10 Screw Ups That Led To Huge WWE Moments

4. Triple H's Involvement In The 'Curtain Call'

Curtain Call Steve Austin King Of The Ring 1996
WWE

The Screw Up: On a 19 May 1996 house show in Madison Square Garden, Triple H joined real-life pal Shawn Michaels in wishing outgoing troops Kevin Nash and Scott Hall well before they left for WCW. Backstage, several old-timers were horrified, and that put pressure on Vince McMahon to punish someone for letting this 'Curtain Call' happen.

That 'someone' was Triple H.

The Moment: The 'Curtain Call' derailed plans to crown Trips as 1996's King Of The Ring, and that left the WWF scrambling to find a replacement. They'd end up picking Steve Austin, and 'Stone Cold' cut an impassioned, memorable promo (coining his 'Austin 3:16' catchphrase and showing promo chops for the first time in his company career) after winning the tournament.

35 days after hugging pals goodbye, Triple H was forced to sit and watch someone else get the glory after he beat Aldo Montoya in a dark match. He'd put things right the next year, but Trips couldn't have known he was accidentally setting Austin on fire.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.