This year’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will welcome Lex Luger, Michelle McCool, and, most notably, Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Given Levesque’s prominent role as Chief Content Officer (CCO) and his influence within WWE Creative, his induction was a surprise that required careful planning.
With the assistance of Mark “The Undertaker” Calaway and Shawn Michaels, the announcement was kept under wraps—even from “The Game” himself.
On his “Six Feet Under” podcast, Calaway revealed that Levesque, already a Hall of Famer as part of D-Generation X, would never have chosen to induct himself due to his executive position.
Calaway explained that WWE President Nick Khan connected him with Michaels, and the two hatched a plan during the filming of “WWE LFG” to orchestrate the surprise.
“It was like a Black Ops mission—the effort everyone put in to keep it quiet was incredible. Only a tiny group, maybe a handful of people, knew about it until the day before,” Calaway shared.
He recounted how he and Michaels coordinated their travel to New York, sneaking into the venue and backstage area to catch Levesque off guard. “They didn’t even tell Steph—she had no idea,” he added, referring to Levesque’s wife, Stephanie McMahon.
Calaway expressed his pride in being part of the reveal, emphasizing how the secrecy made the moment genuinely emotional. Calaway himself joined the WWE Hall of Fame ranks in 2022.
FAQs
Who is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year?
This year’s WWE Hall of Fame inductees include Lex Luger, Michelle McCool, and Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.
Why was Triple H’s induction a surprise?
Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque’s induction was kept a secret because of his high-ranking position as Chief Content Officer (CCO) and his role in WWE Creative. He would not have inducted himself, so Mark ‘The Undertaker’ Calaway and Shawn Michaels planned the surprise.
How was Triple H’s induction kept secret?
The planning was described as a ‘Black Ops mission,’ with only a handful of people aware until the day before. Calaway and Michaels coordinated their flights to New York, sneaking into the venue and backstage area to surprise Levesque.
Did Stephanie McMahon know about Triple H’s induction?
No, Stephanie McMahon, Triple H’s wife, was not informed about the induction and had no idea it was happening.
Who helped plan Triple H’s surprise induction?
Mark ‘The Undertaker’ Calaway and Shawn Michaels collaborated to plan the surprise, with WWE President Nick Khan connecting them during the filming of ‘WWE LFG.’
