Triple H: Ranking Every WWE WrestleMania Match of the Game's Career
Triple H has had a truly legendary career in WWE—and in the process, he has delivered some amazing matches on the grandest stage of them all.
From the Ultimate Warrior to the Undertaker, Brock Lesnar to Daniel Bryan, The Game has faced plenty of stiff competition at WrestleMania over the past 20 years. More often than not, his matches have been among the best on the card for any given year.
Ahead of his seventh WrestleMania as a headliner, here's a look back at every single match The Game has wrestled at the Showcase of the Immortals.
These are the bouts his showdown with Roman Reigns will be compared to—and it'll be a tall order to exceed some of the amazing performances contained within this list.
19: HHH vs. Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania XII
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Despite the legendary career he's had since, Triple H's WrestleMania debut was about as inauspicious as it gets.
Coming at the end of his rookie year in the then-WWF, the Connecticut Blueblood was scheduled to face the Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania XII in the former world champion's much-anticipated return from Parts Unknown after a four-year absence.
The bout was far from a showcase for the promising young athlete; he was dispatched by Warrior in just 1:39, even despite managing to hit a Pedigree early on.
Helmsley does display some quality while he's on the back foot in this match, but its length means it's by far the weakest of his WrestleMania appearances. For reference, his measured walk to the ring takes about as long as the bout itself.
18. HHH vs. Kane at WrestleMania XV
2 of 19Triple H and Kane have met on many occasions over the course of their lengthy careers, but it's safe to say that their match at WrestleMania XV is not their definitive encounter.
Largely made up of brawling on the outside of the ring, the bout is built around the twist of Chyna betraying Kane and siding with Triple H. While the moment itself hit its mark, the action beforehand didn't offer much substance.
There are some memorable bits and pieces; Kane's dive to the outside was impressive, and his method of crotching HHH on the barricade from a chokeslam position was novel.
The biggest problem here was the match felt inconsequential. It's largely set up to advance a storyline involving Chyna and Triple H, which didn't quite fit in the with pomp and spectacle of the Showcase of the Immortals.
17. HHH vs. Sheamus at WrestleMania XXVI
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A top prospect was placed in a match with an established main eventer on his WrestleMania debut, but the veteran picked up the win after kicking out of his opponent's finishing move. No, that wasn't another description of Triple H's match against the Ultimate Warrior, but there are some obvious parallels with The Game's clash with Sheamus some 14 years later.
On paper, Triple H vs. Sheamus should have been a hard-hitting contest that served to legitimize Sheamus in the eyes of the fans, but unfortunately the broader narrative and the match itself were poorly aligned.
We were fed lines from commentary about Triple H representing the old guard and the Celtic Warrior being an up-and-comer, but there's actually little in the match itself that put Sheamus on The Game's level.
Michael Cole expressed total shock when HHH kicked out of the Brogue Kick—apparently the first time this had happened—but the fact a second boot didn't get the job done devalued a finishing move that's since been well-protected.
This bout just didn't have the sense of scale the great WrestleMania matches—even those from the undercard—all possess. Especially considering Triple H wins, it could just have easily played out on an episode of Raw.
16. HHH vs. Owen Hart at WrestleMania XIV
4 of 19Owen Hart and Triple H earned their reputations as skilled technical wrestlers, but those abilities didn't shine through as brightly as you might expect in this bout from 1998.
The match starts out strong, with Hart demonstrating great fire to get things underway. Meanwhile, there's a subplot playing out on the outside of the ring, as Chyna found herself handcuffed to acting commissioner Sgt. Slaughter in order to keep things fair.
Chyna's presence actually added an interesting extra dimension to the bout, which is a little sloppier in terms of in-ring execution than the typical output of the competitors involved.
The middle stretch wasn't as good as it could've been, but it's buoyed by an explosive start and a compelling finish. Hart and The Game deserve a lot of credit for the way they built up steam steadily toward the bout's conclusion, by which point the crowd was completely invested in seeing Chyna get involved.
