In the past few years, Triple H has matured into his role in management. Now that his influence has increased even more, and he is set to take over the WWE after Vince McMahon, Triple H is no longer gaining backstage heat. But there was a time when he was arguably the most hated Superstars behind the scenes, specifically during the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Era. Triple H's reign of terror on Raw as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion led to some rifts with fellow Superstars, as he was accused of playing backstage politics to advance his career while simultaneously holding back others.

Even if you happen to be Triple H's biggest fan, one must admit that the complaints had some legitimacy if you closely followed the booking of Raw during his prime years. More than a decade has passed by, and some of the past sour feelings still remain even if he may not necessarily be engaged in a public feud with them.

Many former WWE stars haven't held back with their thoughts on Triple H, which leads us to believe that he was probably just as hated by his peers as he was by the fans. But that doesn't mean that Triple H was a loner by any means, he certainly made plenty of friends throughout his career. Here are 8 former WWE stars Triple H is actually friends with and 8 who can't stand him:

16 Friends With: Kevin Nash

So many old friends in the wrestling industry have grown apart over the years, but the same cannot be said about Triple H and Kevin Nash. They have been friends since the latter recruited Triple H to join his crew as a designated driver at a time when he was still an up and coming wrestler. Since Triple H didn't drink back then, he made the perfect fit for The Kliq - especially since all members saw potential in him and admired his personality. And while they were separated over the years as Nash moved to WCW, they never stopped being friends.

Upon his return to the WWE, Nash received a major push thanks to his strong connection with Triple H.

And he was even brought back years later when he was a shell of himself as Nash worked a brief program with Triple H and CM Punk that benefitted nobody in the end. If they hadn't been friends, there is no way that Nash would have gotten that position since he was so far removed from his prime. At some point, it was Nash who possessed the power over Triple H but the roles have reversed in the 2000s.

15 Can't Stand Him: CM Punk

According to CM Punk, Triple H has never been fond of him even back when he was still in development. As Punk transitioned into the main roster, their relationship didn't improve the slightest despite teaming up at Survivor Series 2006 when Punk received a huge pop from the crowd - which some claim had made Triple H envy him. As Punk reached a higher position on the card, their relationship somehow regressed especially when they engaged in an on-screen feud that featured multiple shoot promos.

After leaving the WWE, Punk revealed that Triple H never liked him for some reason which led to high tension between them throughout his WWE run. He also accused him of holding back Superstars from headlining WrestleMania by hogging the spot or giving it to his friends. As for Triple H, he addressed the CM Punk situation on the Stone Cold Steve Austin Podcast - claiming that Punk's personality didn't allow too many co-workers to get close to him. And while he tried to be as diplomatic as possible, there is no doubt that Triple H isn't particularly looking to rekindle their relationship or even work with him again, nor is Punk looking to make peace.

14 Friends With: Matt Bloom

Whether you know him as Prince Albert, Lord Tensai or Giant Bernard, Matt Bloom is now the head trainer at the WWE Performance Center. Someone in a job like that has to work with Triple H continuously and it appears Bloom and The Game have formed quite the bond. The two weren't really friends during their wrestling days, but Triple H grew the Performance Center from the ground up and the facility was in need of a head trainer who wouldn't casue problems after the bullying scandal with Bill DeMott surfaced.

Bloom being put in charge shows how much Triple H trusts him with coaching new talents and someone in that role wouldn't have a job for long if they weren't on good terms with Triple H. When you look at all the former WWE stars with behind the scenes jobs in the company today, there aren't exactly many that were enemies of Triple H in the past.

Triple H discussed in an interview with Sports Illustrated's Extra Mustard what he looks for in a trainer:

“What makes a successful coach? The coaching process is very difficult. Just because you were talented in this business does not mean you will be gifted at teaching it. Great players don’t always make great coaches, and great coaches weren’t always great players. We’ve worked to find a very diverse group, focusing in on who connects best with people and who gives the right message, and then connecting a coach with the message they are best at conveying.

