REIGN NO. 5: TRIPLE H VS. CHRIS JERICHO, MARCH 17, 2002
"Winning at WrestleMania is the ultimate moment. But it was extra-special for me because it was the defining moment of my comeback from a career-ending quad tear." —Triple H
In a span of two devastating days, Triple H lost the Intercontinental Championship to Kane at Judgment Day and then lost the tag titles the following night. In that match, Triple H tore his left quadriceps muscle completely off the bone. Yet, “The Game” found the heart to finish the bout. It took Triple H eight months of hellacious rehab before he would return.
Triple H came back on a special edition of Raw at MSG, and he followed that up by winning the 2002 Royal Rumble Match, earning an opportunity at the world championship. The Game became the Undisputed WWE Champion at WrestleMania X8, where he defeated Chris Jericho at Toronto’s SkyDome.
The Game's reign on top barely lasted a month before being upended by Hulk Hogan in April.