Terra Ryzin' WWE

[Guest humongous2002]

Terra Ryzin' WWE

by Raul D. Dice

 

First of all, thanks to everyone for all the great feedback on last week's column. And now, what you've all been waiting for.

 

Triple H is the biggest fraud the wrestling business has ever seen. Since 1995, he has been a fixture at WWE, winning seven World Championships and highlighting numerous Pay-Per-View events -- despite the fact that he has never drawn a dime.

 

To start, I will say one thing. Triple H is, without a doubt, the smartest and most charming man in the wrestling business. His cunning ways are not to be denied, and I will definitely give the devil his due.

 

That charm has pulled the wool over the eyes of more than one individual. Just look at HHH's track record since joining WWE. He comes in in 1995, and immediately buddies up with The Clique (HBK, Nash, Razor, X-Pac), then the most powerful faction in the WWE locker room. By 1997, he started dating Chyna, the biggest female draw in the company's history. And by 2000, he was involved with Stephanie McMahon, and with Chyna no longer of use to him, he broke up with her and sent her packing. So he's got friends in very high places.

 

HHH used to be -- emphasis on "used to be" -- one of the elite workers in the wrestling business. But he was never a draw. The only time he was ever an attraction was when he was with other people who were proven draws -- Triple H WITH D-Generation X. Triple H WITH Chyna. Triple H VERSUS Stone Cold or Rock. But "Triple H" alone means NOTHING. Look at his pitiful babyface run from Jan-July 2002 for an example of that. Why do you think he's been so high on forming this "Evolution" faction? Because HHH's marketability relies on the fact that he's got others around him to make him look stronger and to protect his weaknesses.

 

It's pretty well known in the WWE locker room that HHH and Stephanie don't like Stone Cold or Rock, and bad-mouth them to Vince at any given opportunity. Proof positive that HHH really is an ungrateful a--hole: HHH made all his money with those two. But put HHH in a room with Vince, and he'll be talking about how Rock isn't committed to the business anymore, so why do anything with him beyond the bare minimum? Or he'll talk about how Austin's washed up, his best days behind him. Talk in the locker room is that HHH does so because he's so jealous of those two, and he feels badmouthing them will put him ahead of them in Vince's mind. And it has seemingly worked.

 

So it should come as no surprise to anyone that Stone Cold returned from his initial neck injury in September 2000, and Stephanie became head of the WWE creative team in October 2000 -- no doubt at the behest of Triple H. He knew that with Austin coming back, he'd need to protect his spot like nobody's business -- and that with Steph in charge of creative, he was golden.

 

It was also in September 2000 that HHH took part in one of the more obvious examples of his disregard for the business. The HHH-Angle-Stephanie love triangle was going on in full force, and was, by all accounts, the best storyline WWE had ever done. It was attracting men AND women -- truly a big moment for the business. The payoff was to have had Stephanie go off with Kurt, which was what EVERYONE wanted to see. But HHH -- knowing that Stephanie was his meal ticket, knowing that he couldn't go back with Chyna, knowing that Austin was back in the picture, and knowing that he wasn't figured into the World Title picture any time soon -- argued vehemently that that wasn't the way to go, and basically nixed the whole thing. The result was a short stop on what could have been THE story to turn WWE into a real men's soap opera. No storyline has even come close since, and this one did more to ruin the fans' confidence in WWE storytelling than anything before or since. Why should they emotionally invest in WWE characters when there's no payoff?

 

That November was when HHH was dropped in a car at Survivor Series, an accident which would have KILLED anyone else. But there Hunter was on TV, eight days later, not a scratch on him. The appearance became a running gag around WWE offices in Stamford, and absolutely killed the notion of selling injuries.

 

Then, a few months later, HHH pulled another fast one. Steve Austin was to turn heel at Wrestlemania 17, and HHH was petrified that he would soon be losing his top heel spot to the Rattlesnake. So HHH pushed hard for the Two-man Power Trip storyline, where the two would team up. Nevermind that they had been trying to KILL EACH OTHER just months earlier. The two teamed up, and HHH took every opportunity to overshadow Austin, to make Austin look like a punk, even though AUSTIN WAS THE CHAMPION and AUSTIN WAS THE DRAW. To this day, HHH tells people he thinks the storyline would have worked had he not torn his quad in May 2001. HHH is the ONLY one who believes this.

