10 shocking moments from WWE 2002

#8 Triple H turns on Shawn Michaels

Ultimate betrayal.

When Shawn Michaels returned to in-ring action in 2002, there was something of a 'Darth Vader and Obi Wan' dynamic going on between him and his former DX partner Triple H. When Shawn left, Triple H was the apprentice, now he was very much the master.

It made sense for the partnership to be revived on HBK's return seeing as the two were so closely associated with each other back in 1998. Shawn had initially become a surprise member of the NWO, joining Kevin Nash and Big Show.

For a while, it seemed as though the group had intentions of recruiting the Game in an attempt to reform the Kliq faction that ruled the WWF for a period of time between 94-96. This particular angle didn't go anywhere, however, but after the NWO was disbanded, Shawn and Hunter would eventually cross paths.

After initially looking like the pair had reformed DX, Triple H decided he would show Michaels just how much things had changed since he left. In the middle of the 'Suck it!' taunt, made famous by the pair back in 97, Triple H turned on his best friend and delivered a Pedigree.

This began a feud that lasted for a lengthy period, starting with Shawn's first in-ring match since Wrestlemania 14, meeting the Game at Summerslam in an unsanctioned street fight. It's clear the two have great chemistry inside and outside the ring and 2002 was certainly a strong example of this.