Wrestlemania 16 was the first time a heel retained the WWF Championship at WM...

Really?

RESPONSE FROM KE: Yep.

1-no title match
2-hogan retains
3-hogan retains
4-savage wins title
5-hogan wins title
6=warrior wins title
7-hogan wins title
8-savage wins title
9-yokozunz wins/ titlehogan wins title
10-hart wins title
11-diesel retains
12-michaels wins title
13-undertaker wins title
14-austin wins title
15-austin wins title

So who is going to be the first one to say "well if you are married to the boss's daughter..of course..you are going to have good Wrestlemania stats" ... - that being said..HHH did give Alex Wright a tough match when he left WCW at Starcade '94..I guess "Das Wunderkind" was just too tough that nite...wonder who he was dating

The percentage of Triple H's Mania matches this decade that have been for major titles is staggering -- and sickening.

Time for some new faces at the top?

There is no question, despite his political influences, that HHH has been a top WM performer and a major player in the wrestling world for the past 10 years.
He is my #10. #6 just seems to high.
I have Bret Hart as my #6, and I think that subject has been beat to death.
True and funny story. After a Raw show at the Baltimore Arena (the night Vince was the ref for Austin/Dude Love and Nestor had a live broadcast before the event), believe 1997, I was at the old DSX and their were several wrestlers and officials there including Vince. After several cocktails, Arnold Skaaland convinced me to go talk to Vince and share with him my longevity as a fan, watching when the WWWF was on channel 20 @ 11am and channel 45 @ 4pm every Saturday since 1973. Vince was great, laughed, remembered how they sold the time slots etc... and told me he appreciated it. This was during the time that Nitro was beating Raw, but Raw was now edging closer to retaining the top spot. I told him to keep doing what he was doing, he would get Raw back to the top spot, and HHH was his future. Vince responded "really." He then asked what I thought of The Rock. At that time (after 6 hours of drinking), I think The Rock was still in the Nation of Domination and I responded, "hate The Rock."
Shows how much I knew!

i am surprised at HHH going here even though he really has not had that Wrestlemania moment he is to me atleast the gold standard over the last decade to you have to be real special to be in with him political or not I htink he sort of had his moment when he made his comeback against jericho but by far his beast WM match to me was the 1 with Booker it was a little 1 sided but it showed to me how he could be a great technician in the ring that also being said i think he gave both batista & Beniot their moments that alone i think makes him top 5. i had him at 4 because he has also main evented in 1 of the 2 final matches atleast 5X.

I can't wait for all the post's on this one.You're only saving grace may be that you did not put him in the top 5. I can see things your way though, and there is also something to be said about putting guys over 3 years in row.
Anywho...I got "The Most Electricfing Man in Sports/Entertainment" The Rock as my #6. 3 classics with Austin and the EPIC confrontation with Hulk Hogan puts him high on this list. Everything else (Sultan,Shamrock,Rock n' Sock vs. Evolution) was just kind of there.

I thought Chyna's new boyfriend was Six.

Kevin,

I request a Triple H blog post similar to the one you did on Bret Hart, explaining exactly why you think he should rank above Bret and Savage.

I don't mean to sound like an @ss, I love your list and I would just really like to know your reasons :)

-J

Ok. I got it...

#5 - Dwayne Johnson
#4 - Shawn Michaels
#3 - Stone Cold
#2 - Hulkster
#1 - Undertaker

I agree with this pick although like you said he has not had a defining Mania moment to date. The ability for him to draw buys, put people over, and his in ring ability puts him in the perfect spot.

*waits for the haters to start posting*

(People need to remember that these are Kevin's own opinions)

It is a bit deflating that HHH is ahead of Bret Hart, but I haven't seen HHH's body of Wrestlemania work beyond WM 14. I did see his loss to Batista on a year-in-review show. It was a decent match, but not much of a Wrestlemania moment. Even so, I'll give you and HHH the benefit of the doubt, Kevin.

#5: The Rock
#4: The Undertaker
#3: Stone Cold
#2: HBK
#1: Hogan

im a bret hart fan.he's prolly my favorite all time, but even i wouldn't put him inmy top five. i know you love shawn michaels but the guy is just not in the top five.

Sorry Kev, this resume is not anywhere near as good as Bret's who had many memorable wrestlemania moments such the IRON match, the match against Austin etc. We would have loved to see that anyway I appreciate the idea and it's really been entertaining especially the top 10. I know your top 5 and I wonder how you would rank them though. I'd happy with this from top to bottom(Hogan,michaels,Austin,Taker, Rock)

Despite his long record of main eventing, i don't see more than one or two genuine quality matches there.

