10 Times WWE Actually Elevated Midcarders To Become WWE Champions

4. Triple H

WWE's narrative might pretend that Triple H was always over. He really, really wasn't.

In fact, fans yawned their way through most of Hunter Hearst Helmsley's output before he linked up with Shawn Michaels and Chyna as D-Generation X. That, mercifully, would finally give Trips some purpose and aura when he needed it most. The snooty 'Connecticut Blueblood' thing just wasn't cutting it.

Both Bruce Prichard and Jim Ross have said on their respective podcasts that eyebrows were raised when both Vinces (McMahon and Russo) announced plans to make Triple H WWF Champion in 1999. Neither thought he was main event material quite yet, and they weren't alone.

Several others backstage didn't see Triple H in the same league as past champs, but McMahon was unwavering in his belief. That paid off. Trips turned into 'The Game' during the second half of '99 and successfully refashioned himself as a super-working heel machine to be proud of.