13 Can't Stand Him: Alberto Del Rio

Even when Alberto Del Rio was employed by the WWE, he never got along well with Triple H. It was Vince McMahon who was extremely fond of him and pushed him to the top, while Triple H has always had his reservations regarding Del Rio. Once he left the company the second time, Del Rio didn't hold back against the WWE - bashing everyone from fellow co-workers to Triple H. In 2017, Del Rio was going off in multiple interviews as well as periscope videos with some personal insults towards Triple H.

He has probably burned all bridges to WWE by now since he didn't leave much hope for their relationship.

And considering that Triple H wasn't particularly his biggest fan during his time in the WWE, then it's difficult to picture Del Rio back in the WWE.

With every passing year, Triple H's influence is growing stronger within the company as he has called many shots in recent times. And while Vince may have previously been a fan of Del Rio, (in fact, he actually reportedly held a meeting with him earlier this year) there is no doubt that he wouldn't upset his son-in-law by hiring him back.

12 Friends With: X-Pac

In a different world where Triple H had little to no influence, X-Pac would probably not have appeared on WWE television again. He simply didn't have too great of a career to be brought when you consider the controversy surrounding him. For instance, WWE claim that Chyna wasn't brought back since they didn't want kids to Google her name only for the adult tape to come up as a top result - which also co-starred X-Pac. That's not to mention all the trouble he has had over the years, including his time in the WWE when he was released for being somewhat of a headache.

But when you have a friend who's in power like Triple H, then you are likely set for life. X-Pac has made numerous appearances in the past few years with his importance to the WWE being somewhat exaggerated in recent times. There are many Superstars who were less controversial than X-Pac and remain blacklisted from the WWE, or the company simply isn't interested in working with them. That goes to show that it pays off to be a friend of the boss's son-in-law, regardless of how shady your history may be. The D-X bond truly seems to be one for life.

11 Can't Stand Him: Scott Steiner

Scott Steiner had an absolutely awful time during his WWE stint, mainly due to his feud with Triple H. After receiving a huge pop in his debut, most expected Steiner to have more success in the WWE - but backstage politics and injuries held him back in many ways. He would also go on to have backstage heat with Triple H, which certainly didn't help his case. Upon leaving the WWE, Steiner would unleash many attacks geared towards Triple H - going as far to claim that he hates him and Stephanie McMahon. If bashing Triple H didn't get him blacklisted, unleashing on Stephanie certainly did.

Fourteen years have passed since Steiner's last WWE appearance, and fans may believe that he has moved on. But unlike some Superstars who previously criticized Triple H only to switch their tune later on, Steiner has stuck to his word.

He even rejected a WWE Legends contract, which shows how serious he is with his attitude towards management.

After all the things Steiner has said regarding Triple H, it's tough to imagine them making up but stranger things have happened in the past - including Jeff Jarrett's recent induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

10 Friends With: Ric Flair

When Ric Flair joined the WWE, it looked like The Nature Boy may not be around for too long since he failed to impress. Being apart of Evolution gave a much needed spark to his career, allowing him to extend his wrestling days by six years. Triple H had always admired Flair, and even modeled himself after him in some ways. Once they started working together, they managed to really connect in real life, leading to a real life friendship that remains as of now. Triple H continuously was there for Flair when he began having his doubts as an in-ring performer in his 50s and The Game hasn't stopped supporting him.

They got along so well that their partnership lasted four years in the WWE, followed by a lengthy feud between them and some reunions afterwards. Both Superstars have many rivals in the industry, so it was always hard to predict whether they would hit it off in real life. Their friendship allowed them to develop remarkable on-screen chemistry as the duo produced many iconic moments during their time in Evolution. To this day, they are still on great terms and have nothing but full praise towards each other.

