Paul Levesque

Paul Michael Levesque (born July 27, 1969 in Nashua, New Hampshire) is an American professional wrestler, best known as Hunter Hearst Helmsley or Triple H. He is a 5-time WWE Champion and a 5-time World Heavyweight Champion of WWE RAW.

Career

Triple H was taught to wrestle by legendary wrestling heel Killer Kowalski. In 1994 he joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW), wrestling there as a heel under the names Terra Ryzing and Jean-Paul Levesque. He left in 1995 for WCW's rival organization, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The WWF packaged him as heel "Hunter Hearst Helmsley", a spoiled rich kid from Greenwich, Connecticut whose name invoked both the family of publisher William Randolph Hearst and "The Queen of Mean," Leona Helmsley. Along with fellow Clique member Shawn Michaels and Chyna, he formed D-Generation X (DX) in 1997. Around the same time, he shortened his alias to Triple H (a reference to the character's initials, HHH). This was the beginning of Levesque's rise to become one of the most successful professional wrestlers ever.

Road to Heavyweight Gold

Triple H led the "DX Army" throughout 1998; this was the first time he'd performed as a babyface in the WWF and he quickly became one of its most popular wrestlers. It was during this time that Triple H began feuding with The Rock who at the time was a heel. This rivalry eventually spilled onto the Intercontinental Championship, at the time both superstars were at the "top of the ladder" in the mid-card division. When The Rock won the WWF Championship in late 1998, the rivalry between the two continued but became more of a gang war as DX fought Mr. McMahon's Corporation stable, of which Rock was the crown jewel. As 1999 began, Triple H began to re-evaluate his position in the WWF. He longed for a shot at the Heavyweight gold, however due to his inferior popularity compared to Stone Cold Steve Austin he knew that the fans would never want to see him take on another fan favorite. At WrestleMania XV Triple H wrestled as a babyface for the last time in several months when he beat Kane with the aid of Chyna. Later on he betrayed his long-time friend and fellow DX member X-Pac by helping Shane McMahon retain the European Championship, thus turning heel. This decision earned him the hatred of the fans, and helped push Triple H further in the direction of the WWF Championship. Triple H joined the Corporation, however this placed him in the same boat as The Rock, a long-time Corporate member. Unable to get along, The Rock took Triple H's place as a babyface and quickly became one of the hottest superstars in WWF history. Meanwhile Triple H worked hard to get closer to the WWF Championship. Along with turning heel, Triple H got rid of his old "DX" look and took on the look he has to this day. Triple H was changing his image and his personality as he fought to get a World title shot. During mid-1999, Triple H was "groomed" for the World title. Eventually, with the death of the "Corporate Ministry" (the group which was created out of a merger of the Corporation and the Undertaker's Ministry), Triple H found himself closer to the WWF Championship. Eventually after numerous failed attempts he finally got what he and many others thought would finally see him at the top of the WWF. At SummerSlam 1999 Triple H, along with Mankind would challenge then-World Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin. In a memorable match which featured Governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura as the special referee, Triple H lost out to Mankind who became World Champion for the 3rd time. Furious, Triple H and Chyna laid waste to Austin. This action would eventually launch a feud between Austin and Triple H. The following night on Raw is War, Triple H threatened to break Jim Ross's arm if Mankind refused to give him a title shot that night. Mankind gave Triple H a shot, and that night Triple H won his first WWF Championship. After winning the title Triple H then "interviewed" Jim Ross to see "What Ross thought of him." JR's reply was that he thought Triple H was a, "No good, drunken S.O.B." Triple H replied by beating JR to the ground. From then onwards, Triple H would feud with the biggest WWF superstars to date. The Rock, Mick Foley, Steve Austin, Vince McMahon, The Undertaker, Kurt Angle and many more. He would earn the hatred of fans around the world due to his dirty, under-handed tactics, and scheming nature such as forcing Mick Foley out of the WWF.

Current

During Triple H's WWE career, he has held a number of titles, including the WWE Championship, the WWE Intercontinental Championship, the WWE European Championship, and (with partner Stone Cold Steve Austin) the WWE World Tag Team Championship. He is only the second of five wrestlers to have held all four of those titles, the first being Shawn Michaels. This is sometimes referred to as being a "Grand Slam Champion". He also won the 1997 King of the Ring tournament.

Triple H's career highlights, March 2004 (WWE Draft Lottery)

The most difficult moment of Triple H's career occurred during a match on a live broadcast of Monday Night RAW on May 21, 2001 when he suffered a legitimate and career-threatening injury. A misstep caused him to suffer a tear in his left quadricep muscle. Despite his inability to place any weight on his leg, Triple H was able to complete the match, something that his fans and fellow wrestlers saw as an admirable display of dedication to the business. He even allowed one of his opponents in the match, Chris Jericho, to place him in his standard finishing maneuver, the "Walls of Jericho", a move that places considerable stress on the quadriceps. The tear required an operation, which was performed by famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. The rigorous rehabilitation process kept him out of action until January 7, 2002, over seven months.

Then prior to September 2, 2002, WWE recognized only one World Champion, and that champion represented both RAW and SmackDown! Just after that year's SummerSlam, however, champion Brock Lesnar inked a (storyline) deal to become exclusive to SmackDown!, leaving RAW without a champion. RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff then declared that since Lesnar had left for SmackDown!, that RAW needed its own champion. So with that, he opened a briefcase, pulled out the old WCW Championship, and gave it to Triple H, naming him the first World Heavyweight Champion. Since that time, Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit, Randy Orton, Goldberg, and Batista have held the championship (often won from Triple H). With the exception of the current champion, Batista, all have lost it relatively quickly (also often to Triple H).

