Triple H

At 55 years old, Triple H has this physical status:

Paul Michael Levesque (born July 27, 1969), better known by the ring name Triple H, is an American business executive, professional wrestler, and actor.

He has been the Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative for WWE since 2013, as well as being the founder and senior producer of NXT. Levesque was born and raised in Nashua, New Hampshire, and began his professional wrestling career in 1992 with the International Wrestling Federation (IWF) under the ring name Terra Ryzing.

In 1994, he joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he was soon repackaged as a French-Canadian aristocrat named Jean-Paul Lévesque, and was later repackaged in 1995 when he signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), where he became Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and later, Triple H.In WWF, Triple H gained industry fame after co-founding the influential D-Generation X stable, which became a major element of the "Attitude Era" in the 1990s.

After winning his first WWF Championship in 1999, he became a fixture of the company's main event scene, and was widely regarded as the best wrestler in North America by the turn of the millennium.

Triple H has headlined several major WWE pay-per-view events, closing the company's flagship annual event, WrestleMania, seven times.Triple H has also won a number of championships in his career, being a five-time Intercontinental Champion, a three-time world tag team champion (two World Tag Team Championship reigns, and one Unified WWE Tag Team Championship reign), a two-time European Champion, and a fourteen-time world champion, making him the company's seventh Triple Crown Champion and second Grand Slam Champion.

He is also a two-time Royal Rumble match winner, and a King of the Ring tournament winner.

Later in his career, Triple H gained notability for his behind-the-scenes work at WWE, founding the developmental branch NXT, and gaining praise for his business acumen in professional wrestling.Outside of wrestling, Triple H has been a figure of substantial media attention due to his marriage to Stephanie McMahon, daughter of Vince and Linda McMahon, who are majority owners of WWE.

In 2019, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the D-Generation X stable.

Early life

Paul Michael Levesque was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, on July 27, 1969. He has a sister named Lynn. Levesque watched his first wrestling match, involving Chief Jay Strongbow, when he was young. He attended Nashua South High School, where he played baseball and basketball. Following his graduation in 1987, Levesque continued to enter bodybuilding competitions—having taken up bodybuilding at the age of 14 because he wanted to look like the professional wrestlers he saw on television—and won the 1988 Mr. Teenage New Hampshire competition at the age of 19. While working as a manager of a gym in Nashua, he was introduced to world champion powerlifter Ted Arcidi, who was employed by WWE at the time. Eventually, after numerous attempts, Levesque persuaded Arcidi to introduce him to former wrestler Killer Kowalski, who ran a professional wrestling school in Malden, Massachusetts.

Personal life

From 1996 to 2000, Levesque was in a relationship with fellow wrestler Joan "Chyna" Laurer. What began as an on-screen storyline marriage in 2000 became a real-life romance when Levesque began dating Stephanie McMahon. They were married in Sleepy Hollow, New York, on October 25, 2003. They have three daughters: Aurora Rose Levesque (born 2006), Murphy Claire Levesque (born 2008), and Vaughn Evelyn Levesque (born 2010).

In 2004, Levesque released the book Making the Game: Triple H's Approach to a Better Body. It is mostly devoted to bodybuilding advice with some autobiographical information, memoirs, and opinions.

A lifelong teetotaler, Levesque was automatically the designated driver in the 1990s when partying with wrestlers such as Shawn Michaels and Kevin Nash, who were well known for their alcohol and drug use. He is an avid fan of English rock band Motörhead, who performed three different entrance themes for him over his career, and was good friends with the band's frontman Lemmy until Lemmy's death in December 2015. He sported Lemmy-inspired facial hair during the early 2000s and spoke at Lemmy's funeral on January 9, 2016. His other close friends include NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He is a supporter of English football team West Ham United FC.

In September 2021, WWE reported that Levesque underwent a procedure at Yale New Haven Hospital following a "cardiac event" caused by a genetic heart issue. Two months later, unnamed inside sources told wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer that the incident was "very, very, very serious". During an appearance on First Take on March 25, 2022, Levesque gave his first interview since being hospitalized. He revealed that he had viral pneumonia and inflamed lungs, which worsened over time. He said that Stephanie noticed he was coughing up blood, and doctors subsequently discovered fluid in his lungs and around his heart; they informed him that his heart was working at a fraction of its full strength and that he was in a "bad" state of heart failure. He also said there were moments where he thought he would die and confirmed that the event forced his retirement: "I was nose-diving and sort of at the one-yard line of where you don't want to be really, for your family and your future. [...] 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."

Source

Professional wrestling career

Levesque began training as a professional wrestler at Killer Kowalski's Malden's school in early 1990. Chyna and Perry Saturn, two future WWF wrestlers, were among his classmates. He made his professional debut in Kowalski's promotion, the International Wrestling Federation (IWF), on March 24, 1992, defeating Tony Roy and retiring Tony Roy. He defeated Mad Dog Richard in the IWF Heavyweight Championship in July 1992. He competed for various promotions on the East Coast independent circuit before 1993, led by John Rodeo.

