10 Most Shocking Wrestling Betrayals

2004 was a frustrating time for Triple H. He’d tapped out at WrestleMania XX and failed in various attempts to get the World Heavyweight Championship back from Chris Benoit. By SummerSlam, Triple H was out of the title picture completely, feuding with Eric Bischoff’s nephew Eugene.

Triple H’s Evolution stablemate, Randy Orton, had stepped up to the plate, defeating Benoit for the title and besting him once again in a rematch the very next night. Triple H was less than pleased at his golden boy’s success and his own sudden lack of spotlight. Putting the thumb down, Triple H (along with Batista and Ric Flair) turned on the celebrating Orton immediately. After beating the young champ to a bloody pulp, Hunter would employ nefarious methods to take his title back at Unforgiven the next month.

The segment itself is often referenced and the thumb down and sudden change of expression was brought back for Batista’s face turn on Triple H the next year. While Orton’s subsequent face turn didn’t exactly lead to superstardom, the Evolution betrayal was a heated and unexpected moment. Rumours had previously swirled of a slow burn build to a Triple H vs. Randy Orton main event at WrestleMania 21. The feud exploding onto the scene eight months in advance left many surprised, as did Triple H’s decisive victories.