10 Current WWE Stars Who Are Triple H Guys

9. Samoa Joe

Triple H Tommaso Ciampa
WWE

Initially signed to appear on NXT exclusively, as Triple H sought to define developmental as a unique brand in its own right, there were few acts more suitable to become synonymous with it: Joe's killer aura had diminished somewhat, goofed up by TNA creative, but he had retained just enough of it to act as respected senior talisman as the yellow brand took to the road proper.

Joe felt immediately refreshed in Full Sail. His mission statement to build NXT was manifested through his best performances in years. So taken was Trips by Joe's renaissance that he debuted on RAW as his Destroyer in 2017 in a sadly-shelved subplot of his programme with Seth Rollins. Joe is that rarest of beasts, having graduated to the main roster with his integrity fully intact. It's as if he is so menacing that he's even worked the writer's room, none of whom have dared humiliate nor miscast him as a stereotypical chickensh*t heel. Joe demands to be taken seriously, and is, with his awesome intensity shattering the main roster's glossy patina.

Set to challenge for AJ Styles' WWE Title at SummerSlam, Joe is virtually bulletproof. He has survived ninja kidnaps and phallic face paint. A closely-contested loss will not shoot him down one iota.

He is a testament to Triple H's acumen and an indictment of Vince McMahon's 2000s apathy alike.

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 current Undisputed WWE 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!