 

When HHH tore his quad, he knew he wouldn't be able to work as well as he once did when he came back. And when working is the ONLY thing that you do really well, it's time to get cerebral. So HHH started tinkering with creative even more, getting more involved with the creative process than ever.

 

Upon his return, HHH did in fact suck a big one in the ring. In fact, since his return, he's had exactly TWO good matches. TWO. There was Hell in a Cell against Chris Jericho last May at Judgment Day, and SummerSlam against Shawn Michaels. TWO MATCHES IN 15 MONTHS. Other guys would have already been FIRED for that track record. And just look at the extenuating circumstances in those two matches:

 

Judgment Day -- the most over gimmick match in WWE, against one of WWE's best workers, double juice, barbed wire...

 

SummerSlam -- HBK's first match in five years, street fight, ref bumps, double juice, sledgehammers, table spots, chairs...

 

Those are all things WWE throws into a match to cover up for the participants' weaknesses. In fact, when was the last time you saw a HHH PPV match that DIDN'T have a gimmick, or chairs, sledgehammers, ref bumps, blood, outside interference, etc.? The answer -- you didn't. He hasn't had one since he came back, but he has still fooled so many people into thinking he's a draw.

 

Yet, the only time HHH has ever drawn money, it's been through coincidence or circumstance. Either he was paired with a draw (HBK, Chyna, Steph), or against a draw (Foley, Rock, Austin), or it was a time when EVERYTHING in the business was drawing (late 1999, 2000). Hell, the MOST over HHH ever was -- in early 2000 -- was when he was partnered with THREE McMahons, AND with DX, AND facing Foley and Rock every week! Hell, put ME in that situation, and I'll draw too!

 

Honestly, though, I don't blame HHH for WWE's problems right now. For all his manipulation, the bottom line is that Vince McMahon is still the one who makes the ultimate decisions.

 

Here's the problem. Vince doesn't live in the real world; he lives in a world that people outside the business couldn't even begin to comprehend. Because of his constant week-in, week-out work schedule, Vince doesn't get free time. He never watches TV outside of WWE, and doesn't interact with many people outside the wrestling business. He doesn't understand real life. So his only means of decision-making is through his inner circle, consisting of Linda, Shane, Stephanie, HHH, his road agents and his creative team -- and I include "creative team" very tentatively, because according to a friend of mine closely involved with the team, Vince hardly even listens to them, often telling them that they will "eat shit and learn to like it." I will also take Linda and Shane out of the equation -- since neither is on the road full-time, Vince often doesn't consult either before making day-to-day creative decisions.

 

So that leaves Stephanie, HHH and the agents. The agents -- including Johnny Ace, Fit Finley, Michael Hayes, Arn Anderson, Tony Garea and Terry Taylor -- are the ones who help put matches together, and from what I know, Vince listens to them more than to anybody. But think about this -- the agents' survival in the wrestling business depends on looking good in Vince's eyes. And the best way to stay on Vince's good side is to be on Stephanie and HHH's good sides, since they're the ones he listens to most. So the agents -- who are supposed to be these impartial judges of which wrestlers should be featured and highlighted -- are as biased as they come. Think about it -- most of these guys have never drawn a dime in the wrestling business, yet are still around. Obviously they know how to play the game, pun intended.

 

Vince's agents -- none of whom have had to actually pay for the wrestling product in years, and none of whom fit into WWE's target demo -- tell him that HHH is still the man, that he's the best guy they've got. Vince's creative team -- most of whom were still in your shoes just a few years ago, and most of which fit right into the target demo -- have been SCREAMING to Vince for a year now that HHH isn't what the people want to see, and that they should instead elevate people such as RVD.

 

But Vince will listen to the agents.

