Grilling JR

On this episode of Grilling JR, listen as JR and Conrad discuss Triple H's 1995 and 1996! Hunter turns 52 Tuesday, July 27th, and what a way to celebrate it by discussing his first years in the WWF - including being trained by Killer Kowalski, asking for a one year deal in WCW vs. the two years he was offered, debuting as the "Blue Blood" Hunter Hearst Helmsley, his first WrestleMania vs. Ultimate Warrior, the curtain call, and so much more!
Thanks for supporting the podcasts! Now let's SAVE you some MONEY!
Whether you're looking to buy a home, sell your home, save money on your current home, or get out of debt faster -- you're in the right place! You don't need perfect credit or money out of your pocket to find out how much money you can save for FREE! Get started today at www.SaveWithConrad.com.
Logos and album art by Dave Silva
All backgrounds licensed by Videoblocks
Videos edited and uploaded by Steve Kaufmann
Some copyrighted images may have been curated and altered to create uniquely transformative content.

[@sublime8956]

About time you gave the Connecticut blue blood his due and his respect

[@misternewman1576]

One of the greatest character evolutions of all time.

[@THEWRESTLERSWRESTLER]

Ahhh ha, I c wat u did there, "Evolution" 😉😉

[@dilnaylomogorhaiyee1450]

The little scheming suck up married the bosses daughter… Nepotism alone dictates he was always going to be in a good spot. Has he not married Steph he would have been long long long gone or buried by now.

[@dilnaylomogorhaiyee1450]

@Hidden Sword Had Stone Cold won that King of the Ring… we would all be watching WCW now

[@dilnaylomogorhaiyee1450]

@Hidden Sword Did you watch the History of the WWE DVD? Watch it and tell me that they did not gloss over what Stone Cold did. They made HHH look like the glue that kept it all together along with Vince.

[@davidfessel2819]

@Hidden Sword winners write the story

[@lalomontoyajr.9282]

I had that hog pen match from IYH 5 on my dvd collection and never watched it for years because I thought it was dumb. But one day I decided to watch it and man was that match so awesome! Never thought a hog pen match would be so technically sound and paced so well. Great match!

[@battlebeastza918]

Loved this episode. Triple H will always be a top 5 WWE guy in my books

[@davidbuthlay4368]

He wound me up so much as a 13 year old when he came to WWE, little did I understand he was just an immense heel 🤣

[@cats362]

still waiting on hbk 2002- 2010 that you said you were doing years ago

[@vannavanity1195]

I remember when I first saw him, then telling my brother that he was going to be a future WWF Champion. Great body, great character work, brutal offensive, super handsome, likable like every great wrestler is supposed to be but unlikeable enough to get his character over. One of the last legends we'll ever see in wrestling past the Class of Cornette (Cena, Batista).

[@eat-steady150]

Bananas & grapes go great together

[@DERRTYCHYBO]

Idk about handsome. That nose...

[@vannavanity1195]

@@DERRTYCHYBO it looked noble lol

[@vannavanity1195]

@@DERRTYCHYBO I thought he was attractive in DX in 1998. Probably my favorite besides the Undertaker. But it was kind of disappointing to see him as a bro. I liked him when he became cerebral in 1999. He would have been a great heel in any era. A heel like how he was in 1999 against the 1991 Ultimate Warrior would have been $$$.

[@ollieoxox1975]

Good observations, totally agree, evolved many times over.

[@Steveman27]

One of the things I will remember Triple H for when he was a full-time wrestler in the mid 2000s, was that he oftentimes didn't get the job done by himself since his buddies in the group that he and they were in called Evolution, were always helping him. The only reason he beat Goldberg was because he always had Batista, Orton, and Flair helping him. Goldberg's 3 on 1 match against Triple H, Batista, and Orton, and with Flair at ringside, was the ultimate example of that.

[@SmellTheCanvis]

Take a shot every time JR says 'game' when referencing HHH

[@MohamedAli-xu3uw]

4:49 you're welcome.

[@WrestlingFace]

Hero

[@alextrapp4049]

Your a true gentleman

[@MohamedAli-xu3uw]

@@alextrapp4049 Thanks. I'll take my reward of any lady you know.

[@heisensaul5538]

39:30 HHH Might be 6'5 and 250lbs, but his momma looks like she could lay down a beating if you got on her bad side.

[@BJWFenix]

i liked for both the comment and your love of sublime

[@lalomontoyajr.9282]

I got a question for Jr but I don't have Instagram. Who came up with Giant Gonzalez's outfit and when are we going to get an El Gigante/Giant Gonzalez episode!?