I don't doubt his consistency, but the lack of brilliance in his WM performances would mean i'd have him outside the top 10.

BTW One must wonder how many WM's he'd have worked (let alone headlined) if he didn't befriend (and also marry) the right people.

Kevin Nash, Shawn Michaels and Stephanie McMahon.
Triple H, for all his talent, owes these three people an awful lot.

I think your first sentence there speaks volume and it also explains why so many people would rank HHH lower than Bret Hart or Randy Savage. HHH has been given numerous opportunities to have a "wrestlemania moment" but he still hasn't gottten any. Bret Hart or Randy Savage might not have main evented as many Wrestlemanias but they each have more defining moments than HHH.

Hopefully all the HHH bashers will actually look at the record above and realize how many people HHH has put over to raise their careers on the biggest stage of them all. Benoit, Batista, Cena, and Orton. I would love to see someone argue that he isn't willing to elevate superstars by doing the job after seeing that.

I know this list is about his placement in Wrestlemania history . Be that as it may , I'm not a fan . This goes back to his "puffy shirt " , bowing days . He's a talent for sure , and no doubt would have had a good career otherwise , but I wonder how much different it would have been had he not hooked up with the bosses daughter .

I guess you've already had a lot of this, but I have to agree with everyone who says that HHH should not be higher than Bret vs Savage. You said your criteria was:

-- memorable moments at WrestleMania
-- impact on business
-- position on the card
-- number of appearances

HHH has done very well on the last two criteria - but poorly on the other two given he's been such an established main eventer for 10 years. None of his appearances have had great impact on business other than WM21 against Batista (which drew very well and made Batista a star). And you say yourself that he hasn't had that defining WM moment.

Compare that to Bret who has also made 12 WM appearances, closed the show 3 times and also had a huge impact on business with his match against Austin at WM13. Plus he had 4 memorable moments against Austin, HBK, Owen and Piper (5 if you include the end of WM10).

Ditto Savage. I know he's made 4 fewer appearances and main evented 3 times but I would say that his impact on business (WM4 and WM5) is relatively much better than HHH and he's got Wrestlemania moments galore (WM3 vs Steamboat, WM4, reuniting with Liz, WM8 match against Flair).

Anyway, while I agree that there is not a huge difference between the 3 I'd say HHH is still behind Hart and Savage.

Personally I would have had him even lower, but I suppose he has to be in somewhere because of the sheer number of appearances. I don't think I'm alone in saying that I just don't enjoy seeing the guy wrestle, definitely don't enjoy see him going over and am very, very bored of him. I would literally be more interested in a TNA-style Jesse vs Festus feud. I would in fact be more interested in a Brutus Magnus vs Kizarny feud. Obviously Orton is the kid right now but I think they could do so much better for him. I'd personally love to see an Orton-Punk feud, people could really get behind Punk if he got the right push, and his ring style is very cool. Both world title pictures are an absolute mess and the titles have been hugely devalued, and it's only going to get worse when Batista gets back. I know it will never happen but I'd love to see Cena, Batista and HHH get put together on Raw in the draft (with Big Show, Mark Henry, Kozlov, Cody Rhodes and Matt Hardy on the undercard!) and then let the likes of Y2J, HBK, Taker, Edge, Orton, Umaga, MVP and Shelton make Smackdown awesome for a year.
Also I'd like to bet that this will be the first year the MITB winner doesn't successfully cash in the case, I'd like to know what everyone else thinks on this though.

Sorry for the ramble!

While I respect this decision, I for the life of me cannot see a whole lot of what Hunter has done at Wrestlemania that warrants him being atop Savage and Bret. His first five matches were most certainly nothing to write home about, as well as his matches vs. Jericho, Booker-T, and Orton/Cena that were down right awful for World Title matches. With the excepetion of the triple threat match at WM 20, his matches have never been the best on the card, mush less the most memorable or impactful. Hunter's resume is more af a hinderance than a help in this case, because it is beyond unacceptable to work 12 WrestleManias against the likes of The Rock, Mick Foley, The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Booker-T, Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit, John Cena, and Randy Orton and yet to have a "defining" moment at the event.

I honestly feel that Hunter's role should be exactly what it has been for the past 4 years he's competed at the event, a buffer for the true stars. Therefore his real spot on this list should be at number 8, as a more pushed, and subsequently decorated Roddy Piper.