Levesque joined World Championship Wrestling in early 1994 (WCW). Levesque debuted as Terror Risin' in his first televised match, defeating Keith Cole. His ring name was soon changed to Terra Ryzing, which he used until mid-1994, when he was renamed Jean-Paul Lévesque. This gimmick related to his surname's French roots, and he was asked to speak with a French accent because he could not speak French. He began using the Pedigree, his finishing device, during this period. Lévesque had a brief feud with Alex Wright that culminated in his death with Wright pinning him at Starrcade. Lévesque briefly collaborated with Lord Steven Regal, whose upper-class British persona was similar to Lévesque's. The team was short-lived. Lévesque had previously spoken with Vince McMahon to discuss moving to the World Wrestling Federation, but it did not result in him being employed by the organization. After McMahon watched Lévesque's Starrcade match, a work offer was made and Levesque left for the WWF in January 1995.

Levesque began his WWF career as a "Connecticut Blueblood" in a redesigned version of his gimmick in WCW. J. Dillon had given him the name Reginald DuPont Helmsley when he first appeared in letters, but Levesque requested for a name to play with the first letters and ultimately agreed with Hunter Hearst Helmsley's. He appeared in taped vignettes, in which he talked about proper etiquette from beginning to his wrestling debut against Buck Zumhofe on April 30, 1995. Helmsley was allowed to compete in the first round against Ray Apollo at the Boston Garden, giving him the opportunity to perform in front of his father. Helmsley made his WWF pay-per-view debut at SummerSlam, where he defeated Bob Holly. Helmsley began a feud with hog farmer Henry O. Godwinn in the fall of 1995, resulting in a tense Hog Pen match at In Your House 5: Seasons Beatings, where Helmsley was victorious.

Though Helmsley was highly praised in the first few months after his debut, his career stalled in 1996, beginning with a contest with Duke "The Dumpster" Droese following a loss during the 1996 Royal Rumble. Helmsley was forced to play in the Royal Rumble match in the top position due to the stipulation of this loss. He started off against former rival Henry Godwinn, who was on the verge of being eliminated by Diesel. His appeal ran up to the occasion, with a new female valet on television every week (which included Playboy Playmates Shae Marks and Tylyn John). Sable was his valet at WrestleMania XII, and after losing to The Ultimate Warrior as part of the storyline, he unleashed his violence on her. Marc Mero, the debuting Marc Mero – her real-life husband – came to her rescue, sparking a feud between the two wrestlers.

Hunter appeared on a match against Marty Garner on June 1, 1996, on a show called Superstars. Garner mistook the plan for a double underhook suplex and sprangled out of the situation, causing him to land squarely on top of his head and suffer neck injury. Garner sued the WWF, eventually settling out of court and later discussing the incident in a match on The Montel Williams Show.

He was known backstage as one of The Kliq's stable of wrestlers, including Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman, and Scott Hall, who were known for influencing Vince McMahon and the WWF creative team. It has been predicted that he would win the 1996 King of the Ring tournament, but Stone Cold Steve Austin was instead proclaimed winner after the Madison Square Garden Incident, in which the Kliq broke character after a match to say good riddance to the departing Nash and Hall. Despite the discipline, Helmsley had a blast after the MSG Incident. Mr. Luca is a comedian who plays football. Perfect became his boss and he won the Intercontinental Championship for the first time on October 21, 1996, defeating Marc Mero. When Mr.'s time, Mr. Perfect left the WWF, with Helmsley turning his back on his boss as soon as he took the Intercontinental Championships. Helmsley dominated the sport for nearly four months before relining it to Rocky Maivia on the Sunday Night Raw special episode on Monday Night Raw on February 13, 1997. For a short time, Helmsley was joined by Mr. Hughes, who was his storyline bodyguard reminiscent of Ted DiBiase and Virgil. He feuded with Goldust after losing the Intercontinental Cup, eventually defeating him at WrestleMania 13. Chyna debuted as his new bodyguard during their feud.

Helmsley was once more in 1997, winning the 1997 King of the Ring tournament by defeating Mankind in the finals. Shawn Michaels, Helmsley, Chyna, and Rick Rude formed D-Generation X later this year. (D-X) This stable came to a point of pushing the envelope as Michaels and Helmsley launched risqué advertisements, with the catch "Itch chop" hand motion as the main point—and sarcastically mocked Bret Hart and Canada. Helmsley had just about scrapped the "blueblood snob" trend, which had been seen in T-shirts and leather jackets by that time. During this time, his ring name was changed to simply Triple H, although he was still called Helmsley from time to time and Hunter for the remainder of his career. Even after the D-X versus Hart Foundation storyline ended, he continued to compete with Owen, the sole remaining Hart family member, over the European Championship. At WrestleMania XIV, Chyna had to be handcuffed to then-Commissioner Sgt, resulting in a match between the two teams. Slaughter. Triple H triumphed after Chyna threw powder into Slaughter's eyes, momentarily "blinding" him and encouraging her to participate in the match.

Shawn Michaels was forced into temporary retirement due to a legitimate back injury sustained at the Royal Rumble, with Triple H taking over the leadership position in Washington, D-X, after WrestleMania. The returning X-Pac was introduced the night after WrestleMania and The New Age Outlaws joined forces. D-X became more popular as 1998 evolved, from villains to fan favorites. "Are you able?" the crowd erupted during this moment, he introduced an entrance gimmick.

I said, are you ready?

