Jim Ross Sets the Record Straight on Triple H’s Alleged Gimmick Theft

Triple H is the Cerebral Assassin of WWE and he became the top name of the company during the late 90s after turning heel. For a long time now, there were accusations that Triple H stole his gimmick from a former WWE star and Jim Ross has now addressed such claims.

Between 1993 and 1999, Shane Douglas was a prominent figure in ECW, where he was known as “The Franchise” and held the company’s world title four times. His persona was marked by a brash and arrogant attitude.

There have been claims that Triple H may have drawn inspiration from Douglas when he redefined his WWE character in the late 1990s. However, while speaking with Conrad Thompson on the Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross downplayed these comparisons.

Ross remarked that while he had heard vague references to the idea, he wasn’t convinced of its accuracy. He noted that Triple H was seen as the next great heel, a role he fulfilled brilliantly, achieving significant success and drawing substantial revenue for WWE. According to Ross, he never perceived a direct connection between Triple H’s character and Shane Douglas.

“I have heard about it vaguely, Conrad, but I’m not sure how accurate that assessment is. I just thought it was a no-brainer. He was the next great heel, and that fact was proved out. He had an amazing run as that amazing character and he drew a lot of money for WWE. He established himself as a main player, so I never picked up on the connectivity between Triple H and Shane Douglas.”

Triple H and Shane Douglas worked together in WWE during the same period in the 1990s, but they never crossed paths. Regardless, Triple H’s heel gimmick will always be known as one of the best in the business and that’s never changing.

What’s your view on these allegations made against Triple H? Do you believe there is any merit to them? Sound off in the comments section below!