Pro-Wrestling Wrestling leads to book, movie for The Game Page

Last updated 5 March 2005

Wrestling leads to book, movie for The Game

World Wrestling Entertainment star Triple H continues to diversify, using sports entertainment as a way to open other doors.

With nine world title reigns etched on a growing list of accolades inside the ring, Triple H is Hall of Fame material.

Outside, The Game expanded into a franchise -- with a huge movie role as the rugged vampire Jarko Grimwood in Blade: Trinity and the release of his new book Making the Game: Triple H's Approach to a Better Body.

The book combines his passion for pro wrestling with his fascination in bodybuilding which helped paved his star path. It was a long and arduous process but allowed Triple H to release a book with assistance from Robert Caprio. He believes the book can help people.

''Basically it's a book that was on the shelf for about three years or so,'' said Triple H, who helped host the 40th annual Mr. Olympia competition, the WrestleMania of bodybuilding. ``They wanted me to do a straight biography, and I didn't want to do it because I didn't think it was something to do in the middle of your career. I kind of imagined doing a workout book which they liked.''

Fans should not be fooled into thinking this is an autobiography. Triple H is adamant about waiting until the twilight of his career to pen his story. However, there is just enough biographical information to entice wrestling enthusiasts.

''I tried to narrow it down to things that were kind of relevant to bodybuilding,'' said Triple H, ``and how I would say bodybuilding helped my career. I tried to incorporate how I rehabbed the injuries and the dedication of how weight training helped. As opposed to if you just sat back and tried to write 10 years of a career plus the rest of your life.

``I mean that is a whole book in itself which a lot of guys have done, but that is not what I wanted it to be with this book. I wanted it to be the part of the life stuff and the career stuff just to be motivational enough that if you read it, it pushed you toward going to the gym and the rest of it is once you're at the gym.''

In addition to his contributions to the literary world, Triple H took five months out of his already hectic schedule to make Blade: Trinity. Much like his early years at Killer Kowalski's training school, his ill-fated stint in WCW as Terra Ryzin' and Jean Paul Levesque and early years in WWE, Triple H had to prove himself against the titans of Hollywood.

''When I first went to meet with the director, he wasn't thrilled with having a wrestler in the role,'' said Triple H. ``He knew who I was, didn't know that much about me and met with me because they wanted him too. We kind of hit it off a little bit. and he said, `Well, will give it a shot.'

``When I got there, he was just expecting a big dumb jock, just stand there and look big, but he was surprised so much when I got there that they made my role bigger and wrote more scenes in the script for me. So it helped out. The guy that became my biggest detractor became my biggest supporter.''

The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan, George The Animal Steele, Professor Toro Tanaka, Macho Man Randy Savage are just a few who parlayed pro wrestling into movie roles. Triple H, a natural heel, impressed other members of the cast with his natural acting ability.

Perhaps Triple H's most prominent scene is featured toward the end of the film -- a fight scene with Ryan Reynolds, who portrays Hannibal King. A battle which included many wrestling influences.

''Chuck Jeffreys, the stunt coordinator when we laid out that fight, gave me a lot of leeway,'' said Triple H. ``He came to me and said you know I have some ideas for this fight, but I'd like to get your input on it.

``It was a lot of fun because we got to design that part of the fight together. He kind of was a fan of what we did. He just kind of looked at it and said this is what you do. What do you think? And he didn't have to.''

The third installment of the Blade series opened in December to theaters nationwide giving audiences a chance to see The Game on the big screen for the first time. For Triple H, it was a rewarding and almost surreal moment.

''It is something that I never really envisioned doing in my life,'' said Triple H. ``Wrestling is what I wanted to do, and I never really saw myself wrestling and doing things in Hollywood. It just kind of happened. So it was a really cool thing to see. It's a totally different world, but it was a lot of fun.

``I think it's a natural transition, and hopefully it's something good for business at the same time. If the movies are successful, it's good for Hollywood, but it's good for our business, too, and hopefully if I continue to do more, it's good for our business. What I've always maintained is that I'm not looking to leave wrestling. That's what I do. That's what I am. The movies are just a side thing.''

With all his publicity and wrestling commitments, it's hard to imagine one of wrestling's biggest names finds anytime to slow down and enjoy some free time.

''Blowing off steam, there are only a few things that I do with my time off,'' said Triple H, ``and that's training which a lot of people think is not really relaxing. But I enjoy doing it. It's a hobby for me. Other than that it's just spending time with my wife [Stephanie McMahon] and my family.

``I don't get to do that a lot, so when I do get to be home I just like to be home and go have dinner with my wife or go have dinner with my wife and family and just relax. Just be a regular guy for half a day.''

This year was also a big year for Triple H personally as he married Stephanie McMahon. It may appear difficult with spouses in the same line of work trying to separate business from the personal aspect, but Triple H considers it more of an advantage -- especially in an industry which demands so much traveling.

''There are times, when if there's a stressful situation in business, where it's hard to put down [everything] and just go have dinner or something,'' said Triple H. ``It's no different than anything. If anything, it's a benefit because she understands what I do for a living, I understand what she does for a living, and we are both passionate about similar things.