"Let's get ready to rumble," rival promotion WCW's ring announcer Michael Buffer's catchphrased with the D-X slogan, is followed by a parody of rival promotion "suck it." Triple H also started a feud with the Nation of Domination's chief and a rising WWF villain named The Rock during this period. Triple H took the Internal Championship, which culminated in a ladder match at SummerSlam, which culminated in a feud. He did not retain the title for long because he was sidelined with a legitimate knee injury. As The Rock won the WWF Championship at Survivor Series, a rivalry between the two sides raged as D-X continued, with Triple H vs. Kane or the Rock, the main actor, being forced to leave or see his aide Chyna choked. Chyna betrayed him by attacking him after the match and joining The Corporation, launching Triple H.

Triple H defeated Kane in WrestleMania XV after Chyna intervened on his behalf, and she was reported to have revived the D-X. He betrayed his long-time friend and fellow D-X participant X-Pac by assisting Shane McMahon in retaining the European Championship and joined The Corporation later in the evening. In the process, the person is turning heel. He started to move away from his D-X appearance in April, tapping his fists for matches, sporting new and shorter wrestling trunks, and opting for a shorter hairstyle. As he sought to win a WWF Championship spot, his gymick changed. Triple H and Mankind defeated then WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin in a triple threat match at SummerSlam, with Jesse "The Body" Ventura as the special guest referee after failing to win the championship. Mankind won the match by defeating Austin. Triple H defeated Mankind to win his first WWF Championship the following night. On the September 16, 1999 episode of SmackDown, he dropped the WWF Championship to Mr. McMahon. Davey Boy Smith, Big Show, Kane, The Rock and Mankind were among the six-Pack Challengers winning it before regaining it at Unforgiven. He defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin at No Mercy before losing the title to the Big Show at Survivor Series. Triple H retaliated with Mr. McMahon, marrying his daughter Stephanie McMahon and defeating McMahon at Armageddon. As a result of the feud, the WWF's involvement with Triple H and Stephanie began, and the WWF's continued presence in the next ten months was known as The McMahon-Helmsley Faction.

Triple H had dubbed himself "The Game" by January 2000 after stating that he was not really the best in the game, but rather "the game" itself) and was dubbed "The Cerebral Assassin" by Jim Ross. Triple H won his third WWF championship on January 3rd episode of Raw Is War.

In early 2000, Triple H feuded with Mick Foley. They both competed in a Street Fight Match for the WWF Championship, which Triple H won after appearing two Pedigrees on Foley. Triple H retained the title and compelled Foley to leave, and the feud came to an end in a Hell in a Cell. Triple H pinned The Rock at WrestleMania 2000 to keep the title, but Backlash to The Rock brought the flame to an end, putting his reign to an end at 118 days. In an Iron Man match at Judgment Day, he recovered it three weeks later, but he lost it to The Rock at King of the Ring. Triple H then began a storyline with Chris Jericho, who stunned Triple H by defeating him in the WWF Championship on the April 17 episode of Raw Is War before the title was regained to Triple H due to a fast count established by referee Earl Hebner, and Jericho's reign is yet to be acknowledged. Triple H. fought at Fully Loaded, which was won by Triple H, but then as a love triangle between himself, Angle, and Stephanie. Both Triple H and Angle competed for the WWF Championship against The Rock at SummerSlam, but Angle retained the title after Angle received a validating Pedigree on a commentary table by Triple H.

Triple H returned to his heel persona and revived his rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin after it was revealed that Triple H paid Rikishi to run down Austin at Survivor Series, causing him to miss a year off. Though Triple H said he did it in order to keep Austin from the WWF Championship and put an end to his career, Austin's previous neck injuries began bothering him, requiring him to have surgery. Triple H and Austin had a match at Survivor Series in November 2000, but they were forced to coerce Austin to come out and run him over again, only to have Austin lift his vehicle with a forklift and flip the car onto its roof 10 feet high. Triple H returned to Austin a few weeks later, and their feud continued into 2001 and culminated in a Three Stages of Hell match at No Way Out in which Triple H defeated Austin 2–1. Triple H feuded with The Undertaker in 2001, who defeated him at WrestleMania X-Seven. Triple H interfered in a steel cage match between Austin (who had just won the WWF Championship) and The Rock, where he teamworked with Austin and double teamed on The Rock, forming The Two-Man Power Trip. Triple H defeated Chris Jericho for his third Intercontinental Championship on April 5 SmackDown, then went for a fourth time two weeks later by defeating Jeff Hardy. Triple H made history by winning the WWF Tag Team Championship for the first time at Backlash, defeating Kane and The Undertaker in a "Winner Take All" tag team match. Triple H was still the Intercontinental Champion, and the victory made him the double champion. Triple H became the seventh Triple Crown champion and second Grand Slam champion in WWE history in doing so.

He sustained a serious and career-threatening injury during a Raw Is War episode on May 21, 2001. He and Austin were defending the WWF Tag Team Championship against Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit in the night's main event. Austin was trapped in the Walls of Jericho and Triple H rushed to break it up at one point, but he suffered a tear in his left quadriceps muscle, causing it to break completely off the bone. Despite his inability to place any weight on his leg, Triple H was able to complete the game. He even permitted Jericho to put him in the Walls of Jericho, putting a strain on the quadriceps. The tear, which was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, necessitated an operation. Triple H's tragic recovery process kept him out of action for more than eight months, completely missing the Invasion storyline.

