Wrestling icon Paul Michael Levesque, better known by his ring name Triple H, officially announced his retirement today, March 25.
The 52-year-old wrestler and businessman announced his decision today after contemplating returning to wrestling, following a health scare that occurred in September 2021. The scare involved Levesque being rushed to the hospital with heart failure and viral pneumonia.
Levesque opened up on Stephen A. Smith’s ESPN show First Take, telling of his traumatic experience and it leading to his decision to retire. “As far as in-ring, which I get [asked] a lot, I’m done. I won’t ever wrestle again. First of all, I have a defibrillator in my chest; it’s probably not a good idea for me to get zapped on live TV.”
“I was nose-diving, and sort of at the one-yard line of where you don’t want to be for your family and your future,” Levesque told Smith. “There’s [sic] moments when you think ‘This is it.’ Do you wake up?’ That’s tough to swallow, and it makes you think differently…it makes you feel differently about life. It doesn’t make you any less driven for the things that you do, but it certainly makes you appreciate what you have more.”
BREAKING: @TripleH announced his retirement from in-ring competition on @espn @firsttake with @stephenasmith. pic.twitter.com/qnyw9NVtv4
— WWE (@WWE) March 25, 2022
Triple H is one of the most accomplished wrestlers of all time, making his debut over thirty years ago in 1990. Since that time, he has amassed 14 world titles, including being a three-time tag team champion and five-time intercontinental champion. He has also become a company executive and is married to Stephanie McMahon, the daughter of WWE CEO and legend Vince McMahon.
It is undeniable that the WWE has had a profound impact on sports and entertainment fans across the world for generations, and with Triple H retiring, a piece of them is going as well. We wish him the best in his retirement and future endeavors.
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