King of Kings: A Q&A With WWE Superstar Triple H

Few sports entertainment Superstars have had the longevity, in and out of the ring, that Paul “Triple H” Levesque has had. Whether you remember him best as the long-haired punk leader of Degeneration-X during WWE’s Attitude Era, the sledgehammer-wielding heel nicknamed “The Game”, or, most recently, the heavy-handed leader of The Authority faction that does most of his bullying in a suit and tie, Triple H has earned his place among the most important figures in sports entertainment history and pop culture at large.

This weekend, the 13-time world champion who is also WWE’s EVP of Talent, Live Events, and Creative will be inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. Levesque spoke to us about what the honor means to both him and the business of sports entertainment, and what has made him the “king of kings” among WWE fans.

Aside from having charisma and a quick wit, what do you think makes WWE Superstars stand out from athletes in other sports?

Triple H: I think the well-roundedness. Charisma, quick wit, the ability to perform in front of tens of thousands but also one or two. Our athletes are very well rounded and some of the best in the world physically, and they also have to have the ability to improvise and do theater at the same time. It’s like playing football and doing Shakespeare at the same time. I think that’s a rare combination. It’s a broader skillset.

Also, with all these other sports, they want the athletes to be a cog in the wheel. With WWE, we want you to be larger than life. The bigger your brand is the bigger ours is.

More Superstars seem to be being inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame every year. The Hall already includes Mark Henry and Bruno Sammartino. Do you think this will help legitimize WWE and sports entertainment in the eyes of critics who still call it “fake” and say the performers aren’t athletes?

I do. And I never understood that about it being fake. When you see a guy who does something physically that 99% of the rest of the world sees and goes, “Oh my God that’s amazing!”, and you say “well, they’re not really athletes” … Oh really? To me the International Sports Hall of Fame is more than about being good at your sport or your profession but it’s about giving back. I think that WWE superstars are finally now getting their due for all the things we do for Make-A-Wish and Susan G. Komen, the military, anti-bullying, and all the other things we do. We’re candidates for the Hall for being more than just athletes. I think what the Hall of Fame is about, as far as the people I see going in there, is athletes great at their chosen sport but also people that did more with it than just reap the rewards.

More?

Triple H Talks Changes In Wrestlers Over The Years, His Biggest Accomplishment Outside The Ring

Vince McMahon On His Favorite Superstar, Topping 'Mania 3, Who Will Replace Him When He Dies, More

As noted earlier, WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon is on the cover of the March issue of Muscle & Fitness magazine. The issue contains an interview with McMahon, thanks to WrestlingINC.com reader "The Brass Ring" for sending in these highlights:

His favorite WrestleMania moment:

"WrestleMania III in front of what was the largest indoor attendance record- 93,000 people at the Silverdome in suburban Detroit. When Hulk Hogan slammed Andre the Giant. I think that's been the biggest moment thus far."

If the company will surpass the WrestleMania III record:

"I think there's a good opportunity with an announcement we'll make soon." [Editor's note: the interview was likely conducted before WWE announced that WrestleMania 32 would take place at AT&T Stadium outside of Dallas, TX]

The future of WWE if he retires or goes "up to that big ring in the sky":

"Our future from a corporate standpoint is extremely strong because we have so many talented executives, and they all bring different strengths to the table. Steph and Paul will certainly have significant roles going forward. I think when I kick, the organization is going to change, and I think for the better, because there's no one person who can do all that I can do because of my background. There's no one individual who's going to take my place."

His favorite WWE Superstar:

"That would be Undertaker because of his loyalty, his longevity, and his extraordinary commitment to his character. We have lots of fun creating fun. [Superstars] try to crack each other up from time to time, and we all have tried to get Undertaker to break character, and we can't do it. He is such a professional and an extraordinary human being behind the character. He's committed to his craft and has worked through his injuries."

