For The Record 7.12.09: Triple H Through 2020

Triple H is a 13-time world champion. He is one of THE most successful wrestlers of all-time. He has compiled excellent matches with the likes of The Rock, The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ric Flair, Mick Foley, and Shawn Michaels. He’s even had a few high-caliber matches with Randy Orton and Batista. His in-ring prowess is still, I would assume, beyond dispute. In fact, it’s not a stretch to say that he’s wrestling as well in 2009 as he was in 1999. However, two complaints consistently dog Triple H.

First, he’s a McMahon. And as a member of that family, he’ll always have an edge over other wrestlers. That drives smarks crazy. Would he have his spot if he weren’t a McMahon? Perhaps. But many fans (particularly the IWC) still believe the playing field isn’t level. The second complaint is the belief that Triple H holds other wrestlers down. He seemingly protects his spot by derailing other pushes. It also doesn’t help that he’s constantly “meddling” in the main event picture.

With all of that said, I ask… Who wants to see Triple H compete through 2020!

It could happen. Let’s examine the possibility of Triple H going another 10+ years.

Wrestling Through 2020

Triple H turns 40 at the end of July. He’s been with WWE for 14 years, and has no doubt made an impact. He’s still an above average performer with above average charisma. He has shown no signs of slowing down. He is still wrestling 20-30 minute matches without much trouble. At the moment, Triple H has not given any indication that retirement is in the cards. In fact, he could possibly outlast two prominent main eventers, maybe three. More on that later.

The Game has suffered major injuries in the past. The most notable have been his torn quadriceps muscles. He has experienced tears in each leg. His first tear occurred in his early 30s, his second tear occurred when he was 37. However, as he enters his 40s, one has to wonder how forgiving his body would be with another tear.

Triple H could theoretically be one quadriceps injury away from ending his career or discontinuing a full-time schedule.

Triple H is a superior athlete. However, as he gets older his body will become less efficient… just like everybody else. Injuries will become more significant and severe as the years drag on. It’s all a part of the aging process. Muscles don’t heal as quickly as before. Aches and pains become commonplace. And it’s even worse for a wrestler… for obvious reasons.

Wrestling is a contact sport, and “the hazards are real.”

With all the pain, bumps, bruises, and breaks a wrestler experiences, life for a retired grappler can be quite a struggle. If Triple H continues to wrestle deep into, or beyond his 40s, he could experience a miserable post-wrestling career. Whether that matters a great deal to his wife or not is something to ponder.

So for the good of his long-term health, Triple H would probably be well advised to retire in the next five years. Or at least dramatically reduce his schedule. Much of this discussion seems to assume that Triple H will wrestle as a full-timer. It is possible that Triple H could become a quasi part-time wrestler along the lines of Shawn Michaels or The Undertaker. That is probably why The Undertaker can still perform in ****+ matches at the age of 44. The same goes for HBK. But the Triple H-Undertaker comparison is particularly worth examining.

Undertaker

The Undertaker started wrestling more infrequently in 2004. Remember when he made “rare” and “special” appearances on Smackdown? His schedule was reduced. How old was he at that time? He was 39-years-old (and still 38 at Wrestlemania XX). If Triple H wants to achieve similar longevity, he may need to consider reducing his schedule. However, that would probably result in a loosening of his main event death grip. Would that be a deal breaker? Maybe.

WWE can trust Triple H. That could be why we see The Game in such a high profile position. WWE has been burned before. Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley left amidst massive pushes. Chris Benoit, one of their former world champions, committed unspeakable crimes two years ago. Goldberg was given a main event spot before he left WWE in a dud match at Wrestlemania XX. Kurt Angle was removed from WWE for painkillers and drug-related issues. Stone Cold Steve Austin walked out during a live Raw because he refused to put over Brock Lesnar. We can even look back to Diesel, who left WWE just months after a yearlong world title reign. Even the Ultimate Warrior held up Vince McMahon for money at SummerSlam 1992. And of course Hulk Hogan was known for playing games.

Is there any wonder why WWE has trust issues with main eventers?

