Re: Can WWE & HHH stop making it seem he was demoted to jobber after Hall and Nash le
It was not nearly as big a punishment as good ol' Hunter would like to have everyone believe. It's WWE revisionist history striking again. As others have mentioned, he won the IC title just a few months later. The only real big demotion for him was not winning KOTR 1996. But to hear Triple H tell it, you'd think he was held back for years.
Yeah I kind of agree, but he also got left of the PPV's until Ocotber, which meant less pay for him as well.
He kept losing matches for months until he beat Marc Mero. It wasn't that bad of a punishment really since he was still on TV.
- Vic
Yeah I kind of agree here too.
Hunter was buried from May 20 to October 19, (The day after the MSG Curtain Call and the day before this RAW IC Title win)
Just look at the list here of his WWF Matches. The only matches he basically won was his machtes against jobbers.
His record was
WWF @ New York City, NY - Madison Square Garden - May 19, 1996 (18,800; 16,564 paid; sell out)
Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Razor Ramon with the Pedigree moments after referee Tim White was knocked down as Ramon lifted Helmsley up for the Razor's Edge; after the bout, Ramon attempted to say goodbye to the fans but his mic was cut off
WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels defeated Diesel in a steel cage match at around the 20-minute mark by escaping out the door after hitting the challenger with a steel chair and following with the superkick; late in the bout, Davey Boy Smith briefly interfered and prevented the champion from escaping over the top; moments later, as Diesel was still knocked out and Michaels was posing with the title belt, Razor Ramon came out, hugged the champion and raised his hand; Michaels then revived Diesel and waved for someone else to join them in the ring; Hunter Hearst Helmsley then appeared and hugged Michaels before all four men embraced and held each others arm in the air; as punishment for the public breaking of kayfabe, the office punished Helmsley by taking him out of the King of the Ring tournament, which he was scheduled to win, and making him lose matches for several months straight (the final appearance of Scott Hall and Kevin Nash for almost 6 years)
In Your House "Beware of Dog" - Florence, SC - Civic Center - May 26, 1996 (6,000; 4,796 paid)
Marc Mero (w/ Sable) pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley at 16:23 by reversing an attempt at the
WWF @ Fayetteville, NC - Cumberland County Memorial Auditorium - May 27, 1996 (5,000; sell out; Monday Night Raw taping:
KOTR Qualifying Match: Jake Roberts pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with the DDT
Hunter Hearst Helmsley fought Aldo Montoya to a no contest when Jerry Lawler, anxious to show off WWF @ North Charleston, SC - Coliseum - May 28, 1996 (4,500)
WWF Superstars taping:
Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Marty Garner with the Pedigree
WWF @ West Palm Beach, FL - Auditorium - May 30, 1996 (4,777; sell out)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with a roll up after Sable hit Hemsley
WWF @ Tampa, FL - Sun Dome - May 31, 1996 (2,763)
Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Orlando, FL - Arena - June 1, 1996 (3,651)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Rockford, IL - Metro Center - June 6, 1996 (3,611)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Peoria, IL - Civic Center - June 7, 1996
Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Moline, IL – Mark of the Quad – June 8, 1996 (3,186)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - June 9, 1996 (13,650)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Salt Lake City, UT - Delta Center - June 13, 1996 (4,032)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Denver, CO - Coliseum - June 14, 1996 (2,203)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Phoenix, AZ - America West Arena - June 15, 1996 (7,028)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ St. Louis, MO - June 16, 1996 (8,047)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley after Sable slapped Helmsley on the apron
WWF @ Winnipeg, Manitoba - Fairgrounds - June 22, 1996 (5,500)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with a reversal
King of the Ring 96 - Milwaukee, WI - Mecca - June 23, 1996 (8,762; sell out)
(Dark Match) Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Aldo Montoya at 3:00
WWF @ Green Bay, WI - Brown County Expo - June 24, 1996 (4,660; sell out)
Monday Night Raw taping:
WWF IC Champion Ahmed Johnson pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley in a non-title match at 13:05 by
WWF @ LaCrosse, WI - Center - June 25, 1996 (3,523)
WWF Superstars taping:
Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Jerry Fox with the Pedigree
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with a Frankensteiner off the top
WWF @ Madison, WI – Dane County Civic Center – June 26, 1996
Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Louisville, KY - Louisville Gardens - June 27, 1996 (3,256)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Indianapolis, IN - Market Square Arena - June 28, 1996 (5,501)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with a backdrop and hooking the legs to prevent a sunset flip
WWF @ Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena - June 29, 1996 (5,930)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley after Sable distracted Helmsley
