Triple H is an angry man. But unlike most human beings, who let anger destroy their personal and professional lives, Triple H claims that he feeds off his anger. He says he has the ability and mental prowess to channel his anger for his own personal gain - and if recent history is any indication, it certainly appears that he may be speaking the truth.
But the verdict is not in, and if Triple H is going to continue to dominate the World Wrestling Federation like he has for the past 18 months, he's going to have to deal once and for all with the four primary sources of his frustrations: His relationship with Stephanie; his relationship with Shane; his seemingly endless rivalry with The Rock; and the unnerving presence of Mick Foley.
To call Triple H's and Stephanie's relationship tumultuous would be and understatement, and to say that it has not affected Triple H in the ring would be an outright lie. First, Chris Jericho and his comments about Stephanie kept Triple H's focus from the WWF world championship, and more recently Kurt Angle has proven that Triple H cannot separate his personal and professional lives. Angle and Stephanie's "friendship" has nearly drive "the Game" insane, and it remains to be seen if his personal rage will destroy his professional career. Triple H freely admits that being with Stephanie has cost him in the ring, but he has no regrets.
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Some believe that the only reason he married Stephanie was to cement his position in the World Wrestling Federation. After all, what better way to get to the top than by marrying the boss' daughter? Triple H strongly disagrees.
People don't know me. They can make all the accusations they want. I didn't need to marry Stephanie McMahon to get a power hold on the World Wrestling Federation. I was the Champion before our marriage, and I was the Champion after it. It didn't hurt me. It didn't help me. As far as it being a power trip, I've never needed anyone's help in the ring. I've always done my talking in the ring. I've always done what I said I was going to do.
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Let me put it this way: The stress of my relationship has kept me away from the Federation Championship for a while -- things like [Chris] Jericho, Kurt Angle and defending Stephanie. My anger took over my ability to do business, and go after what I needed to go after -- the title. You know, sometimes you've got to fight the fight first, then get back to business. But you've got to get that anger out. You have to unleash it. But everyone will see that I can handle it all.
While Triple H and Stephanie certainly share some kind of intimate bond, the relationship between "the Game" and Stephanie's brother will always be much more business-like. According to Triple H, the tension between the two is rooted in Shane's lack of focus and his desire to be the main man in the Federation.
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Everyone knows that Shane McMahon marches to the beat of his own drummer. Shane likes to do his own thing, and his lack of focus may be his downfall. He likes to change direction and jump into different things.
When I was champ, and Steph and Vince [McMahon] were in the ring with me, I think Shane kind of felt like the odd man out. I think that made Shane a little jealous. And I think that jealousy ate Shane up inside. He wants to be the focal point. But nobody can control me but me. They might think they can, but they can't. If anyone thinks they are a step ahead of me, they are fooling themselves. Shane can do all he wants, but unless he is aligned with me, he's not going to be the very best. There's always going to be a certain amount of tension between us because Shane wants to be what I am: The best damn thing going in the World Wrestling Federation.
To be the best, however, Triple H is going to have to deal once and for all with the Rock. For nearly four years, Triple H and The Rock have engaged in an often bitter and brutal rivalry. They've fought for the Intercontinental and World Championships numerous times, and no matter what happens or what path they take, neither Superstar has been able to vanquish the other. One always seems to stand in the way of the other. Although Triple H respects The Rock's talents, he leaves no doubt as to who is the superior.
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The World Wrestling Federation is mine. There might be short periods of time when The Rock is champ, but it's only because he is not going up against me. In recent months, my focus has been on something else. The thing that makes people mad in the Federation is that sooner or later, they've got to come to terms with the fact that I am better than the Rock and everybody else.
You know The Rock and I have had a long history of matches, but I think I've proven over and over again that I have The Rock's number and that I can beat him. It's taken its toll in that respect, but my performance is always there. I'm always on and I'm always that damn good.
Perhaps Triple H is as good as he claims he is, and perhaps he will eventually vanquish The Rock and rid himself of Kurt Angle. But one person who certainly won't make it easy for him is his long-time nemesis, Mick Foley. On February 27th at No Way Out, Triple H seemingly put Foley out of the business when he defeated the Hardcore legend in a Hell in a Cell retirement match. Much to Triple H's chagrin, however, Linda McMahon brought Foley back for the Fatal Four-Way Elimination Match at Wrestlemania. Once again, Triple H disposed of Foley. This time, Triple H believed that he had gotten rid of Foley forever. He was wrong. In June, Linda McMahon brought Foley back again, and this time as Commissioner. And with his new powers, Foley has definitely been a thorn in the side of the man who put him out of the ring for good. But even though Foley's antics sometimes get to Triple H, "the Game" believes that he'll always be one step ahead of his nemesis.
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First of all, Mick Foley is one of the greatest competitors ever in our business. You can say what you want about him. Mick and I don't agree on a lot of things, but what I will agree on is that he is one of the toughest men ever to set foot in the ring and one of the greatest competitors ever. For me to step into the ring against him and have some of the greatest matches of all time, and to be able to walk out of them victorious while putting one of the greatest men ever in our business out of our business-- that's one hell of a claim to fame. They'll always remember me as the man who retired Mick Foley, the man who retired Cactus Jack.
As far as him coming back, he and I have have never agreed on much and I'm sure he's not happy that I put him out of the business. So, it didn't make me happy. I knew it was going to be a rough ride and that I was going to be screwed -- Mick Foley had it in for me. But when you're the best, it doesn't matter. Mick Foley can throw what he wants at me, but I will always come out on top because I will always be one step ahead of him just like when we were wrestling.
Despite all that he has been through in the past couple of years, Triple H believes that he is primed to take his game to an even higher level. While his physical talent and unparalleled intensity are his most obvious attributes, he feels that it is his mental approach that distinguishes him from other Superstars, and that no matter what happens, he will be in control of his emotions and of the Federation. He's angry, all right, but not angry enough to destroy himself.
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A lot of times in the ring, I'm not that angry. It may come off that way, but I'm a very calculating person in the ring. Jim Ross has said it a million times. I am called "the Game" for a reason, it's just not a name that was thrown on me to sell t-shirts. It's a name I earned because I'm one of the most cerebral wrestlers in the world. I live this business. I eat and think and drink it. When I go into the ring, I'm very smart. If you want to get on my bad side and made me mad, then you'll find out how dangerous I am. If somebody pushes me too far, they'll see all my anger unleashed at once. And nobody wants that.
The fact is that I'm just better than everybody else here in the Federation. If the other Superstars and the fans don't like that, well that's too bad. They look at me and they see a guy who busts his ass everyday of his life. They could do the exact same thing, but they are just too damn lazy, too content with their lives being miserable. They see their failure when they look at me. I am that damn good.