The Rock and Triple H both debuted in WWE during the New Generation Era. As Rocky Maivia and Hunter Hearst Helmsley respectively, the two men battled over the Intercontinental Championship back in early 1997. Their feud intensified over the years, with Hunter’s D-Generation X and Rock’s Nation of Domination clashed throughout 1998.

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Eventually Rock became WWE’s top babyface during Steve Austin’s absence while Triple H established himself as the company’s number one heel. That took their feud to the next level, as both men engaged in a long feud over the WWE Championship in 2000. But what is their very best match out of all their epic encounters over the years?

10 Hunter Hearst Helmsley Vs. Rocky Maivia – WWE Intercontinental Championship (Thursday Raw Thursday, February 13 1997)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 5.5/10

Storytelling                                                         1/2.5

Technical Ability                                               1.75/2.5

Character Work/Psychology                          1.25/2.5

Crowd Reaction                                                 1.5/2.5

Dave Meltzer’s Rating: N/R
Cagematch.net Rating: 6.12
As mentioned in the intro, the feud between Triple H and The Rock began all the way back in early 1997. It was clear WWE wanted to push Rock from the moment he made his WWE debut at Survivor Series 1996. Less than four months later, Rocky Maivia enjoyed his first championship success on a special Thursday edition of Raw called Thursday Raw Thursday.

Rocky dethroned then-champion Hunter Hearst Helmsley in an enjoyable TV matchup. While it was nothing compared to their future matches, it was clear the two had great chemistry together. After dominating most of the bout, Helmsley chose to taunt the rookie rather than putting him away. That allowed Maivia to capitalize with an inside cradle to win his first Intercontinental Championship.

9 The Rock Vs. Triple H – Strap Match (Fully Loaded 1999)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 7/10
Storytelling                                         1.75/2.5

Technical Ability                               1.5/2.5

Character Work/Psychology          1.5/2.5

Crowd Reaction                               2.25/2.5

Dave Meltzer’s Rating: 3.25 Stars
Cagematch.net Rating: 6.32
In 1999, everyone knew it was only a matter of time until Triple H became the WWE Champion. The Game had improved a lot during the previous couple of years, and it was his time to reach the top of the mountain. On the other hand, Rock had already been WWE Champion as a heel and had just turned babyface a few months earlier.

Fans were on their feet for this Fully Loaded Strap Match which would determine the number one contender for the WWE Title at SummerSlam 1999. Rock was about to win after delivering People’s Elbow, but DX’s interference allowed Triple H to hit the Pedigree and move on to SummerSlam.

8 Triple H Vs. The Rock – WWE Championship (Raw Is War, June 5 2000)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 7.25/10
Storytelling                                       2/2.5

Technical Ability                             1.5/2.5

Character Work/Psychology        1.75/2.5

Crowd Reaction                               2/2.5

Dave Meltzer’s Rating: N/R
Cagematch.net Rating: 6.78
Their feud intensified in 2000 as Triple H and The Rock were the biggest stars in the company during Steve Austin’s hiatus. After trading wins (and the belt) in awesome matches at Backlash and Judgment Day, Triple H found himself with the WWE Title around his waist heading into King of the Ring. Hunter had won the Iron Man Match in May, but Rock had a rematch on Raw due to Undertaker’s interference at the PPV.

All hell broke loose in this bout with Kane, Undertaker and The McMahon Helmsley Faction all getting involved. Undertaker got the upper hand during the brawl, unintentionally helping The Game win yet again after giving Rock a Chokeslam. The American Badass attacked the heels as well, but Hunter put his arm on Rock’s chest during the chaotic brawl and scored another cheap win.

7 The Rock Vs. Triple H – No DQ Match (Raw, August 19 2002)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 7.25/10
Storytelling                                1.75/2.5

Technical Ability                      1.75/2.5

Character Work/Psychology  1.75/2.5

Crowd Reaction                         2/2.5

Dave Meltzer’s Rating: N/R
Cagematch.net Rating: 6.73
The last time Triple H and The Rock met was on the final episode of Raw before SummerSlam 2002. Triple H was in a personal feud with the returning Shawn Michaels, while The Great One was the reigning WWE Undisputed Champion set to meet Brock Lesnar in the main event of The Biggest Party of the Summer. Rock came into this No DQ Match with injured ribs which gave Triple H the edge.

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Hunter grabbed his trusty sledgehammer but just before he could crush Rock’s skull, Shawn Michaels made the save. Brock Lesnar joined the melee moments later, even receiving Sweet Chin Music from HBK. It was a very fun match despite the no-contest, and the four men would put on a show at SummerSlam.

6 The Rock Vs. Triple H – Two Out Of Three Falls, WWE Intercontinental Championship (Fully Loaded 1998)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 7.25/10
Storytelling                                  1.75/2.5

Technical Ability                        1.75/2.5

Character Work/Psychology    1.75/2.5

Crowd Reaction                          2/2.5

Dave Meltzer’s Rating: 3.25 Stars
Cagematch.net Rating: 6.79
The Rock had a tremendous run as Intercontinental Champion in 1998. The People’s Champion really grew as a performer during that title reign, particularly during his feud with Ken Shamrock. He had another tremendous feud against Triple H’s D-Generation X. Hunter was the European Champion early in the program, but The Nation cost him the title against D’Lo Brown on Raw.

