Who REALLY Carried WWE Every Year (1985-2026)
22. 2005 (Triple H)
Hunter returned to form after a few poor years to help elevate Batista as a bonafide main event star in 2005. Matches between the ex-Evolution teammates at WrestleMania 21, Backlash and in a Hell In A Cell effort at Vengeance were all superb. Even a 4 month layoff through injury couldn't stop Triple H from earning 2005's MVP award.
Also, he returned with a bang to feud with ex-mentor Ric Flair later in the year. Their 'Last Man Standing' match at Survivor Series was epic, and it was yet another reminder of just how much Hunter enjoyed being 'a student of the game'. Not a student of 'The Game'. That was big Dave. He listened and held up his end of the bargain in that aforementioned trio of utter stormers on PPV.
Perhaps the best thing about Trips returning to form in '05 is that it was so unexpected. He'd looked frankly done in from around 2002 onwards post-quad injury. There was another of those to come, unfortunately, but not before the future boss did everything he could to turn 'The Animal' into a top tier player. Mission accomplished on that, for the record.
Guys like Batista, Randy Orton and John Cena were still working things out and bedding in as big stars, so a seasoned veteran like Hunter needed to be on top of his game. No pun intended. Again. The best rise to the challenge, and Papa H certainly did that year.
Seek out HIAC vs. Batista and 'Last Man Standing' vs. Flair yesterday. Great matches.