10 Wrestlers Who Didn't Know What To Do With Title Belts
2. Triple H (Intercontinental Championship)
Triple H looks like a f*cking idiot in the above frame, but then there's a lot to take in about the DX leader's changed and now-strained relationship with the Intercontinental Championship in mid-1998.
Having fought all summer against The Rock for the chance to once again claim the workhorse's title, Hunter seemingly realised it was a badge of dishonour. Not least when looking upon the ever-changing singles landscape in front of him. SummerSlam 1998 had been a night of stupendous glory for him as a babyface, with the Madison Square Garden crowd absolutely treating him as one of the industry's next major stars. Trouble was, they'd decided they wanted The Rock first.
With 'The Great One' ready to ascend, Triple H looked a secondary figure with a secondary prize. Luckily for him, a knee injury required proper attention, and a write-off was planned. Keen to distance himself from the belt and what it suddenly represented, the once-cherished prize was less than sh*t. He handed it over on an episode of Heat, and wouldn't take it back until he was yet again in the shadow of an actual top star three years later.