The story of Triple H is a better-than-fiction tale of a boy who had a dream, set out to accomplish his dream, continued to gain success, and eventually reached the absolute ceiling regarding his chosen profession.
For those who don’t know, the man named Paul Levesque was not born to a wrestling family and did not immediately find success. Even with WWE, Triple H has endured many setbacks in his rise to the top. Along the way, The Game has had to reinvent him several times, and has seen various degrees of success. Here are the five best versions of Triple H and the five worst.
10 Best: Evolution
Kicking this list off, we have one of the greatest wrestling stables in WWE history: Evolution. The group was composed of Triple H, Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista, and it served as a sort of generational bridge between the legendary Ric Flair and the two up and comers Orton and Batista.
This time period was the first time we saw Triple H regularly embody a more professional image. While he wrestled in traditional tights, he typically appeared out of the ring in suits, riding limousines. What else would you expect from the company of Ric Flair?
9 Worst: Connecticut Blue Blood
This look has two iterations: Jean-Paul Levesque from the end of The Game’s time with WCW, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley at the start of his time with WWF. Both were unfortunately flawed characters which didn’t fit the man portraying them. The shining takeaway from this period is that abbreviating the latter’s name led to the moniker “Triple H” we use today.
While Triple H fit his role visually, his character was off. Initially with WCW, Levesque spoke with a French accent which was dropped when he made the switch to WWF. This era saw Helmsley don luxurious robes to the ring, pants underneath, and typically a bow tying his hair in a ponytail. He would also ceremoniously bow once he entered the ring.
8 Best: The King Of Kings
Shifting away from overall eras for a minute, we want to look at one specific entrance which really set the bar for many which would come.
At Wrestlemania 22, Triple H was set to challenge John Cena for the WWE Championship in the main event. Being the main event, the two each had a special entrance made up which went above and beyond their normal entrances. Triple H certainly stole the show here.
Playing to his King of Kings nickname, the entrance was themed around a king waging war. It began with his crowned skull logo, then video of warriors fighting began playing, before Triple H was raised to the stage on a throne, wearing a crown and coat. During this time, a section of King of Kings by Motörhead played prior to Triple H’s usual theme song The Game.
7 Worst: DX Reunion
Unsurprisingly, John Cena retained the title in the match described above. After his to Cena, Triple H continued making attempts for the top title before eventually entering a feud with the McMahon family later in 2006. As a result of this feud, The Game would reunite with Shawn Michaels to reform DX in mid-2006.
This iteration of DX wasn’t necessarily bad, but it lacked the tone of the original group. During this time, Triple H continued wrestling in traditional tights, often appearing in jeans and a t-shirt outside the ring. Rather than the simple logo designs of the original DX run, t-shirts for this iteration were largely themed around a rooster or cartoon images of Michaels and Helmsley. In short, it fell flat as a poor imitation.
6 Best: The Game
To pinpoint the exact timeframe this entry is referring to would be hard. Essentially, this brings together the period where Triple H became the character he would remain for most of his career, up to today. Outside the ring, he would often wear leather hats, dressing in mostly black, and officially did away with the robes he had worn previously.
Essentially, this would begin with Triple H joining the Corporation in late 1999. Triple H officially left DX at this time and adopted a more serious heel character. Whether the fans loved him or not, he exceled at his role, and this is the visual which dominates his in-ring image.
5 Worst: The Authority
As early as 2011, Triple H saw a return to primarily appearing in suits with his hair pulled back in a ponytail. While the hair would soon be buzzed off, the attire has remained consistent since.
When this involvement of Triple H’s behind-the-scenes role in WWE became part of the narrative in a similar fashion to Vince McMahon’s on-screen character of the Attitude Era, fans were underwhelmed. The attempt to revive the success of McMahon’s rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin was a far-cry from its predecessor.
The Game doesn’t look bad in a suit. But he looks a whole lot better in the ring and behind the scenes. The on-screen villainous boss doesn’t quite fit him, though he makes quite a villain otherwise.
4 Best: D-Generation X
This era of Triple H’s career will always show up in any recap of his career. As he transitioned from Hunter Hurst Helmsley, the aristocrat from Connecticut, a fateful pairing with Shawn Michaels birthed a legendary stable which is among the best in wrestling history.
Unlike the later reunions, this version of DX was unrefined. They were lewd. They were more in their element, being their inappropriate selves. This wasn’t about roosters on t-shirts. It was about dominating the main event scene.
With the original DX, Triple H largely maintained his original attire. Robes and black pants were in use here initially. Later in the run, Helmsley would often appear in the classic DX shirt, typically wearing jeans. In the ring, Helmsley would wrestle in a variety of pant-length tights.
3 Worst: Wrestlemania 33
Fast-forwarding to another Wrestlemania appearance, Triple H didn’t live up to his typical identity at Wrestlemania 33.
While many appreciated this appearance, it was very toned down from past Wrestlemania entrances of The Game. The police escort was a nice touch, and it added to the air of The Authority. With fan opposition to The Authority mentioned above, that isn’t necessarily a point in Triple H’s favor here. Further, he’s riding a big motor tricycle. This could have been more fitting with a two-wheeled Harley. Beyond the bike and the lights, The Game’s attire was lackluster and had nothing of note.
2 Best: Return To Monday Nights
From a disappointing appearance to the absolute best, nothing can compare to Triple H’s return from a quad injury in January 2002.
Intending to announce his entry into the Royal Rumble, Triple H showed up on Monday Night Raw after months absent. During his entrance, Triple H was met with roaring approval from the stadium. This moment was potentially the best of his career, and one of the greatest comeback pops of all time.
What did Levesque wear to such an occasion? Lots of denim. Faded jeans and a cutoff denim vest over a leather jacket.
1 Worst: Terra Ryzing
We all have to acknowledge where we came from, and for Triple H, that’s not the best looking place.
Terra Ryzing was Levesque’s first persona in professional wrestling. It debuted in Killer Kowalski’s International Wrestling Federation and carried over in WCW until Levesque became the French aristocrat mentioned earlier.
Typically, Terra Ryzing would enter the ring wearing a purple robe, with traditional tights and boots underneath. While this look didn’t compliment The Game to begin with, it was augmented by flowing blond hair rather than the typically straighter and darker brown hair color Triple H would maintain later.