McMahon also discussed if he is worried for his safety while wrestling, inspiration for the McMahon character, if he was concerned about making others look small, his fitness and nutrition regime, what the WWE corporate gym's like and more.

Vince McMahon is featured on the cover of the March 2015 issue of Muscle & Fitness

WWE NXT Recruiting at the Arnold Classic

There are now plans for WWE to have a recruiting booth at the upcoming NXT Live show on March 5th during The Arnold Classic, which obviously attracts a ton of athletes and bodybuilders. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Triple H on wrestler deaths, Randy Savage entering the WWE Hall of Fame, what he looks for in a wrestler, WWE Network

WWE executive Paul "Triple H" Levesque appeared on the "Permission Granted" podcast hosted by Damon Amendolara of CBS Sports Radio. The following are the highlights of the interview. Listen to the full show at Soundcloud.com.

-Triple H on the various hats he wears and the title at the top of his list: "Dad," he said. He eventually tied it into the fitness DVD and said all the hats that he and his wife wear made them realize how difficult it is to find workout time. He said he and Stephanie rush home to see the kids before they go to bed, and it's ten at night before the head downstairs to their home gym.

-On what he looks for in a wrestler: Triple H said charisma because it's the one X Factor that you can't teach. "All the other things can be brought out of somebody," he said. "That's a tough one." He mentioned Mick Foley as being a guy who didn't fit the typical WWE wrestler mold, but "he is charismatic, when you watch him you can't help but be drawn into him. He's intelligent, he speaks well, he's humorous."

-Triple H on WWE Network: "We took the gamble and we're ahead of the curve on a lot of this," he said. He noted that others are following in their footsteps. He said Netflix has their model, but they don't have the live stream like WWE Network does. He said it takes a while to condition fans to break from their patterns. "We're thrilled with the progress, we're thrilled with where it's at, and we're just starting to scratch the surface of where it can go."

-Triple H on wrestlers who have died young: "To me, everybody makes personal choices in their life," he said. "Even some of my closest friends, my best friends, made personal choices of how they wanted to live their life that I never chose, that I never went down those roads. And I will put the physicality of my career up against anybody. The majority of those guys made personal choices to live a certain way and you can't live that way forever. It's a short run, it's fast and furious, and it's a short run. Did it affect me? Absolutely. I've watched a lot of guys that I was close to and that I was friends with... There's a certain point and time when even as your friends, you try to stop them, you try to talk them into it, and there's no... And that's not just in our business, that's in any business. People are responsible for their own lives, their own personal decisions, how they live their life outside of a sport or a job or anything else. We try to protect our talent now in a way like never before with our wellness programs and our ability to try to stay ahead of them to see if there are problems or they are headed down a path or anything, but the reality of it is people have to be responsible for their own lives. I've seen this company tell guys listen, we can't work together unless you get some help or whatever and they say, okay, great, I'm just going to leave then and I'm just going to go because this is more important to me. You can't live somebody's life for them and it's tragic, and I've had to come to terms in my with that with some guys that were close friends of mine, but that's just the way it is, unfortunately."

-Triple H on Randy Savage entering the WWE Hall of Fame: "One of the biggest stars ever in the industry," he said. "It's so well deserved and a long time coming. I think for a lot of fans it feels like a long time coming and they are just so overwhelmed that it's happening and I know we are and his family is. It's just a great thing to celebrate a career like that."

Big WWE Experience Event Announced For Arnold Sports Festival With NXT, WWE Legends, More

As noted, WWE will host a NXT live event during the Arnold Sports Festival weekend in Columbus, Ohio in early March. There will be a strong WWE presence at this year's Arnold Festival as WWE Experience has been announced. Below are the details:

WWE Experience at the Arnold Sports Festival

WWE Universe, don't miss your chance to take part in the WWE Experience at the Arnold Sports Festival March 5-8, 2015, in Columbus, Ohio!