Triple H is WWE’s most trustworthy main eventer. No wrestler has more stake in WWE than Triple H. He’ll never desert WWE. He is fully invested in the company, and he’ll always do what the McMahons think is best for business. The same cannot be said for the aforementioned wrestlers. And it’s not like Triple H is the first wrestler to be booked favorably because of familial status. Jerry Lawler, Verne Gagne, the Von Erichs, and even Jeff Jarrett were booked favorably because they had the most at stake. Who can be trusted more than a promoter, or a promoter’s relative, to carry a company? WWE knows that Triple H is loyal, and if he wrestles through 2020, WWE can be unshakably confident that their cornerstone star won’t desert them.

Vince McMahon probably has no problem with Triple H wrestling through 2020. Why would he? Triple H is a talented, reliable, marquee name. He was one of the main characters of the Attitude Era, and is almost universally known by wrestling fans worldwide. Triple H is an asset, and probably still would be whether he was a McMahon or not.

The decision to remain a WWE wrestler through 2020 would ultimately be Triple H’s to make. Does he want to risk becoming “one of those guys” who overstays his welcome? Is he willing to remain in the limelight once age and gravity alters his physical appearance? Will he be one of those wrestlers who competes in sweat pants and tang tops?

Can Triple H sustain another 10 years with his health and legacy intact? It’s hard to say. I suppose it is at least somewhat possible that Triple H will thrive through 2020…

Maybe his body will hold up. Maybe he will be healthy and athletic enough to remain relevant for the next 10 years. And maybe he can remain a full-timer for the duration. I say the odds are against that happening, but who knows. He could become a 25-time world champion before he retires. Maybe that’s his goal! We can’t prove or disprove it. But if he does intend to make it through 2020, we’ll probably see Triple H take on a lighter schedule within the next few years.

Who could he outlast?

John Cena is 32-years-old with a bright future ahead. He’s been on WWE television since 2002. To go another 11 years, Cena will have had an 18-year WWE career. Will Cena go that long? Who knows, he may not. While his rap music and movie titles haven’t set the world on fire, he is still on the map in those genres. He could permanently crossover before 2020, but that’s pure speculation. His neck injury probably has a better chance of derailing his in-ring longevity than industry crossovers. Once wrestlers begin with the neck operations, the slow road to retirement/reduced schedules begin. John Cena’s neck might not allow him to wrestle for the next 10 years. Well, at least not full-time. I suppose there’s a chance that he too could take on a part-time schedule if need be. But all things considered, Cena’s chances of wrestling through 2020 is probably 50/50.

Randy Orton is getting the push of a lifetime. He seems healthy and motivated. And at the age of 29, he’s still relatively young by wrestling standards. Will he go another 11 years? That’s another interesting question. Like John Cena, Randy Orton will have logged in 18 years as a WWE wrestler come 2020. But since he’s already making serious money as a main eventer, will he have reason to stick with WWE that long? We shall see. Between John Cena and Randy Orton, I would bet on Orton having a longer career. Orton may have had a shoulder injury, but Cena’s injuries are far more alarming. Wrestling is very fickle, but I would say that Orton’s chances of remaining in WWE through 2020 are somewhere around 75/25.

I would be very surprised if Edge logged in another 10 years. A torn Achilles tendon is very severe for a pro athlete. While Edge will likely recover and entertain the fans, one can’t help but wonder how much more his body can take. Edge is a brilliant, and I would even say underrated performer. He is a nine-time world champion, and nobody can take that away from him. However, the past 11 years have taken a lot out of Edge. It’s hard to imagine Edge returning in 2010 and enduring another 10 years. I would guess that he’s probably got less than a 10% chance of wrestling in a full-time or part-time capacity through 2020.

Bottom line is there’s a slight chance that Triple H will outlast Cena, Orton, and Edge. Chances are good that he’ll probably outlast at least two out of three. It’s virtually a foregone conclusion that he’ll be around long after The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. Like I stated above, if Triple H reduces his schedule, he may make it through 2020. I just hope he’s not shooting for 2030!

Moving On

That’s it for this week. Below is a little Bobby Heenan/Gorilla Monsoon banter.

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