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Triple H and The Rock are two of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling, and their rivalry remains one of the most entertaining in WWE history.
The Rock and Chris Evans in Red One (2024) | Image via Amazon MGM StudiosWhile The Rock’s feud with Triple H is legendary, there’s another unforgettable rivalry worth discussing, and that is his intense clashes with Shawn Michaels. It’s a rivalry that cemented both of their legacies as all-time greats.
Why Shawn Michaels couldn’t stand The Rock!
Shawn Michaels‘ brief break at WrestleMania 14 marked a major shift in WWE. With HBK stepping away, The Rock quickly climbed to the top, becoming one of the company’s biggest stars. However, this success didn’t sit well with Michaels or his best friend, Triple H, who started feeling nervous about The Rock’s rapid rise.
According to Bret Hart’s autobiography “Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling” (via talkSPORT), Michaels couldn’t stand seeing The Rock succeed. He feared that The Rock’s popularity would outshine Triple H’s spot in the company. In a desperate move to slow things down, Michaels even proposed to Vince McMahon that The Rock be stripped of the Intercontinental Championship and replaced by Bret Hart. But Hart wasn’t having it, opting for a disqualification finish instead, putting an end to Michaels’ scheme.
By 1999, The Rock had solidified himself as an unstoppable force in WWE. His star continued to rise, leaving Michaels and Triple H struggling to keep up. The more successful The Rock became, the more tensions flared between him and his rivals.
Shawn Michaels | Credits: WWEIn 2000, tensions reached a boiling point during an in-ring segment when Michaels delivered a stiffer-than-usual Sweet Chin Music to The Rock. Unhappy with the stiff kick, The Rock confronted Michaels backstage after the show. Michaels dismissed his complaints, telling The Rock “If you can’t handle it, you shouldn’t be in the business.” The Rock swiftly turned the tables, pinning Michaels to the ground before security intervened to break up the altercation.
Years later, Chris Jericho revealed that AEW wanted to create a storyline with The Rock and Shawn Michaels during HBK’s return (via Chris Jericho/YouTube ). But The Rock turned it down, citing unresolved issues and lingering bad blood. To this day, it’s still a dream match fans wish could happen!
Triple H and The Rock’s feud is legendary, but where do they stand now?
Triple H and The Rock’s relationship has had its ups and downs throughout the years. As previously established, Triple H struggled to handle The Rock’s natural rise through WWE. During promo exchanges, The Game would sometimes go off-script to bury The Rock.
Triple H later admitted that they weren’t always on the best terms, but their fierce rivalry kept things interesting for both of them. And furthermore, the more they competed, the more entertaining it became for fans, giving WWE fans plenty of epic moments!
Dwayne Johnson with Triple H | Credits: WWEThese days, things seem much more professional between the two. In 2014, they shared a backstage moment on WWE SmackDown, where a bit of tension was present, but they also shared some lighthearted banter.
At WrestleMania 31 in 2015, The Rock invited Ronda Rousey into the ring, and together they took down Triple H and Stephanie McMahon in a segment that hinted at the end of their long-standing feud.
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