Every Triple H Title Defense In 2003, Ranked Worst To Best

Triple H's 2003 saw The Game run roughshod on Monday Night Raw. During that time, the leader of Evolution held onto the World Heavyweight Championship for a 280-day reign.

The Cerebral Assassin regained the World Title from Shawn Michaels at Armageddon 2002 which saw The Game kickstart a formidable 2003 as World Heavyweight Champion. Some of Triple H's greatest rivals emerged in 2003, which was a memorable year for The King of Kings as he rose to the occasion in high-stakes titular bouts.

Inevitably, fans grew tired of Triple H's stranglehold of the Big Gold Belt as he defeated the very best that Raw had to offer with some of the fans' favorites suffering at the hands of Triple H. However, some of the matches he had in 2003 were a mixed bag of classic encounters and forgettable bouts.

12 Vs. Kevin Nash (Judgment Day 2003)

Triple H and his former friend Kevin Nash clashed for the World Heavyweight Championship at Judgment Day 2003. Judgment Day 2003 was the final non-Big Four event to feature Raw and SmackDown wrestlers together until Backlash 2007.

This was a dreadful championship match with Shawn Michaels in Nash's corner and Ric Flair accompanying Triple H. Nonetheless, The Game sensed his title was in jeopardy and he got himself intentionally disqualified by nailing referee Earl Hebner in the face with his trademark sledgehammer. Nash took matters into his own hands by planting The Game through the announce table with a jaw-dropping Jackknife Powerbomb.

11 Vs. Scott Steiner (Royal Rumble 2003)

The Game's first title defense in his 280-day reign as World Heavyweight Champion emanated at the 2003 Royal Rumble against Scott Steiner. Triple H's feud with Steiner was a forgettable feud with both men lacking in-ring chemistry together.

They meandered their way through this match and it was a typically slow methodical Triple H match. 18 minutes felt like an eternity in this contest which encapsulated how bad this clash was. Steiner won the match by disqualification, which meant the feud continued for another month.

10 Vs. Scott Steiner (No Way Out 2003)

After the screwy finish at the Royal Rumble, fans had to suffer through another woeful World Heavyweight Championship match between Triple H and Scott Steiner at No Way Out 2003.

The highlight of this contest was the Montreal fans shouting "You Screwed Bret" at Earl Hebner. Nonetheless, Triple H had his Evolution allies Randy Orton and Ric Flair continuously interfere in this match. Ultimately, the Game had the final say by planting Steiner with his patented Pedigree to put this horrific feud to bed.

9 Vs. Kevin Nash (Insurrextion 2003)

The final Insurrextion in 2003 saw the British fans witness another World Heavyweight Championship encounter between Triple H and Kevin Nash. This time their match was a Street Fight, and Big Daddy Cool was hellbent on taking the title away from his former Kliq ally.

This encounter was better than their Judgment Day outing with both men going toe-to-toe. They brawled outside of the ring and Triple H was busted wide open after his head hit the steel steps. Nevertheless, The Game relied on his sledgehammer once again to bail him out of trouble with a sickening shot to Nash's head.

8 Vs. Booker T (WrestleMania XIX)

Booker T lastly eliminated The Rock in a number one contender's battle royal on Raw, earning the right to face Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XIX. Booker and The Game's rivalry saw the reigning champion take a lot of personal cheap shots at the five-time WCW Champion, leading up to their high-profile contest.

Sadly, their match at WrestleMania failed to live up to the expectations with both men being great workers. Nonetheless, Triple H buried Booker by planting him with a Pedigree and taking a while to pin Booker to retain the title.

7 Vs. Kane (Raw, June 23, 2003)

The June 23rd, 2003, edition of Monday Night Raw took place inside Madison Square Garden. The main event had a lot riding on it with Triple H putting his title at stake against "The Big Red Machine" Kane.