In January 2003, Triple H formed Evolution with Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Dave Batista. Its purpose was to include the greatest of the past (Flair), present (HHH), and future (Orton and Batista) of wrestling, and to support Triple H as World Champion, with other members interfering in matches on his behalf. However, the group no longer exists. Orton was kicked out of the group after winning the World Heavyweight Championship from Chris Benoit at SummerSlam 2004 (which Triple H won back only a month later). Batista won the 2005 Royal Rumble, then turned on Triple H the next month after learning of Triple H's attempts to trick him into jumping to SmackDown! to face WWE champion John Bradshaw Layfield at WrestleMania instead of Triple H. With only Flair and Triple H remaining, Evolution is essentially disbanded.

In late 2004, Triple H released a book entitled Making the Game: Triple H's Approach to a Better Body. Mostly devoted to bodybuilding advice, the book also includes some autobiographical information, memoirs, and opinions.

Triple H lost his fifth World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 21, in which he was defeated by Batista.

Personal life

Prior to his relationship with Stephanie McMahon, Levesque had previously been in a relationship with Joanie "Chyna" Laurer that mirrored their in-ring partnership. Following his first WWF championship run, Triple H was put into a program with Stephanie McMahon that culminated in Triple H 'marrying' McMahon. During the program, in which Triple H and spoiled-brat Stephanie were the most over heels in the WWF, Levesque and McMahon became personally involved in real life. On October 25, 2003, long after the couple had divorced in the storylines, the couple married for real.

Now Stephanie McMahon's husband, many speculate that once the promoter retires, Levesque and Stephanie will assume creative control of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Stephanie McMahon is currently in charge of writing the SmackDown! program, while Triple H is often consulted by the McMahons about storylines and angles.

Controversy

Triple H is one of the most controversial figures in the history of the business. Many pundits have criticized him for using backstage political leverage to hog screen time, retain titles, elevate his friends, and generally hold down talented workers who might otherwise deserve to share the limelight with him. The Clique, including good real-life friends Shawn Michaels, Scott "Razor Ramon" Hall, Kevin "Diesel" Nash, Sean "X-Pac" Waltman, and Triple H, was notorious for this in the late 1990s, and Triple H's influence continued after the departures of Michaels, Hall, and Nash from the WWF. This view has only increased since he became the real-life son-in-law of WWE promoter Vince McMahon, which at one time was merely part of his gimmick. At the same time, his career is filled with performances against a wide variety of opponents. All else aside, he consistently draws one of the biggest crowd reactions (whether cheers or boos) in any arena he performs in, a mark of high success in the pro wrestling world.

Film

Levesque played a role in the film Blade: Trinity, as a vampire enforcer named Jarko Grimwood. Some speculate that Triple H will be the next performer to jump ship to Hollywood in the footsteps of The Rock. Triple H has disputed this in interviews, however, saying that he will always be a professional wrestler first, and (if offered more acting roles) actor second. This is a thoughtful response considering his high-profile personal and professional role in WWE. He is scheduled to star in the WWE-produced movie entitled Jornada del Muerte.

Profile

• Height: 6'4"
• Weight: 260 lbs
• Birthdate: July 27, 1969
• Hometown: Nashua, New Hampshire
• Trained By: Killer Kowalski
• Professional Debut: March, 1992
• Previous Identities: Terra Ryzing, Jean-Paul Levesque, Hunter Hearst Helmsley
• Previous Managers/valets: Sable, Chyna, Stephanie McMahon
• Quotes: "I am that damn good!", "I am the game!", "You will never be the man."
• Signature Illegal Weapon: Sledgehammer

Finishing/Signature Moves

• The Pedigree (double underhook facebuster)
• Jumping High Knee
• Indian Death Lock
• Game's Sleeper
• Knee Smash
• Running Neckbreaker

Championships and accomplishments

Levesque is described as either a ten-time or eleven-time world champion. He held the WWE Undisputed Championship when it had been consolidated by Chris Jericho but was still represented by two belts. After the two belts had been merged, he won it four more times, and had five reigns as WWF/WWE Champion. Strictly in terms of titles, the total is ten; his World Championship belts, counting both of the two for his first Undisputed Championship, total eleven.

Other accomplishments

• 1997 King of the Ring winner
• 2002 Royal Rumble winner
• Former World Tag Team Champion with Stone Cold Steve Austin
• Former WWE European Champion
• Second Grand Slam Champion in WWE history

Notable performances

Matches generally regarded as Triple H's most notable performances:

versus The Rock - WWE Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match - SummerSlam, 8/30/1998

versus Cactus Jack - WWE Championship Street Fight - Royal Rumble 1/23/2000

versus Cactus Jack - WWE Championship Hell In A Cell Match - No Way Out, 2/27/2000

versus The Rock - WWE Championship 60 Minute Ironman Match - Judgment Day, 5/21/2000

versus Chris Jericho - Last Man Standing Match - Fully Loaded 7/23/2000

versus Stone Cold Steve Austin - Best 2 Of 3 Falls Match - No Way Out, 2/25/2001

versus The Undertaker - WrestleMania X-Seven, 4/1/2001

versus Shawn Michaels - Nonsanctioned Match - SummerSlam, 8/25/2002

versus Ric Flair - World Heavyweight Championship Match - WWE RAW, 5/19/2003

versus Shawn Michaels - World Heavyweight Championship Match - WWE RAW, 12/29/2003

versus Shawn Michaels - World Heavyweight Championship Last Man Standing Match - Royal Rumble, 1/25/2004

versus Chris Benoit and Shawn Michaels - World Heavyweight Championship Match - WrestleMania XX, 3/14/2004

versus Batista - World Heavyweight Championship Match WrestleMania 21, 4/3/2005

External links

• Triple H Unleashed (Hunter Fan Site)
• WWE.com Page
• Wrestling royalty wed with dignity