 

Why else does Vince love Hunter so much? Hunter is the kid Vince never had. Shane's a nice guy, but by some accounts he doesn't have the cerebral mind of Vince or of HHH. And Stephanie is just a dolt; in fact, my buddy tells me that her role as head of the creative team is an absolute joke. He tells me that she's nothing more than a glorified middle man, and that every time she opens her mouth, the team imagines HHH as the ventriloquist and her as the dummy. I also hear that Stephanie is a joke to most of them, and in fact to most people in the company. So HHH is the child Vince always wanted -- intelligent, well-spoken, great mind for the business, loyal to a fault.

 

When Steve Austin walked out on Vince last June, Vince found it hard to trust a lot of people in his locker room. This was Steve Freaking Austin, the biggest draw in the history of his company, leaving him high and dry. Vince panicked, and decided that the only people he could trust now was his family. Rocky was gone filming a movie, so Vince thought back to 1999 and to all the brainwashing HHH and Stephanie had done with him, and assumed that HHH had been the reason why Rock and Austin were drawing so much money. So in the booking meeting where the decision was made to split the RAW and SmackDown titles (and by the way, HHH doesn't just sit in on production meetings at TV tapings -- he also sits in on most booking meetings in Stamford during the week), HHH easily convinced Vince that he should be the first RAW champion. The plan was for RVD to win the title at Unforgiven. HHH had that changed. Then the plan was for Kane to win it at No Mercy. HHH had that changed too. The stroke that Steve Austin once had was now transferred to HHH.

 

As for Stephanie? She is BLINDED. She's a 26-year-old KID with a big head who knows NOTHING. She's been handed EVERYTHING she has on a silver platter, and her last name is the ONLY thing she has going for her. Now granted, it's a hell of a last name to have, but still, she's nothing more than a JOKE to most people in the company. Between her two disgustingly large boobs (and that's not the only work she's had done, by the way), her TERRIBLE acting (you'd think after four years on TV, she would have improved past "wrinkle your nose for emphasis") and her know-it-all attitude, it's clear that she's beyond clueless. Stephanie is the fat girl who now gets to date the quarterback, which is why she loves HHH. And he really is a charming, smart guy -- a manipulator, yes, but a perfect guy for the Billion Dollar Princess. And for someone who knows that wrestling is the way to earn daddy's love, dating HHH is the perfect way to get in daddy's good graces.

 

"But," you might be saying, "HHH is willing to give back. After all, he did job the title to Hulk Hogan last year, and he has been willing to work with guys like Steiner." Think about it -- guys like RVD, Kane and Booker are threats to Hunter. They're all better than he is, and they all have a tremendous upside. So HHH fights his way out of putting them over. Guys like Hogan and Steiner and even Shawn Michaels, their best days are behind them, and when HHH puts them over, it only makes Vince realize how washed up the others are, making HHH look better in comparison. If I was HHH, I'd be willing to do business with those schlubs too -- it makes me seem like a "company guy," and makes me look better in comparison. But if I make RVD look like a million bucks, then he may start making some serious money for the company, and then I lose my spot. HHH may say he's all about the business, and that the company comes first, but that is BULL, and everyone at that company will tell you so.

 

The plan as of now, as I hear it, is to do a six-man at Backlash, for a successful defense against Nash in May, and to drop the title to Goldberg in June. But just you watch -- I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts that HHH has already started badmouthing Goldberg to Vince, and come June, either HHH will retain, or Goldberg will leave the company in frustration.

 

Sorry to ramble so much -- I'm not much of a writer, and I'm sure I could have said most of this in about half the length. But I hope you found this read somewhat enjoyable.

 

Send me an email at [email protected], and let me know what you thought of the piece, and also what you want me to write about next week. You can also post any comments on the message boards.

 

Later.

 

- Raul D. Dice

 

Credit:Moodspins.com

[Guest My Eyebrow is on fire]

I didn't learn anything new - but I hate HHH so much that it passed some serious time at work.

[Guest bob_barron]

In fact, since his return, he's had exactly TWO good matches. TWO. There was Hell in a Cell against Chris Jericho last May at Judgment Day, and SummerSlam against Shawn Michaels.

