Jim Ross remembers the day Triple H returned to WWE Raw from his injury

On Jan 7, 2002, Triple H returns at Madison Square Garden from a career-threatening quad injury he sustained in May 2001 during an episode of WWF Raw is War.
During an episode of the Grilling JR with Jim Ross podcast on AdFree shows with Conrad Thompson, Good Ol’ JR mentions that the Triple H entrance pop at Madison Square Garden, when he returned to WWE Raw in 2002, was one of the loudest crowd pops he ever heard during his pro wrestling career as a lead commentator.
Shortly after Triple H returned to World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002, he won the Royal Rumble and the Undisputed WWF Championship against Chris Jericho at WrestleMania X8.
What other memorable pro wrestling returns stand out to you?
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🎙️ Interview used in this video: • Jim Ross shoots on HHH...
🎞️ Matches used in this video: Triple H 2002 return, WWE Monday Night Raw, Jan 7,2002.
🎵 Music used in this video: Elad Perez - The Road \\ Licensed from Artlist.
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#wwe #wweraw #tripleh
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[@staytruewrestling]

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[@bLiTz2kX]

I was there that night - Only 15 years old but damn ill always remember what that was like. Great moment in WWE history!

[@staytruewrestling]

What a memory that must be to have been in attendance!

[@stevohnalvarado838]

I miss that genuine emotions from the crowds back then .. it felt like the fans were emotionally invested in the superstars. I just recently attended a Monday night raw a few days ago, and I noticed that the audience isn’t as rabid as they once were. Seems like people are more into the entrances and catch phrases more than the actual superstars ….I’m grateful I was able to live and witness the greatest moment of professional wrestling

[@YessiiirTrael]

I think one of the factors that killed it is the internet, there’s so many spoilers & rumors, that you already know before it happens. Thats why Punks return was so fucking huge because they were able to keep it hidden so well, I try to stay away from channels & social media to keep myself on edge nowadays.

[@SeethingSimp]

The crowd is full of weirdos and the show has sucked for almost 20 years

[@Dean-wh4mm]

​@@SeethingSimptt is true. Started becoming wank after 2001 imo then slowly got worse but 2008 was when any of the old feels were truly gone. Its been unwatchable since then

[@pandadoublexl]

It helped that the actual product was still good at this point

[@bigbillywillysgrandadventu7737]

Crowds full of people who put their pronouns in their social media bios. Crowds back then were blue-collar Budwesier kind of people who held up signs like "Shawn is a F-G".

[@marcobotta6478]

best return ever

[@MrDonster]

I remember this night too i was a kid i was so pumped that theme took it to another level, HHH leg injury causing the 2002 return was probably the most baddest with the loudest Pop in wwe i have seen. I still watch the return sometimes still gives me goosebumps. "Just incase you all have forgotten who i am, let me remind you exactly who in the hell i am... I am the game! And you can bet your ass im back!!"

[@turkN9NE]

I remember this and it was truly a great moment in wrestling, especially if you watched him tear his quad and finish the match during the accident.

[@michaelsmitton1988]

I think all those promos of his rehab is what made it better. Training for his return with the Song Beautiful Day by U2 every other week on raw 🤝

[@JasonKB]

I remember that night. That ovation from the fans was saying “we love you, we appreciate you, and goddamn are we glad to see you.” It’s missing from a lot of today’s product, where it seems mostly that audiences react to what they’ve been trained to react to rather than to have a pure and genuine emotional response.

[@PAXBISONICA]

I watched the return from a Bowling Alley in Temple Terrace Florida. I was shocked at how jacked HHH was. The reaction from the crowd was absolutely insane.

[@oak49sox]

I was at the house show in Binghamton NY that he did as a warm up for his tv return. I attended a good amount of live RAW shows and a few Smackdown tapings. Countless house shows from 88 till present. And many other events in the arena that this house show was in. Was the loudest I ever heard that place. Biggest pop I’ve ever been part of.

[@3MrNiceGuy15]

It's a beautiful day

[@anthonyterry8162]

i remember going berzerk in my bedroom when he came out. The way they advertised his return was a bit different than usual, which made it special. Usually another wrestler would call the person out or whatever, but he just literally comes out right after a break in the middle of the show. Will never forget it

[@lancedowdell8459]

I was 19 years old absolutely bawling my eyes out on my bedroom floor watching this. My life turned to hell when he got hurt because he’s always been my savior. Everything changed that day.

[@Jimmyfly215]

If you watch that Raw and when the music stopped and he was standing there with the mic, HHH was in a bit of awe

[@middleclassthrash]

Paul has given us so much over the years.

[@staytruewrestling]

@@middleclassthrash And he still is!

[@NoSnowFlakes1]

Austin coming out to help Foley win the title and when HHH spit his water that night are 2 of if not the biggest pops in WWE history

[@mrmoviemanic1]

Triple H will always be one of my favorites. Definitely the one I am inspired by the most

[@lcfcfan1655]

Totally agree with Jr, the single greatest and loudest pop and return in wwe history

[@DontBuryTheLead]

Great video - amazing edit! Looking for tips for my channel. Did you get monetized using JRs podcast and WWE footage? I figured KZbin would hit you with copyright claims.

[@bitterthenu7278]

Not the loudest pop ever, but the loudest sustained cheer for sure

[@terrenceharvin635]

It was crazy to witness, you felt that through the TV. Another crazy note ..... whether you like HHH or not you missed the hell out of him. Raw was not the same. The CM Punk return (WWE) wasn't even close and they was pretty loud.

[@NickRHT]

January 7th 2002, had goose bumps during that moment it was one of the best pops ive hesrd and remembered .