15. HHH vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania XXV
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It's true a crowd can make or break a match, and the latter was the case for the main event of WrestleMania's 25th anniversary show.
After being blown away by the spectacle of Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker earlier in the night, it's clear from the outset the audience was exhausted. Those attending failed to buy into the extended beatdown of Triple H that spanned much of the match, and as such its effect was massively undercut.
The bout was contested under the stipulation that Triple H would've lost his title if he were disqualified, making it difficult for him to get the level of revenge you might've expected given Randy Orton's actions in the build. While that aspect of the match did add drama in parts, ultimately it hampered what HHH and RKO could accomplish.
There were some standout bits of action here and there, and Orton's unsettling persona shone through at times, but the match failed to live up to its enormous potential.
14. HHH vs. Batista at WrestleMania 21
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After a lengthy setup featuring the dissolution of Evolution, Triple H met Batista at 2005's Showcase of the Immortals—and the resulting match was a solid effort, if not a classic.
It's important to remember The Animal was largely untested in a main event role at this point in time. He's still got his limitations in the ring, but it's safe to say his abilities are elevated by an opponent such as The Game.
There was no shortage of effort and exertion on show, but the pieces never quite came together. Ric Flair played a decent supporting role at ringside, but his work seemed like a retread of WrestleMania XIX.
Despite the bulk of the contest being middling, things came together for a raucous closing stretch. The blocked Pedigree was an awesome moment to take in, and the fact the crowd was fully on board for the conclusion helped both competitors take things to the next level. Even considering its flaws, this was an engaging match.
13. HHH vs. John Cena at WrestleMania 22
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Triple H's WrestleMania match against Randy Orton in 2009 suffered from a disengaged crowd; conversely, his bout against John Cena at WrestleMania 22 was made significantly better by a spirited Chicago audience.
There should be little doubt The Game is capable of putting fans in the palm of his hand, and Cena has developed similar abilities, particularly later in his career. Both men were able to make full use of those talents in this compelling WWE Championship match.
That said, their strengths were certainly required to make up for some of Cena's limitations. The crowd and the commentary booth were repeatedly drawn into discussions of whether he could wrestle, and it has to be said he was a little sloppy at times.
The endgame of this bout resorted to the familiar WWE style of false finishes, which undoubtedly turned off some fans. However, it certainly had the desired effect on the night—by the time the match drew to a close, every person in the arena was completely committed to what was going on between the ropes.
12. HHH vs. Booker T at WrestleMania XIX
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Here's a match that's looked on unfavourably because of the result, but it is actually a thoroughly entertaining contest.
From the outset, both men were clearly motivated to put on a great show. Booker T and The Game were quickly established as a major threat to one another, with the former having razor-sharp kicks and the latter being backed by Ric Flair.
The Nature Boy has had mixed results in recent months as Charlotte's manager, but he was in fine form here. He's deadly serious—albeit with the traditional Flair zeal and vigour—and was a great way to stack the deck against the five-time WCW champ.
When the action hit its peak, it's filled with tight manoeuvres, most of which were well-placed. The crowd bought into a roll-up by Booker that nearly got the win, and his awesome Harlem Hangover got a massive response. Meanwhile, Triple H wheeled out his old WrestleMania favourite: a well-applied Indian Deathlock.
Unfortunately, the finish to the match—despite being a great way of redoubling the heat on The Game—didn't seem appropriate for WrestleMania. Compelling in parts, but it was an imperfect match at best.
11. HHH vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 29
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The star power of Brock Lesnar and Triple H make this a WrestleMania standout, but unfortunately this bout was not quite the blockbuster it set out to be.
Likely playing off the stakes The Streak added to Undertaker's matches around the same time, this match featured the stipulation that Triple H's career would've come to an end if he lost. However, while fans were uniformly in support of Undertaker, they're more divided on The Game.
