In late-1999, both Steve Austin and The Undertaker took some much-needed time off to heal injuries and recuperate, meaning the writing team had a massive void to fill at the top of the card. By the turn of the year 2000, the WWF product was sufficiently hot enough to cope without even two of the biggest stars in the industry, but there still had to be someone filling those spots, and doing it well. Enter Triple H, who had been steadily pushed throughout 1999, remarkably changing his physique and ring attire (trading the trademark long tights for trunks) in the process. By the time 2000 rolled around, Triple H was ready to make his mark in the main event mix, but would he have made it quite so quickly had both Austin and 'Taker not taken sabbaticals from the company? Sure, Triple H was a supreme talent, something he would prove straight away in 2000, battling Cactus Jack in a wholly memorable Street Fight at the Royal Rumble, and a Hell In A Cell encounter at No Way Out the next month, but it's plausible to imagine either Steve Austin or The Undertaker would have taken top spots at those events had they been around. Nonetheless, HHH was given the chance to step up and prove his worth, and the rest - as they say - is history.
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.
