Wrestling superstar triple H a vampire? Hunter Hearst Helmsley takes M & F behind the scenes of his wild Hollywood ride

Muscle & Fitness, May, 2004 by Michael Berg

M & F In October you married Stephanie McMahon [who works behind the scenes at the WWE and is also a regular on-camera personality]. Is it better or worse for your relationship that you're both in the same business?

HUNTER The nice thing for us is we share a passion. She works harder than I do, than anybody I know. She's very driven and goal-oriented, and I admire that. It helps that we can relate to everything that happens to us. She understands what I'm going through on the road, and I understand what she's going through at the office.

M & F What do you two do to relax?

HUNTER Sleep [laughs]. When you're home so little, when you get there you like to stay. One of my favorite things to do with Steph is to be lazy around the house for the day, get dressed up that night and go out to a nice dinner, then go home and watch a movie. Also, when I have time off, I like to go to the gym. Believe it or not, for me, training is relaxation.

M & F How much longer do you see yourself wrestling?

HUNTER If you had asked me four years ago how long I have left, I'd have said forever. Then I tore my quad. It changes your perspective. Now I'm realistic. I still think I have a long time, but I understand that if I do get injured, it can all stop. I'm not going to look that gift horse in the mouth anymore. I'm going to enjoy every moment.

RELATED ARTICLE: MAY 1995: Debuted in WWF (now WWE) as Hunter Hearst Helmsley >> OCT. 1996: Won 1st Intercontinental title >> SEPT. 1997: Formed DX with Shawn Michaels >> AUG. 1999: Defeated Mankind on Raw to win 1st WWF World Title >> FEB. 2000: Beat Mick Foley in a classic Hell in a Cell match >> MAY 2000: Beat The Rock to win his 4th WWF title >> MAY 2001: Tore his quad in a match; had surgery 3 days later to repair it >> JAN. 2002: Returned to wrestling after extensive rehab >> MAR. 2002: Won undisputed WWE title from Chris Joricho >> FEB. 2003: Formed "Evolution" with Ric Flair, Batista and Randy Orton >> SEPT. 2003: Production began on Blade: Trinity, in which Hunter has his 1st major movie role >> OCT. 2003: Married Stephanie McMahon FINISH

RELATED ARTICLE: HHH

REAL NAME: Paul Michael Levesque

BIRTHDATE: July 27, 1969

BIRTHPLACE: Nashua, New Hampshire

RESIDENCE: New Hampshire & Connecticut

HEIGHT: 6'4"

WEIGHT: 250-265 pounds

WEBSITE: www.wwe.com

WRESTLING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Debuted in the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment) in May 1995. Since then, he has won numerous championship belts, including the WWE, World Heavyweight, Intercontinental, European and Tag Team titles, and was the 1997 King of the Ring.

RELATED ARTICLE: TRIPLE THREAT WORKOUT

HUNTER COMPLETES THESE FOUR WORKOUTS EVERY WEEK (THOUGH THE ACTUAL DAYS OF THE WEEK CHANGE, DEPENDING UPON HIS SCHEDULE).

DAY 1 CHEST, DELTS & TRAPS

EXERCISE                               SETS  REPS

Incline or Flat-Bench Barbell Press*   4**   15-10
Incline or Flat-Bench Dumbbell Press*  2     15-10
Incline Dumbbell Flye                  2     15-10
Pec-Deck, Flat-Bench Flye              2     15-10
  or Cable Crossover
Dumbbell or Smith-Machine Press        3     15-10
Dumbbell Lateral Raise                 2     15-10
Dumbbell or Barbell Shrug              3     15-10
Neck Machine (two sets to the front,   4     12
  two to the back)

* If he does incline first, he'll do flat second and vice versa.
** Includes one warm-up set with the bar.

DAY 2 LEGS

EXERCISE                      SETS  REPS

Leg Extension                 3     20-12
Leg Press or Hack Squat       3     20-12
Walking Lunge                 3     20-12
Lying Leg Curl                3     20-12
Seated or Standing Leg Curl,  3     20-12
  or Romanian Deadlift
Standing Calf Raise           3     20-12
Seated Calf Raise             2     20-12
  or Donkey Calf Raise

DAY 3 BACK & REAR DELTS

EXERCISE                                 SETS  REPS

Machine or Dumbbell Pullover,            3     15-10
  or Pull-Up
Pulldown to Front (close, neutral grip)  2     15-10
Bent-Over or T-Bar Row                   2     15-10
One-Arm Dumbbell Row or Seated Row       2     15-10
Quarter-Rep Deadlift*                    3     15-10
  or Roman Chair Extension
Reverse Pec-Deck Flye                    2     15-10
  or Bent-Over Cable Lateral Raise
Bent-Over Dumbbell Lateral Raise         2     15-10

* Instead of lowering the barbell to the floor on each rep, he lowers
only to upper-shin level.

DAY 4 ARMS

EXERCISE                          SETS  REPS

Standing EZ-Bar Curl              3     15-10
Standing Alternate Dumbbell Curl  2     15-10
EZ-Bar Preacher Curl              2     15-10
Dip or Close-Grip Bench Press     3     15-10
Straight-Bar Cable Pressdown      2     15-10
Lying EZ-Bar French Press         2     15-10