOUTUBE]

The quote starts around 3:00

Andersen says "who were the top 5 of all time" and he includes HHH, Shawn Michaels, and the Undertaker and the statement itself implies Steamboat is in the top 5 as well. Well following Andersen's logic that leaves one spot in the top five for someone like Hogan, Flair, Bret Hart, Stone Cold, The Rock etc. So does Andersen genuinely believe HHH is in the top 5, probably not since he would be putting him over so many other guys.

And anyone who says HHH is in the top five can you give me your top 5. I can't put him over Hogan, Flair, or Stone Cold. I think Shawn Michaels and Undertaker are still better overall. I'd put HHH in the company of Bret Hart, Kurt Angle, and The Rock. (And I'm not including anyone before the late 90's since I never watched those wrestlers.)

 

[Ferbian]

Andersen says "who were the top 5 of all time" and he includes HHH, Shawn Michaels, and the Undertaker

You linked the video, yet you failed to take out the context that he said "some people might mention Triple H, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker" so he's not really implying that it's his list as much as it will be someone else's list instead.

And I don't see why anybody should blame someone for wanting to put Triple H as their number one, I put him as my number 2 after all, and it's all because I prefer watching Triple H on my screen than I would have preferred watching someone like Steamboat.

And it doesn't mean I don't respect someone like Steamboat, and it doesn't mean that I don't think he's a great talent, it simply means that I wouldn't consider him the greatest in terms of what I personally prefer.

That's what it's all about, preferences, I could say that Mark Henry is the greatest wrestler of all time, and it'd be my preferred opinion, I'd be told off by someone who disagrees, but I wouldn't be wrong, because it's my opinion.

And people need to learn that, it's not necessarily because Vince says "hey, you don't talk about Ric Flair cause he's woo'ing somewhere else and cutting promos with someone else" as well as it might actually be Arn Anderson's opinion that Triple H is one of the greatest.

 

[Nwoite]

um, this is an entirely subjective discussion, without creating a set of guidelines which may or may not leave H in the top five.

If one were to look solely at length of title runs, over the span of Pro Wrestling, guys like Bob Backlund, Bruno Sanmartino, and Hulk Hogan are in the top 5, and its possible Hunter wouldn't even be in the top ten.

going based on number of world titles(or its equivalent), then I believe Hunter may be only after Flair, who i'm pretty sure is number 1.

if one looks at this as "whose the greatest professional wrestler" as in whose got it all, than yes, Hunter would probably be in the top 5. Benoit, who was levels beyond Hunter in the ring, had hardly any mic skills, which is part of being a great pro wrestler aka the gimmicks, personas, etc that set pro wrestling apart.

what about sheer entertainment value?? this could get crazy, maybe i find Rey, Eddie, RVD, Jeff Hardy and La Parka to be my top five greatest. holy balls!?! where's HBK?? where's flair?? or austin??.....down there.

what if one determines greatest as somebody who can most believably portray a heel and a face. that could be an interesting list for sure.

 

[HHH_King_Of_Kings]

I do consider HHH to be the greatest wrestler of this decade! All "son-in-law of the boss" aside, his ring work as well as his mic work is amazing! I can't think of anyone that is better than HHH who isnt retired except Randy Orton!

 

[Hazardous]

Without HHH WWE wouldn't be where it is today. You want the top 5 of all time, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Triple H

now i ask this.. where is the undertaker? if this is a list of "the WWE wouldnt be the same without them" then how can you leave the Deadman off that list? He has done something that VERY few have. gone threw some major character changes and STILL remained one of the top guys in the company, sure he doesnt have as many titles as say HHH, or Flair (which i dont think he should be 16x champ IMO, some of those reigns were bogus) i agree on Austin, and HBK, and a little bit on Hogan.. was never really a hulkamaniac.. but he has an interest in the backstage workings.

but as far as HHH? to ME he is in the top 5. not only has he evolved his in ring game, but he has such an interest in the industry that he has also studied the busniess side of it, on how to run the day to day things that go on. how many other guys go that far? and you have to give BIG props to the guy who has the Balls to bang the bosses daughter, how many of us can say we slept with our bosses daughter and were not fired for it? now while i may not be a fan of some of the angles he's done, like screwing a "dead body" he has produced some of the most epic moments in WWE history.. driving the DX jeep to WCW? i didnt stop laughing the whole time i watched that. When he broke into Orton's house and trashed it/ beat the crap outta him? it was so real looking, so raw and emotional. so yes, i agree he should be in the top 5. Top 5 aint just for your in ring ability, but also for your mic skills, and really your ability to play the game (pun intended)

 

[KoC417]

This has to be one of the most ignorant posts I've ever seen.

