10 Times Triple H Actually Made Legit WWE Stars

1. Daniel Bryan

Here it is.

Whether it was carefully designed or haphazardly booked at the last minute, it's true that the build towards WrestleMania XXX was astounding stuff. Triple H, as head of The Authority alongside Stephanie McMahon, repeatedly told Daniel Bryan he didn't have the magnetism or ability to be top dog in WWE.

Their "B+ player" chat fanned the flames of fan discontent - the people demanded that Bryan get a fair shake, and they got their wish when Dan beat Triple H clean as a whistle to open 'Mania XXX. Later in that same show, Bryan went on to become WWE Champion by besting Randy Orton and Batista in a Triple Threat.

Everything, from the chastising pre-match talk to the actual meat of the match itself, portrayed Bryan as an everyman hero fighting against the establishment. It was gripping, it messed with fan minds and it ended with the coronation of a beloved workhorse who was once told he'd never be World Champ.

Throughout the story, Triple H brilliantly used familiar criticisms (like the aforementioned "only got to the top because he married Vince McMahon's daughter") against himself to feed Bryan's cause.

Which other superstars did Triple H legitimise? For more like this, check out 10 Things You Didn't Know About WCW's Nitro Grill Restaurant and 10 Exact Moments Wrestlers Knew They Would Return To WWE!