However, there was an added caveat to this match and Kane had to win to keep his identity intact otherwise he had to unmask. Kane put on a sublime performance, desperately trying to win the title. The Game had the numbers advantage with Orton hitting Kane with an RKO after a low-blow. Triple H pinned Kane after a Pedigree, forcing Kane to unmask.

6 Vs. Goldberg (Unforgiven 2003)

Goldberg bossed the Elimination Chamber match at SummerSlam 2003 which should have been his crowning moment. Goldberg challenged Triple H for one last shot at the World Heavyweight Championship at Unforgiven 2003.

There were huge stipulations on the line as The Game would lose the title if he got himself intentionally disqualified or counted out. In turn, Goldberg had to prevail or he would leave WWE. Sadly, Goldberg and Triple H had a dire match but Goldberg dominated the match from start to finish. The Game's old faithful, the sledgehammer, was useless as Goldberg viciously Speared Triple H and captured the World Heavyweight Championship with his patented Jackhammer, ending Triple H's 280-day reign as champion.

5 Vs. Booker T (Raw, April 21, 2003)

Booker T's efforts at WrestleMania XIX saw him challenge Triple H in another title bout on the April 21, 2003 episode of Raw. However, Shawn Michaels assumed the role of special guest referee.

This was the final Raw before Backlash with a huge upcoming six-man tag team featuring Triple H, Ric Flair, and Chris Jericho taking on Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, and Booker T. Booker had an outstanding match and was tantalizingly close to winning the title. The Game's allies Flair and Jericho broke up the fall ensuring that Triple H escaped with the championship.

4 Vs. Goldberg Vs. Randy Orton Vs. Kevin Nash Vs. Chris Jericho Vs. Shawn Michaels (SummerSlam 2003)

Triple H's groin injury meant that his in-ring abilities were limited in his World Heavyweight Championship title defense at SummerSlam 2003. Goldberg, Randy Orton, Kevin Nash, Chris Jericho, and Shawn Michaels were the challengers trying to wrestle the title away from The Game.

As soon as The Game's pod had opened, he was met by Michaels with a Sweet Chin Music. The Game remained in his pod until Goldberg broke it down and Triple H's face was a crimson mask with Goldberg ramming the champion's head in the chains. However, Goldberg was going for his Spear, Ric Flair slid in a sledgehammer for Triple H who nailed Goldberg with it to retain the title.

3 Vs. Ric Flair (Raw, May 19, 2003)

There was no rest for the wicked and that was the case for Triple H on the Raw after Judgment Day 2003. The Game's ribs were taped after Kevin Nash put him through the announce table. Nonetheless, Triple H defended his title against his good friend and 16-time World Champion Ric Flair.

Fans were heavily invested in this encounter and believed that Naitch could be The Man once again. Despite hitting The Game in the head with the championship belt, the dastardly Cerebal Assassin landed his Pedigree on Flair, continuing his reign as World Heavyweight Champion.

2 Vs. Rob Van Dam (Raw, June 30, 2003)

One of Triple H's best rivals in the Ruthless Aggression Era was Rob Van Dam. The two had excellent chemistry together and their matches were extremely competitive. Their title match was a standard one-on-one match on the June 30, 2003, edition of Raw.

However, Eric Bischoff restarted the match with Falls Count Anywhere and No DQ rules after Triple H nailed RVD with the World Heavyweight Championship. The two brawled at the top of the ramp, and Triple H overcame RVD with a devastating DDT on the floor for the victory.

1 Vs. Kevin Nash (Bad Blood 2003)

The culmination of Triple H and Kevin Nash's lackluster feud came in the main event of Bad Blood 2003 inside Hell in a Cell. Mick Foley, who had a previous history with Triple H in this setting, was the special guest referee.

This was a brilliant contest with all three men a bloody mess. It was a war of attrition and was one of the main highlights of Triple H's 2003. The Game retained the title with his patented Pedigree, but it was a valiant effort from Nash.

NEXT: 10 Wrestlers Who Have Had Both Great & Terrible World Title Reigns