 

I disagree. He had a great TV match with Jericho right after Backlash and had some good TV matches with Kurt Angle. I also enjoyed his title defences v. RVD and Booker T. I think he's had more then two good matches.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

Hell in a Cell was extremely boring to me...

[Guest Si82]

Nice artical man.

 

Granted I hate Triple H (and thusly agree with it anyway) but it was still an interesting read.

[Guest Lightning Flik]

In fact, since his return, he's had exactly TWO good matches. TWO. There was Hell in a Cell against Chris Jericho last May at Judgment Day, and SummerSlam against Shawn Michaels.

 

I disagree. He had a great TV match with Jericho right after Backlash and had some good TV matches with Kurt Angle. I also enjoyed his title defences v. RVD and Booker T. I think he's had more then two good matches.

I think he meant two matches where he didn't get carried.

[JN News 0]

Why is Bob Barron sucking Hunter's cock all of a sudden?

[Guest bob_barron]

Those are all things WWE throws into a match to cover up for the participants' weaknesses. In fact, when was the last time you saw a HHH PPV match that DIDN'T have a gimmick, or chairs, sledgehammers, ref bumps, blood, outside interference, etc.? The answer -- you didn't.

 

Three weeks ago at Wrestlemania. Most title matches have things like that so acting like it's just for HHH is retarded

[Guest bob_barron]

Why is Bob Barron sucking Hunter's cock all of a sudden?

I don't think I'm sucking his cock by saying he's had good matches since coming back. How is that sucking his cock?

[Guest Lightning Flik]

Three weeks ago at Wrestlemania. Most title matches have things like that so acting like it's just for HHH is retarded

Actually WMXIX had Flair interfering every so often to help Triple H.

 

I know that Flair is Triple H's manager (more like valet) but still. You had said that there wasn't any type of gimmick thingy going on, but there was.

Edited April 15, 2003 by Lightning Flik

[JN News 0]

Well, IMO, it just doesn't excuse the out-of-control facism that HHH has started in the WWE. He planted seeds of facism into the heads of Vince & Steph.

[Guest bob_barron]

All Flair did was put HHH's foot on the ropes once. That's not really a big gimmicky thing. It wasn't as bad as No Way Out and Armageddon.

 

Hell at Armageddon Big Show v. Angle was overbooked to hell. Steve Austin and Rock are great wrestlers and a lot of their PPV title matches were overbooked and gimmicked. So saying Triple H sucks because of that is not really accurate

[Guest bob_barron]

Well, IMO, it just doesn't excuse the out-of-control facism that HHH has started in the WWE. He planted seeds of facism into the heads of Vince & Steph.

I wouldn't call what he does facism- I blame it all on Vince- not Triple H.

[LooseCannon25 0]

Those are all things WWE throws into a match to cover up for the participants' weaknesses. In fact, when was the last time you saw a HHH PPV match that DIDN'T have a gimmick, or chairs, sledgehammers, ref bumps, blood, outside interference, etc.? The answer -- you didn't.

 

Three weeks ago at Wrestlemania. Most title matches have things like that so acting like it's just for HHH is retarded

Thats a stupid ass quote to make........When Rock vs. Stone Cold at WMX7 had no dq or basically ANY Stone Cold Match noone says anything.......when its Rock vs. Mankind in NO DQ noone says shit.......when it's Austin vs. Angle noone says shit.........Most WWE title matches have stipluations.........when its Benoit vs. Jericho, RVD vs. Guerrero, any TLC match where's the freakin complaining for that........i'm not the biggest HHH fan but this shit is getting ridiculous and idiotic already.

[Guest Lightning Flik]

So saying Triple H sucks because of that is not really accurate

Yes, it is (not accurate). I'll even admit that he isn't half bad lately and I'm not put out when he comes for a match.

 

Still though, I'm tired of having him as Champion for no apparent reason. I mean, he can headline without the title. The belt really is nothing more than a vanity belt and for him to be seen as important.

