Since Triple Hs dual gimmick has been that of hard man main eventer and backstage backstabber for donkeys years wielding a sledgehammer in one hand and a shovel in the other its tempting to forget the embarrassing regressive midcard character that Paul Levesque was handed upon joining the WWF in mid-1995, that of effete, sneering old school American nobility, complete with period dress, cane and lessons on etiquette. Despite his impressive stature, clear ability in the ring and excellent mic work, this was a gimmick that was doomed to failure, especially with the Attitude Era heading towards WWF like an oncoming train. A smart student of the game backstage and in the ring Levesque was well aware of it, but by this time he had cannily attached himself to the promotions top dogs, the Kliq, as their waterboy and baggage handler. The weird costumes were gradually ditched, as were the olde worlde mannerisms, the character becoming more of a badass and amending his name to simply Triple H. A minor hiccup aside, when he was made the scapegoat for the infamous kayfabe-breaking hug as the Kliq split amicably in 1996, his rise to the top was the result of a combination of impressive ring work, embracing the Attitude Era full on with D-Generation X, and clambering into a highly influential role backstage, often on the backs of others. Today, the characters full name (Hunter Hearst Helmsley) and the name of his finishing move (the Pedigree) are the only holdovers from that cringeworthy gimmick.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
