Triple H officially announced his retirement from the WWE in-ring competition this past weekend. Paul Levesque, his real name, made the confirmation during an appearance on First Take with Stephen A. Smith.
The 14-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion cited his heart condition as the reason why he is officially done in the squared-circle. During the interview with Smith, Triple H revealed he almost came face-to-face with death due to his failing heart. The Game has since recovered, but now has a defibrillator in his chest, which essentially rules out any possible return to in-ring action.
With Triple H's Hall of Fame wrestling career over, let's take a look at some of his best moments in the WWE.
Best Moments of Triple H's WWE Career
Return in Madison Square Garden
Triple H's return from an eight-month long absence on January 7, 2002 was one of the biggest pops ever in the history of the business. The Game tore his left quadriceps muscle during a tag team match. The injury forced him to go through a rigorous rehab process that kept him sidelined through most of 2001.
When his music hit, the entire Madison Square Garden crowd instantly went unglued and showered the Cerebral Assassin with a lot of love. The audience especially erupted when he made his signature water spit, a sight the WWE (then-WWF at the time) world had not seen in eight months.
Triple H opened his promo by saying “I am the Game… And you can bet your a** I'm back!” which sent the crowd into a frenzy. He also announced that he would compete in the 2002 Royal Rumble, which… spoiler alert… he won.
Kurt Angle, then interrupted him and said his shtick. Of course, Triple H didn't appreciate this. The two got into a fight. Angle gained the edge at one point, before Triple H recovered and hit The Pedigree on the Olympic Champion to end the triumphant segment.
Winning Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania X8
As spoiled earlier, Triple H won the 2002 Royal Rumble match, last eliminating Kurt Angle. This earned him a WWF Undisputed title match at WrestleMania X8 against the champion Chris Jericho. The feud also involved Hunter's wife, Stephanie McMahon, who was a heel at the time, and Angle.
Stephanie and Triple H split up after The Game found out McMahon had faked a pregnancy. In the lead up to WrestleMania, Triple H and Angle fought at No Way Out with the title shot at WrestleMania up for grabs and Stephanie as the special referee. Angle won the match and earned the title opportunity due to bias from McMahon.
The next night on Raw, Triple H regained the right to face Jericho at WrestleMania after he won a rematch versus Angle, with Stephanie banned from ringside this time around.
The match was the main event of WrestleMania X8 in the SkyDome in Toronto and lasted over 18 minutes. The show ended with Triple H winning the WWF Undisputed Championship, culminating his grueling journey back from that debilitating torn quad injury.
Betrayal of Shawn Michaels
In July 2002, Shawn Michaels made his return to the WWE. The company teased a reunion between Triple H and his best friend HBK, who both pioneered the D-Generation-X faction that rose to prominence during the Attitude Era.
On July 22, Triple H and Michaels officially reunited as D-X. The two made their entrance and went through their usual shtick, which brought some nostalgia to the crowd.
It was only short lived, however, as The Game blindsided his former partner-in-crime and hit Michaels with the Pedigree.
The move turned Triple H heel once again and this started a long-term feud between the two ex-buddies. The two built on their rivalry the coming weeks, which involved HHH smashing Michaels' head into a car.
They fought for the first time at SummerSlam 2002, which saw Michaels win the match, marking a triumphant return to the ring after a 5-year absence. Triple H got the last laugh of the night, however, as he ended the night by hitting HBK's surgically repaired back with a sledge hammer.
Reuniting with DX
After going through one of the bloodiest and most brutal feuds in WWE history, Michaels and Triple H finally reunited in 2006. The reunion was initially teased when both did their signature D-X chops during their respective matches at WrestleMania 22.
The Cerebral Assassin performed the gesture once again after losing in a triple threat match with John Cena and Edge for the WWE title. Triple H did the signature move after he hit his two opponents with the sledgehammer post-match due to frustration.
Meanwhile, Michaels, who was previously in a feud with Mr. McMahon, was taken out by faction of five cheerleaders, known as The Spirit Squad. The five men injured Michaels' knee — which was used as an angle to give HBK some time off to recover from a real injury.
The Game eventually feuded with Mr. McMahon. To punish Triple H, the chairman of the WWE pitted him in a 5-on-1 gauntlet match with the Spirit Squad. Four members of the Spirit Squad beat down the lone Cerebral Assassin and threatened to injure Triple H's leg the same way they did to Michaels.
McMahon came out and ordered they “break his damn neck” instead. And when he told the final member of the Spirit Squad to come out, Mitch was thrown out onto the ramp, prompting huge cheers from the crowd.
Michaels surprisingly came out, delivered a Sweet Chin Music on Mitch, and ran to the ring to save his long-time rival.
Triple H and Michaels cleaned house. The two gave each other a long stare down, butted heads, and performed their signature D-X dap. The Showstopper hit the super kick on a Spirit Squad member. The Game delivered the Pedigree. And Monday Night Raw ended with the Triple H and Shawn Michaels hitting the crotch chop on an enraged Vince McMahon.
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