The Trial of Triple H
 

So, for our next podcast, we're doing a court case format, where we have a judge, a prosecution and a defense, debating over a certain wrestler and their detrimental effect on the wrestling business. The first guy on the docket for this format is none other than Triple H.

The charge is that the political maneouverings and his insistence on being pushed so strong has been more of a detriment than a benefit to the wrestling business.

The show is going to be completely point/counterpoint, and we'll be reading your feedback on the show, so the better it is, the more it could sway the verdict - if you think he's done damage to the business, explain how you think he has (and feel free to give examples of what happened with different guys). On the flip side, if you are a defender of Triple H, or flat out believe that none of his actions over the years have been a negative on the business, explain why, this is, in essence a chance to clear his name.

Ultimately this should make for a fun debate on the show, and I'm keen to see what people think, since this goes a little deeper than smark Hunter bashing...

I want to see James Steele's reply here.

Not that I'm excusing his behaviour, but HHH was probably the best consistently great heel of the 21st century, so having him on our screens more isn't really a bad thing in my eyes. Whatevever, time to play the game.

Is everyone already forgetting how much he put over Daniel Bryan at Mania?

D-Bry is a good example of a tick in the "innocent column" for sure. But big picture, his entire in ring career, good or bad and why?

When has Triple H ever been the #1 guy in WWE?

99-2001: Rock and Austin were the top guys. Triple H was the #1 foil though.
Early 2002: Triple H was the top guy because he was white hot on his return, but Rock returning and the return of Hogan took over.
mid 2002- late 2003: Triple H was the top guy when he returned, but he soon turned heel and Brock/Angle were the top guys for the bulk of this period once Rock/Hogan left again.
2004: Guerrero/Benoit were "the man". HHH then was built up to help make Batista once WWE found out Orton wasn't ready to be the top guy.
2005-2010: Cena/Batista took the torch. Hell, HHH was usually on the undercard with DX or feuding with Sheamus or Jeff Hardy.
2011-2013: Cena/Punk are the top guys.
Now: New blood is taking over with HHH running the show

I don't think Triple H ever was "shoved down our throats" as the top guy. He was always pushed a damn good wrestler, but only was the #1 face for the first half of 2002. Other than that he was pushed as the #1 heel who needed help from stables, weapons, etc. He was to be taken seriously, but he wasn't the unstoppable god of wrestling. He has helped make Benoit, Sheamus, Batista, Cena, Hardy, etc. all long-term top guys. Besides Flair, what main event guy has helped make as many guys as HHH?

Is WWE really all that wrong for trusting Triple H to steady the ship when Austin got hurt, Rock went to Hollywood, the brand split started and SmackDown! had the bulk of the stars, Brock left, Orton showed what an immature dickback he was, and to help SmackDown! when RAW boned them in the draft and needed to make new stars? Booker T at WMXIX is the only questionable decision during "HHH-palooza" and I don't think that was HHH's call. RVD was hot, but you don't put the belt on a guy who shits on the company and openly breaks the law. Steiner and Nash weren't going to get the belt, but they needed to be established as big deals in the WWE. HHH/Goldberg was a big deal and made Goldberg look like a fucking beast despite him being a horrible 1 trick pony. HHH on Smackdown from 07-09 helped make Edge and Jeff Hardy stars. Also, he had to carry Khali and Kozlov. The storyline going into WM25 had to have HHH win. Who helped restore Sheamus as a top guy after his push stalled in 2010? Triple H. Who put on classics with Taker after trying to follow the HBK matches? Triple H. He helped Brock look like a fucking war god moreso than he already is. HHH/Bryan speaks for itself. Also, DX vs Legacy and Evolution vs Shield are underrated in what they did for the younger superstars. DX being a comedy act and staying out of the title picture for awhile speaks for itself. Who is behind NXT. Triple H.Triple H has gone out of his way to make the business better.

LOL at Benoit and Eddy being "the Man" over HHH come on now

Also what a typical smark IWC fag topic

And yes, HHH was for a period shoved down our throats. From 2002-2005 ish before Cena became the top dog HHH was the top guy on the bigger show and was on TV for 30 minutes at least a week. This was mainly an issue in late 2003 and early 2004.

Since 2005 I think with a few exceptions of bad booking of his opponents hes done just as much putting over as "burying".

Wow, this thread is INTENSE. Woah!

Seriously Steele...When Benoit was "the man" here was Raws PPV main events

WM - Benoit beats champion HHH and HBK
Backlash - Rematch of WM main event
Bad Blood - HHH vs HBK in a 48 minute Hell in a cell match. Benoit (the champion and man beat kane earlier in the night in a one off match that didnt have much build)
Vengeance - HHH vs Benoit
Summerslam - Benoit vs Orton - Benoit loses to Orton and goes back to the mid card.

