The Rise Of Triple H | Wrestling Timelines

April 5, 2009 - WrestleMania 25

Triple H Randy Orton
WWE.com

At WrestleMania 25, Triple H retains his WWE title at the expense of Randy Orton.

Triple H, relinquishing the champion’s advantage per the stipulation, is not drawn into a disqualification. There are several dramatic pauses in which Triple H agonises over whether to break the rules or beat Randy “the right way”. Given the wrestlers involved, the match is already…methodical in its pacing. The build was premised on violent transgressive attacks and home invasions. Nobody wants to see Triple H, who is infinitely better in the heel role, play the honourable babyface. The match is incredibly silent. It’s remarkable how few people audibly care about it.

This tedious disaster of a match reignites the message board conversations: is Triple H really “that damn good”?

Is he the most overrated wrestler ever?

Does this match even happen, if he doesn’t marry into the McMahon family? Is Triple H pushed as a monster vengeful babyface if WWE faces significant competition? Are the McMahons simply doing as they please?

Amongst the hardcore wrestling fandom, Triple H’s stock is never lower. He’s just always in the main event scene and he’s so boring and he’s never going away.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!