WWE’s Triple H Retires, Will Never Wrestle Again After Heart Surgery

Triple H has announced his retirement from professional wrestling. The WWE legend told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that he won’t have another match because of a cardiac event that nearly took his life in September.

In his first in-depth interview since undergoing surgery last year, Triple H detailed the seriousness of his heart issue, which resulted in a defibrillator being placed in his chest. The 52-year-old explained that he went into heart failure before surgery, and his in-ring career is now done.

"For me, as far as in-ring, which I get a lot, I'm done,” Triple H told Smith on the latest episode of “Stephen A’s World.” “I would never wrestle again.”

The news comes just a week before WrestleMania 38, which is set to take place at Texas’ AT&T Stadium on April 2 and 3. Usually a staple at WWE’s biggest event, Triple doesn't have a match on the WrestleMania card for the third straight year.

Triple H defeated Batista at WrestleMania 35 in 2019. Even though he had not been a full-time wrestler for close to a decade, Triple H continued to have matches at WrestleMania and other marquee shows.

Triple H’s last match came against Randy Orton on the Jan. 11, 2021 edition of “Monday Night Raw.”

“We have three young girls — 15, 13, 11,” Triple H said. “Suddenly I come home, I’m a little bit sick, and their dad, who’s strong always, is in the hospital. I don’t know if they understood the consequences of it but there’s moments when you think ‘This is it.’ Do you wake up? That’s tough to swallow, and it makes you think differently.”

After making his WWE debut in 1995, Triple H went on to become one of the company’s biggest stars. Triple H won 14 world championships and main-evented several WrestleManias. He did so as recently as 2016 in a WrestleMania 32 championship match against Roman Reigns.

The wrestling legend remains with WWE with the title of Executive Vice President, Global Talent Strategy & Development.