Chris Jericho recalls 2001 WWE tag match and Triple H injury

Chris Jericho recently recounted the emotional volatility of a May 21, 2001, WWE Raw tag team match in which he and Chris Benoit defeated Steve Austin and Triple H to win the WWE Tag Team Championships. While the match was met with an electric audience reaction, the victory was overshadowed by a severe injury to Triple H.

During an appearance on ‘Wrestling Observer Radio’, Jericho described how the night shifted from a career peak to professional deflation. Triple H suffered a torn quadriceps during the bout but insisted on finishing the match. The injury sidelined Triple H for eight months and forced an immediate overhaul of WWE’s long-term creative plans.

The original booking intended for Jericho to enter a program with Triple H, while Steve Austin was slated to defend the WWE Championship against Benoit. Following the injury, the direction changed, leading to a three-way dynamic where both Jericho and Benoit challenged Austin for the title at King of the Ring.