I remember that. He was more jacked than ever

[@staytruewrestling]

Trips was definitely dialed in 💪🏼

[@PremiumAli]

Pop was insane

[@seth3054]

I remember that night...jr is right

[@DG18RB]

I remember that night. You would have thought the Messiah had walked in the room.

[@hankster0878]

I was there!

[@rbeezy42]

My buddies and I popped champagne that night in honor of hhh

[@dollahbill510]

very seldom do wrestlers transcend the "heel" and "face" troupe. This is the moment that HHH did just that. For the people who transcend that troupe, it doesn't matter if they're "heel" or "face" they're going to get love from the fans. The Rock just got to this point, with the WM40 story. What people don't understand is - it's easy for fans to love a "face" because they script the encounters, they want you to love the "face", they put Batman against the Joker so you cheer Batman, they put Zodd in front of Superman so you cheer Superman. When they put the villain in front of the hero, and the fans cheer the villain, that tells it's own story. In hindsight, I'd say this list of wrestlers who achieved this moment is rather small. I'd say HHH, Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair. Kurt Angle, and maybe 2-3 others.

[@kerricollins801]

How do you create and insert graphics into a video like this?

[@staytruewrestling]

My editor of choice is Davinci Resolve.

[@Geekomaniac08]

i remember that day..i shout " goddamn, look at his chest!"

[@slimm7848]

Man wrestling used to be the shit during this era 🔥😂😂😂

[@killwillv2610]

HHH is the best Heel of all time, could pull of Babyface IF he wanted and actually knows what's best for business. It's easy to tell why he's so great. Everyone loves HHH!!!!

[@JuanSantiago-nj7zh]

Biggest pop is when stone cold came out to help mick foley win the title against the rock

[@AG-kb7yb]

He must have forgot about the Canadian stampede

[@valovaliumfears7922]

❤

[@Brown87]

I was 14 and JR is absolutely right; I don't ever remember a pop like that on Raw for anyone and that includes people like Cena, Austin, Rock and Hogan 😐

[@ashurafreedan]

I do, backlash when rock won the title. he couldnt even talk on the mic it was so loud. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIS2aZiclJedqNU&ab_channel=OneOfTheMillions

[@nitheshm5862]

Shawn Michaels return at Summerslam 2002 got bigger pop tbh

[@aroyewunolabode3896]

That pop is soo overatted 🤧 , stone cold got a bigger pop when he help mick foley defeat rock on raw that nigjt

[@staytruewrestling]

@@aroyewunolabode3896 that Austin pop was deafening.

[@darkprince3794]

And the man who has been there for all of them, just F his opinion, I guess!

[@GoGetYourShinebox]

Austin at Backlash 2000 was a crazy pop too. And that time he came back in 2003 during Raw or Smackdown to stun Eric Bischoff, the crowd didn’t know he was even coming

[@Brown87]

It didn't 😂

[@tree_fiddy7586]

Austins return at 'no way out’ in 03 was the biggest pop in history

[@staytruewrestling]

Austin alone might have the Top 3 all to himself 😂

[@captdaddy]

Triple H said in his book that after this entrance..he went backstage and cried like a baby...

[@Black-Circle]

Don’t forget the u2 promo about his return

[@iprodigy6723]

What made the attitude era so great were the fans and the talent feeding off the fans, and making these story lines feel real. I hated HHH so much back then i was pissed at this return and i was pissed i felt the fans cheering HHH like he aint do the stuff he did to stone cold and the rock. Like why yall cheering for this scumbag 😆 he could have disappeared forever and i wouldnt have cared. Those were young me feelings. Grown up me this was a great return shows how much the fans care about these guys whether heel or not. It really could have gone either way with the pop cheers or nuclear boos back then because of how well he played a heel he was evil and coniving.

[@staytruewrestling]

He is one of the greatest natural heels to ever do it!

[@iprodigy6723]

@@staytruewrestling absolutely. Definitely one of best and most believable.

[@Princeofluv11]

Stone cold pop when mankind defeated the rock on raw was louder.

[@MrZrazies]

Biggest guy then coat off suddenly small guy till tshirt off. Back to biggest guy

[@beefhamburger-yy5jb]

even stone cold steve austin wish he got a pop like this

[@staytruewrestling]

😲

[@UnrealTournamentSERB]

beware of organized gangstalking!

[@joshmason1725]

Hhh never had the making of a varsity athlete

[@rorychin6708]

Roman Reigns return is going to be epic.

[@staytruewrestling]

It's gonna be a big one!

[@jckorn9148]

He was so missed during the Invasion angle. Makes you wonder what the plans were for him. Did it feel kind of disjointed because he wasn't there?

[@staytruewrestling]

He would've been such a huge part of the invasion angle!

[@lightfm90]

Hogan - Rock Hall - Austin Nash - HHH ?

[@fungunsun1]

Triple H is so fucking underappreciated. He is the hardest worker in the history of wwe, he is the only one to be a top guy during 4 generations (atitude, ruthless agression, PG and authority). The only one to make so much stars (Bryan, Cena, Batista, Orton, Sheamus, Roman, Rollins, Benoit). Has all kinda records - hell in a cell, elimination chamber, royal rumble. He is my wwe goat.

[@gamerclash5560]

Randy orton has the Worst Returns ever

[@staytruewrestling]

👀

[@MrLuciousp]

I used to really like and respect JR...But now he's as full of as much BS as Bruce.

[@goofybusciut]

Cm punk returning to wrestling in aew was the biggest pop ive ever heard other than brock lesnar in 2012

[@carlossosa1359]

Wrong post