The Rise Of Triple H | Wrestling Timelines

February 16, 1997 - Chyna Debuts

Chyna Raw
WWE.com

Chyna, Levesque’s real-life partner, debuts at In Your House: Final Four in a shocking angle in which she violently chokes Goldust’s valet Marlena. A visually striking female bodyguard, this muscly bodybuilder is an inspired signing. An unforgettable presence, the concept is progressive and unique, and her subsequent performances match it.

Helmsley himself is still a touch boring - very few if any of his matches hold the attention of fans - but Chyna, the Eighth Wonder of the World, provides an awestruck soundtrack to his work at long last.

September 22, 1997 - It’s Happening

MSG HHH Cactus Jack
WWE

Helmsley, now going by Triple H, loses a superb Falls Count Anywhere match to Cactus Jack. This is not merely the best match Triple H has ever wrestled; it is one of the best and most memorable contests in the history of Monday Night Raw.

It takes a few shortcuts, sure, but Triple H is clever enough to grasp that now is the time to do it cheaply. The Attitude Era is approaching. The fans want cheap, violent thrills.

Something clicks (or begins to click) here: in WWE’s spiritual home of Madison Square Garden, the discerning, taste-making fans really enjoy watching Triple H get his ass kicked. Triple H, who is now aligned with Shawn Michaels in D-Generation X and delighting in puerile sexual humour as the overall tone darkens, is getting over. To an extent; this is a breakthrough, not a coronation.

Triple H is approaching his final form as a sneering, loathsome heel. His snarky, offensive brand of humour grabs the zeitgeist as enthusiastically as he chops his crotch.

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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!