On January 7, 2002, Triple H returned to Raw as a star at Madison Square Garden. He won the Royal Rumble and also earned an Undisputed WWF Championship match at WrestleMania X8, where Triple H defeated Chris Jericho for the Undisputed WWF Championship. Triple H lost it to Hollywood Hulk Hogan at Backlash after being in control of the title for a month. Triple H debuted on the SmackDown in a previous iteration! Due to the WWF draft lottery, the team began to feud with Jericho, culminating in a Hell in a Cell match on Judgment Day, which Triple H defeated. Triple H defeated Hogan in a Top contender match for the WWE Undisputed Championship at King of the Ring against The Undertaker, but King of the Ring was dissatisfied.

The McMahon-Helmsley Faction came to an end in the interim between the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. Triple H's on-screen marriage to Stephanie McMahon was fading by the time he returned, so Stephanie faked a pregnancy in an attempt to reunite him. When he discovered it was fake, he slammed her on Raw when they were supposed to renew their wedding vows. Stephanie was on board with Jericho afterward, but she was forced to leave after losing a triple threat match on the March 25 episode of Raw when she was pinned by Triple H, but not by Triple H.

Shawn Michaels had returned to WWE and joined the New World Order, in the meantime. (nWo) Triple H was brought over to Raw by Michaels and Kevin Nash in order to integrate him into the gang. Following many backstage issues, Mr. McMahon disbanded the nWo, bringing in Eric Bischoff as the Raw general manager. One of Bischoff's first goals was to expand the nWo's scheme and bring Triple H over to the Raw roster. Triple H joined Vengeance as a uniting with Michaels on July 22, but he turned on Michaels on July 22 by staging a Pedigree on them during what was supposed to be a D-X reunion, turning heel once more. Michaels' face was smashed into a vehicle window by Triple H the following week, proving that Michaels was insecure. These activities launched a long storyline rivalry between the former partners and an eventual "Unsanctioned Street Fight" at SummerSlam, in which Michaels came out of retirement to win. Triple H was assaulted with a sledgehammer and was arrested from the ring on a stretcher, and he was escorted from the arena.

WWE Undisputed Champion for both the Raw and SmackDown was recognized until September 2, 2002. Brands are also known. WWE Undisputed Champion Brock Lesnar became the exclusive to the SmackDown after SummerSlam and then WWE Undisputed Champion Brock Lesnar became WWE Undisputed Champion. The brand is now without a world champion, leaving the Raw brand as a result of the global championship. Eric Bischoff, the Raw General Manager, was named Triple H the World Heavyweight Championship, a trademark worn by the Big Gold Belt before being named in the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, making him the first World Heavyweight Champion. When Ric Flair struck Van Dam with a sledgehammer, Triple H held his position against Rob Van Dam at Unforgiven.

Triple H launched a feud with Kane in October, resulting in a clash at No Mercy in which both Kane's Intercontinental Championship and Triple H's World Heavyweight Championship were in play. Triple H said in the weeks leading up to the match that Kane had an unrequited friendship with a woman named Katie Vick many years ago. Kane (the driver) assaulted Vick in a car accident, and he continued to insist that she had been stabbed. Triple H (dressed as Kane) simulating necrophilia with a mannequin in a casket later this week; Kane's tag team partner The Hurricane responded to Triple H's broadcast by revealing a video of Triple H (rather, someone wearing a Triple H series of masks) getting an enema. The angle was very unpopular among supporters and was de-emphasized ahead of the title match. Triple H defiant at No Mercy, unifying the two titles.

In the first Elimination Chamber match at Survivor Series, Triple H eventually lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Shawn Michaels. On the December 2nd episode of Raw, he defeated Van Dam with a title shot at Armageddon, with Michaels as the special guest referee. In a Three Stages of Hell match at Armageddon, he regained the title from Michaels, winning 2–1.

Triple H formed Evolution with Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista in February 2003. Rob Van Dam and Kane were battling for the World Tag Team Championship, but they were disqualified. Raw was pushed from 2003 to 2004, and the group's peak of their renownance occurred after Armageddon, where every Evolution member left the pay-per-view holding a title. Triple H was champion of the World Heavyweight Championships for the majority of 2003, winning over Booker T at WrestleMania XIX in a situation with racist undertones. In a match with the stipulation that if Goldberg lost, he would have to withdraw, he lost the championship after 280 days in September 2003. After losing the goldberg prize in a rematch at Survivor Series, he eventually regained the title from Goldberg in a triple threat match at Armageddon that also involved Kane after Evolution interfered. Triple H defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Shawn Michaels on December 29, but the match ended in a double pinfall. The two teams met in a Last Man Standing rematch at the 2004 Royal Rumble, where both failed to answer the ten count, so Triple H retained the title as a result. In a triple threat match involving Michaels, Triple H lost the championship to Chris Benoit at WrestleMania XX.

Triple H was drafted to the SmackDown!

On the 22nd episode of Raw, the brand failed to capture the WWE Championship from Eddie Guerrero. Triple H was sent back to Raw after struggling on SmackDown for the second time. Backlash, a backlash attempt by Benoit to regain the World Heavyweight title from him, but came out in a WrestleMania rematch against Benoit and Michaels, but it came out unsuccessful.