So how exactly was he "the man"?

Triple H is the best because he's cool. Kliq4Lyf.

Is this a criminal or civil court case?

Brand split ppvs meant Benoit didn't headline as many PPVs as normal. Also, a 2 year feud ending in HIAC should have gone on last.

OK...that makes no point. Brand split means there were less PPVs Benoit main evented, and still they all were focused more on HHH.

Im on your side here, but to pretend that at any point HHH was never "the man" and to try to pretend eddie and benoit were, is a fucking joke.

I'm sorry, but there is a reason Brock/Angle headlined WMXIX - SD! was the bigger show with biggger stars. Angle, Brock, Eddie, Taker, etc.

Raw had a bunch of old WCW guys who HHH had to carry.

SummerSlam 04

Orton/Benoit headlined while HHH wrestled fucking EUGENE.

Orton flopped and HHH got the belt and went on to make Batista the only new star to come close to Cena in popularity. Batista was bigger than Cena for a period of time. Then, he feuds with Flair, makes Fans look like a star, and becomes a comedy act for 2 years.

Oh jesus LOL

Smackdown has never ever ever been the bigger show. They were trying to push Lesnar so he went on last.

I know, I said that. And Benoit lost the title and was gone from the main event. Doesnt sound like what they do to the man. And guess who took his spot in the main event?

HHH

Triple H has good workrate and that's all that matters. I hope he is found not guilty. Don't want him to go to jail.

I dont get you. for a guy who jerks off to HHH I dont know why you cant just admit that he was top dog in the WWE for a long time. No one is saying he shouldnt have been, or wasnt good at it. Most people are saying he was a great heel that deserves to have been the man.

THen you fight it like its some kind of bad thing. You are worse than the neckbeard "HHH Burying people" fags.

Just to add fuel to this nicely simmering story, but do you think HHH's feud with Orton in 2004 did irreparable damage to Orton, or do you think he was always destined to be an 'almost' guy regardless.

HHH has never been in the role of a Cena, Hogan, Rock, or Austin except for the first half of 2002.

Orton wasn't ready as a wrestler or as a man. Orton did damage to himself.

Orton failed in 2004 because he was young, dumb, and had no idea how to get over as face. That was all on pushing him too soon. he was gold as a young cocky heel "prince" but had nothing to offer as a face.

YEah, hes no Rock, Austin or Hogan, and maybe not a cena.

But the other people you named werent either, and hHH was way closer.

The guy has headlined probably 50 PPVs and you are trying to say guys like Benoit, Punk, Batista are somehow ""above him" and had more time as the top guy.

Newsflash, HHH is a top guy. Always.

You said it yourself. WWE was pushing Brock in 02-03. HHH wasn't the "face of WWE".

Piper was never a Hogan despite him headling so much either. Heels are rinherently not the top draw despite the face needing that major heel to draw.

And benoit was? And punk was? And Batista was? More so than HHH?

You are trying, and failing to make a false equivalency. Yes HHH was never one of the 4 biggest faces EVER. but hes right beneath it. And you are trying to play "OH he wasnt one of those 4 best ever so that means hes just like a bunch of other guys".

Im done, you are just being difficult and I dont even know why im defending HHH

So your point is that since Piper wasnt Hogan, HHH was as big as Chris Benoit.....



yeaaaaaah sure

I'm not saying HHH wasn't a top guy. I'm saying he was never in the position of the #1 draw guy that people claim he has politicked to be for 15 years.

ANd who were these long time money making FACES that made it big from HHH? Oh yeah, 2002-2005 where HHH was the HEEL and the focal point....Right.

Its not Triple H's fault none of those guys stuck and became megastars. They just weren't that guy.

He gave himself Jesus's nickname dude.

Blasphemy = Heel Heat

I have one charge his extraordinarily long-winded promos

Good god at one point I wasn't sure if I was supposed to hate Triple H or Paul Levesque.I understand a heel brags but jesus those opening promos went on for ever. The Rock even lampshades it.

People on the internet hate Triple H?

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Im not going to even get into this arguement. JamesSteele is so beyond clueless it's silly.

What actual evidence is there that Triple H went out of his way to bury anybody?

Gotta agree with Steele here. Triple H really hasn't buried anyone in his career, at least not to the extent people say he has. I mean the dude's career has been used more to put over others than anything for the last 10 years. Orton, Batista, Cena, Jeff Hardy, Sheamus and Bryan. Hell even Punk was supposed to have benefited from him.

Triple H saved CM Punk from having to carry Kevin Nash. Triple H fell on that grenade for Punk.