10 Controversial WWE Attitude Era Moments You Totally Forgot About

9. Triple H Gets Racist

Shawn Michaels Sunny
WWE

"Sigh. Actually, 2003 is considered the Ruthless Aggression Era."

Sigh. Triple H was racist before Booker T even joined the company!

Triple H - and bear in mind, this incident took place bang in the middle of Vince McMahon's buyer's remorse phase - worked Mark Henry on Sunday Night Heat, December 29, 1998. Trips was just recovering from a knee injury. It was only Heat. It was the holiday season. They decided to take a night off - maybe some theatrical selling here and there, a comedy chase around the ring, a scenery and time-chewing rest hold.

Or, perhaps, Triple H could bring in the holiday cheer by performing a monkey gesture towards his black opponent.

Triple H was just trying to "psych out" Henry, Shane McMahon claimed on commentary. The crowd laughed, nobody went to HR, cry more.

What's worse?

Triple H, babyface, racially abusing Mark Henry for a pop as cheap as an NXT advertisement slot?

Or Triple H, heel, racially abusing Booker T, only to job him out in the opposite scenario to the only scenario that was even halfway justifiable?

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!