Triple H, WWE’s Chief Content Officer recently opened up about a crucial juncture in his career that was the beginning of the McMahon-Helmsley Era in 1999. It was a turning point when he decided to separate from D-Generation X (DX), a faction which was incredibly popular among fans at that time.
During his appearance on the “Flagrant” podcast, he recollected the circumstances leading up to him broaching the idea with the WWE management. He felt that at the time, the roster needed a formidable villain to match up against superstars like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Rock. This move, he believed, would elevate the overall landscape and he saw himself apt to take up this role. His turn towards the heel character was a defining moment in WWE’s history and paved the way for a dominant phase in the Attitude Era with Stephanie McMahon.
Here are few key points from the podcast:
On the journey from Hunter Hearst Helmsley to Triple H: “The character of DX was closer to my personal identity, but I was still trying to shed of the Hunter Hearst Helmsley shell. But becoming something totally different suddenly did not feel appropriate. These changes need to be gradually built.”
About his decision to turn heel on DX: “Towards the end of the DX’s baby face run, there was a time when I decided to confront Vince about wanting to leave the group. My reasons were clear, ‘I want to turn heel. While Austin is getting popular, Rock is surely heading to be a babyface owing to his charismatic personality. In this scenario, there is an open space for someone to be the antagonist. We need our very own ‘Darth Vader’ balancing the good guys. I am confident in my capabilities to play that character. But for this, I need to break away from DX and make the shift.”
Despite this decision, not everyone was supportive of his move. “The other guys advised me not to leave DX. Despite our monetary gain through merch and other sources, I saw a distinct path for myself, which I wanted to pursue.”
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