I had Triple H as my 5, simply because of the sheer number of title matches. Maybe never a shining 'moment', but a lot of solid matches. Plus, I loved the fatal 4-way at WM16, it's still a favourite match.

Say what you want about Triple H, but his name ain't Nash. He puts guys over because it's what's best for business. He may be a politician and people may get sick of him being world champion, but when it's time to elevate the right people, Triple H is always looking up at the lights.

I think what people are saying on here Kev ..is that while HHH has filled the shoes as a main eventer ..it seems like his role is to put other people over in the biz and is acting like a WWE employee "on whats best for the business" rather than giving the people that "wow" moment..his best 'wow' moment was the whole Stephanie McMahon kidnap wedding story .. and the recent DX times have generated more spark than on his own..am I suppose to root for Vinny Mac- HHH or Orton ? I wish Batista would beat all 3 of them up..Kev what is your HHH "wow" moment of his career?

RESPONSE FROM KE: Probably when he turned on Michaels right after it seemed like they were going to reunite

With all due respect, and we all have to remember that this is completely subjective, HHH has definitely has enjoyed many memorable Wrestlemania moments:

- vs. Ultimate Warrior. Total burial of HHH ,but the return of the Warrior was actually, if anyone remembers back then, the key to the hype of Wrestlemania 12, even moreso than the Iron Man match. It would be like if Stone Cold or The Rock were being hyped for a return match at Wrestlemania 25- as great as a match like Michaels/Undertaker or Orton/HHH may be, it is this return that put asses in seats. So, in that sense, HHH, even indirectly, played a big role in business. Also, at Wrestlemania 15, when HHH turned on X-Pac - with all due respect to Stone Cold who is unquestionably the biggest star ever, but more people were buzzing about HHH's heel turn than Stone Cold's victory over The Rock the next night.

-Great matches with Owen, Undertaker, Jericho, Booker, WM 20, and Cena.

-HHH has longevity on his side, as well as being involved in big drawing events. People argue that WM sells itself - let's see if that is true this year, even though it was proven otherwise by WM 19. I think the clearest example of HHH TRULY drawing is WM 21. As great as Michaels/Angle was, Batista/HHH was the last true single "money match", other than the Battle of the Billionaires, that I remember in the last five years. HHH made Batista a star - and now Batista himself is a major star player.

This is entirely subjective, but I find attempts to dismiss the merits of HHH to be absurd.

thank you thank you kevin for not putting triple h at number 1.......:)

While I think he's good , I thinks he's a little high on the list. I have been to 5 Manias in person(17,18,20,21,22) and HHH's macth at 18 against Jericho was the only time I've seen fans leave during the main event because how triple and steph went out of thier way to bury jericho. Also i've alway's wondered if triple h would have lost to cena at 22 if there wasn't such a backlash towards cena at the time? sorry for rambling on a bit

Hopefully all the HHH bashers will actually look at the record above and realize how many people HHH has put over to raise their careers on the biggest stage of them all. Benoit, Batista, Cena, and Orton. I would love to see someone argue that he isn't willing to elevate superstars by doing the job after seeing that.

Posted by: Scott | April 1, 2009 7:11 AM
---------------------------

I would give you Benoit and Batista (who's also questionable considering he and HHH are fairly close), but Cena and Orton were already certified main eventers by the time they defeated HHH. Cena was already the company's biggest star in 2006. Still, it's a fairly short list for someone who's been a main eventer for a decade, one that's dwarfed by the number of guys he didn't give the rub to that could have used it.

"HHH did give Alex Wright a tough match when he left WCW at Starcade '94..I guess "Das Wunderkind" was just too tough that nite...wonder who he was dating?" Gold, pure gold, maybe they can bring Das Wunderkid back and let Triple H squash him as revenge for that loss all those years ago.

To Scott:
"Hopefully all the HHH bashers will actually look at the record above and realize how many people HHH has put over to raise their careers on the biggest stage of them all. Benoit, Batista, Cena, and Orton. I would love to see someone argue that he isn't willing to elevate superstars by doing the job after seeing that."

Agreed, no one can argue that he isn't willing to elevate stars. I would go as far as to say that I trust his integrity and regardless of how much power he wields, his intentions are genuine and he works for the betterment of the business. The point is, he just isn't that talented to justify 7 WM main events. He's a solid worker with a good look and average charisma, that's it...everything else about him being "The Game" or "The King of Kings" or the "standard bearer" is just WWE propaganda hype.
So in that light, Savage and Bret Hart are far above him.

