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Lore Feed
Career-altering injury

Triple H Tears His Quad (2001)

May 21, 2001 Raw (WWF) San Jose, California

On May 21, 2001, Triple H tore his left quadriceps muscle off the bone in the middle of a Raw tag team title match. He finished the bout on one leg, then spent roughly eight months out of action. The injury broke up the Two-Man Power Trip at the peak of its run.

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What happened

Triple H and Steve Austin had spent the spring of 2001 as the Two-Man Power Trip, holding the WWF Championship, Intercontinental Championship, and Tag Team Championship between them. On the May 21 Raw, they defended the tag titles against Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho.

Late in the match, Triple H's left quadriceps tore completely off the bone. He stayed in the match and finished it, but the damage required surgery and a rehabilitation that kept him out until his return in January 2002. The Power Trip ended that night, and Benoit and Jericho left as tag team champions.

The injury and the comeback became part of Triple H's legend. His return at Madison Square Garden in 2002 drew one of the loudest ovations of the era.

Wrestlers in this moment

FAQ

When did Triple H tear his quad?
Triple H tore his left quadriceps on the May 21, 2001 episode of Raw, during a tag team title match teaming with Steve Austin against Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho.
How long was Triple H out after the quad injury?
Triple H was out of action for roughly eight months. He returned in January 2002 to a major ovation and went on to headline WrestleMania X8.
What was the Two-Man Power Trip?
The Two-Man Power Trip was the 2001 team of Triple H and Steve Austin, who together held the WWF, Intercontinental, and Tag Team Championships. It ended the night Triple H tore his quad.