Lex Luger will be inducted into the 2025 WWEHOF

Triple H Praised For Ability To Play The Long Game

Triple H made sure to be in the right place at the right time.

After signing with WWE in 1995, Triple H set about making himself the biggest and best wrestler he could be. This saw him rise up the card and become part of the most influential backstage factions in WWE history, The Kliq.

As the years passed, it was clear The Game was firmly under the wing of Vince McMahon, and that feeling was cemented when he married Stephanie McMahon in 2003.

Less than a decade later, his in-ring career began to wind down, and Triple H took control of NXT and, eventually, the main roster when Vince left in 2022.

During an appearance on the No-Contest Wrestling Podcast, Sean Waltman — a long-time friend of Triple H — said no one is better at playing the long game than the former World Champion. He explained that his journey to the top of WWE hasn’t always been straightforward, but he had a goal in mind and made sure he got there.

“Paul is a guy that, not many people are better at playing the long game than Paul is. He has a destination point and a goal and he sees where it’s at. Getting through the sh*t that he had to go through was the past to get there. It’s just like all the crazy stuff with Vince coming back and Paul being gone. He just stayed the course and now, he’s the f*cking man.”

When asked whether he saw Triple H going on to have a position of power while they were working together back in the 1990s, Waltman said it was clear he’d eventually have great influence.

“I totally envisioned it. Absolutely. Without a doubt. More so after DX. Not in the early car rides. Not before we all left and went (to WCW). It was obvious to me when I came back where he was going eventually, at some point. When we were doing DX, he was already really involved then in creative and had Vince’s [Vince McMahon] ear and Vince’s confidence.”

Speaking after Elimination Chamber, The Rock said:

“It meant something. I’m a long gamer. I like long gaming. I like creating with Paul [Levesque] and Brian Gewirtz and Maya Lasry, who is on my side of the team. I like creating with Paul and his team as well. We’re long gamers."

John Cena teams with The Rock in jaw-dropping heel turn on Cody Rhodes at WWE Elimination Chamber

John Cena has done what was once unthinkable.

The 16-time world champion and longtime WWE babyface, who is on his year-long retirement tour, has finally turned heel by aligning with The Rock and rapper Travis Scott to double-cross Cody Rhodes in front of a stunned crowd at Rogers Centre to end the Elimination Chamber PLE on Saturday.

It’s uncharted territory for Cena and WWE. Consider that no one has granted more “Make-A-Wish” wishes than Cena.

“The thing I’m excited for is watching John perform this,” The Rock said in the post-show press conference. “Because if you think about it, John has been our Babe Ruth, our Superman. He is the guy you never, ever, ever, thought would turn in this way and he did. And it’s a big risk and it’s ballsy to do something like that and it’s gutsy and he put a lot of thought into it.”

The trio was loudly booed and Cena was showered in chants of “You sold out!”

The “Peacemaker” star will be a true heel for the first time in his 23-year career in WWE after a moment that will be compared to Hulk Hogan’s heel turn to join the nWo at WCW’s Bash at the Beach in 1996.

Cena, 47, won the Chamber match by making CM Punk pass out on the STF to punch his ticket to WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas on April 19-20 for a match with Rhodes, the Undisputed WWE champion.

“When you get to a place in your career where you know you undoubtedly have months left on your career and your dream and the thing that launched you to the rest of world, to movie stardom, to everything else he has as in his life, it puts you in a different perspective and it puts you in a place where it’s now or never and you can ride that out and you can rest on the things that you have done and you couldn’t really blame John for doing that (if he did),” Triple H said. …

“Or someone like him can double down and say, ‘screw it I want to be challenged right to the last moment. I want to go out on my shield. I want to give everything I have. I want to challenge myself. I want to do something different. I want to be scared of it. I want to go out there and do it all.’ And that’s the beauty of John Cena.”

Cena remained in the ring after winning the Chamber match as Rhodes came out to give Rock his answer to whether he would be the one selling his soul to “The Final Boss” and be given unlimited riches and fame.

Rhodes, WWE’s top babyface, told The Rock to “go f–k himself” because his soul belongs to the ring and the fans.

The Rhea Ripley problem hanging over WWE’s women’s Elimination Chamber match Cena, who has been a real-life mentor to Rhodes, then shook Rhodes’ hand and hugged him in what appeared to be a celebration of his rejection of The Rock.

Instead, the camera showed Cena’s face turn stern and sour while he looked at Rock.

The Final Boss then made the slit-his-throat motion and Cena then kicked Rhodes low.

“I felt like tonight stood by all of that, the iconic angles,” Rock said.

A vicious beatdown ensued, and Cena punched Rhodes with the gold Rolex Rhodes was gifted by WWE’ Chief Content Officer Triple H and WWE CEO Nick Khan after his championship match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 last year.