#1. Take a look at title reigns in the Late 90's/Early 2000's. That title has swapped back and forth, over and over.

The longest title reigns from 1998 to 2003 were:

Triple H-280 Days
Kurt Angle-126 Days
The Rock-119 Days
Triple H-118 Days
Steve Austin-91 Days

1, count em, 1 World Title reign was over 200 days from 1996-2003. So, lets see the longest title reigns from 2003-Present.

John Cena-380 Days
Batista-282 Days
JBL-280 Days
John Cena-280 Days
Triple H-210 Days

So, to prove your theory wrong, I say that Triple H married Stephanie McMahon at a point where the World Championships were at a point where they were not being thrown around from week to week, like they were pre-marriage. I'm SO sick of smarks like you who blow triple H's backstage pull way out of proportion. Use your brain, which WWE superstars have the best booking sense? Triple H, Triple H, and Triple H. He's a smart guy! He's a good booker! So of course he's gonna have backstage pull!

He didn't put over Batista? He put over Batista at 3 consecutive PPV's. Ric Flair didn't do that, Ric Flair was his tag team partner. And he's horrible on his own.

He didn't put over Randy Orton? You don't put yourself over, it doesn't happen. Someone puts you over or gives you your first high-profile feud, and Triple H did that with Randy Orton.

Triple H has put over:
Randy Orton (No Mercy 2007)
Jeff Hardy (Armageddon 2007)
Batista (Wrestlemania 21)
Chris Benoit (Wrestlemania 20)
John Cena (Wrestlemania 22)
Big Show (Survivor Series 1999)
Hulk Hogan (Backlash 2002)
Legacy (Breaking Point 2009)

Triple H jobbed to all of these superstars. Giving a good portion of them the biggest win of their career. So if you dare say Triple H doesn't put people over, look at the facts.


I say Triple H is Top 5 on my list, Number 4 actually.

1. Steve Austin
2. Shawn Michaels
3. Bret Hart
4. Triple H
5. The Rock

Triple H has done more for the WWE than anyone. Him and The Rock carried the WWE while Austin was gone. Then he carried it alone after they both were gone. Triple H is an all-time great. It's a no-brainer in my book

Ok your top 5 list is F**KED. Where is the UNDERTAKER!? Austin I'd argue with being 1-2 with Michaels. So HHH trumps Bruno, and all the legends!?
HHH JOBBED TO BENOIT!? are you KIDDING ME!? What planet are you on!? There was NO jobbing in that HHH match. Yes I do realize in some dipshit minds anyone that loses is jobbing. HOWEVER by that logic HHH, HBK, Undertaker, Ric Flair, Jericho, Edge, Orton, Cena and company are ALL jobbers as they have repeatedly lost. Yeah i don't think so. And in the rematch Benoit beat HBK! Man do you have a skewed way of viewing a JOB! WM 21 that match with Batista was almost unbearable for me to watch. It's almost as bad as having to watch hornswoggle vs Chavo. Did HHH really "put" Big Show over as you would put it? When you are over with the crowd nobody PUTS you over. You are ALREADY over.


IMO HHH didn't put over Batista. Go back to old Raw's. Ric FLAIR was seen with Batista and I do believe his words were "I've had my eye on you for a long time now". And I believe he went on to call him impressive. Not HHH, RIC FLAIR. Yes Batista was in evolution. However Flair was his MANAGER/MENTOR/TAG PARTNER and essentially his guiding light. HHH was off doing his own thing using Batista to keep his belt, while Ric Flair was "molding" the animal into what we the WWE universe saw. (At least on screen. Not talking about what Batista, HHH, Flair, and Orton did OFF screen because let's face it...lots of trouble there...specially with Flair and jet riding)

SMH....in utter disappointment. This fool doesn't even have the CORNERSTONE of the WWE in his Top 5. And he wants to be taken seriously. Bah way to spit on the Undertakers Legacy!

 

[Nicole13Edge/HardyFan]

NO! Absoulty not Triple H maybe in the top 20 or 30 but not the top 5. Just like JJ5776 being married to the bosses daughter doesn't make you a great entertanier or get you a great crowd reaction. I never liked Triple H and never saw him as that great of an entertanier except for when he was in DX but that was only because he had HBK to make him look good.

My top 5 superstars would be

1} Stone Cold Steve Austin

2} Shawn Michales {HBK}

3} Batista

4} Edge

5} Bret the Hitman Hart