It's far to easy to pan Triple H, he's made himself a target for people to say he doesn't deserve to be in the spot he is. But in the last 5 years he's put over Benoit, Batista, Cena and Orton. I have a hunch he may do the same this year. During his most prolific time as champion (mostly between 2000 and 2004) he was literally the most hated heel in the business, a solid worker, a good stick man and a wonderful antagonist to guys like Austin, Foley, Rock, Taker and Michaels. Wrestling shows need super heels who keep winning and beating the guys the crowd want to win, it makes it all the better when the payoff finally arrives. HHH has always done the job to the right guy on the big stage when it's the right thing to do. Since his main event breakthrough in 2000 he has only won 3 out of 8 at WM. The first at 2000 to solidify his position as the new top heel, at 18 following his return from injury as the returning babyface and at 19 against Booker who for all his talent, wasn't over enough to merit a WM title win.

HHH is about doing business, to be a 12 time champion means you had to lose it 11 times. Too high on the list maybe, but certainly not by a huge margin. As I recall Bret Hart wasn't fond of jobbing and putting other guys over, and in the end it got him 'screwed'. I'll take a business Triple H over a whining martyr Bret any day.

Hey Killer

Hogan will be #1

I think trips deserves a top ten spot, but six is to high for him. My problem with trips is he has not had a really good match at wrestlermania and this has to place him under Bret and The macho man.

I think HHH 's best Wrestlemania moment was his match against the Undertaker - WM 17 - ironically in Houston, again. He had everything going for him that nite - Motorhead sang "The Game" live in person - and he took a huge bump when "Taker chokeslammed him outside the ring - however he lost....but to give him credit so did Macho Man in WM 3 to Steamboat, with a similiar bump in that match....but it just seems as tough & biz friendly HHH is ..he's like a Bob Backlund type of champion..someone "safe" to put the belt on for awhile till you find the next big thing...I seriously thought Brock would be that guy & while Cena is a good face ..we've seen that and could use the next big thing...so Kev who "could" be the next big thing in the WWE ? Who has that potential?

I have to disagree with a previous comment. Triple H's match with Jericho was a Raw main event.... not a WM closer. Jericho carried him through the whole thing, beat his leg for 15 minutes. Hunter magically hits a Pedigree and its "Ballgame!" Triple H has done a lot for the business as a whole. That is unquestionable. But frankly, he is the most boring wrestler in the business today. His technical skills have degraded. He's stale on the mic. We have seen him as a champion.... 13 times. He has had every opportunity to have a defining moment, but as of now his most memorable 'Mania is probably losing to Batista. Although constantly compared to Cena (for the better), Cena and the "5 moves of doom" are no different than Triple H and his limited moveset. I respect what the man has done, but it's time for him to step out of the spotlight because he has nothing intriguing left to do. He has already feuded with Cena, Batista, Orton x3, Big Show, Kane, Taker, HBK, Jeff Hardy and Jericho as well as having multiple matches with Edge, Kozlov, and others.

The difference between Triple H and HBK is simple. HBK took undercard matches at Wrestlemania and stole the shows, plural. His matches versus Flair, Angle, Jericho, and Vinnie Mac were all excellent matches... and each of them had better moments than anything Hunter has done. From "I'm sorry, I love you." to Jericho kicking him in the balls after embracing, Shawn Michaels defines his place in history every time he steps in the the 'Mania spotlight. Hunter hasn't and in all likelihood won't ever.

Hi kev i agree with your placing of HHH at 6 but lets face it he will always be the champion with an asterisk next to his name. A solid performer but nothing memorable (Wwe version of jeff Jarret). But he should deservedly be put in that position as he solidified Batista and Benoit as main eventers as well as tapped out to a ghastly STFU.

So, Kev. You gonna do any more lists? It doesn't seem worth it from my perspective. Too many don't seem to understand the meaning of "subjective".

Kev, you are wrong, HHH was not the first heel that successfully defended the title in 'Mania, the first one was Yokozuna in WM X.

Altough Yoko did lost the championship that night against Bret Hart in the ME, he successfully defended the title against Lex Luger.

RESPONSE FROM KE: Fair enough. Triple H was the first heel champ to walk out of Mania with his belt.

Triple H (*) * = married the promoters daughter. equivelent of using steroids in baseball. oh wait hes all juiced up on it 2!! h also has a boring persona with a inferiority complex rightfully so