Triple H's history in Hell
Triple H’s history in the Hell in a Cell Match is a record written in blood, a chronicle carved into flesh. It begins in February of 2000 in a bout against Cactus Jack that was so brutal it saw a flaming barbwire 2x4 come into play. It may end on April 1, 2012 when The Game steps into Satan’s Structure to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVIII. As the WWE Universe waits for this epic confrontation that may very well end an era, WWE.com recounts Triple H's eight Hell in a Cell Matches that helped define one.
Triple H vs. Cactus Jack — No Way Out, Feb. 27, 2000
The Game’s first Hell in a Cell Match was a proving ground. Well into his third reign as WWE Champion, Triple H had emerged as WWE’s standard bearer — a respected competitor who could have a mat classic against anyone from The Brooklyn Brawler to Rikishi. But was he tough? That was the question WWE fans were asking as The Game entered Satan’s Structure to defend his prize against the unpredictable Cactus Jack in a match where The Hardcore Legend would be forced to retire if he lost. Driven to both save his career and win the title, Jack took Triple H to the extreme as the men fought over a flaming barbwire two-by-four atop of the structure. In the end, though, The Game sent his opponent plummeting through the roof and pinned him, ending the icon’s career and sending a message to the locker room that begged, “Anyone else want to try me?”
Triple H vs. Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Rikishi vs. The Rock — Armageddon, Dec. 10, 2000
WrestleMania XXVIII’s Hell in a Cell Match will mark the first time The Undertaker and Triple H have squared off inside The Devil’s Playground one-on-one, but the two men were in the enclosure together once before when six of the “Attitude Era’s” defining Superstars rumbled in a wild WWE Championship Match. Although he briefly clashed with The Deadman atop the cell, The Game spent much of the bout trading fists with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. That personal rivalry may have distracted The Cerebral Assassin, allowing Kurt Angle to claw like a cat in a dog kennel in order to escape with his WWE Title.
Triple H vs. Chris Jericho — Judgment Day, June 19, 2002
Two years before this Judgment Day showdown, Triple H almost looked out of place inside Satan’s Structure. On this night, it was his yard. Facing off with Chris Jericho only two months after he’d defeated Y2J for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania X-8, The Game closed the book on this rivalry by decimating Jericho inside The Devil’s Playground. Battering his opponent with steel ring steps, a chair and a blistering DDT through the announce table, The King of Kings finally disposed of Jericho with a Pedigree atop the steel enclosure. Triple H would go undefeated in this environment for the next three years.
Triple H vs. Kevin Nash — Bad Blood, June 15, 2003
At Bad Blood in June of 2003, Kevin Nash was under the impression that Triple H was locked inside the Hell in a Cell with him. It didn’t take long for the big man to realize he was actually locked in there with The Game. In the months leading up to this confrontation, The Cerebral Assassin had been ducking Big Daddy Cool ever since he used a sledgehammer to beat Nash at Backlash that February. The two rivals were finally sent into Satan’s Structure by Raw General Manager. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. To raise the stakes, Mick Foley was reintroduced to call the shots inside the confines after every WWE referee refused to officiate a Hell in a Cell Match with Triple H for fear of their own wellbeing. It was an uphill battle for The Cerebral Assassin, but Triple H displayed his trademark resilience by rallying back from one of Nash’s powerbombs before nailing a Pedigree for another triumph in Hell.
Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels — Bad Blood, June 14, 2004
At WrestleMania XXVIII, Triple H and his longtime friend Shawn Michaels will enter the Hell in a Cell as competitor and referee, respectively. At Bad Blood in June of 2004, they met inside the hazardous structure as opponents. At odds after each man repeatedly stopped the other from capturing the World Heavyweight Championship, the former DX cohorts brutalized one another for nearly an hour in the longest war ever waged inside The Devil’s Playground. Graphic, grueling and indicative of the carnage The Game is capable of unleashing, the brutal bout finally ended after Triple H delivered three Pedigrees to HBK. If The King of Kings would do that to someone he loves, imagine what he’ll do to The Undertaker.
Triple H vs. Batista — Vengeance, June 25, 2005
Has Triple H ever struggled with an opponent as much as he did against Batista? In the wake of two consecutive losses to his one-time ally, The Game met The Animal in the bout that had become his signature match. Still, despite Batista's inexperience inside Satan’s Structure, The Cerebral Assassin could not stop the savage Superstar even with steel chains and his ubiquitous sledgehammer. In the end, The Animal defeated Triple H with a thunderous Batista Bomb and handed The Game his only pinfall loss inside The Devil’s Playground. If The Deadman is looking for a gametape on how to beat Triple H inside the Cell, this is the match to watch.
Triple H & Shawn Michaels vs. Mr. McMahon, Shane McMahon & Big Show — Unforgiven, Sept. 17, 2006
Reforming D-Generation X with Shawn Michaels after HBK had suffered repeated humiliations at the hands of the McMahons, Triple H joined his Kliq buddy inside a new, oversized version of the Hell in a Cell. Although the two were outnumbered by Mr. McMahon, Shane and the massive Big Show, DX managed to divide and conquer as they used a steel chair to dispatch of Shane-O Mac before introducing The Chairman’s face to The World’s Largest Rear End. The mayhem finally came to an end when The Game used a sledgehammer to topple his boss, marking another successful stint in the Hell in a Cell for Triple H.
Triple H & Shawn Michaels vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase — Hell in a Cell, Oct. 4, 2009
The upstart team of Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase planned to make their reputations at the expense of D-Generation X at WWE Hell in a Cell in October of 2009. And they very nearly did it. Engineering a brilliant scheme to lock Triple H outside of the enclosure while they double teamed Shawn Michaels inside, The Legacy gave HBK a beating for the ages. That was until The Game found a pair of bolt cutters. Prying his way into the enclosure like some unstoppable horror movie villain, Triple H got his hands on his young opponents and did what he does best — unleashed hell.
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