After more than 30 years in pro wrestling, WWE legend Triple H has called time on his illustrious career after he recently underwent heart surgery.
Triple H – real name Paul Levesque – revealed the shock news while speaking to ESPN’s First Take on Friday, where he explained that a cardiac incident in September last year has left him with a defibrillator in his chest.
“I will never wrestle again,” Triple H said in his first interview since being hospitalised. “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.”
His health troubles began when he came down with viral pneumonia last year and his wife, Stephanie McMahon, saw that he was coughing up blood.
After checking into the hospital, doctors found fluid around the wrestler’s lungs and heart and revealed that he was, in fact, suffering “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,” Triple H continued.
“There’s 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.”
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At the time of the cardiac incident, WWE released a statement on its official website which read: “Paul Levesque, a.k.a. Triple H, underwent a successful procedure last week at Yale New Haven Hospital following a cardiac event.
“The episode was caused by a genetic heart issue and Paul is expected to make a full recovery.”
Upon breaking the news of his retirement, fans and friends came out in droves to throw their support behind the icon, with WWE star Carmelo Hayes writing, “Thank you for everything you contributing to the game @TripleH. Living legend.”
Thank you for everything you contributed to the game @TripleH. Living legend. 💚
— Carmelo Hayes (@Carmelo_WWE) March 25, 2022
https://twitter.com/TheLouisDangoor/status/1507386642222436354
Triple H’s final match for WWE occurred during WWE’s Japan tour in 2019, with his last televised match being the WWE SuperShowdown against Randy Orton in June 2019.
