In the last episode of WWE’s The collision, the panel brought Triple H to talk about his memories of Royal Rumble and which moments in those pay-per-views stood out for him. The first Rumble they looked back on was his triumphant return in 2002, when he suffered an eight-month hip injury that almost cost him his career in the ring. For the former WWE champion nine times, this moment, 19 years ago, solidified exactly where he was at the company.
“It’s hard to put the journey into words at that moment because, you know, there was a high probability that I might not have been able to fight again,” said Triple H in his 2002 Royal Rumble Returns. “Going back and having the return I made at Madison Square Garden, and the reaction I got was great. The challenge was: how do you capitalize on that? So, to get back on Royal Rumble, there is a lot of meaning there. Not just from an artist’s point of view, but from an athlete’s point of view of the validation of being able to do that yet. ”
In this exact fight, Triple H recalls the emotion he felt in the crowd when his mentor Mr. Perfect made his entrance into the event.
“It was incredible! For me, as a fan, Curt was one of the best ring players of all time,” he replied. “When I came to WWE at the time, and Curt was in his first management role, [he] helped me to achieve [towards] the Intercontinental title. After leaving WWE to go to WCW and return later, it was a strange full circle moment. Seeing him there and the reaction he had was incredible. ”
Last month, the wrestling community lost one of its influential minds in the industry when Pat Patterson passed away at the age of 79. With Patterson’s view of Royal Rumble fulfilling the expectation since it started in 1988, Triple H credits the inaugural intercontinental champion for his contributions to this annual event.
“[The] Rumble is one of those great games that can last as long as it lasts. And every two minutes, there is always this surprise. Sometimes, these surprises are disheartening. Sometimes it’s those ‘Oh my God’ moments, “he started.” They are a lot of fun to put together because of those moments because you are constantly looking for how you can get that level of excitement. But that is the genesis that Pat Patterson created. Pat was the creator of the Rumble concept. ”
When he returned to being a full-time artist in the ring in 2016, Triple H admits that year was the most challenging part of his overall career.
“Absolutely, because it was totally unexpected and somewhat unplanned,” he noted. “There was a moment with injuries and everything that was going on at the company where, you know, I kind of reached a point in my career where Vince [McMahon] would joke that, in an emergency, break the glass [guy]. So, I would be sitting there with my shorts on. He said to me, ‘Okay. You’re my case with an emergency guy, we’re breaking the glass and here’s what we’re going to do. And you’re like, ‘Oh, my God.’
“I don’t believe I’ve ever done anything more difficult in my career than times when you don’t fight for an entire year or for a long, long period of time. So you go out and do whatever it is at the height, you know, to try to add things you did without disappointing others or yourself. It really is one of the most difficult challenges I have ever faced. The pressure was immense. ”
Throughout the month, The Bump will ask its guests at what times Royal Rumble story were his favorites to participate or watch. For Triple H, he says the first Rumble he participated in will be his favorite forever because of the interaction he had with Dory Funk Jr.
“It’s funny. There are moments for me at Rumble … I’ll give you one that was a cool moment for me that no one else would remember happened,” he opened. “It was my first Royal Rumble, and I stayed there for a long time, and Dory Funk Jr. entered the ring. I don’t remember how long I was there, but I remember Dory just coming and grabbing me in the center of the ring and getting up and putting me in the corner. He said to me, ‘Take a deep breath, boy.’ He just started working with me in the corner. And, you know, this was a guy I grew up watching. For me, having that moment with Dory Jr. was the coolest thing for me ever. ”
You can watch Triple H’s full interview above. If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit Wrestling Inc. with The Bump from WWE ah / t for the transcript.