REIGN NO. 9: TRIPLE H VS. RANDY ORTON, SEPT. 12, 2004
"This was showing the student who was still the master." —Triple H
Triple H couldn’t bear to see anyone else with the World Heavyweight Championship, let alone one of his protégés, Randy Orton. So without even blinking, Triple H kicked Orton out of Evolution and immediately began his quest to reclaim the title.
Orton put up an admirable fight, but Batista and Ric Flair proved to be too big of a distraction in the end, as Triple H was able to win his ninth world championship at Unforgiven.
His championship reign lasted nearly three months before he was forced to vacate the title after a Monday Night Raw championship match ended in controversy.