WWF @ Pittsburgh, PA - Civic Arena - June 30, 1996 (6,264)
Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ East Rutherford, NJ - Meadowlands - July 5, 1996 (7,309)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley at 12:42
WWF @ New Haven, CT - Coliseum - July 6, 1996 (4,462)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Providence, RI - Civic Center - July 7, 1996
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with a roll over into a bridge
WWF @ Albany, NY - Knickerbocker Arena - July 11, 1996
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Worcester, MA - Centrum - July 12, 1996
Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Portland, ME - Civic Center - July 13, 1996 (4,536; 3,314 paid)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Bangor, ME - July 14, 1996 (2,022)
Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Seattle, WA - Key Arena - July 22, 1996 (6,755)
Monday Night Raw taping:
featured clips from the 8/9/96 Madison Square Garden show, including Mark Henry scaring Hunter featured clips from the 8/9/96 Madison Square Garden show, including Mark Henry scaring Hunter Hearst Helmsley out of the ring after shoving him to the mat:
WWF @ Spokane, WA - July 24, 1996 (3,810)
Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ San Francisco, CA - Cow Palace - July 25, 1996
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with a roll up
WWF @ Fresno, CA - Selland Arena - July 26, 1996 (5,032)
Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Anaheim, CA - Arrowhead Pond - July 27, 1996 (8,050)
Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Montreal, Quebec - Molson Centre - August 2, 1996 (9,128)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley at 11:07 by blocking an attempt at the Pedigree, hitting a WWF @ Ottawa, Ontario - Corel Centre - August 4, 1996 (5,572)
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley by blocking a sunset flip
WWF @ Cohasset, MA - August 6, 1996
Owen Hart defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Warwick, MA - August 7, 1996 (1,733)
Owen Hart defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent - August 8, 1996 (1,964)
Owen Hart defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley (Owen played the babyface)
WWF @ New York City, NY - Madison Square Garden - August 9, 1996 (11,314)
Included a Jim Ross in-ring interview with Mark Henry regarding the Olympics which was eventually interrupted by Hunter Hearst Helmsley; Henry quickly scared Helmsley out of the ring
Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with a leg roll up at 9:02
WWF @ Bethlehem, PA - Stabler Arena - August 10, 1996 (3,038)
Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Scranton, PA - CYC - August 11, 1996
Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Justin Bradshaw
WWF @ Wheeling, WV - Civic Center - August 19, 1996
Monday Night Raw taping:
WWF IC Title Tournament Quarter-Finals: Psycho Sid pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with the powerbomb at 3:39; early in the match, footage was shown from two weeks earlier on WWF Superstars when Mr. Perfect came ringside and took Helmsley's escort backstage as well as from him doing the same recently at moments later, Jim Ross noted Mr. Perfect and Hunter Hearst Helmsley were having to be held apart by officials backstage; after the match, Austin attacked Mero, dropped him with the Stunner, and threw him to the floor; moments later, Mero returned to the ring and brawled with Austin until referees, Jerry Brisco, Tony WWF @ Columbus, OH - August 20, 1996 (2,739)
WWF Superstars taping:
Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned David Haskins with the Pedigree
Savio Vega pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with a spin kick after Mr. Perfect came ringside and distracted Helmsley; after the bout, Perfect and Helmsley got into an argument
WWF @ Toledo, OH - Sports Arena - August 21, 1996
Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Bob Holly
WWF @ Chatham, Ontario - Memorial Arena - August 22, 1996
Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Bob Holly with the Pedigree
WWF @ Toronto, Ontario - Exhibition Stadium - August 24, 1996 (21,211)
Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Bob Holly
WWF @ Long Island, NY - Nassau Coliseum - August 25, 1996 (6,823)
Marc Mero & Savio Vega defeated Steve Austin & Hunter Hearst Helmsley when Mero pinned Helmsley with a crossbody after avoiding a double clothesline
WWF @ Durban, South Africa - Westridge Stadium - September 8, 1996 (9,000; sell out)
Yokozuna pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with a legdrop
WWF @ Johannesburg, South Africa - September 9, 1996
Yokozuna pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Cape Town, South Africa - Good Hope Centre - September 10, 1996
Jake Roberts pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Johannesburg, South Africa - September 12, 1996 (6,000; sell out)
Jake Roberts pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Sun City, South Africa - September 14, 1996
Televised on SuperSport - featured Jim Ross & Owen Hart on commentary:
Savio Vega pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley by blocking a sunset flip
WWF @ Baltimore, MD - Arena - September 21, 1996 (4,016)
Barry Windham pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with the superplex
