WWE legend opens up about WrestleMania debut, early gimmicks, and Cena’s heel turn
Summary
– Triple H was surprised by Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker with Hall of Fame news
– He recalled his WrestleMania XII debut and early personas like Jean-Paul Lévesque
– Praised #JohnCena’s farewell heel run, calling him “Darth Vader” of WWE
Triple H appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and shared insights on his journey from ring legend to WWE executive, including his shock Hall of Fame announcement and thoughts on John Cena’s new direction.
During a WWE town hall, Triple H was caught off guard when Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker interrupted the meeting to surprise him with the Hall of Fame announcement. “It was very meaningful,” he said, noting their close bond and mutual respect.
He remembered his earliest gimmicks, like Terra Ryzing and Jean-Paul Lévesque, laughing at old clips and stories. One memorable moment included being asked to cut promos in French despite not knowing the language. “Big misunderstanding,” he joked.
Triple H also talked about his WrestleMania XII debut, where The Ultimate Warrior quickly defeated him. Rather than seeing it as embarrassing, he said sharing the stage with such a massive star was a dream come true.
As WrestleMania 41 approaches, Triple H confirmed John Cena will retire from in-ring action this December. But not before finishing his career as a heel. “He came back and turned into a bad guy,” he said. “He’s working really hard to make them hate him.”
He described Cena’s transformation as one of the most dramatic in recent WWE history. “He’s gone from the most beloved character to just Darth Vader.”
