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The Rock versus Triple H was a defining rivalry of the Attitude Era. The poster boy of the promotion, Steve Austin, was sidelined with a neck injury during the peak of his popularity and the apex of the Monday Night Wars.

Despite the loss of Stone Cold, WWE continued breaking records as the next big babyface star, the Rock, carried the company to even greater heights. He also had the perfect villain as a dance partner.

RELATED: Triple H Vs. The Rock & 8 Other WrestleMania Matches HHH Should Have Had

Triple H might not be mentioned in the same breath as Austin, Rock, and Hogan but the Game is a definite candidate for the greatest heel of all time and back in the Attitude era, there was no one more despised than Triple H. And much like the Rock, Triple H had to suffer on his rise to the top.

Rock Versus Triple H Carried WWE in 2000

Hunter Hearst Helmsley was put in the doghouse for disgracing the sacred rules of kayfabe but during an interview, the lackey of Shawn Michaels rebranded himself as The Game and his career took off. The Rock and Triple H feuded over the Intercontinental championship in 1997 and after going their separate ways for a little bit, these two collided in 2000 and the top prize in the company, the WWE championship, was on the line.

These two athletes had incredible chemistry with each other and that was apparent each time they stepped inside the ring, whether it be a single match, an iron-match match, or even a tag-team contest. Rock and Triple H were just that good together but back in the Attitude Era, these two did not get along too well backstage.

Dwayne Johnson’s issues with Shawn Michaels are well documented and since he did not get along with HBK, he did not get along with Triple H either as the two were best friends backstage and HBK had a vision for his best buddy.

Shane McMahon v The Rock v Triple H Insurrextion 2000 Cropped

Shawn Michaels wanted Triple H as the face of the company, but the emergence of the third-generation superstar threw a wrench in his plans. To make sure that Triple H would rise to the top of the company, HBK did his best to bury Rocky Maivia. He shared a strong dislike for Rock and so did Triple H. In addition to that, the Rock was close to Bret Hart, the arch-nemesis of Shawn Michaels.

Bret Hart himself commented on the backstage animosity and mentioned that both HBK and HHH were pushing for Hart to beat Rock for his newly won Intercontinental title but Hart refused to do so. Bruce Prichard has also commented on the tense relationship between the Game and the Rock during an interview and he mentioned that it was born out of jealousy on the part of Triple H.

Prichard also mentioned that during their feud in 1997, the animosity between them was at its peak. Triple H and the Rock were given scripts for their promos but during the segments, Triple H would go off the script and bury the Rock during his promos while Rocky followed what was given to him.

RELATED: Bret Hart Says Triple H Hated The Rock And Wanted To Ruin Him

After one particular segment between the two, the Rock was extremely mad, and he complained about it to Bruce Prichard, irate at the fact that he was following orders while Triple H was taking liberties. Prichard then advised the Rock to do what Triple H did and the next time he shared the ring with his arch-nemesis, the Rock went off on his own.

The two superstars retained the intensity and animosity during their feud for the top title in 2000 and the competitive spirit was on display each time they crossed paths on live television.

Rocky And HHH Are On Great Terms Today

Triple H and The Rock wwe

Despite the dislike, Rock and Triple H were professional inside the ring and by working together, they made quite a lot of money for themselves, as well as the company. Years later, Triple H himself recalled that they were not the best of friends backstage.

Triple H chalked it up to them being uber-competitive individuals and there is truth to this statement as the locker room was fiercely competitive during the Attitude Era as every superstar wanted to make it big. That being said, the backstage animosity was real, as confirmed by several people in the company. Triple H and the Rock did not like each other, but thankfully the two legends are on good terms today.

Without each other, they wouldn’t be where they are today in the annals of WWE history and maybe WWE wouldn’t exist either as the rivalry between them was extremely vital for the company amidst the Monday Night Wars. Despite the apparent dislike, the two superstars were professionals inside the ring and they made magic whenever they came across one another on WWE television.