There is no Superstar more criticized and hated by casual, die-hard and Internet wrestling fans more than The Game. A political mastermind whose work behind the scenes is as heavily scrutinized as his performances between the ropes are celebrated, there is a reason Triple H has enjoyed the long-term success that he has. Whether it is solo, as a member of the McMahon-Helmsley Era, the leader of Evolution or the King of Kings, Triple H has infuriated members of the WWE Universe and keyboard warriors alike as a master heat magnet for 14 years. Triple H kicked the new Millennium off as the centerpiece of WWE television and the company's top heel. With wife Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley by his side, he was equally as effective a crooked authority figure as he was an in-ring competitor. Whether he was mixing it up with The Rock, Kurt Angle or Chris Jericho, it was easy to hate the vile, violent and dangerous cerebral assassin. In 2002, he returned to the dark side and was handed the World Heavyweight Championship by Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff. His political advantage beginning to spill over onto television, he simultaneously became the subject of venomous internet reports and articles, most of which blamed his relationship with Stephanie McMahon and the fact that he had the ear of Vince, on his continued dominance of the wrestling landscape. Every month, a popular star such as Rob Van Dam, Booker T or Kane would be built up only to beaten down and "buried," as some put it, by The Game. In 2003, Triple H and Ric Flair formed a new Four Horsemen-like faction known as Evolution. The group would feature the greatest wrestler of all-time (Flair) and one of the greatest of his generation (Triple H) as well as two young up-and-comers that would go one to dominate the landscape of World Wrestling Entertainment for the remainder of the decade. Randy Orton and Batista were those two young stars and both benefitted significantly from the rub that working with Triple H and the Nature Boy brought them. The Game would turn babyface in 2006 and remain that way until 2013, when he returned to the air on a full-time basis as the leader of The Authority. With Stephanie, Triple H has attempted to do everything in his power to shape the present and future of WWE in his image. Daniel Bryan, the Rhodes Family, Big Show and The Shield have all suffered the wrath of an older, smarter, more business-minded and calculated Triple H. The recent reunion of Evolution and the luring of Seth Rollins away from the Hounds of Justice ensures that Triple H will continue to attract heat for years to come.
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.