[Guest Luke Cage]

Someone help me out here...why was Helmsley ever so highly regarded? I know he is deeply reviled by some hardcore fans now, but I recall when he was named as the second coming of Ric Flair. I just don't get it. What did he do during his run of popularity that made him so much better than before his 99 promotion by the WWF? What is different about him now?

[Guest bob_barron]

Those are all things WWE throws into a match to cover up for the participants' weaknesses. In fact, when was the last time you saw a HHH PPV match that DIDN'T have a gimmick, or chairs, sledgehammers, ref bumps, blood, outside interference, etc.? The answer -- you didn't.

 

Three weeks ago at Wrestlemania. Most title matches have things like that so acting like it's just for HHH is retarded

Thats a stupid ass quote to make........When Rock vs. Stone Cold at WMX7 had no dq or basically ANY Stone Cold Match noone says anything.......when its Rock vs. Mankind in NO DQ noone says shit.......when it's Austin vs. Angle noone says shit.........Most WWE title matches have stipluations.........when its Benoit vs. Jericho, RVD vs. Guerrero, any TLC match where's the freakin complaining for that........i'm not the biggest HHH fan but this shit is getting ridiculous and idiotic already.

Exactly- How come none of you people bitch when every other title match is overbooked to hell.

 

I don't want him to be champion either and I wish he had dropped the title to Booker T at WM

[Guest Trivia247]

The article is right about even though we all Despise HHH. Its apparent that HHH couldn't do half of this shit without a Debilitated Vince McMahon too manipulate. What did we use to say about what the basic reason was that WWF was better than WCW in the Promotional Management sense? WWF had a Strong One man Top tier Leadership which had the Final Decision whom had a Strong Wrestling background, as Oppose to a Weak Top Tier Non wrestling Managment that is almost a figure head to the Creative Bookers of Sullivan, Wiles, Rhodes, Hogan, and Nash over the years. When you don't got a objectivity at the top to decide then you got alot of shit going in, and alot of the Gold that would be in the good wrestling in the company gets buried.

 

Just look at how HHH can just Unashamedly Pisses off the Smarks and regular Wrestling fans with the goofest of Angles, Kane and Necrophilla, Burying RVD, and this latest angle with HHH vs Booker T and the Strong WIFF of Racism. If Vince was truly in control of all his wrestling faculities do you seriously think he would let that crap go On? HHH by himself seem to be more racially Damaging in his little Tongue n cheek Segments than the Racial Undertones of the Disciples of Apocalypse vs Nation of Domination vs the Truth Commission vs Los Boraralez (sp)

 

If Stephanie and by her HHH inherits the WWE after Vince steps down.... We better have a competing company to watch.

[Guest mickberna]

As for Stephanie? She is BLINDED. She's a 26-year-old KID with a big head who knows NOTHING.

While I agree that Stephanie is likely detremental to the quality of the writing, and that she looks silly with her implants, and that she is a lousy actor.....

 

Who the fuck are YOU to say she knows NOTHING? She's a 26-year-old kid? She's been a part of the WWF/E since she was born. It's all she's ever known. That's 26 more years of experience than the majority of self-proclaimed smart marks have in the business.

[Guest My Eyebrow is on fire]

This is turning into the usual

 

HHH is screwing the booker and is horribly average for getting tons of exposure. He only puts over his friends, what a jerk.

 

v.s.

 

HHH has no backstage power at all and he's over so he deserves his spot.

[Guest My Eyebrow is on fire]

Who the fuck are YOU to say she knows NOTHING? She's a 26-year-old kid? She's been a part of the WWF/E since she was born. It's all she's ever known. That's 26 more years of experience than the majority of self-proclaimed smart marks have in the business.

You're absolutely correct! Stephanie McMahon's talent is clearly immense. With the entertaining and overall excellent programming (born out of consistency and storyline continuity) - boredom is a thing of the past. There are GOBS of fresh faces in this exciting new generation to provide exciting main events. Stale matchups with has-beens were WCW's collective achilles heel, and she has proven time and again that she will NOT make the same mistakes twice.

