An indelible memory of the 90s kids has been watching WWE. Big money wrestlers such as Undertaker, Kane, Rey Mysterio, John Cena Batista, etc. have all made our childhoods unforgettable. However, one name always stood out and that was Triple H aka The Game aka Paul Levesque. Thus, in what comes as a shocker, Triple H, putting the rumor mills to rest, on Friday announced his retirement from the professional wrestling entertainment industry – effectively drawing curtains on a 30-year-old career and bringing an end to a colorful era.
BREAKING: @TripleH announced his retirement from in-ring competition on @espn @firsttake with @stephenasmith. pic.twitter.com/qnyw9NVtv4
— WWE (@WWE) March 25, 2022
The retirement announcement from Triple H comes in the backdrop of health complications that he suffered last year. Reportedly, Paul went into a cardiac arrest in September 2021, which forced him to take time some time off from the ring duties.
According to Paul’s medical bulletin, the heart problem was triggered due to a previously undetected genetic condition. The issue had to be treated with subsequent surgery, after which he was expected to make a full recovery. However, as is the case with most cardiac issues, the problem persisted and didn’t allow Triple H to step back into the ring.
I will never wrestle again: Triple H
Talking about the retirement, Paul said, “I will never wrestle again. First of all, I have a defibrillator in my chest, which, you know, probably not a good idea for me to get zapped on live TV.”
Paul further explained the chain of events when he had the cardiac arrest, “I had viral pneumonia. My lungs were inflamed and as the next couple of days went on and I got home it got increasingly worse. My wife saw some blood and stuff that I was coughing up. I went and got checked and it was coming from the viral pneumonia. I had fluid in my lungs. I had some fluid around my heart.”
Deteriorating health, family and kids meant I had to take the call: Triple H
He added, “So, they followed up on it. Did an EKG and echo and everything and basically the way your heart pumps out 55-65% of your ejection fraction is a good number. I was at 30 and I got a quick text message saying, ‘Don’t take time. Pack a bag real quick, head to the emergency room. I’ll fill you in on the way,”
Levesque said doctors told him his heart was working at a fraction of full strength and he was in ‘bad’ heart failure, “I was nose-diving and sort of at the 1-yard line of where you don’t want to be really, for your family and your future. We have 3 young girls – 15, 13, 11. You know, suddenly I come home. I’m a little bit sick and their dad who’s strong always suddenly is in the hospital. There are moments in there when they’re putting you out for stuff and you think, ‘Is this it? Do you wake up from this?’ That’s tough to swallow and makes you think differently.”
A true WWE Hall of Famer
A 14-time world champion, Triple H started his wrestling career way back in 1992. Before jumping to WWE as Hunter Hearst Helmsley, he was with World Championship wrestling for two years. In 1997, he started the infamous faction D-Generation X with WWE Hall of Famer and best friend Shawn Michaels.
Triple H’s last match took place on an untelevised card in Tokyo on June 29, 2019. His last televised match was a few weeks earlier — June 7, 2019 — against longtime rival Randy Orton in Saudi Arabia.
Triple H last two matches of his Career were against Batista and Randy Orton
A perfect way to go out pic.twitter.com/UxD5BjxbVF
— RagelessGamer (@RagelessGamer) March 25, 2022
His retirement has surely made WWE fans reminisce the nostalgia days as another big part of their childhood has retired. If not the wrestling ring, the WWE aficionados will perhaps like to see him stay with WWE and work behind the scenes to promote the entertainment sport.
