At the 2016 Royal Rumble, Triple H became the WWE World Heavyweight champion, winning his 14th World Title of his career and his 24th championship overall since arriving in father-in-law Vince McMahons company back in 1995. He will enter WrestleMania 32 in Dallas, Texas, for yet another main event on the grandest stage in sports-entertainment, the latest title defense in his Hall of Fame career. The Game has done more for the legitimacy and credibility of championships than he will likely get credit for. He, like his idol Ric Flair, has held every title with respect and dignity, fully understanding that they are the centerpieces around which television is booked. They mean something, whether he 'won' them or not. It didn't matter if he was making his way up the ranks as European champion while a member of D-Generation X or headlining events across the country as WWE standard-bearer, he increased the value of every title he held. In the process, he defended against some of the biggest and brightest stars to ever lace a pair of boots. Triple Hs past title defenses have been the stuff of legend, classic bouts that have helped define entire eras and caused the COO of WWE to earn his spot in history as one of the finest wrestlers of his generation. In anticipation of his upcoming defense in the main event of WrestleMania 32, let's relive these 14 spectacular championship defenses from the Cerebral Assassin.
14. Intercontinental Championship Match: Hunter Hearst Helmsley Vs. Rocky Maivia (Thursday Raw Thursday, February 13 1997)
Still working under his Connecticut blueblood gimmick, Triple Hs first really great championship defense came on February 13 during a special episode of Raw entitled Thursday Raw Thursday. His opponent that night was a young star with whom he would go on to have several thrilling bouts, Rocky Maivia, known later simply as The Rock. On that night in Lowell, Massachusetts, Helmsley was clearly the superior wrestler. He looked like the grizzled veteran, carrying the match for both him and his still-green opponent. Yet, with just seconds left, he arrogantly lifted his opponent off the mat for the Pedigree and suffered the most indignant loss of his career via small package. The match perfectly used the cocky heel versus plucky underdog babyface formula that WWE has honed over the years, and was the first real hint of the ring general that The Game would become.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