NXT Live Event
For the first time in WWE history, NXT comes to Columbus, Ohio, as part of the Arnold Sports Festival! See WWE's Superstars of tomorrow, as WWE presents NXT Live at the LC Pavilion on Thursday, March 5! See NXT Champion Sami Zayn, NXT Women's Champion Charlotte, WWE Superstars Ryback and Big Show, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, Adrian Neville, Kevin Owens, Finn Bálor, Hideo Itami, Sasha Banks and many more!

Tickets will be available on Friday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. ET at the LC Pavilion Box Office and Ticketmaster.com.

Don't miss your chance to attend VIP Experiences, including ringside seats and exclusive meet-and-greets with Ric Flair, Ryback and Big Show!

WWE Experience Event
For a jam-packed weekend of action and entertainment, there's no better spot at this year's Arnold Sports Festival than the WWE Experience on Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, March 8.

Enjoy live matches, featuring some of the best up-and-coming talent from WWE and NXT. Meet the Superstars and Divas of WWE's next generation during autograph signings with Finn Bálor, Hideo Itami, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Tyler Breeze, Sasha Banks, Charlotte, Alexa Bliss and more, plus don't miss your chance to get up close and personal with WWE Legends during Q&A Sessions.

See what it takes to become a WWE Superstar and watch a live tryout. Will any of these recruits become the next breakout Superstar? Better yet, will you? If you're serious about a future in sports entertainment, stop by the WWE recruiting booth and tell us.

More?

First WWE NXT Event Outside of FL in Conjunction with Triple H's International Sports Hall of Fame Induction

The first-ever WWE NXT live event outside of Florida takes place on March 5th in Columbus, Ohio at the LC Pavilion. This is a 2,200 seat arena and it's part of the Arnold Classic expo weekend, where Triple H will be inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame. Stars advertised include Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Finn Balor, Hideo Itami, Kevin Owens, Adrian Neville and NXT Champion Sami Zayn.

New Year-New You

It's a new year...Where do you want to be when it ends? What are you doing to get there? #WWEPowerSeries @WWE pic.twitter.com/lupLYmmoV8

— Triple H (@TripleH) January 2, 2015

Triple H and Stephanie McMahon named editorial adivsors to 'Muscle & Fitness' and 'Shape,' respectively

WWE and American Media Inc. announced today that Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer, has been appointed Editorial Advisor to "Shape" magazine and Paul "Triple H" Levesque, WWE Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative, has been appointed Editorial Advisor to "Muscle & Fitness" magazine.

In these roles, McMahon and Levesque will consult with the editorial staff of "Shape" and "Muscle & Fitness," respectively, on print and online content pertaining to health and fitness. Together, they currently appear on the cover of the December/January issue of "Muscle & Fitness," sharing an inside look at their fitness routines as well as a sneak peek at exclusive workouts from "WWE Power Series: Triple H" and "WWE Fit Series: Stephanie McMahon," available now on DVD at mass market retailers and as a digital download online.

" 'Shape' and 'Muscle & Fitness' only work with the most trusted and authoritative experts in the world of health and fitness," said Shawn Perine, Chief Content Director, Enthusiast Group and Editor in Chief, "Muscle & Fitness." "With their vast experience and knowledge, Stephanie and Paul are perfect ambassadors for the global health and fitness movement, and are highly valued partners to our brands. I'm excited to be working with them."

"It is an honor to join the team at 'Shape,' " McMahon said. "This role provides me with the ability to connect with women from all walks of life and share my passion for fitness and living a healthy lifestyle."

"My approach to fitness training has evolved since my days as a young athlete, and today, I'm in the best shape of my life," Levesque said. "I share my knowledge and experience regularly as the executive in charge of WWE Talent and look forward to doing the same for the readers of 'Muscle & Fitness.' "

Video: Behind-the-scenes look at Triple H and Stephanie McMahon’s “Muscle & Fitness” cover shoot

Photo: Triple H and Stephanie McMahon on the Cover of Muscle and Fitness Magazine

Synopsis from Muscle & Fitness:

When considering who might qualify as the ultimate power couple, who springs to mind? Bill and Hillary Clinton perhaps? Sure, the former President of the United States and Secretary of State definitely make for a strong pairing. How about George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin? The Hollywood superstar and international human rights lawyer certainly command a lot of respect. Yet, can any one from this group deliver a suplex off the top rope, or bury mere mortals in blindingly intense workouts? Do I even need to ask?

