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Triple H is one of the toughest individuals to ever grace the squared circle. Throughout his long and illustrious professional wrestling career, Triple H suffered a number of debilitating injuries, but as a testament to his toughness, The Game almost always completed the match, no matter how banged up he was. For example, the injury he suffered at Survivor Series 2002 not only threatened his wrestling career but his life. Still, Triple H finished the match, and he came back within a few weeks, ready to wrestle.
However, the one injury that is always brought up by others, and Triple H himself, was the damage dealt to his left quadriceps. This particular injury was so gruesome that his own doctors felt that Paul Levesque would never be the same again. And most unfortunately, this occurred during a high-point of his career, as well as the product.
Along With Steve Austin, Triple H Was WWE's Biggest Heel In 2001
The Attitude Era, by most accounts, had come to a conclusion at WrestleMania 17 but the pro wrestling world still buzzing. Steve Austin, the franchise player, was the biggest heel in WWE, and alongside him was Triple H, the second-biggest heel in the company. The Two-Man Power Trip tag-team ran wild on the roster, holding numerous titles at the same time and beating whoever was put in their way.
They were also running the show as Vince and Stephanie McMahon were their supporters. This storyline had the potential to become something really incredible but on the May 21, 2001 episode of RAW is War, Triple H incurred the worst injury of his wrestling career.
Triple H Tore His Quad In A Tag Team Match On Raw
During a tag-team match, Triple H’s partner, Steve Austin, was trapped in the Walls of Jericho. When Triple H stepped in to free his tag-team partner, as soon as he planted his left leg, his quad was torn apart. This was most likely due to years of accumulated wear and tear, and while Triple H did manage to complete his spot, knocking Jericho away, he immediately collapsed and then rolled out of the ring, knowing that something bad had happened.
Triple H hobbled towards the commentary table and started setting up the next spot. Regular folks aren’t able to walk with a torn quad but Paul Levesque not only finished the match, he even pressured Jericho into putting him into his Walls of Jericho submission hold. That’s a feat of otherworldly durability and willpower.
Years later, Triple H recalled the incident during a podcast with Chris Jericho himself. His former nemesis expressed shock at the fact that Triple H suffered the injury but still came back to the ring with the sledgehammer to complete the match. The Game recalled how awful the injury was, so much so that he couldn’t even put weight on his leg. The pain was another matter unto itself. The Walls of Jericho spot almost made him regret it.
According to Triple H, Vince McMahon, at first, did not believe that he suffered a torn squad, stating that there was no way he’d be standing if he actually sustained an injury as severe as that one. Triple H's dedication and ambition was so great, that while he was being brought to the back, he was already going over his recovery phase.
Triple H Returned To WWE In 2002 As A Babyface
In Triple H's mind, he would have to miss SummerSlam, but he was definitely coming back for WrestleMania the following year, even though the doctor told him he might never wrestle again. Triple H, however, did come back, nearly eight months later, and this time, he was a babyface. On the January 7, 2002 edition of Monday Night RAW, the Game made his return to the ring and elicited one of the biggest pops in wrestling history. He went on to win the Royal Rumble and became the Undisputed Champion at WrestleMania 18, exactly as he had planned.
In his autobiography, Triple H admitted that as soon as he walked backstage, he bawled his eyes out, but this was not due to sadness, rather appreciation. He came very close to losing his career and the appreciation that the fans at MSG showed to him was just too much for him. To Triple H, that was the best moment of his career, bar none.