Since last week I did an Undertaker inspired “Remember When” I thought this week, I’d do one on the man he’ll probably end up facing at Wrestlemania, Triple H.
Do you remember when HHH was Jean Paul Levesque in WCW?
Yes, you read that right. Before he made it big in WWE, Triple H’s first national Wrestling exposure came courtesy of WCW. It was late 1994, a couple year before that he was cutting his teeth in the indy circuit as “Terra Ryzing”. When he got the call from Atlanta, he was initially brought in as the Ryzing character. That would soon change as someone in WCW creative decided to use HHH’s real name, stick a Jean in front of it, give him a french accent, and package him as Jean Paul Levesque.
He mostly appeared in WCW Pro and Saturday Night taking on jobbers and enhancement talents. His most notable appearance came from WCW Starrcade 1994, taking on Alex Wright. After that he just faded away and never to be seen on WCW TV ever again. This, however, wasn’t the last time we saw him on Wrestling TV as in May 1995, he would make his debut as Hunter Hearst Helmsley and the rest as they say is history.
This is just another one of those “WCW missing the boat on talent” type of things. Of course, this wouldn’t be the last time WCW would under utilize their talent. Seriously, a book can be written on all of the talent that WCW mistreated, would go on to WWE, and become megastars.
Here’s a sample on Jean Paul Levesque’s “French” accent. I feel so sorry for Gordon Solie here. haha
Here’s JPL in action against a young up and comer named Brain Armstrong (Road Dogg)
I don’t remember it as I wasn’t watching it back then but I know well of it. It was an interesting gimmick IMO.WCW’s biggest mistake was not pushing talent while WWF were. WCW never thought to the future. They would of had a great star in Paul Levesque.
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Terra Ryzing is the best bad name ever!
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Wierd that WCW let so many future legends slip through their fingers: Triple H, Austin, Undertaker, Mick Foley.
Not sure that Terra Ryzing would have got over mind.
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I did like his Indian Death Lock at the time.
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He brought that back a few years back didn’t he? The indian deathlock….not the gimmick. Imagine that!!!! Terra Ryzing vs Mean Mark Callous at Wrestlemania!!!
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I remember he used that move on Booker T at WM 19.
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Yeah, it’s crazy to imagine them two becoming legends. I guess we shouldn’t judge wrestlers so easily.
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Scott Armstrong, the referee, was a wrestler in WCW too, he wrestled HHH
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How to I get a Picture, btw I’m going to use the name Dynamite
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Post a link?
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Yes I remember. HHH was so damn scrawny back then. lol.
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Terra Ryzin, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better name in the business than that!
Looking back, you could tell he was talented, but I don’t think anyone would have predicted he would have been as successful as he has. Easily shows how great a move it was for him to join WWF and become Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
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