[@blakerackley8874]

Damn, JR really felt like McMahon was his bully.

[@JesterBeats]

Whoop whoop!

[@joedriskill2688]

Great episode from the voice of wrestling, Jim Ross and Conrad. This episode makes me respect HHH more than I did before. Listening to JR put his early days in the WWF in perspective from a personnel director’s standpoint (all HHH went through to become a future main event talent) tells me that he didn’t ride coattails. He made his own highway and kudos to him for doing it. I learned a lot in this episode.

[@adam-thesportsguy6147]

JR hired everyone from HHH to Vince and Stephanie McMahon! “i hired him” -JR

[@tommyhallum2054]

The 2 different conrad's are crazy the guy that's interviewing JR Right here is not the same guy who interviews Bruce. There is no arguing, he always takes JR For his word and with Bruce there is none of that or it's few and far between.

[@lbc3000]

How many times does this Conrad guy say "and we are off to the races"???

[@adamlane6453]

Zero. He says "off *to* the races," many times, however.

[@lbc3000]

@@adamlane6453 thanks for catching my typo....he says it multiple times on every podcast lol

[@Steveman27]

Why wasn't Triple H part of this video as well? I thought Jim was going to speak to Triple H about all of this about this Triple H video like how he did with Jonathan Coachman and Kane in the other Grilling JR videos in those that were about Jonathan Coachman and Kane.

[@senshix]

I believe regal teamed up w or was scouting hhh after he was Terra ryzing but after he left regal had to team up w eaton.

[@Collinzmusic]

One of the best performers in our generation whether we like him or loath him.

[@dilnaylomogorhaiyee1450]

He is the best scheming suck up I will give him that. Carrying HBK and Nash’s bags are one thing. But going from Chyna to Stephanie? You naive souls who are his fans and think he is a good guy got to wake the funk up.

[@Collinzmusic]

@@dilnaylomogorhaiyee1450 Never said he was a good guy. Hell I thought he was a complete ass for doing what he done to chyna and I say she aint the only soul he hurt along the way. Still though you cant deny he was a great in ring performer on the wrestling side and the psychology side of things

[@dilnaylomogorhaiyee1450]

@@Collinzmusic he is a good performer.. I will give you that… solid… and always plays his character to a T

[@Collinzmusic]

@@dilnaylomogorhaiyee1450 yes.....yes he does....

[@Collinzmusic]

@BigBlackBootyDaddy and then he became the star and the draw cause he learnt from the stars and the draws.

[@brookesfriend8359]

Evansville!!! 👍

[@_sabathia_5929]

He worked in talent, that was his job

[@Lonewolf_665]

Right. Idk how people used that against him all the time.

[@ashleyp287]

5:10 😆😆🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😆🤣 Now why they let my guy stand & pose like that??? 😅😅

[@Skibbitypappappa]

My eyesssssss arghhhh my eyesss

[@ryankhawaja3457]

Hhh rules

[@dibbsutd]

Another wrestler who made it big when he did a program with Mick Foley.

[@Lonewolf_665]

Too many to name. 1. Rock 2. Austin first title defense 3. Edge 4. Orton

[@standardofexcellence]

Get your golden shovel ready

[@thatstoobad3023]

Typical smark

[@jjlbk324]

The clicking in the background is driving me nuts!!! Good show though... Paul doesn't get enough credit.

[@jollyjakelovell6822]

The Sooner Getting Shocker Spices

[@freemind6954]

Harley Race used the pedigree first, but not as a finish. Just sayin...

[@DarthMundane]

Skinner did a pedigree in the WWF can’t remember what it was called though

[@calamaty9963]

Double underhook face drop or something like that if I recall.

[@craigsmith4760]

@@calamaty9963 indeed that was what if was called

[@fergalstackstreams]

That was a blink and you miss it finisher. He quickly changed to an inverted DDT.

[@calamaty9963]

@@fergalstackstreams I think Harley Race used it as well but I’m not sure if it was as a finisher.

[@THEWRESTLERSWRESTLER]

Andre da giant did it 2. Da difference was Andre would hold ur arms up 2wards da sky b4 da drop.

[@reallyretro]

The years where he rode the coattails of the Cliq, from the day he walked in the door.

[@manbearpig7359]

Yeah, fancy being savvy enough to identity the driving force in the locker room and attach yourself to it, learn from it , pay your dues and benefit from it. What a loser......

[@stephenbabinec8984]

How about an episode on the 88 Crockett Cup?