 

At 26 years old, she's turned what was once a boring dinosaur (SEE 1998-2000 WW"F" PROGRAMMING - HORRIBLE) into a powerhouse federation for the next century and beyond. It's a shame that 9-11 had to single handedly decrease the viewership 2 entire ratings points (due to terrorists destroying their televisions) - because had this been the robust economy of the late 90's, we would be seeings ratings in the 11's, or perhaps the 100's!!!

 

Stephanie Mcmahon is horribly misused in her current, unchallenging profession. It is clear to anyone with sense that we are looking at the future president of the united states.

[Guest geniusMoment]

The article is okay but some parts are bullshit. Chyna didn't rub star power off on him. He fucking brought Chyna in during the spring of 1997. He was way more over than her throughout her entire run. In fact she was a joke until she got ten trillion dollars worth of plastic surgery.

[Guest Choken One]

Waah Waah Waah Shut the fuck Up...

 

Come up with something new....

[Guest SP-1]

This is turning into the usual

 

HHH is screwing the booker and is horribly average for getting tons of exposure. He only puts over his friends, what a jerk.

 

v.s.

 

HHH has no backstage power at all and he's over so he deserves his spot.

I don't think I've come across very many people here who say that Trips has NO backstage power. Alot of people simply recognize that Vince McMahon has to shoulder the blame as well.

[Guest mickberna]

Who the fuck are YOU to say she knows NOTHING?  She's a 26-year-old kid?  She's been a part of the WWF/E since she was born.  It's all she's ever known.  That's 26 more years of experience than the majority of self-proclaimed smart marks have in the business.

You're absolutely correct! Stephanie McMahon's talent is clearly immense. With the entertaining and overall excellent programming (born out of consistency and storyline continuity) - boredom is a thing of the past. There are GOBS of fresh faces in this exciting new generation to provide exciting main events. Stale matchups with has-beens were WCW's collective achilles heel, and she has proven time and again that she will NOT make the same mistakes twice.

 

At 26 years old, she's turned what was once a boring dinosaur (SEE 1998-2000 WW"F" PROGRAMMING - HORRIBLE) into a powerhouse federation for the next century and beyond. It's a shame that 9-11 had to single handedly decrease the viewership 2 entire ratings points (due to terrorists destroying their televisions) - because had this been the robust economy of the late 90's, we would be seeings ratings in the 11's, or perhaps the 100's!!!

 

Stephanie Mcmahon is horribly misused in her current, unchallenging profession. It is clear to anyone with sense that we are looking at the future president of the united states.

Yes that's very nice, but you completely missed my point. In fact, my very first sentence was that I agreed Stephanie was detremental to the product.

 

I'm not defending Stephanie, I'm pointing out a serious lack on sense on the part of the writer of the rant. Him saying that Stephanie McMahon knows NOTHING is totally ignorant. She obviously knows plenty, because she's been around the business her entire life. Now, her methods may be out of touch, and she may not be a good writer, but she certainly knows the business. It's moronic to suggest that she doesn't when she lives it every day of her life.

 

Next time think before you unload the pointless sarcasm.

[Guest evilhomer]

Because HHH's marketability relies on the fact that he's got others around him to make him look stronger and to protect his weaknesses.

This is one thing that I would credit HHH with doing for the good of the business. Every wrestler has flaws, and if they do something to cover up those flaws, it makes them appear to be that much better of a worker. If a wrestler is giving me the appearance of being better than they are, that makes me like them, and thus the product that much more.

 

But since this is HHH, and HHHate makes me think that HHH would only do something to benefit HHH, I have to agree that this is yet another thing he does to raise his own status.

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

Think about it -- guys like RVD, Kane and Booker are threats to Hunter. They're all better than he is, and they all have a tremendous upside

IMO, Kane isn't better than HHH. Kane is just another generic big guy, albeit w/ cool pyro and a mask.

 

And Kane has a tremendous upside? He's reached as high as he's ever going to get w/ his current gimmick, and I doubt a gimmick change will improve him at all.