The Game went after Rock’s Intercontinental Title from there, challenging The Rock in a Two Out of Three Falls Match at Fully Loaded. It was a very good back-and-forth match that saw both men scoring a fall before the 30-minute time limit expired. Rock barely walked away with the gold here, and the two would meet again in a Ladder Match at SummerSlam.

5 The Rock Vs. Triple H – I Quit Match, WWE Championship (Raw Is War, January 25 1999)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 7.5/10
Storytelling                                 2/2.5

Technical Ability                       1.5/2.5

Character Work/Psychology  1.75/2.5

Crowd Reaction                        2.25/2.5

Dave Meltzer’s Rating: 3.25 Stars
Cagematch.net Rating: 6.29
The Rock captured the WWE Championship for a second time in a brutal I Quit Match against Mick Foley at Royal Rumble 1999. The following night, Rock put his newly won title on the line in yet another I Quit Match – this time against the leader of D-Generation X.

Hunter put up a good fight and came close to winning his first WWE Title on a number of occasions throughout the match. However, The Corporation got involved and Hunter decided to quit in order to save Chyna from an attack by The Corporation’s Kane.

4 Triple H Vs. The Rock – Steel Cage Match, WWE Championship (Rebellion 1999)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 7.75/10
Storytelling                                     2/2.5

Technical Ability                           1.75/2.5

Character Work/Psychology      1.75/2.5

Crowd Reaction                           2.25/2.5

Dave Meltzer’s Rating: 3.75 Stars
Cagematch.net Rating: 6.97
Triple H finally won the WWE Championship for the first time the night after SummerSlam. Before a scheduled title defense against Stone Cold Steve Austin at No Mercy, The Game had to go through The Brahma Bull inside a steel cage at the UK-exclusive PPV Rebellion from Birmingham, Alabama.

As always, they put on a great match. Much like most of their matches, many wrestlers interfered near the end. One of those wrestlers was the returning British Bulldog, who stopped Rock from escaping the cage and allowed The Game to retain the gold.

3 The Rock Vs. Triple H – Ladder Match, WWE Intercontinental Championship (SummerSlam 1998)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 8.75/10
Storytelling                                     2.25/2.5

Technical Ability                           2/2.5

Character Work/Psychology       2/2.5

Crowd Reaction                              2.5/2.5

Dave Meltzer’s Rating: 4.25 Stars
Cagematch.net Rating: 8.17
As mentioned earlier, the end of the Two Out of Three Falls Match at Fully Loaded 1998 led to a Ladder Match inside MSG at SummerSlam. The two up and comers put on a great matchup at this event, delivering a classic many fans still remember to this day.

Fans didn’t know what to expect from this match after seeing the awesome Ladder Matches between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon a few years earlier. Despite that, they were able to exceed all expectations as Hunter finally put an end to The Rock’s amazing Intercontinental Championship reign.

2 Triple H Vs. The Rock – WWE Championship (Backlash 2000)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.25/10
Storytelling                                             2.25/2.5

Technical Ability                                  2.25/2.5

Character Work/Psychology             2.25/2.5

Crowd Reaction                                    2.5/2.5

Dave Meltzer’s Rating: 3.75 Stars
Cagematch.net Rating: 8.37
When The Rock won the Royal Rumble Match in 2000, fans wanted to see The Great One dethrone Triple H in the main event of WrestleMania. That didn’t happen, with WWE overbooking the ‘Mania 16 match by adding Mick Foley and The Big Show in a fatal four way elimination match won by Triple H.

After a disappointing WrestleMania main event, Rock and Triple H finally met one-on-one at Backlash. It was a true classic, with Steve Austin’s (advertised) run-in near the end being the cherry on top of everything else. The McMahon-Helmsley Faction did everything in their power to help The Game, but it was The Great One who walked out with the WWE Championship thanks to an assist from The Texas Rattlesnake.

1 The Rock Vs. Triple H – Iron Man Match, WWE Championship (Judgment Day 2000)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.5/10
Storytelling                                          2.25/2.5

Technical Ability                                 2.5/2.5

Character Work/Psychology            2.25/2.5

Crowd Reaction                                 2.5/2.5

Dave Meltzer’s Rating: 4 Stars
Cagematch.net Rating: 8.68
Needless to say, Triple H and the McMahon-Helmsley Faction weren’t happy with the result at Backlash. The following month, Hunter challenged Rock in a 60-minute Iron Man Match with Shawn Michaels – Hunter’s former DX partner – as the special guest referee. Much like with the Ladder Match at SummerSlam 1998, fans weren’t sure if Rock and Triple H were able to have an enjoyable 60-minute bout.

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But also like it happened at SummerSlam 1998, The Cerebral Assassin and The Brahma Bull exceeded everyone’s expectations. It turned out to be one of the greatest Iron Man Matches of all time, culminating with The Undertaker making his return to the company (appearing as The American Badass for the first time) to attack the heels. However, Shawn Michaels awarded the last fall to Triple H via DQ, who regained the WWE Championship in the process.