In a Cell match at Bad Blood, he brought an end to his feud with Michaels, defeating him in a Hell in a Cell match, which became the longest cell match in history. He then resumed his rivalry with Benoit, fighting him for the title at Vengeance and on a 60-Minute Iron Man match in a 60-Minute Iron Man match, losing both times after Eugene interfered and hit him with a steel chair. Eugene was defeated at SummerSlam by John Mayweather. Randy Orton, the night before he became the youngest world champion in WWE history, expressed indignation over Orton's title victory. After interference from Evolution, he regained the championship from Orton at Unfortun. Shawn Michaels was voted by the fans to face Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at Taboo on Tuesday, but Edge interfered. Batista, Edge, and Snitsky's team then met Orton's team of Orton, Benoit, Chris Jericho, and Maven in a traditional elimination tag team match that was lost after Orton was eliminated from Triple H. The World Heavyweight Championship, which began with a draw on November 29, 2004, became void for the first time after a triple threat World Heavyweight Championship defense against Benoit and Edge on November 29, 2004. Triple H defeated Orton following interference from Evolution, then defeated Orton at the Royal Rumble to keep the title and bring an end to their feud. Batista, his stablemate, won the 2005 Royal Rumble match that night, thereby earning a world championship match against WrestleMania 21. Triple H and Batista developed tensions in the weeks leading up to the pay-perview match as Triple H attempted to convince Batista to compete for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania rather than the World Heavyweight Championship. Batista turned on Triple H and signed a World Heavyweight Championship against WrestleMania on February 21. Triple H lost the championship to Batista and then lost two rematches at Backlash and Vengeance in a Hell in a Cell match at the second tournament (where Batista became the first man to pin Triple H inside the Cell). Triple H took a hiatus from WWE after Vengeance due to minor neck pains.

Triple H returned to Raw on October 3, 2005 as part of WWE Homecoming, after a four-month absence. Chris Masters and Carlito defeated him along with fellow Evolutionist Flair. Triple H was on Flair hitting Flair with a sledgehammer after the match, sparking a feud between the two teams. In a steel cage match at Taboo on Tuesday for the Flair's Intercontinental Championship, Flair defeated Triple H in a steel cage match. Triple H defeated Flair in a non-title Last Man Standing match at Survivor Series, bringing an end to their feud.

As he started to get cheers from a live audience, Triple H began to act like a tweener by this time. Despite Triple H's inability to win the Royal Rumble match at the Royal Rumble, another championship opportunity arose for the Road to WrestleMania Tournament. He won the tournament, guaranteeing him a spot in the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 22, where Triple H and John Cena fought in the main event for the title, which Triple H lost via submission. The crowdbooed Cena in this match, but Triple H erupted in applause. Triple H was also involved in another WWE Championship match later this month, defeating Edge and Cena in a triple threat match, where he lost once more. Angered over his loss, a bloodied Triple H mounted his sledgehammer to assault both Edge and Cena, as well as a number of D-X crotch chops. Triple H failed to win the WWE championship from Cena on several occasions, blaming Vince McMahon's inexperience, which culminated in a feud between the McMahons and Triple H.

Shawn Michaels appeared on Raw on June 12 and then reunited with Triple H to re-form D-Generation X, the first time since 2002. In a 5-on-2 handicap match, the Spirit Squad at Vengeance defeated D-X. For several weeks, the pair, Mr. McMahon, Shane McMahon, and The Spirit Squad fought for several weeks. They then defeated The Spirit Squad in a 5-on-2 elimination match on Saturday Night's Main Event XXIII. They then defeated the McMahons at SummerSlam, despite several wrestlers who assaulted them before the match was called by Mr. McMahon. D-X won the McMahons and ECW World Champion Big Show in a Cell match at Unforgiven, D-X. D-X embarrassed Vince by shoving his face between the Big Show's buttocks, and D-X won when Triple H slammed Mr. McMahon's shoulders after Michaels appeared on Sweet Chin Music.

During D-X's rivalry with Rated-RKO, special guest referee Eric Bischoff allowed Rated-RKO to win by cyber Sunday. D-X got their revenge after losing to Edge and Orton's side in a clean sweep during their five-on-five elimination match at Survivor Series. Triple H suffered a legitimate torn right quadriceps (similar to the one he suffered in 2001 in his other leg) 15 minutes into the match, battling to a no contest in January 2007. Dr. James Andrews' surgery was a success on January 9, 2007.

Triple H made his return to SummerSlam, where he defeated King Booker. Triple H was supposed to face Umaga in a singles match two months later at No Mercy. Triple H faced recently named WWE Champion Randy Orton, reigniting his rivalry with Orton after his injury. Triple H won his 11th world championship and sixth WWE Championship, as well as defending his title against Umaga in a regular scheduled match after Mr. McMahon announced the match to be for the WWE championship. After that, McMahon gave Orton a rematch against Triple H in a Last Man Standing match in the main tournament, but Triple H lost due to a RKO on a broadcast table. Triple H's reign at No Mercy is the fifth in WWE history, although it only lasted for the event. Triple H gained a WWE Championship match by beating five other guys, with Jeff Hardy being eliminated after a Pedigree on a steel chair. Orton held the title in a triple threat match after punting Triple H and pinning John Cena following Triple H's Pedigree on Cena. Triple H took the crown against Orton, Cena, and John "Bradshaw" Layfield a month later, tying the record for most WWE Championship reigns with The Rock. Triple H then retained the crown against Orton at Judgment Day in a steel cage match and then at One Night Stand in a Last Man Standing match. Orton sustained a legitimate collarbone injury during the match, putting the match effectively to an end, putting the match abruptly ended.