The Rock eventually whipped Rhodes with a custom weight belt that had the date of his father Dusty Rhodes’ death on it and rubbed the champ’s blood on it.

Rock acknowledged during the post-show press conference that Scott’s presence will likely lead to the rapper getting into a WWE ring for a match at some point. Scott, whose presence felt Dennis Rodman-like, even slapped Rhodes at one point.

The entire angle tied in Rock’s Bad Blood appearance, his graciousness to Rhodes at Raw’s Netflix premiere and the character shift in Cena after his Royal Rumble loss.

“The one thing I loved about tonight is that it was nowhere, because nobody knew,” Triple H said. “When I say nobody knew, nobody. Right before the finish of the Chamber, I said to the truck ‘everybody lay out, I have all traffic on what’s next’. It was a very tight circle of people.”

WWE will need to give a believable reason for Cena turning heel because he is nearly as famous in Hollywood as The Rock. A silent Cena simply dropped the mic at the post-show press conference.

It could be the fact that Cena hasn’t won a singles match since April 2018 and is running out of time to win world title No. 17.

Either way, WWE has completely flipped the dynamic and added some spice to Cena and Rhodes’ match at WrestleMania.

source: nypost.com

Sports Illustrated's 10 Greatest WWE Women's Wrestlers Of All Time

Women's wrestling is more popular than it has ever been in WWE. Some of the biggest stars, matches and moments are now centered around the talented ladies on the roster.

Throughout WWE history, many female stars have stood head and shoulders ahead of the pack. Whether it be dominating every other woman or moving over to compete against the men, these ladies have defined what it means to excel in the company.

Based on their career accomplishments in the company, match quality, promos, character work, impact, influence and legacy, here are the 10 greatest WWE women's wrestlers of all time.

10. Alundra Blayze/Madusa
9. Bianca Belair
8. Asuka
7. Chyna
6. Bayley
5. Sasha Banks
4. Lita
3. Trish Stratus
2. Charlotte Flair
1. Becky Lynch

*Honorable mentions: The Bella Twins, Mickie James, Beth Phoenix, AJ Lee and Victoria

Ted DiBiase Praises Triple H For What He Has Done With WWE

On the latest episode of Everybody’s Got a Pod, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase talked about Triple H being in charge of WWE and more. You can check out some highlights below:

On today’s WWE and Triple H being in charge: “I’ll be honest with you, I think he’s doing a good job. You know, Vince’s forte wasn’t wrestling so much because he never really was a wrestler. Where Triple H was a wrestler. So he obviously knows more about wrestling than Vince. But Vince’s gifts — again, we wouldn’t be having this conversation if it weren’t for Vince McMahon and what he did for the wrestling world, for sure. But I think that Triple H is doing a pretty good job. It’s kind of like, what I get from a lot of fans — and even some fans who tune into this program — is, ‘Gosh, it’s just not like the old days.’ And it’s like, ‘The good old days’ happens to be that era when it was me and Duggan and all those guys, Andre and what have you. And it’s just not like it used to be. But with Triple H at the helm, I think it’s going to get back to being more like it used to be. I think it’s a good thing. I really do.”

TKO Announces Takeover Mega-Event Featuring WWE, UFC & More

While WWE is one of its centerpieces, TKO Group Holdings has its hands in a lot of pots, including UFC and Professional Bull Riders. So far, in TKO's short history, the three entities haven't crossed paths at the same time, even though there has been some synergy between WWE and UFC. That will change come April, when TKO looks for all three of its properties to be the apple of Kansas City, Missouri's eye.

In a press release, TKO announced that they would be holding three events at Kansas City's T-Mobile Center between April 24 and April 28. The festivities will kick off with the PBR, followed by a UFC Fight Night, and concluding with "WWE Raw." The shows are a result of an agreement between TKO and the Kansas City Sports Commission.

"Kansas City has collectively hosted dozens of UFC, WWE, and PBR events over the years, and it has become a top destination for each of these respective promotions," TKO EVP of Event Development and Operations Peter Dropick said in a statement. "This is a unique opportunity to showcase these three premier properties in one city at the same time for the benefit of fans and visitors to the area. We thank the Kansas City Sports Commission and the management at T-Mobile Center for making this possible."

On WWE's end, TKO's stay in Kansas City will come at a unique time for the promotion, serving as the second "Raw" to take place following WrestleMania 41 on April 19 and 20. As a result, the Kansas City "Raw" could serve as an important indicator of the red brand's direction throughout 2025.

Stephanie McMahon To Launch WWE Podcast

After stepping down from her role as WWE co-CEO in January 2023, Stephanie McMahon has slowly begun to reconnect with the company and has made several appearances on WWE television since the beginning of the year. She was first seen at the premiere of "WWE Raw" on Netflix, as well as the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble one month later, and was also a guest on the Pat McAfee Show. However, it appears that McMahon intends to remain involved with the promotion, as WrestleVotes is reporting that she is set to debut a new WWE project this upcoming Spring.