In Your House "Mindgames" - Philadelphia, PA - CoreStates Center - September 22, 1996 (15,000; 11,969 (Dark-Match) Jake Roberts defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Mark Henry defeated Jerry Lawler via submission at 5:12 with a backbreaker; after the bout, Henry fought off an interfering Leif Cassidy, Marty Jannetty, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley, eventually gorilla pressing Helmsley onto the two other men on the floor
WWF @ Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Arena - September 23, 1996 (3,923)
Monday Night Raw taping:
Barry Windham pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with the superlex after Helmsley became distracted by Mr. Perfect at ringside
9/30/96 - included an in-ring promo by Hunter Hearst Helmsley in which he challenged Mr. Perfect to Freddie Joe Floyd defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley via count-out at 4:07 when, after Helmsley WWF @ State College, PA - Bryce Jordan Center - September 24, 1996 (3,189)
WWF Superstars taping:
Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Julio Sanchez with the Pedigree at 4:16; throughout the match, Mr. WWF @ Saginaw, MI - Civic Center - September 26, 1996 (3,753)
Barry Windham defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena - September 27, 1996 (4,847)
Barry Windham pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Pittsburgh, PA - Civic Arena - September 28, 1996
Barry Windham pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with a superplex
WWF @ New York City, NY - Madison Square Garden - September 29, 1996 (matinee) (6,747; 3,917 Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Freddie Joe Floyd with the Pedigree
WWF @ Winnipeg, Manitoba - Arena - October 4, 1996 (6,099)
Jake Roberts defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Calgary, Alberta - Saddledome - October 5, 1996 (5,062)
Jake Roberts pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with the DDT
WWF @ Edmonton, Alberta - October 6, 1996 (5,418; sell out)
Jake Roberts pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with the DDT
WWF @ Red Deer, Alberta - October 7, 1996 (2,255)
Jake Roberts defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Lethbridge, Alberta - October 8, 1996 (3,834)
Steve Austin defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Medicine Hat, Alberta - October 9, 1996 (2,554)
Steve Austin defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Prince George, British Columbia - October 10, 1996 (3,707)
Steve Austin defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Victoria, British Columbia - October 11, 1996
Jake Roberts pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with the DDT
WWF @ Tacoma, WA - October 12, 1996 (4,509)
WWF IC Champion Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WWF @ Anaheim, CA - Arrowhead Pond - October 13, 1996 (5,331)
WWF IC Champion Marc Mero pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with a moonsault
In Your House "Buried Alive" - Indianapolis, IN - Market Square Arena - October 20, 1996
Steve Austin pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley (sub. for Savio Vega) with the Stunner at 15:30; prior to WWF IC Champion Marc Mero (w/ Sable) pinned Goldust (w/ Marlena) (sub. for Farooq) with a Samoan Drop and Shooting Star Press at 11:37 after Mr. Perfect, who did guest commentary for the match, punched the challenger on the floor as the referee ordered Hunter Hearst Helmsley backstage when Helmsley appeared to confront Perfect at ringside; prior to the bout, the commentary team conducted an interview with WWF @ Ft. Wayne, IN - War Memorial Coliseum - October 21, 1996
Monday Night Raw taping:
Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned WWF IC Champion Marc Mero (sub. for Mr. Perfect) (w/ Sable & Mr. Perfect) to win the title at around the 10-minute mark with the Pedigree after Mr. Perfect, who did guest WWF @ Cincinnati, OH - Cincinnati Gardens - October 22, 1996 (3,137)
WWF Superstars taping:
WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels pinned WWF IC Champion Hunter Hearst Helmsley with the superkick
To sum this up:
Triple H was feuding with Razor who was a mega star in WWF at the time, beating him on PPV's and at hosuseshows and was supposed to win the King Of The Ring. Directly after the infamous Curtain Call, HHH immediately got demoted to do jobs to newcomer Marc Mero on the road, and his supposedly KOTR win was instead given to Austin.
Match-wise:
66 losses on TV and houseshows
1 Draw against Aldo Montoya (On RAW)
6 wins (4 wins against jobbers on Superstars, while the other 2 wins were at houseshows against JBL and Freddie Joe Floyd)
This meant that he basically jobbed for 5 months before he was given th IC belt, who still at the timea meant something. But in order to not be too forgotten and somewhat relevatn, he was kept on TV, but off PPV's in order to make him stay fairly relevant. But his slow build towards the IC belt started in mid August already with a feud with Mr Perfect. So basically he was totally buried for the first 3 months, but started to get relevant storylines the last two months despite losing.
so yeah, he got buried, but there were still wrestlers who were considered as not being buried but still were kept off TV even more than Hunter - guys like Bob Holly. As for the claims Hunter make about being buried for a year are just bullshit. Sure he did not get the Brock Lesnar push when winning the IC title, but he was still considered to be in fairly relevant storylines belonging to upper mid-card