Triple H was drafted to the SmackDown brand as a part of the 2008 WWE draft, thereby making the WWE Championship exclusive to SmackDown. Triple H defeated John Cena convincingly to keep the WWE Championship at Night of Champions. He defended the championship over the summer by defeating Edge at The Great American Bash and The Great Khali in SummerSlam, and he was the only champion to hold his position in Unforgiven's Championship Scramble matches. He won it over against Jeff Hardy and No Mercy and Cyber on Sunday.

Triple H was supposed to defend the title against Vladimir Kozlov and Jeff Hardy, but Hardy was forced to miss the match due to a scripted assault and injury. Edge had returned and welcomed him into the game during the match, according to SmackDown general manager Vickie Guerrero. Hardy interfered and hit Triple H with a steel chair meant for Edge, ultimately costing him the title after a 210 days of reign and resulting in Edge winning his sixth world title. Triple H finished eighth in the 2009 Royal Rumble after struggling to regain the coveted role at Armageddon, but Randy Orton claimed last by Randy Orton. Triple H defeated the WWE Championship in the SmackDown Elimination Chamber match in February, setting the record for most reigns at eight. The previous record stood before John Cena captured his ninth WWE Championship in 2011.

After being targeted by Randy Orton, Triple H appeared on the February 16 episode of Raw, assisting Stephanie and Shane McMahon. Triple H was interviewed by Jim Ross on SmackDown's February 20 episode; in the interview, footage of the events from the February 16 episode of Raw was displayed. Ross asked Triple H how he felt after seeing the film, that Vince McMahon is his father-in-law, that Shane is his brother-in-law, and that Stephanie is his wife, establishing a rivalry between Triple H and Orton. Triple H confronted Orton on February 23 on a variety of television shows before assaulting Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes (a group known as The Legacy) with a sledgehammer and chasing them from the arena. Triple H defeated Orton to keep the trophy at WrestleMania 25, beating him 25 to 25. Triple H was drafted back to the Raw brand on the 2009 WWE draft on the April 13 episode of Raw. In a six-man tag match against Orton and The Legacy, which the team lost after Orton pinned Triple H following a Punt Kick. He lost a three Stages of Hell championship match against Orton at The Bash, after six weeks off of television, selling the injury. In a triple threat match involving John Cena, he lost a title match to Orton on Night of Champions.

Triple H visited Michaels at an office cafeteria in Texas where Michaels was working as a chef on August 10; during the program, Triple H attempted to persuade Michaels to return to WWE from hiatus. Michaels decided to partner with Triple H after several events (including grease grill burgers on fire and Michaels yelling at a teenage girl) before deciding to focus on The Legacy at SummerSlam, superkicked the child and quit his chef career. Both Raw, Triple H and Michaels officially reunited as D-X on August 17; however, as they were still battling in ring promotion, the Legacy struck them both. Their first match after reuniting was against The Legacy at SummerSlam, which they won. In the first ever Submissions Count Anywhere match in WWE history, they lost to The Legacy at Breaking Point.

D-X defeated Legacy in a Cell match at Hell in a Cell. In a triple threat match at Survivor Series, D-X unsuccessfully challenged John Cena for the WWE Championship, after which the two friends and partners remained friends. D-X defeated Jeri-Show (Chris Jericho and Big Show) to win the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match on December 13 at TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs.

Hornswoggle was the latest D-X mascot on December 21, according to Triple H. Hornswoggle was sued D-X for mental and physical abuse after the group's refusal to encourage him to join D-X. Michaels told Triple H that Hornswoggle may be the mascot after being taken to court by a jury and judge made them guilty by a dwarves. Triple H committed to it only if the charges were dismissed, which Hornswoggle accepted. Mike Tyson, the night's Raw host, partnered with Jericho to face D-X; at the end of the match, Tyson turned on Jericho and grouped himself with Triple H and Michaels. In a triple threat elimination tag match involving both The Straight Edge Society and Luke Gallows, D-X lost the Unified Tag Team Championship to ShoMiz (The Miz and Big Show) on February 8. They lost a rematch for the title on a March 1 episode of Raw. This was Michaels last televised match before he was fired from office.

Triple H barred then WWE Champion Sheamus from the Elimination Chamber match on February 21, though he did not win the title himself. Sheamus was assaulted weeks later, setting up a match at WrestleMania XXVI, which Triple H defeated. Michaels was also compelled to leave WrestleMania after losing to The Undertaker and being forced to leave. Sheamus stabbed him and called a rematch at Extreme Rules while giving a farewell address the next night. Sheamus appeared on Triple H at the start of the game before winning the match later. Triple H took time off to recover from injuries. On October 30, Triple H made an untelevised appearance at the WWE Fan Appreciation Event and also at the 2010 Tribute to the Troops.

On the back of The Undertaker's return and bringing him back to a match at WrestleMania XVII, which later became a No Holds Barred match, Triple H's episode on February 21, 2011. In revenge for Sheamus' ten-month injury, he struck Sheamus with a Pedigree through a television table a week later. Triple H lost at WrestleMania XXVII, extending Undertaker's undefeated streak to 19–0; the undertaker was taken from the ring on a stretcher, while Triple H was left on his own accord.