Of course the husband and wife team of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon aren't just WWE icons know for kicking ass and taking names in the squared circle, they're also savvy, successful businesspeople and busy parents. They somehow manage to stay in top shape while helping run the world's most successful sports entertainment organization. Now, THAT'S power!

In the December/January edition of Muscle & Fitness we profile these two juggernauts-- learning the details of their training, their schedules, and the things they've learned as sports entertainment and fitness leaders. And now, they're ready to pass along to M&F readers! They're also releasing cool new DVDs in which they deliver their own workouts to you—- workouts that you can do right at home. It's a freewheeling in-depth story you don't want to miss!

Triple H & Stephanie McMahon Exercise DVD Promos

Cover Art Revealed for Triple H's & Stephanie McMahon's Fitness DVDs

Amazon.com has released the cover photos for the upcoming Triple H and Stephanie McMahon fitness DVDs being released in December. You can check the photos below:

Triple H to Host the Mr. Olympia Competition

Triple H, who has been a fan of bodybuilding for a long time, will provide commentary with Shawn Perine for this year’s Mr. Olympia event. It happened over the weekend in Las Vegas and will air on NBC Sports on October 18 and 25.

Photo: Stephanie McMahon in October 2014 edition of Shape Magazine

WWE’s Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon is in the October 2014 edition of Shape Magazine which has WWE fan Maria Menounos on the cover.

The mother of three and most powerful woman in the WWE, McMahon is featured in the single-page ‘Fit & Famous’ section of the magazine. The piece mentions her upcoming WWE fitness DVD, her workout, spending time with the kids, Connor’s Cure charity, and more.

The words are accompanied by a single photo of McMahon, looking fabulous in a red dress. You can see it below.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Stephanie McMahon featured in 'Shape' magazine

WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon is featured in the latest issue of “Shape” magazine, available now. One of the busiest women in entertainment, McMahon explains how she stays fit not only juggling her responsibilities in WWE, but also being a mom to three young children. The article teases the release of her and Triple H’s upcoming WWE Fit DVD series alongside trainer Joe DeFranco, and how she stays strong, motivated and inspirational to women everywhere.

Get the full story in the October issue of “Shape,” available on newsstands everywhere now — featuring celebrity member of the WWE Universe Maria Menunous on the cover.

Triple H & Stephanie McMahon's Muscle & Fitness Photo Shoot

Triple H and Stephanie McMahon had a photo shoot for Muscle & Fitness magazine today at WWE headquarters in Stamford.

Joe DeFranco Discusses Triple H's Training

Triple H's trainer Joe DeFranco recently appeared on The Podcast for Skinny Bastards. During the episode, he discussed how tore up Triple H was when he starting working with him. You can listen to it by clicking here.

Triple H on the Cover of 'Muscle & Fitness'

WWE Superstar, COO and 13-time World Champion Triple H is featured on the cover of the June 2014 issue of Muscle & Fitness, on sale today. Though not the first time The Game has appeared on the front of the long-running magazine, doing so at the age of 44 is no easy task.

Inside the issue, Triple H talks about balancing his in-ring career with his executive duties, all the while spending time with his family. He discusses his lifestyle and training changes —in the midst of an always busy schedule — and attributes the positive changes to world-class strength trainer Joe DeFranco.

he Game also discusses the mission and evolution of the WWE Performance Center and how his new regimen under DeFranco’s guidance has altered the way prospective WWE Superstars train.

The longevity of The Cerebral Assassin’s career in and out of the ring can be partially attributed to his physical fitness and training routines.