Chants telling Lesnar to "break his arm" illustrate the murky dynamic between the crowd and the competitors in the ring. The tale The Game and The Beast tried to tell didn't work quite so well because the villain was getting most of the support—at least until the closing stretch, when HHH got the fans on his side.
That said, the flashes of greatness we saw make this bout well worth a watch. Lesnar's standing pose while Triple H had a kimura applied is an excellent visual, and the final moments of the match hit the target. Still, while The Game flourished in a marathon, that's less true for his opponent.
10. HHH vs. Sting at WrestleMania 31
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After a distractingly promotional Terminator Genisys-themed entrance for Triple H, this too-late clash between WCW and WWE got off to a promising start. Once again, the key element was the crowd, which was beyond eager to see Sting perform on the biggest stage possible.
The key components to the match were signature moves, outside interference and foreign objects. It's a warts-and-all tribute to the Attitude Era, and taken on those terms, it was a resounding success—even if it's by no means a technical classic.
Depending on your attachment to the 1990s, you either found the cameos from D-Generation X and the nWo a fun tribute to a bygone era or a trite means of getting a cheap pop. Still, seeing Kevin Nash clutch his quad to get a rise out of the hardcore fans had its own value.
Special credit has to be given to Sting, here. He's a little shaky here and there, but his dive from the turnbuckle to the outside has to be seen to be believed.
This was a good match and filled with nostalgia—but it's one of those contests that was no doubt much better in person. Outside of the totally limp ending, it's a bout that got the best out of Sting, DX and the nWo in front of a crowd that lapped it up.
9. HHH vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania X-Seven
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The first in the trilogy of WrestleMania matches between Triple H and Undertaker was the weakest by a hair, largely thanks to a long period of brawling designed to set up a spot that didn't entirely deserve the attention.
Things started off with great promise, with a true big-fight feel palpable in the arena. Unfortunately, once things exit the ring it devolved, and the chokeslam from the scaffold—while impressive to the live crowd—doesn't have the same impact on a TV audience.
When the action returned to the ring, things improved steadily. It's refreshing to see how powerful and important the sledgehammer feels circa 2001. This wasn't just a case of familiarity breeding contempt; both The Game and The Phenom wielded the weapon with a gravitas you don't see today.
The closing stretch saw this match really finds its feet. From the Tombstone Piledriver counter by Undertaker to HHH countering a Last Ride via sledgehammer to the skull, the final moments were absolutely electric. Unfortunately, the comparatively stilted start detracted from the overall match.
8. HHH vs. Mick Foley vs. Big Show vs. the Rock at WrestleMania 2000
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The unfairly maligned main event of WrestleMania 2000 is admittedly uneven but also a match with the scale necessary to close out the Showcase of the Immortals.
The star power is there, with The Rock and Triple H acting as the central rivalry and Mick Foley and Big Show providing some depth and variety. Show is eliminated first, after a fun sequence that saw him triple-teamed by the others—a little light for a WrestleMania main event but entertaining.
Things got tense once there's only three men involved, and The Game attempted to convince both of his fellow competitors to forge an alliance. It's tremendous character work from HHH, who interweaved his still-developing persona through the bout, as well as delivering tons of physicality and energy.
The match was billed as Foley's last, and he's given a fond farewell when he's eliminated—and an even more impassioned welcome back when he paused his journey up the ramp to attack Triple H with his trademark barbed-wire bat.
Unfortunately, this match suffered from an overpowering dose of McMahon family drama. When things should settle into a showdown between Triple H and The Rock, it's instead time for Vince and Shane to become even further embroiled in proceedings.
That said, the elder McMahon was terrific in his role; his shock at The Rock's kick-out after pummelling him with chair shots is the sort of reaction that makes him such a memorable presence.
All in all, there was a good match in here somewhere—but there were lots and lots of distractions that diluted the best of the action on offer.
7. HHH vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania 28
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The Hell in a Cell match dubbed as the "end of an era" was constructed with one thought in mind: giving fans a reason to believe Triple H would be the one to break Undertaker's Streak.