Triple H returned on behalf of WWE's board of directors to suspend Vince McMahon of his duties at the end of the July 18 episode of Raw. The WWE's Chief Operating Officer (COO) was given the responsibility. This was during a storyline in which CM Punk had won the WWE Championship and left the organization. Though a new champion was crowned, Triple H helped re-sign Punk and maintained both championship reigns. At SummerSlam, he has announced that he will referee a match to unify both WWE Championships. Although he had a pinfall for CM Punk to triumph, John Cena's leg was on the wires, which should have broken the pin. Kevin Nash, a longtime friend of Triple H, slammed Punk immediately after the match, enabling Alberto Del Rio to become the new champion. Despite Nash and Punk's demands for a match against each other, Triple H fired Nash for insubordination and booked him in a No Disqualification match at Night of Champions with his position as COO on the line. Despite the interference from John Laurinaitis, Nash, The Miz, and R-Truth, Triple H defeated Punk at Night of Champions. The majority of WWE's on-screen staff gave Triple H a vote of no confidence after repeated assaults from these wrestlers in various matches. Mr. McMahon resigned from his position on Raw, but he remained the COO. Laurinaitis was appointed interim general manager of Raw, and he and Punk were drafted in a tag team match against Miz and R-Truth at Vengeance. Nash once more assaulted him (costing Triple H and Punk the match) and did so on the following night on the October 24 episode of Raw, hospitalizing him (kayfabe). Triple H had fractured the vertebral bone in his leg and would be out of action, according to WWE. He returned on December 12 as part of the Slammy Awards. He defeated Nash at TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs in a sledgehammer ladder match on December 18, after sledgehammering him with a sledgehammer.

Triple H returned to Laurinaitis' performance as general manager on January 30, 2012 episode of Raw to discuss the former's general manager. The returning Undertaker interrupted him before he could announce his decision. Triple H accepted the challenge after being described as a coward who lives in Shawn Michaels' shadow, insisting that their rematch be fought in a Cell. At WrestleMania XVIII, Triple H went on to lose this match.

Triple H on Raw's episode on April 30th when he refused to comply with Brock Lesnar's unreasonable work demands, resulting in Lesnar attacking him and the storyline breaking his arm. Triple H was confronted by Lesnar's legal counsel, Paul Heyman, who announced Lesnar's bankruptcy for breach of contract on his return two weeks later. Heyman brought another lawsuit against Triple H after he assaulted Heyman. Triple H at No Way Out in June challenged Lesnar, who wasn't there, to a match at SummerSlam, which Heyman refused to intervene on Lesnar's behalf the following night on Raw. Stephanie McMahon challenged Heyman in Triple H's battle against Lesnar in Raw 1000. Lesnar broke Michaels' arm on the August 13 episode of Raw, angering Triple H. Triple H lost to Lesnar after submitting to the Kimura Lock, breaking his arm in storyline six days later.

After he threatened to assault Mr. McMahon on February 25, 2013, Triple H returned to Brock Lesnar's Raw, brawling show. Lesnar's head was split open and needed 18 stitches because of the brawl. Triple H launched a lawsuit against Lesnar this week, requesting a rematch against him at WrestleMania 29, which Lesnar accepted on the condition that he could choose the termstipulation. Triple H's deal was broken and assaulted Heyman, the following week, the stipulation was declared No Holds Barred, with Triple H's career on the line. Triple H defeated Lesnar after a Pedigree stepped onto the steel steps at WrestleMania, defeating them in a match. Heyman challenged Triple H to face Lesnar in a steel cage match at Extreme Rules on April 15, which Triple H accepted the following week. Triple H ruled out the match at Extreme Rules on May 19 due to Heyman's interference, as well as his fractured jaw.

Curtis Axel, the new celebrity on Raw, Triple H wrestled Heyman's new client, will be back next night. He had a storyline concussion and was found to have forfeited. Despite being medically cleared to wrestle before the June 3 episode of Raw, Vince and Stephanie McMahon did not allow Triple H to wrestle Axel, citing fears for his health and the safety of his children. Triple H stormed out the arena and vowed to return to the ring next week on Raw.

Triple H was named as the special guest referee of the SummerSlam WWE Championship match between champion John Cena and Daniel Bryan. Triple H attacked Bryan after he won the game, allowing Randy Orton to cash in his Bank account and take the title for the first time since 2006. They then founded The Authority, with Kane as the director of Operations and Orton as the hand-picked WWE Champion alongside Stephanie and his wife Stephanie. The group of heel authority figures became well-known for plot lines involving them abusing their positions of authority.

Triple H lost to Bryan, giving Bryan a spot in the upcoming WWE World Heavyweight Championship match against Batista and Orton, which Bryan eventually defeated. On the April 18 episode of SmackDown, Triple H re-formed Evolution with Orton and Batista, but Bryan was crowned champion due to The Shield's appearance on The Authority. Evolution then lost back-to-back matches with The Shield at Extreme Rules and Payback. Since Triple H refused to give him his shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Batista left WWE on the Raw. Triple H went to "Plan B," Seth Rollins, who took over The Shield and revived The Authority, then returned to The Shield.

