9 Best Eras Of The Biggest WWE Superstars

4. Triple H (1999-2005)

Despite what Bret Hart may think of the in-ring prowess of Paul €˜Hunter Hearst Helmsley€™ Levesque, there€™s very little mileage in attempting to deny the mark he€™s made on the WWF/E since his arrival in a midcard heel gimmick in 1995. It took him a couple of years to ditch the regressive Connecticut blueblood gimmick, abbreviating his nom de lutte to €˜Triple H€™ and co-founding D-Generation X with Shawn Michaels in 1997. Triple H didn€™t come into his own until taking over the stable from Michaels when he was forced to retire due to injuries sustained in the ring: he€™d really begin to excel, justifying the office€™s faith in him as a future main eventer, when he turned on D-X to go it alone in 1999. A lot of disparaging remarks have been flung about concerning Levesque over the years, but the man has a great look and he can talk and work: more than that, he can go like a freight train when he wants to, and in the six years between 1999 and 2005, he really wanted to. Ambition is still one of the finest motivators there is €“ it got him through the eight-month recovery period after tearing the quadriceps muscle in his left leg during a match in May 2001, when he was told it was likely he€™d never wrestle again. After putting over Batista like he owed him money in 2005, Triple H went on a four-month hiatus to rehab a nagging injury, and when he returned he€™d cooled off considerably. He€™s gotten some of the old mojo back in the last few years, working a successful heel authority figure gimmick with his wife Stephanie McMahon and wrestling like a man ten years younger than he is on the occasions it€™s needed€ but if you need confirmation of just how good he was in his prime, here€™s an excellent example €“ his storming Summerslam 2002 grudge match with his former partner and real life best friend, Shawn Michaels. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1521h8_triple-h-vs-shawn-michaels-summerslam-2002_sport