[@LS-bw7jt]

Nah the UK fans won't enjoy it

[@lexingtonlee]

Couldn’t stand the guy when I first saw him. The gimmick, intro music all of it.(Guess he was doing a good job). As I watched though I started to see Harley Race with a better physique. Didn’t hurt that after the initial music had some of the best music intros of all time. Don’t know the man,but in a cutthroat business he seems to be pretty loyal to those that were there for him.

[@pkemn2193]

Rip triple H 1995-1996 He was just a baby

[@concerta56]

he was hand held back then...still a baby

[@delbertprince5302]

Conrad is a great researcher…….

[@MONEYBOYTR3Y]

Charity work at a strip club 😂🤔

[@delbertprince5302]

Vince McMahon hired the right person to run WWE…..

[@dilnaylomogorhaiyee1450]

The ultimate yes man… WWE will die because the daughter is spoilt rotten, the son is ousted, and HHH is the ultimate ass kisser… but not an innovative businessman like Vince

[@AD-ur1fk]

@@dilnaylomogorhaiyee1450 wwe is dying because of Vince.

[@dilnaylomogorhaiyee1450]

@@AD-ur1fk Since 2000 era instead of people like Monsoon, JR, or Patterson counselling Vince, people who have what is best for business in mind, he has a son in law who wanted to cement his own legacy as a top talent, which ruined many stars organic momentum… Kane, RVD, Jericho, to name a few which also coincided with the ratings dropping on a consistent basis starting with that god awful Evolution dominating everyone. Then HHH went into a phase of pushing his people. Batista and Orton were fine. But Sheaumus, Sin Cara, then Rollins… instead of people like Punk, Bryan, or Moxley. Hell he even admitted he saw nothing in Cena. An ass kisser could run a place, but a vindictive ass kisser who married his way to the top is not an innovative businessman. He ain’t no Steve Jobs.. he is more like a Tim Cook.

[@AD-ur1fk]

@@dilnaylomogorhaiyee1450 look what’s he did for nxt. Wwe would be tens times better with Hunter running it. You can hate him as a wrestler but not in business

[@Steveman27]

I always thought the position should have gone to his son Shane. It's weird that he picks his son-in-law over his son.

[@ronniejohnnie4271]

Why do the heels call the match

[@jedimindtrick75]

Because it is their job to get heat. It is their job to get the babyface over. So they controlled the flow of the match. The old school belief was if the babyfaces called the match, the heel would never get any heat.

[@Steveman27]

@@jedimindtrick75 I think it should generally be mutual between the two wrestlers, like around 50/05 or something like that for the most part, regardless who is heel or who is face. I guess by the logic of the heels calling the match, no one calls the match when it's two faces having a match, like that one time when Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio had a match back in like 2006 or something.

[@jedimindtrick75]

@@Steveman27 50/50 might be fair in our eyes as fans. But it makes little sense in terms of the flow/story of a match. Too many cooks spoil the broth, mentality. Im sure there are several instances where the match is a collaboration now a days considering how they spend 3 hours talking about the match versus just calling it in the ring. but back in the day it was far more common just to feel the audience and adlib.

[@jesseandrews2303]

How are these comments posted a day ago when it's literally live as I type this? Or at least uploaded real time as I type and post this

[@edwardpilipow2866]

I would assume different time zones other international date line

[@jesseandrews2303]

@@edwardpilipow2866 That makes sense. I'm in the UK. The video is literally premiering as I'm watching. Your comment was approximately 6 minutes ago. Another possibility could be fans having access to updates early like a day before? If those are premium subscribers more power to them for sure. Cheers

[@jedimindtrick75]

its more than likely available in the US before it is in the UK.

[@jesseandrews2303]

@@jedimindtrick75 if so, rightly so

[@mikelewis5335]

JR is starting to slow down....

[@gothchicksbongrips5712]

Was never my favorite, but I appreciate his story. His ring work was great. Student of the game is perfect for him. I just found him to be a boring personality and always groaned when he was on. Once the match started, 9 out of 10. You couldnt touch him.

[@gothchicksbongrips5712]

Triple H was doing the pedigree in wcw

[@karlepaul6632]

Waitaminit....Triple H got punished because he picked the wrong friends? Not necessarily saying the punishment was deserved, but he DID take part, didn't he? JR made it sound like he wasn't part of the Curtain Call.

[@erict7840]

Best Hunter match was with the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania 12, lol

[@TheBlindEye90]

These invisible ads are really ridiculous and sickening.