There have been many official WWE podcasts in the past, such as "After The Bell" with Corey Graves and "The New Day: Feel The Power," and now McMahon will be adding her name to that list, who will be launching a new podcast series in the near future. McMahon's experience in wrestling industry both on-screen and backstage will undoubtedly make the new show worth listening to, but so far there are no additional details on the official launch date of the podcast, number of episodes, or guests that will appear on the show.

McMahon also has a new ESPN+ series coming out next month named "Stephanie's Places," which will provide viewers with a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of several WWE legends and stars, including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Roman Reigns and Charlotte Flair. "Stephanie's Places" will feature McMahon travelling the country to different locations where she will interview many WWE guests and discover the true stories behind their success. The trailer for the show can be viewed on WWE's official "X" account.

Triple H Unveils New WWE ID Championships To Spotlight Up-And-Coming Talent

As announced by Triple H Tuesday afternoon, the Men's and Women's WWE ID Championships will be defended across the independent scene in the near future.

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul 'Triple H' Levesque has unveiled new men's and women's championship titles for the WWE Independent Development (WWE ID) program.

The WWE ID program, which launched last fall, was created to help provide assistance and publicity to some of the best wrestlers on the independent circuit. In many cases, the program would provide talent with recourses they need in order to properly pursue their dreams of being signed to a major promotion.

Levesque showcased the Men's and Women's WWE ID Championship belts in a post on social media Tuesday afternoon, writing:

The top independent wrestling prospects have been ID’d… and now, we’re ready to spotlight the best of the best.

Here’s your first look at the Men’s and Women’s WWEID Championships.

source: si.com

Triple H Receives Certificate From Connecticut State Assembly

WWE Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque received an official citation from the Connecticut State Assembly, recognizing his recently announced WWE Hall of Fame induction.

Triple H wrote, “An honor to receive…Thank you to all in the Connecticut State Assembly for the recognition and the excitement around this year’s #WrestleMania.”

The WWE executive and former champion will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025 later this April during WrestleMania Week.

Michelle McCool will be inducted into the 2025 WWEHOF

Feds drop criminal probe into whether WWE boss Vince McMahon covered up sexual misconduct allegations, his lawyer says

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have dropped a criminal probe that focused on whether former World Wrestling Entertainment boss Vince McMahon tried to cover up multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, his lawyer told The Post.

The revelation comes as appeals judges on Friday revealed that a grand jury had considered whether the 79-year-old billionaire broke the law by hiding allegations of sexual misconduct from two female former employees, whom he ended up paying $10.5 million to keep quiet.

The ruling from a three-judge panel does not name McMahon but refers to “the subject of an ongoing grand jury investigation concerning whether, as CEO, he engaged in a criminal scheme to circumvent the company’s internal accounting controls and mislead company auditors in order to conceal multiple allegations of sexual misconduct raised against him by two former company employees.”

Prosecutors’ apparent decision to abandon the case comes despite federal Judge Valerie Caproni ruling in June 2024 that the government had “established probable cause to believe” that McMahon and one of his former lawyers broke the law.

There’s evidence that the“circumvented [the Company’s] internal controls andcreated false books and records,” “concealed the Victims’ claims and settlement agreements from [the Company],” and “made false and misleading statements to the Company’s auditors,” Caproni’s ruling said.

Both Caproni and the appeals panel — Judges Gerard Lynch, Beth Robinson and Sarah Merriam — ruled in favor of prosecutors on an evidence issue, writing that McMahon’s conversations with his attorneys were not subject to attorney-client privilege.

source: nypost.com

Jim Ross Responds To Critics Of Triple H’s WWE Hall Of Fame Induction

WWE recently announced that Triple H will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025. WWE Hall of Famer and current AEW commentator Jim Ross has shared his thoughts on the upcoming induction, which was met with plenty of criticism.

While speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross congratulated Triple H and made it clear that he believed that he deserved the honor.

“Congratulations to Triple H for being inducted or going to be inducted soon,” he said. “Certainly… You know, anybody that says, ‘Well, he’s not deserving. The only reason he’s in is because of who he married.’ Is such bullsh*t. It’s weak. If you’re saying that stop. And stop embarrassing yourself.

“He was the top heel in the hottest era, one of the hottest eras of WWE, and now he’s the quarterback, the head coach of that same team that’s setting records. Give me a break. You know. Stop it. You’re embarrassing yourself by showing your ignorance. Don’t do that.”

JR also shared that he texted Triple H, and he heard back, as Triple H didn’t forget those who helped him.

“And so, I’m happy for him. I sent him a text the other day congratulating him. And believe it or not, it was the day after the Rumble, he texted me right back. So, he’s… He doesn’t forget those that have helped him along the way and those that he respects. And he’s doing a great job there,” Jim Ross said.