[Guest Jack Potts]

I agree with Raul on most points, particularly the issue of the dropped HHH-Stephanie-Angle storyline. The payoff to that storyline was virtually nonexistent, and certainly unsatisfying. In my mind, until the end, that angle was one of the highlights of WWE storytelling.

 

It's a shame they dropped the ball on that one, because I see a distinct demarcation point between that angle and every subsequent angle they've created since that point.

 

They used all of the players involved to their greatest advantage, while still staying true to the nature of their characters. The interplay among them all was dynamic and it the way it played out felt fresh (for a wrestling program) and uncontrived.

[Guest The Tino Standard]

Someone help me out here...why was Helmsley ever so highly regarded? I know he is deeply reviled by some hardcore fans now, but I recall when he was named as the second coming of Ric Flair. I just don't get it. What did he do during his run of popularity that made him so much better than before his 99 promotion by the WWF? What is different about him now?

HHH was highly regarded because after finally gaining some legitimacy as the world champion, he had some feuds that REALLY kicked ass. The HHH-Cactus Jack storyline was great and their back-to-back PPV championship matches were awesome. HHH was willing to make Jericho look somewhat good (in retrospect, this astounds me) with the phantom title switch in April 2000. Hell, H even had a match on Raw with TAKA that had people thinking he might lose the belt.

 

The bottom line is that for whatever reason, everything HHH did in the first half of 2000 worked extremely well. Even as a heel, he was starting to get some pretty massive babyface cheers. The love triangle storyline with Angle and Stephanie was absolute gangbusters until it got derailed around September. That was an early sign of HHH not being willing to play ball. Still, he came back with another awesome match against Benoit in Oct. 2000 (working as the face in the match, I believe) and things looked to be on track.

 

I think the real downturn of HHH was when he was revealed as the "mastermind" behind the Austin car assault. People were looking to cheer HHH at that point, but instead, to maintain his ultimate heel status, he was placed in that spot.

 

But once again, HHH appeared to be coming out of a pile of shit smelling like a rose when his feud with Austin culminated with an AWESOME match at No Way Out 2001. These two mortal enemies became PARTNERS two months later in yet ANOTHER storyline turn that made no sense. Once again, if they were willing to make HHH a babyface there, he could've gotten over just fine.

 

I thought they were maybe finally starting to sew the seeds for an overdue face turn for HHH around the time of his injury. There appeared to be some dissention with Austin, but who knows- maybe that would've just led to another bait-and-switch.

 

So when did everybody violently turn on him and why did they do it? His return in January 2002. The reaction for him at MSG that night was UNREAL. In fact, he was finally getting a babyface run. But something different happened: Most of his matches started to really really suck. I think a lot of people were willing to give him some leeway as far as getting timing back and stuff after being out for so long, but eventually, patience ran out. He just couldn't bring it in the ring anymore.

 

So what did the company do with him? Turn him heel AGAIN and force him down our throats. He has since maintained his spot as the champion of Raw for months and months despite not actually having the in-ring skills to match that position. See, I think HHH had plenty of political power in 2000, but he also had the in-ring skills to back it up. Thus, when he was constantly in main events, nobody minded. But when he came back and didn't have his physical talents anymore, yet STILL was going over everybody, THAT became a problem.

 

Sometimes, you just have to know when to walk away and HHH clearly hasn't had that realization yet.

[Guest Coffey]

That charm has pulled the wool over the eyes of more than one individual. Just look at HHH's track record since joining WWE. He comes in in 1995, and immediately buddies up with The Clique (HBK, Nash, Razor, X-Pac), then the most powerful faction in the WWE locker room. By 1997, he started dating Chyna, the biggest female draw in the company's history. And by 2000, he was involved with Stephanie McMahon, and with Chyna no longer of use to him, he broke up with her and sent her packing. So he's got friends in very high places.

I stopped reading right there. It was TL,DR anyway. The fact that he acts like he didn't join up with Chyna until she was popular was kindof funny...but untrue. He was with her during his D-X days when she was still and unover manbeast...so that killed all the credibility of the post, to me, right there.