9 Can't Stand Him: RVD

RVD isn't exactly the type of person to trash his co-workers, but he is well known as a genuine and outspoken person - which often landed him in trouble. Many of his peers always admired RVD's personality, especially when it came to standing up to Vince McMahon and Triple H. There was a time when he became the most over Superstar in WWE, and rumors suggested that the company was keen to give him the World Title. But as we all know, he would have to wait four more years thanks to Triple H convincing Vince to not proceed with the decision.

Not only did Triple H retain the title against RVD in a brief feud, but he allegedly held him back when it came to creative direction. And that's why RVD was lost in the shuffle for many years despite his popularity. They have always been able to put their problems aside to work together, although they don't exactly see eye to eye. RVD has never bashed Triple H on a personal level, although he wasn't a fan of the backstage politics that he always played. As for Triple H, he always seems to throw shots at RVD whenever possible, including the infamous promo against Daniel Bryan in which he called him not good enough to be 'the guy'.

8 Friends With: Road Dogg

Road Dogg and Triple H have been working together since their early beginnings when both Superstars were attempting to establish themselves in the industry. They would end up joining forces in D-Generation X to become one of the greatest stables in WWE history.

All members of DX had great on-screen chemistry, which was simply a reflection of their friendship behind-the-scenes.

And while they had been very close friends for a number of years, their relationship took a turn for the worse in 2001 once Road Dogg left the WWE.

Throughout his TNA stint, Road Dogg was very vocal about how his sour feelings towards Triple H - launching multiple personal attacks along with his partner Billy Gunn. At some point, fans thought that The New Age Outlaws may never appear on WWE television again due to the controversial remarks they made on-screen as well as shoot interviews. But both men resolved their issues sometime in 2011 and went back on the best of terms. That would prove to be a brilliant move for Road Dogg's career as he was hired as a WWE producer, where he is still working to this day, right alongside his old buddy and Vinnie Mac himself.

7 Can't Stand Him: Paul London

When it comes to shoot interviews, you won't find many Superstars who are nearly as outspoken as Paul London. He has probably burned any remaining bridges with the company by now, especially when you consider his comments about Triple H. London called him out for using relevant Superstars to remain in the spotlight, and switching sides to maintain a certain aura around him - while simultaneously attempting to revise history in order to make himself look better.

He also revealed many tales from his time in the WWE, including a time when Triple H attempted to poke fun at RVD in a talent meeting - only to be embarrassed by the latter in front of everyone. London claims that Triple H was always jealous of many Superstars who were organically over with the fans, especially RVD - and that's why he held him back in the 2000s. And while the company may not be interested in having anything to do with London after all he has said, it appears that he is no rush to get back to the environment that made him miserable in the first place - especially since he was another victim of backstage politics.

6 Friends With: The Undertaker

Considering that The Undertaker is a private person - especially compared to fellow WWE stars - fans still don't know much about his relationships in the industry. And that's why many are unaware that he has been close friends with Triple H throughout their careers. While many other top stars clashed with Triple H at some point, Taker has mostly been on great terms with him. They have also worked together on a number of occasions, including their back to back WrestleMania matches.

Triple H may not be as close to Taker on a personal level as he is with members of The Kliq, but there is mutual admiration and respect that has led to one hell of a bond between them. It's not often that two fellow WWE stars who have been around each other for so long to be such good friends, but they have been among the exceptions. Triple H even sought Taker's advice about whether it was okay for him to date Stephanie, as Hunter felt it could create resentment among his co-workers.

Considering Triple H's past antics - most of which had to do with Shawn Michaels, it's surprising that didn't ruin his friendship with Taker. And while they may have had some unfavorable patches during their careers, they always ended up on good terms at the end.

5 Can't Stand Him: Stacy Keibler

It seems pretty random for someone like Stacy Keibler to land on this list, especially since she has had very little to share about her WWE experience. She has rejected multiple offers to return to the company, and doesn't seem to have the fondest memories of her time in the WWE. Keibler has attempted to avoid talking about the wrestling industry altogether in the past few years, although she did have a revealing interview after her departure from the WWE.

