5 Things You Didn't Know About Triple H

Twenty-five years of continuous employment is impressive, regardless of who you work for. It's even more impressive when you can experience the sort of upward mobility enjoyed by Paul Levesque, going from entry-level midcarder with a cliched gimmick in 1995, to one of the masters and rulers of the wrestling industry today. Who'd have thunk it, no?

WWE recently kicked off some festivities, celebrating 25 years within the promotion for company man (and family man) Triple H. The April 24 edition of SmackDown saw WWE hold a rather unusual ceremony for "The Game" (thanks in part to some bizarre chatter from father-in-law Vince McMahon), but the fact remains: 25 years for Triple H is a pretty special achievement. He's headlined multiple WrestleManias, held numerous World titles, and was a major part of weekly storylines for the better part of two decades.

We've learned a lot about Triple H through the years, but it's always good to gain a little more insight into the life and career of one of WWE's most important figures.

Twenty-five years of continuous employment is impressive, regardless of who you work for. It's even more impressive when you can experience the sort of upward mobility enjoyed by Paul Levesque, going from entry-level midcarder with a cliched gimmick in 1995, to one of the masters and rulers of the wrestling industry today. Who'd have thunk it, no?

WWE recently kicked off some festivities, celebrating 25 years within the promotion for company man (and family man) Triple H. The April 24 edition of SmackDown saw WWE hold a rather unusual ceremony for "The Game" (thanks in part to some bizarre chatter from father-in-law Vince McMahon), but the fact remains: 25 years for Triple H is a pretty special achievement. He's headlined multiple WrestleManias, held numerous World titles, and was a major part of weekly storylines for the better part of two decades.

We've learned a lot about Triple H through the years, but it's always good to gain a little more insight into the life and career of one of WWE's most important figures.

5. Fit As A Fiddle

One of the most identifying traits of Triple H is his physique, which at times could have been classified as "beyond logical". Contrast that to his early time in WWE, when he was thin enough to almost qualify as a regular on 205 Live.

That's why it's a little surprising to learn that Helmsley was into bodybuilding as a teenager. He began weight-training in earnest at age 14 in order to look like his wrestling idols, and in 1988, he won Mr. Teenage New Hampshire.

4. Breaking In

Triple H had some quality schooling when he pursued wrestling in the early nineties. He learned the ropes under the tutelage of legendary villain Killer Kowalski, who would train the likes of Kofi Kingston, Damien Sandow, Tommaso Ciampa, and Matt "A-Train" Bloom, among others.

In fact, Helmsley wasn't the only future WWE titleholder in his particular class. One fellow student was future WWE European and Hardcore champion Perry Saturn, as well as (in a notable connection) Intercontinental and Women's champ Joanie "Chyna" Laurer.

3. A Royal Union

Helmsley jumped to WWE in the spring of 1995 following a year-long tenure in World Championship Wrestling. There, he wrestled under his old indy name Terra Ryzing, and later as a French aristocrat named Jean-Paul Levesque (how'd he come up with *that* handle?).

Had Helmsley not left the company after January 1995, Levesque was going to be partnered with another snooty character: Lord Steven (William) Regal. Instead, Regal teamed with a "cultured" Bobby Eaton to form The Blue Bloods, and Levesque began life anew in New York.

2. Plans Change

You've likely heard of the infamous "Curtain Call" in which The Kliq broke kayfabe on the night of Scott Hall and Kevin Nash's WWF finales. That breach cost Helmsley the 1996 King of the Ring, which he was scheduled to win. He instead went on a long losing streak.

For the next five months, Helmsley only won ten of the 83 matches he wrestled. His only televised wins in this time were squash matches against prelims, to go along with the odd win over someone like Bob Holly or Freddie Joe Floyd at house shows.

1. An Impressive Slam

It was a golden affair when IC champion Helmsley and WWF champ Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Tag titleholders The Undertaker and Kane to win those particular belts at the 2001 Backlash. Overshadowed in the moment was another achievement for "The Game".

With the victory, Helmsley became just the second man in WWE history to win some form of Grand Slam. Shawn Michaels was the first to "hit for the cycle" in September 1997, holding the WWE, IC, European, and Tag Team titles, and his best friend would be the next one.