Question about Triple H...?

Do people realize that Triple H started in the WWE in 1995, won the 1997 King of the Ring (was supposed to win KOTR 96, but was buried b/c of the MSG incident), won the IC & European titles in 96-99, got over hugely as the leader of DX, won his first WWF title in 99, retired Mick Foley, main evented WM 2000? All of this occurred well before he started dating Stephanie McMahon. My question is: why do people say that Triple H gained main event status because of his marriage? I can see why people might mistake his prolonged championship reigns after 2000-2001 to his relationship with Stephanie, but you also have to admit that he had the most heat of any other main eventer at the time.