10 Times WWE Tried (And Failed) To Make You Cheer For Former Heels

7. Triple H

Nia Jax Total Divas
WWE

Triple H is many things to many people, but there's perhaps nobody in the entire industry that inspires less sympathy than 'The Game'.

It's an emotion he fought against when trying to remain an over heel in WWE's post-Attitude Era slump, but he did such a good job of making himself an utterly detestable pr*ck that few were willing to forgive or forget the kayfabe and real life success he made of himself in the aftermath.

The best performers are always extended versions of themselves, which is why Hunter is so at home as an oppressive authoritarian heel. His apology tears following a SummerSlam 2012 loss Brock Lesnar were more stubbornly forced than he was a decade earlier, as too was his weeping embrace of Vince McMahon during one of the many blown spots during WWE's troubled 'Summer Of Punk'.

A babyface Triple H only ever really belonged on NXT, and it's a position he holds down there today. In main roster terms, he'll always be the lesser main eventer that struck real gold, marrying into a family and business he loved and the many trappings that came with it. His turn on Daniel Bryan in 2014 immediately freshened up an act that was literally unbelievable.

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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett