Why Triple H Has Jealousy With Hulk Hogan? The main feud leading into Backlash on the SmackDown! brand involved Undisputed WWF Champion Triple H and Hollywood Hulk Hogan over the Undisputed WWF Championship. On the April 4 episode of SmackDown!, Mr. McMahon named Hogan the number one contender to the title at Backlash. Later that night, Hogan came out in red and yellow for the first time since returning to the WWF in order to talk about the match, with Triple H saying he would not back down. On the April 11 episode of SmackDown!, Hogan came out to help Edge chase off Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle after Edge fought Jericho. Later on, Triple H fought against Angle as Jericho interfered. Hogan came out to help Triple H to win the match, only for Angle to push Triple H at Hogan after the match, making Hogan attack Triple H and get taken out by Jericho and Angle. On the April 18 episode of SmackDown!, Hogan confronted Jericho as Angle came to help Jericho, prompting Edge to run for the save. In the main event, Jericho and Angle fought Hogan and Triple H, as Hogan accidentally hit Triple H with a steel chair. After the match, Triple H hit Hogan with the chair. On the same night, it was confirmed that if Triple H lost his title match, he would be drafted to the SmackDown! brand
According to the April 29, 2002 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the decision to put the championship on Hogan at that year’s Backlash show was a last minute decision that was not finalized until the day of the show. Though there was an understanding that when he re-signed he would likely be turned face and win the championship at some point, the crowd reaction at Wrestlemania XVIII likely sped things up.
They had a staredown as the bell rang to start the match. They locked up a few times with each man shoving the other man back into the corner. The fans were chanting for Hogan as they locked up again leading to Hogan shoving Hunter into the turnbuckle again. They did a test of strength battle for about two minutes that was straight out of a Hogan match from decades earlier. Hunter applied a wristlock, Hogan powered out of it and Hogan hit a running shoulder tackle to knock Hunter down. They did lockup by the turnbuckle, Hunter broke free and hit a slap to the face so Hunter was a bit heelish since the fans were more behind Hogan in the match. Hunter did a blatant choke in the corner. Hogan came back with a back body drop, two clotheslines and he worked over Hunter with punches along with his own blatant choking. Hogan did the ten-punch combo in the corner with the fans chanting along. Hunter bounced off the ropes with an elbow to the head. JR put over hunter for being more multi-faceted in terms of being an in-ring technician compared to Hogan. In other words, Hunter was better in the ring and that’s true. Anyway, Hogan did a back body drop over the top to the floor. Hogan whipped Hunter into the barricade. Referee Earl Hebner left the ring instead of counting them out. Hogan delivered a suplex on the floor. Way to bust out the move-set, Hulkster. Hogan with an eye rake, Hunter got a hold of Hogan and sent him into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Hunter did a hard whip into the turnbuckle. Hunter teased a Pedigree that was never going to happen, Hogan countered and did a catapult sending Hunter into the turnbuckle. Hunter sold that well leading to Hogan getting a two count. Hogan hit a running clothesline in the corner. Hogan with another clothesline and then Hulk hit a running neckbreaker that was like a Diamond Cutter (later known as an RKO) for a two count. Hunter slipped out of a move from Hogan leading to Hunter doing a chop block to the back of the left knee. Hunter clipped the back of the left knee again. Hunter rammed Hogan’s left knee against the ring apron along with the ring post. Hogan was wearing a big brace on the left knee, so Hunter sent the knee into the ring post again.
Hunter went back to Hogan with punches, which led to Hogan doing his Hulking Up routine, Hogan did the finger-pointing, the blocked punch, then multiple punches by Hogan, a boot to the face by Hogan and a leg drop attempt, but Hunter moved and Hogan hit the mat. Hunter ducked a clothesline, Hunter with a kick to the gut and Hunter hit a Pedigree. Earl Hebner did a slow count to two, but then Undertaker showed up to punch Hebner with Taker holding a chair. Undertaker hit Triple H in the head with a chair with Hunter using his hand to block it. Hogan fought back against Undertaker with a clothesline over the top to the floor. Hogan went over to Hunter and hit a leg drop with Hebner counting the one…two…and three. It went 22:04. JR: “We have witnessed a rebirth of Hulkamania! @kdh7004 #viralvideo #hulkhogan #tripleh