Triple H announced his retirement from wrestling on Stephen A. Smith‘s ESPN show, Stephen A’s World. The announcement really just scratched the surface of his cardiac event. It came up when discussing his future in the ring. He shared his experience by saying:
Triple H Retirement Announcement on Stephen A’s World
“I had viral pneumonia. My lungs were inflamed. and as the next couple of days went on and I got home it got increasingly worse and my wife saw some blood and stuff that I was coughing up.
I went and got checked and I – it was coming from the viral pneumonia but I had fluid in my lungs. I had some fluid around my heart. So they followed up on it. Did an EKG and echo and everything and basically the way your heart pumps out 55-65% of your ejection fraction is a good number. I was at 30. and I got a quick text message saying, ‘Don’t take time. Pack a bag real quick, head to the emergency room. I’ll fill you in on the way.
So by the time I got to the emergency room, my ejection fraction had gone down to 22. Which, I was in heart failure. Bad. By the next morning – as they figured that out that evening – by the next morning as they got the MRI done and they were sending me in for a heart cath my ejection fraction was down to 12. So I was nosediving and sort of at the one-yard line of where you want to be – or where you don’t want to be, really, for your family and your future.
They tell you it’s 99%. It gets real. We have 3 young girls – 15, 13, 11. You know, suddenly I come home. I’m a little bit sick and their dad who’s strong always suddenly is in the hospital and I don’t know if they understood the consequences of it but there’s moments in there where – when they’re putting you out for stuff and you think, ‘Is this it?”
Triple H, via Stephen A’s World Interview
He reluctantly shared that due to this experience he was done with wrestling and still has a defibrillator in his chest and is still recovering. His last match (officially) was a WWE live show in Tokyo, Japan where he tagged with Shinske Nakamora to defeat Robert Roode and Samoa Joe. His last televised match was at Super Showdown in 2019 facing Randy Orton. The question for many fans is in what capacity will he remain with WWE as for his executive role in the company.
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As far as what the future holds for Triple H his response was that his foot isn’t off the gas from an executive standpoint. He is currently working back at the office to cultivate and develop new talent while name-dropping Double-A champion/Olympic Gold medalist Gable Stevenson. Triple H did comment on the return of commentator and ex-NFL player Pat McAfee and how capable of a wrestler he is. He commented on his dedication and on his commitment to wrestling and his future appearance at Wrestlemania 38.
He shared a little bit of news stating that he had plans for this upcoming Wrestlemania 38 but they were nixed after this cardiac event. It currently doesn’t seem that we will be getting a farewell match at this moment from him and considering his recoup status that is something the fans will be okay with. We probably can expect a hall of fame farewell segment. Not saying it will happen at this Wrestlemania because it would be coupled with the goodbye to Scott Hall and that will be the biggest segment this year and somewhat disrespectful to attempt to overshadow it.
This is his first public appearance in quite some while, which lead to a landslide of speculation. Just this bit of information is answering more questions, it doesn’t mean that it is leaving us with more questions. But we as fans are happy to get the one answer of where is he on the road to a good, clear recovery. We suggest watching the entire interview to hear it for yourself.
Full Triple H Stephen A’s World Interview
What do you think Triple H’s role with the WWE will be going forward? Do you think he’ll still go by Triple H? Where do you want to see him go? Let us know what you think in the comments below and share your favorite Triple H memories with us on Twitter.
Source: Stephen A.’s World
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