#5.) Triple H – 1997
As we mentioned, there was a part where the timeline of WWE was completely altered. In 1996, the young upstart Hunter Hearst Helmsley was all set to put the woe of WrestleMania 12 behind him and was reportedly in line to win the King of the Ring tournament. However, due to the famous “MSG Curtain Call” incident where he and his fellow Kliq-members broker character, he was punished and the push was given to Steve Austin instead, who spurted his famous “Austin 3:16” catchphrase.
Triple H did work hard and earn his chance a year later, winning the tournament. While it wasn’t the start of an instant main event push, this was the run where he would eventually enter DX and go on to bigger and better things. It was only the real start of his rise as a main eventer and he would be an important part of WWE programming before he won the World title in the summer of 1999.
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