After losing a five-on-five tag team elimination match at Survivor Series, the Authority was briefly suspended from office. Sting made his WWE debut to assist their opponents. However, the Authority was restored on the December 29 episode of Raw after Rollins coaxed Cena to re-instating them by holding Edge hostage. Triple H began feuding with Sting, who was deposed at WrestleMania 31 after interference from D-Generation X. Stephanie McMahon and Stephanie McMahon were later confronted by The Rock and Ronda Rousey during a broadcast about the record crowd at the game.

Rollins sustained a legitimate knee injury in November 2015 and a tournament to select a new champion was held at Survivor Series, which was dominated by Roman Reigns. The Authority remained united with Sheamus, who put money into the Bank contact straight after Reign's victory. Sheamus defeated Reigns at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, violently attacking Triple H, resulting in a storyline injury that kept him off television. Reigns regained the championship from Sheamus on December 14 of Raw. Triple H made his return to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in 2016 as the unannounced 30th entrant. After excluding Reigns, Dean Ambrose defeated him to win his second royal Rumble victory and 14th world championship. At Roadblock, he successfully defended the title against Ambrose, but Reigns lost the championship in the main event of WrestleMania 32, bringing an end to his last world championship appearance at 70 days.

Triple H competed in the WWE Live tour of the United Kingdom in late April before taking a break from WWE television, with WrestleMania 32. However, he continued to appear in occasional NXT executive roles.

Triple H made his return by interfering in the main event for the newly vacated and established WWE Universal Championship on August 29. He began by attacking Roman Reigns with a Pedigree, allowing former Authority stable member Seth Rollins to be shot out of office, before attacking Rollins with a Pedigree, enabling Kevin Owens to win the title. This began a monthslong feud with Rollins that culminated in a "non-sanctioned match" at WrestleMania 33, where Rollins defeated him on April 2, 2017.

Despite being part of Kurt Angle's Team Raw at Survivor, Triple H attacked him and caused him to be disqualified in their match against Team SmackDown, but the match was ultimately praised after he pinned Shane McMahon of Team SmackDown. In a mixed tag match at WrestleMania 34, Angle rejoined forces with debuting Ronda Rousey, defeating Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

The last feuds of Triple H's in-ring career were high-profile rematches with wrestlers with whom he had previously collaborated. John Cena defeated Triple H in the first match on a Saudi pay-per-view event at the Greatest Royal Rumble in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In a match that was billed as the "Last Time Ever," he defeated The Undertaker at Super Show-Down. In a win over The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane), Shawn Michaels came out of retirement to reform DX with him. Triple H defeated Batista with Ric Flair's assistance in what was Batista's retirement match at WrestleMania 35. On June 7, 2019, Triple H's last match on pay-per-view culminated in a loss to Randy Orton. In Tokyo, Japan, his last house show match took place on June 29, 2019. After Nakamura pinned Roode in the game, Triple H and Shinsuke Nakamura teamed up to defeat Robert Roode and Samoa Joe.

Triple H's appearances since 2019, have become increasingly sporadic, and 2020 would be his first year in which he hadn't wrestled a match since the start of his career. However, he made occasional on-screen appearances in non-wrestling roles. On the 24th episode of SmackDown, which was dedicated to his 25th anniversary in WWE, one such appearance took place. As Alexa Bliss and "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt got involved in his last match of his career on January 11, 2021 episode of Raw, he met Randy Orton in a "unsanctioned brawl" that culminated in a no-contest.

Triple H suffered from heart disease in September 2021, and a defibrillator was fitted in his chest. Triple H announced his retirement from wrestling after an appearance on First Take on March 25, 2022, due to his recently discovered heart disease. He announced his official in-ring retirement on April 3, and in the second night of WrestleMania 38 as the COO of WWE.

Triple H was promoted to Chief Content Officer of WWE on September 6, 2022. On the stable's 25th anniversary, he, Shawn Michaels, X-Pac, and Road Dogg performed a DX reunion.

Business career

Levesque's position as an Executive Senior Advisor was officially announced in 2010 when he was given an executive position at the company's Stamford, Connecticut headquarters. In 2011, he was appointed Executive Vice President of Talent and Live Events. His position was promoted to Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events, and Creative in 2013, prompting him to work with WWE's creative direction and storylines of WWE's programming. He earned more than $1.5 million from his front office job and as a wrestler in the ensuing year. He also has just over $1.5 million in WWE stock.

Levesque took over as WWE Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development in 2020. In this capacity, he oversaw the company's Talent Management team and served as a senior advisor to the CEO for talent management. He is also the founder and executive producer of WWE's NXT brand, but he was not involved in the brand's "NXT 2.0" makeover in September 2021.

Levesque was promoted to Executive Vice President of Talent Relations on July 22, 2022 by WWE. Vince McMahon's "retirement" was announced three days later, he was also named Head of WWE Creative. Levesque was promoted to Chief Content Officer on September 2 by the company four days later, on September 2. He is in charge of the company's creative writing, talent relations, live events, and creative services departments.

Source

Other awards and honors

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America
  • Hall of Fame (2017)
• International Sports Hall of Fame
  • Class of 2015
• Metal Hammer magazine
  • Metal Hammer's Spirit of Lemmy Award (2016)