10 Awesome Ways Wrestlers Got Back At Critics

10. Triple H's 2000

The next time WWE give up on a push with seemingly the slimmest of rationales, consider how much they stuck with ensuring Triple H made it to the top of the mountain in spite of huge internal and external pushback.

Advantaged by having Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels as his biggest fans, Hunter's 1999 was tale of two 'Games'. One being played by Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bruce Prichard and several other higher ups, and the other by the future heir himself as he navigated through valid criticisms on his ability to truly supplant either 'The Rattlesnake' or The Rock as the industry's top performer during a fertile time for megastars.

Ultimately, determination won out before talent justified it. Only upon leveling up against Mick Foley in January 2000 did Triple H's in-ring work match the man he'd become on the microphone at the very end of a challenging year, but it soon surpassed wildest expectations. By the end of the year, he was simply untouchable.

Ratifying the doubts of his many critics and vindicating Vince before he was "nnnnDaddduh", Hunter knocked out banger after banger atop the organisation during its creative and commercial peak.