She criticized the company for their treatment of the employees, as well as lack of health insurance among other benefits that seem crucial in an industry like professional wrestling.

Keibler threw some shots at Triple H, indicating that he was the only one enjoying all the benefits that the WWE has to offer, while adding that he made all the money there is to make.

For Keibler to single him out like that in an interview, especially since she didn't criticize anybody else, that should tell you exactly how she feels about him. And like the majority of the Superstars who landed on this side of the list, Keibler also called him out for his huge ego behind the scenes.

4 Friends With: Scott Hall

As previously told, all members of The Kliq were quite the party animals back in their prime days - which led to their recruitment of Triple H as their designated driver. It didn't take him long to fit in with the crew as he instantly became a close friend of all members, including Scott Hall. Many friends would have grown up apart after what the two went through, especially once Hall moved to WCW, but that never affected their personal relationship.

Triple H was instrumental in bringing back Hall in 2002 to give him a chance in the WWE, although he failed to stick around. And once Hall finally cleaned up his act a few years ago, it was once again Triple H who worked to look out for his friend - leading to a Hall of Fame inductions and numerous WWE appearances. They have managed to remain friends after 25 years despite lengthy periods of ups and downs. Most friendships would have likely failed to survive the odds, but the same cannot be said about this pair. And unlike some of Triple H's old friends, Hall never changed his tune about him which probably helped them remain as close as they are.

3 Can't Stand Him: Ken Shamrock

When Ken Shamrock joined the WWE, there were many Superstars competing for the main event spots. Stone Cold Steve Austin would rise to the top and rule the world for a number of years, leaving others to compete for the second spot. That's where tension initially came from between him and Triple H, and it only intensified from there. They never got along behind the scenes although they never clashed either. Shamrock has been away from the WWE since 1999, being one of the very few Superstars from the Attitude Era to not make at least an appearance since then.

And according to the man himself, he believes that it is Triple H who doesn't want him around. He has indicated that he is practically blacklisted from the WWE due to past issues with Triple H. To this day, Shamrock still has some sour feelings about the way in which Triple H carried himself - claiming that he had a huge ego throughout his career as he was only focused on keeping the spotlight for himself. Many Superstars on this list seem to share those very same feelings, so it is very possible that there may be some truth to it.

2 Friends With: Shawn Michaels

It's no secret that Triple H and Shawn Michaels are best friends in real life. When the former joined WWE, Michaels was already a top star so it is telling that he formed a close friendship with Triple H - especially as he had major attitude problems at the time.

From their days in The Kliq to D-Generation X, they were more like brothers rather than friends as they partnered up to travel on the road while always working together on television.

Stephanie McMahon revealed that she initially thought they may be a couple since they appeared to be extremely close to each other whether the cameras were rolling or not.

There was a time when the friends had stopped talking as their friendship hit a rough patch when Michaels was going through personal problems, but they would make up afterwards. And upon his return, Michaels was only comfortable in working with Triple H during the first few weeks before he gained full confidence to become The Heartbreak Kid that we all knew. To this day, they are always spotted together from major WWE events, as well as public appearances. This is definitely a bond that seems to be one for life.

1 Can't Stand Him: Bret Hart

Bret Hart has never been too find of most members of D-Generation X, mainly due to their on-screen rivalry in the 90s that transpired to backstage. And while most of his issues had to do with Shawn Michaels, it was only natural that he wouldn't get along with his best friend Triple H. Hart has never been too fond of the latter with some criticism over the years, believing that he has used his position in the company to make himself a bigger deal.

Hart has even complained about Triple H's rating in a WWE video game, claiming that it was too high for someone who was never quite as great. And considering that Triple H has become an even more powerful figure in the past few years, that would explain as to why Hart's involvement with the company has decreased as well. Despite Triple H growing into such an influential figure, Hart has never held back in how he feels about Triple H.

Since they haven't made up by now, it's highly unlikely that they will ever be on good terms as the past has proven to be too much for all sides involved to move on - even after two decades.