- Paul “Triple H” Levesque attended the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel on Friday, April 18
- In his speech, the athlete discussed the “complicated” relationship he has with WWE co-founder Vince McMahon, who is the father of his wife, Stephanie McMahon
- McMahon resigned from the organization following sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied
Paul “Triple H” Levesque included WWE co-founder Vince McMahon — who left the organization last year following sexual assault allegations — in his speech at the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.
Levesque, who was inducted for his contributions as a wrestler and for his leading role in the WWE following McMahon’s departure, shouted out the controversial figure at the BleauLive Theater at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel on Friday, April 18.
“There’s one thing that I’ve skirted around all night long, but I’ve got to talk about it, and that’s Vince,” Triple H said, according to videos of the speech shared on X. “It’s a complicated story and a complicated relationship, but in so many ways, I would not be here without him.”
“Not just in my business life, which would be enough on its own,” he continued. “In my career, he’s the one that saw something in me creatively. Invited me in those production meetings, taught me, let me sit under that learning tree … but also in my personal life, my family.”
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Triple H then noted that McMahon was not only his “father-in-law,” but his “kids’ grandfather” as well, which makes things “complicated.” (The athlete’s wife is Stephanie McMahon. They share three daughters together.)
“When there’s somebody that helps propel you that far, you owe them so much,” Triple H added. “He taught me so much. What to do, what not to do. I’m grateful for all those lessons. I love you, Vince, and thank you.”
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McMahon initially retired from being the CEO and Chairman of the WWE following reports published by The Wall Street Journal that alleged the organization’s board was investigating allegations that Vince paid $3 million to a former employee to hide their affair.
A follow-up story then referenced records that allegedly showed he had paid over $12 million to employees to keep similar sexual misconduct and infidelity allegations under wraps.
His daughter, 48, eventually replaced him on the board, but McMahon returned as executive chairman in January 2023.
A former employee sued McMahon in January 2024 in federal district court in Connecticut, asserting claims of sex trafficking and sexual battery.
He subsequently resigned from the company, but has denied all the allegations against him, and the lawsuit remains ongoing. At the time it was filed, his spokesperson told NBC News the complaint was “replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred and a vindictive distortion of the truth.”
Despite his controversies, several former and current WWE stars, including John Cena, have continued to speak out favorably of McMahon. Cena, 47, previously said, per USA Today, “I don’t care who hears it: I love Vince.”
“I’m not downplaying anything that needs to be decided or allegations of any kind, but when I love somebody, I love them wholeheartedly,” he added.
As for Triple H, he went on to become WWE’s Executive Vice President before moving into his current position as the Chief Content Officer of WWE following McMahon’s departure, according to the company’s website.
His tasks include overseeing the company’s “creative writing, talent relations, live events, talent development and creative services departments.”
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