To that end, Shawn Michaels made an appearance as the special guest referee, ostensibly stacking the deck against The Phenom. While HBK didn't wrestle in the match, his presence as an official dramatically changed the dynamic—something that was sorely needed in the third WrestleMania meeting between Undertaker and HHH.
This bout is far more enjoyable watched by itself today than it was as part of a four-hour card back in 2012. It's an exhausting, draining encounter, and it was almost too much when placed midway through a lengthy show.
In an effort to differentiate itself from the match the year before, this contest saw Undertaker control the pace and keep things slow and steady—this put some necessary distance between the two encounters, but it did make it a slog to get through.
It's worth committing to the early going for its powerful conclusion, though. A series of near misses toward the end brought the entire arena up to speed, demonstrating exactly how these three men earned their respective places in WWE history.
6. HHH vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania 27
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The second match in the trilogy of WrestleMania encounters for The Phenom and The Game was the best, coming hot on the heels of the Deadman's noteworthy pair of matches against Shawn Michaels—and perhaps taking some notes from those bouts in terms of its form and structure.
One crucial difference is Michaels always seemed desperate to win in his WrestleMania matches against Undertaker, but here it's The Phenom who's seen obsessively clinging on to avoid a loss despite the best efforts of Triple H.
Particularly in the second half, the match centred around HHH throwing everything he had at Undertaker. It fell into a pattern of big moves, kick-outs and breaks in the action, but that's a necessary element of making sure the assault on Undertaker carried the weight it should have.
An underrated aspect of the trio of Undertaker vs. Triple H WrestleMania matches is the continuity they share. HHH's Tombstone Piledriver in this bout, having attempted it a decade earlier, was a great detail—and the fact the WrestleMania 28 meeting followed up on this contest's finish added another neat link.
Lots of matches claim to have been a "war" between the competitors involved, but this one lived up to that hype. With Undertaker kicking out of a whopping three Pedigrees and the huge amount of time Triple H spent in Hell's Gate ahead of its conclusion, it's an epic that put both men through the wringer to great effect.
5. HHH vs. Chris Jericho at WrestleMania X8
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Despite a couple of issues that detracted from the overall match, Triple H vs. Chris Jericho largely lived up to expectations of what the two men could produce given the platform of a WrestleMania main event.
A solid focus on Y2J's attempts to aggravate HHH's quad injury gave the early part of the match a narrative thread to latch onto. Stephanie McMahon's presence at ringside added some depth, but by the end, she's more of a distraction than anything else.
Jericho is a natural fan favourite in Toronto, but his continued assault on The Game's leg and the fact he had Steph in tow had the crowd behind Triple H by the end of the bout. It took a lot of effort to pull this shift off, which deserves praise.
It's a shame the content of the finish couldn't live up to the excellent groundwork that was set up. The conclusion came out of nowhere, and it was a little anticlimactic.
Whereas Triple H's WrestleMania matches typically reach an extra level of intensity in their final moments, this one petered out. However, up until that point, it's up there with the best performances The Game has brought out for the Showcase of the Immortals, if only for the expert manipulation of the crowd.
4. HHH vs. Goldust at WrestleMania 13
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One of Triple H's earliest WrestleMania appearances might seem like the odd one out among the high-profile matches that dominate the latter part of this list, but his match against Goldust deserves the praise.
This wasn't a drawn-out main event, and you wouldn't call it an epic—but a supershow such as WrestleMania requires variety. In terms of a midcard contest, this was exactly the right kind of bout to flesh out the Showcase of the Immortals.
It's clear both men were eager to shine at the biggest show of the year. Both HHH and Goldust had made the jump from WCW relatively recently and were attempting to demonstrate their plentiful capabilities between the ropes on the largest platform at their disposal.
You can see that quality throughout the match. At one point, Goldust countered a double axe handle from the top rope with the move now known as the Rear View—with lesser performers, the exchange could look horrible, but it was executed to perfection and packed a real punch.
