Ranking Triple H’s 5 Best WWE Betrayals

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3. Triple H Betrays Randy Orton (2004)

From 2002-05, Evolution ruled WWE Raw. Triple H formed this stable months after the first Brand Extension, which featured wrestling legend Ric Flair, rising star Batista, and third generation talent Randy Orton. At one point, they held every male title on Raw—the World Heavyweight Championship, WWE World Tag Team Championships, and the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

However, in WWE, dominant groups never last. When they are led by Triple H, that is always the case. One couldn’t have expected when he was going to end Evolution, though.

Well, in 2004, after Orton won the world title, a belt constantly coveted by The Cerebral Assassin, things changed.

One night after the victory, Orton faced Chris Benoit for the championship on Raw. After winning, Triple H, Flair and Batista looked like they were going to celebrate in the ring. However, as The Animal held Orton on his shoulders, the now-WWE COO approached him, and changed his facial expression. It went from a smile, to an angry look with the classic thumbs-up-to-thumbs-down motion. Orton mouthed “f**k”, and the bloody assault began.

This moment had Triple H’s jealousy written all over it. His character has hated others taking the limelight, and should have been expected to eventually happen. That doesn’t take away from this, though, because it’s a classic moment in Raw’s long history.

Triple H’s betrayal tour didn’t begin here, though.

Next: No. 2