[@migarza81]

In the late 90’s, HHH was the guy who worked with the guy’s who make money. Later in his career, HHH was the guy who married the daughter of the guy who pays the money to the guy’s who make the money. Later, HHH was a guy making money. He’ll never be in anyone’s Mount Rushmore of Wrestling nor do I consider him Top 10 in any wrestling conversation and although he might lack the charisma of Stone Cold, the Rock, Shawn, Flair, Taker, Cena, Ron Simmons, Randy Savage, Andre, Piper, Booker, Shane, Angle, Eddie Guerrero, Sid, Jake, Lawler, Doink, Perfect, Warrior or Hogan... Hmmm ...I lost my train of thought.

[@billyziggler1862]

JR immediately denying the gimmick infringement on Jean Paul leveque (3 names) the wcw aristocrat becoming hunter hearst Helmsley (3 names) the wwf aristocrat proves how full of crap JR is on these issues. It’s was a one to one copy and paste. The only change was instead of French he was now American. Every other change to triple h came later on. Originally he 100% was a carbon copy of the wcw character

[@hellohell77]

Eh, no. It was similar. But not exactly so.

[@billyziggler1862]

@@hellohell77 if you've ever worked in the IP (intellectual property) industry like I have, then you know that 'similar but not exactly so' doesn't fly in court. They took the WCW IP, changed his name and said he was now from America. That was the only change. I'm not saying it matters now, but I was pointing out how silly people like JR/Bruce are when they complain about gimmick infringement and then act like this Triple H thing was their creation.

[@hellohell77]

@@billyziggler1862 I'm not saying that reasoning would fly in court. WCW got sued because of how similar scott hall's WCW character was to razor ramon(and for the impression initially that they still worked for WWF, I think). But it wasn't a 100% ripoff. I'd say 70-80% I get what you're saying though. WCW helped create the character. I mean he still goes by the name 25 years later. Its just the character changed completely since then, of course.

[@InstagramAWrestlingHistorian]

Unpopular opinion: The Blueblood > The Game #HunterHearstHelmsley

[@L.m.CeeTee]

HHH never buried anyone. He wasn’t involved in the Montreal Screwjob. He didn’t copy and paste Shane Douglas Franchise gimmick. Paul Levesque was a Class Act. NXT makes up for all his shitty acts.

[@eat-steady150]

J.r kissing hhh ass to get his job back 😘 i bet its a gut shot to j.r's ego to be workin in the indies

[@christophersuarez9929]

HHH hbk. Undertaker kane. Kevin Nash. Madison square garden 2022. Rumble

[@lbc3000]

I'm sure marrying the bosses daughter had little or nothing to do with the level of success he eventually achieved in his career.....

[@billybadass3056]

the success Paul has had only proves how absurd this reality really is when you position yourself just right in the business..... let me put it to you like this.. When he started in WcW Sting was the *Thing* right???? well fast forward like 20 or so yrs later and you have him((Paul))going over The Stinger @WM 31, or 32 not sure and really DON'T CARE..... My point is what the first part of this comment is saying..

[@TheBlindEye90]

Mania 31, and that pat on the face from hhh to sting still irks me to this day.

[@billybadass3056]

@@TheBlindEye90 u telling me... everything about that match was TOTALLY Wrong and really solidified my dislike for him vince and the entire business in general..

[@QuentinDude]

Its hard to move up in the wresting business and you need a lot of luck to do it. A lot of times it takes a guy above you in the food chain being released or suspended or retiring or being injured for you to move up.

[@thatstoobad3023]

He was a 2 time WWF champion before Stephanie

[@thatstoobad3023]

@@TheBlindEye90 It was your precious sting’s idea. Know what you’re talking about.

[@dilnaylomogorhaiyee1450]

All the scheming and backstabbing and HHH realises he is slowing falling out of favor. For all of NXTs talents and having been on air much longer than AEW to draw in a following… HHH clearly lost to AEW and Vince does not tolerate or accept losses well, especially at this stage of his life and career. HHH is great at latching on to established stars to get heat for himself as a talent. He knows how to play the political game to move up the ladder. He knows how to be a yes man. And like many many talents willing to ply their trade seriously he is a good in ring talent. But he is not a pioneering promoter like Vince. He can be a good general and run an already well organised platoon . But he is no trail blazer as a businessman. He will never be an Vince or Elon Musk or Steve Jobs. He is more like a Tim Cook.. live off the legacy of something built by someone great. Vince seems to finally see it now. HHH is wealthy and can live happily ever after if he were to retire tomorrow. But he will never have what the likes of Stone Cold or Rock or Taker has us a talent. Despite WWEs constant whitewashing of history by amplifying the importance of DX whilst glossing over what someone like Stone Cold did. Nor will he ever be revered as a Vince McMahon in wrestling. It is karma. He will always be remembered by the people who truly counts in the industry as the guy who hit jackpot when he married into the family.