The crisp technique of both men was complemented by scores of creativity. From a thoroughly entertaining sequence on the ring apron in the early going to an inspired finish with plenty of moving parts, this bout is a winner simply because both men involved were eager to demonstrate exactly what they're capable of.
3. HHH vs. John Cena vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania 24
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Having skipped WrestleMania in 2007 because of injury, Triple H made his return the next year in terrific condition and with a desire to produce the best match of the night. Paired with both John Cena and Randy Orton, this bout eclipses the singles encounters between him and either man.
There are some excellent three-man spots in the early going, ranging from John Cena's double Attitude Adjustment attempt to a crossbody twist on the Doomsday Device. It's a great way of bringing all three men into the action and made for a really engaging opening.
Attention soon shifted to reinforcing the narrative at the core of the match; Orton, despite being the reigning champion, was treated as a total underdog. This set up a hugely satisfying finish that served to crystallize the threat of RKO's villainous persona.
All three men were tremendous in this match, putting in the effort to make sure there's never a break in the action. In some ways, you can see the influence of the Triple Threat match from WrestleMania XX, but there's enough to differentiate this contest that it doesn't seem like a retread.
Given the competitors involved and the quality of the match, this will no doubt go down as one of the classic WrestleMania matches of its era. It certainly deserves those plaudits because it certainly stands up as one of the most exciting and engaging world title matches in the history of the event.
2. HHH vs. Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania XXX
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The chaotic build to WrestleMania XXX gave us the rise of Daniel Bryan to the main event of WrestleMania—but it also presented this amazing enounter that opened the show.
A flashy entrance for Triple H was contrasted by a no-frills walk to the ring for Bryan, elucidating the difference between the two men in terms of character. However, once the action got underway, we saw they're cut from the same cloth as wrestlers.
The Game's matches in the years leading to WrestleMania 30 had largely focused on spectacle, but here he's placed with an opponent who could match him for technique. As such, we saw a bout that's incredibly physical and stiff with a brisk pace that seldom let up.
Despite being a notable contrast to the typical WWE style, this match never felt out of place at WrestleMania. There's plenty of technical wrestling inside the ring, but there's also a healthy dose of attention-grabbing action once things spilled outside.
Between spots such as Triple H's armbreaker on the announce table, Bryan's flipping splash to the outside and an incredible DDT off the apron, there's a real variety to the offence both men brought to the table.
Of course, this was another match that really benefitted from the crowd it played out in front of. Bryan's popularity was off the charts, and it helped both men get into the headspace required to pull off an excellent, engrossing singles match on the grandest stage of all.
1. HHH vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit at WrestleMania XX
19 of 19The first Triple Threat main event at WrestleMania certainly warranted its spot on the card, as it's one of the best matches in the pay-per-view's history.
From the opening bell, the action came thick and fast. And it remained competitive and compelling for its 25-minute duration.
Notably, all three men were involved for large portions of the match rather than the traditional structure of one man being written off for lengthy periods while the others duke it out in-ring. That's a differentiator between a good Triple Threat and a great one, and this bout definitely falls into the latter category.
Toward the end of the match, we saw the action transfer to one-on-one encounters, largely to allow for the third man to make a surprise return to break up a pinfall or a submission and extend the match.
These moments were exploited to their full potential, with a Sweet Chin Music spoiler to Chris Benoit's Sharpshooter on Triple H being a particularly explosive turning point.
As with the best bouts to grace WrestleMania, there's a sense the competitors involved were eager to make a statement and motivated to deliver something special. Given this is the closest we got to HHH vs. Shawn Michaels at the Showcase of the Immortals, there's an added impetus to make this match stand out.
Between the technical mastery of everyone in the ring, the buckets of blood Michaels poured over the course of the bout and that memorable ending stretch, this match was packed with memorable moments. A bona fide classic of a main event.
What's your favourite of Triple H's WrestleMania matches? Make your voice heard in the comments section below.