'We both share a passion for the business, and that's good because when I say I can't be at a family event because I have to do promotion for this, she understands that. It's not something she says, `Well, too bad.' When she has to be at the office because she has a meeting that just came up last minute, and we have to blow off something. I understand. So, it's good in that sense.''

Being in his unique position can make it difficult for some members of the roster to see him as just one of the guys. On the contrary, those, who truly know him, accept it, even though he also contributes creatively and behind the scenes.

''I think for the most part the guys that know me will see me as one of the guys,'' said Triple H, who also discusses this and a variety of hot topics in the book. ``I'm married to the VP of the company who is Vince McMahon's daughter, and Vince McMahon is my father-in-law.

``There is no denying the fact that I'm in a different position. It's only natural. I know if it was me, and I'm in that position, I'm not going to have any animosity toward him, but I would certainly be leery, if I did something I shouldn't have done. I'm not going to tell him about it.

``It's funny that there are certain things that I find out about secondhand because nobody really wants to tell me about it, but at the same point in time when people need things or if something happens that they need assistance or they need protection almost in a way office-wise, they'll come to me because I can help them avoid [the situation].

``It's kind of like being the teacher in a way. They know you know the principal, but at the same time they can help you from the principal. It's a double-edged sword.''

In the ring, Triple H is a personality people love to hate.

''I think what people see from what I do on TV is what I am and is all that I am,'' said Triple H. ``I'm a certain way on television. I'm a certain way when I'm in an arena. I'm a certain way when it comes to business. That's totally different things. My business and personal life are two totally separate things. A lot of people can't understand that, can't comprehend that. People that say otherwise don't live in my shoes, don't live in my world.''

Outside Triple H's world, the Internet continues to make an impact on the industry. Many websites quench fans' thirsts with behind the scenes information and in essence influence how performers are perceived.

''It's no different than when the movie The Sixth Sense came out,'' said Triple H. ``It had a great ending and made you want to see the film, but people tell the ending to you, and it kind of ruins the film for you. If you go on the Internet or you hear all these people talking about all these different things and they're going here and doing all these different things, it kind of ruins the surprise for you. I just don't understand why fans are so adamant about doing that.

``When I was just a fan, it was always a thrill just to try to figure out where stuff was going but not knowing. If it is something that is so destine that you know, what is the fun in that? I don't get it.''

This medium shows no signs of stopping, but is there anyway to stop the secrets from leaking out?

''We try to do it all the time,'' said Triple H, ``but let's face it. Nothing is a secret in this world with the Internet. Everybody knows everybody's life and not just in our business, in everything. Guys in other pro sports can't blink without somebody being on top of them.

``The world shrinks everyday in certain respects. People everywhere around the world see everything about everyone. It is right out there in the open. It's one those things with celebrities you hear it in the tabloids. It's a fact of the world. I don't know what you do about it other than get thicker skin and learn to deal with it.''

Despite the sometimes negative criticism the Cerebral Assassin receives, he still remains one of the best overall performers in the business. In many respects Triple H is to this era as Ric Flair was in the 1980s. A fact which is no surprise, considering Triple H idolized the Nature Boy growing up.

''If you read the forward for Ric in his book, that's the truth,'' said Triple H. ``I consider myself to be a very lucky person in a lot of ways in my career for all these things. Many people in their lives look up to somebody. They have an idol or somebody they admire. If they get a chance to meet them, they wish they never had because most times you put somebody on a pedestal when you admire them like that, and they can't measure up to what they envision.

``I'm lucky in the fact that when I got to meet my hero, which was Ric, he was more than what I envisioned him to be and you don't get that too often. I still to this day consider him to be the greatest wrestler in the history of this business. I think he is one of the most professional guys in this business.

``I think he is a great person. He has a great heart and a great family. He is just a great guy. We just don't just work with each other. We've become great friends over the years, and I'm just thankful for our friendship.''

With Flair by his side, the Evolution leader looks toward his third Elimination Chamber match on Sunday, Jan. 9 on pay-per-view. Triple H is no stranger to this and other proverbial gimmick matches. Among them include a victory over Mick Foley in the Hell in the Cell and defeating The Rock in a ladder match.

The consummate businessman feels these grueling bouts should only be used in the appropriate settings.

''I wish we could reel it back,'' said Triple H. ``It's hard once you've given people so much stuff and take it back. Like if it was me, I would never give cage matches and things like that. That is something I would make PPV only or an arena event only. I wouldn't put it on TV.

``Those are the kind of things I would keep special. I think we give a lot of things away, but I think it's the nature of the beast. We try to get ratings. We try to keep fans happy, but at the same point in time we give them so much for free. It's almost like the old marriage thing. Why are they going to buy the cow, when they can get the milk for free?''

It was definitely a very eventful and successful year for The Game, and he is thankful for every moment.

''If you asked me before I tore my quad [in 2001], I would have said I really have no injuries. I have all this time,'' said Triple H. ``You never know what the future is going to hold. Knock on wood. This is a stressful business. I mean I'm going out for a match in El Paso, Texas, and this could be my last one who knows. I mean I hope that it isn't, but you never know.

``I know in some way shape or form, I'll always be involved in this business whether it's behind the scenes, in the ring or whatever. I'll see more opportunities to try to expand this business, all that is in the open. Who knows. Ten years from now I could be president.''