5 active WWE Superstars who faced Triple H at Survivor Series
WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2024 is almost here, and the buzz is considerably high. The Men’s and Women’s WarGames Matches have been the focal point in the buildup, with three title matches also booked for the premium live event. The final PLE of 2024 is set to be another red-hot offering, continuing the runaway success of the Paul Levesque era.
Before he was at the helm of creative for the biggest wrestling promotion, though, Levesque was the legendary superstar known as Triple H. The Game had a nearly 25-year run as an in-ring wrestler, during which he competed on several Survivor Series editions. He faced many stars there, be it in singles action or traditional five-on-five Elimination Matches.
Most of these men have, like The Cerebral Assassin himself, since retired. Others remain active outside the company, while some are sadly deceased. However, five of these men remain affiliated with the Stamford-based promotion in an active in-ring capacity.
Let’s look at five active WWE Superstars who faced Triple H at Survivor Series (and how they fared):
#5. Triple H faced Goldberg for the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Survivor Series 2003
Goldberg is set to have his WWE retirement match in 2025. The icon has been with the company on and off since 2003, having risen to prominence as one of WCW’s top stars in the late 1990s. The legendary performer has achieved everything from world titles to a Hall of Fame ring and is now set to hang up the boots for good.
One of Goldberg’s first opponents in the company was Triple H. After failing to dethrone The Game at SummerSlam 2003, Da Man captured the World Heavyweight Title at the Unforgiven PLE.
Later, The King of Kings challenged Goldberg for the world title at Survivor Series that year. The WCW legend managed to retain, fending off The Game despite Ric Flair’s interference. The Cerebral Assassin would have the last word, though, dethroning Goldberg at Armageddon the following month.
#4. Triple H and Shinsuke Nakamura were on opposing teams at WWE Survivor Series 2017
Shinsuke Nakamura was one of the greatest superstars of Triple H’s black and gold NXT era. The King of Strong Style had a memorable run in which he became NXT Champion before earning a call-up to the main roster. He quickly established himself under Vince McMahon, winning the 2018 Royal Rumble.
Nakamura faced legends like John Cena and Randy Orton, but it was a real full-circle moment when he got to share the ring with The Game at Survivor Series 2017. They had minimal interaction in the five-on-five Traditional Elimination Match, as Nakamura was quickly eliminated before Triple H dominated the tail end of the contest.
It’s a shame they never competed in a singles match.
#3. Randy Orton faced his former Evolution mentor at WWE Survivor Series in 2004, 2006, and 2017
Randy Orton is one of, if not the greatest, performers in WWE Survivor Series history. The Viper earned himself a reputation as one of the most prolific stars in the PLE’s history early in his career, emerging as the sole survivor in his first three outings. The second of these came against Team Triple H in 2004, with The Legend Killer putting in an iconic shift to captain his team to victory.
The two former stablemates led teams against each other in 2006 and saw a reversal of fortunes, with Team DX defeating Team RKO in a clean sweep. Their final meeting came in 2017 when The Game led Team RAW to a dominant win over Team SmackDown, which also consisted of The Apex Predator. Randy Orton may very well be Mr. Survivor Series, but Triple H is one of the few men with his number at the iconic PLE.
#2. John Cena faced Triple H at the WWE Survivor Series in 2009 and 2017
John Cena is set to retire from WWE after a Farewell Tour in 2025. The Cenation Leader established himself as one of the greatest superstars in the Stamford-based promotion’s history over a 22-year-long career and is now a Hollywood mainstay. Given how incredibly hardworking and consistent he was as the company’s marquee star, Cena created countless moments on multiple PLEs.
Survivor Series is no exception, and given that Triple H was also a major main event player during The Franchise Player’s run on top, it’s no surprise that they clashed twice at the iconic event. Their first meeting at The Thanksgiving Spectacle was in 2009, when they took part in a WrestleMania-caliber Triple Threat WWE Title match with Shawn Michaels. The match saw The Doctor of Thuganomics emerge victorious.
They met again in 2017, with The Game’s Team RAW claiming victory over the SmackDown squad, which The Cenation Leader joined as a free agent. It remains to be seen if the 16-time World Champion will appear at another Survivor Series event, with The Cerebral Assassin at the helm of creative.
#1. The Rock, Triple H, and The Big Show locked horns for the WWE Championship at Survivor Series 1999
The Rock is one of the biggest rivals of Triple H’s WWE career. The Great One and The Game rose to the main event scene opposite one another, playing a big role in each other’s legacies. The in-ring rivalry saw them face each other on multiple stages, one of them being Survivor Series.
They headlined the 1999 edition in a Triple Threat Match, also involving The Big Show, who dethroned The Game as WWE Champion. The three men would clash again in a Fatal Four-Way WrestleMania 2000 match, also involving Mick Foley with a McMahon in every corner. However, this time Triple H came out on top.
Fast forward to Survivor Series 2024; with The Cerebral Assassin booking the show, could The Final Boss make a surprise return?