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WWE Legend Thinks NXT Star Is A Hunter Hearst Helmsley (Triple H) Ripoff

By John Canton • Published Jun 13, 2026 17:00 EDT
Triple H Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Triple H as Hunter Hearst Helmsley - Image via WWE.com

A current NXT wrestler reminds a WWE legend of Triple H when he was known as Hunter Hearst Helmsley. 

There is an entire generation of wrestling fans who only know WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Paul Levesque, as a suit-wearing executive, or perhaps as a wrestler who was called “Triple H” for most of his career.

Many of those fans likely had to search at some point in their lives to find out what “HHH” actually stood for. Of course, you were watching WWE from 1995 until late 1997, then you know Triple H was known as Hunter Hearst Helmsley, which is why a lot of people still refer to him as “Hunter” to this day.

The blue-blooded aristocrat Hunter Hearst Helmsley had some success in WWE and even became Intercontinental Champion, but he wasn’t a main-event act. The Triple H name took over in the fall of 1997 when he launched D-Generation X with Shawn Michaels, and they were joined by Chyna.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley was recently brought up by WWE LFG coach and legendary superstar Kevin Owens, who was talking about NXT newcomer Tristan Angels, who is just 23 years old and started wrestling four years ago. Angels was known as Nathan Angel in England before signing with WWE in 2025.

In a clip posted by WWE about an upcoming WWE LFG episode, Kevin Owens talked about Nathan/Tristan.

“I really like Nathan’s act. It’s basically ripped off Hunter Hearst Helmsley completely, but that’s fine. It has been over 20 years, I think it’s okay to steal the guy’s entire identity. And if you’re going to steal anybody’s old identity, Triple H is pretty good.”

This past week on NXT, Tristan Angels lost the first-ever Mr. NXT Pageant to Shiloh Hill, who is the babyface in the feud. After he lost, Angels attacked Hill and hit him with a knee drop onto a steel chair.

Triple H Was A “Perfect Gentleman” Early In His Wrestling Career

Before Hunter Hearst Helmsley debuted in WWE, he was known as Jean Paul Levesque in WCW, and spoke with a French accent just because his real name is Paul Levesque.

Arn Anderson is a WWE Hall of Famer who remembers what Triple H was like back then.

“When he first started, he came to WCW, and Ric (Flair) knew him through Gold’s Gym up north, where Ric had owned his own Gold’s Gym. So that’s how he met him, and he was training to be a wrestler and just a gentleman. Perfect gentleman from the first time you meet him, just really a quality guy.

And we took him under our wing, let him travel with us, and figured out pretty quick he’s a non-drinker, so he was the designated driver. Yes, that is absolutely correct. We were renting Cadillacs back then, so I’m sure that was okay with him.

And for him to mention me in his Hall of Fame speech was very generous. Very nice things to say. And you know, his speech was long, but when you had the kind of career he’s had, that really doesn’t seem like a long time to recap all the things he’s done for the business. And I think we owe him a debt of gratitude.”

Also Read: Likely Reason For Triple H’s Animosity Towards WWE Legend The Rock