The new head of WWE creative, Triple H, has outlined his vision for the company’s future and given fans an important update on his own health.
Triple H took control of creative responsibilities earlier this week, as confirmed by WWE. He replaces Bruce Prichard, who was in interim charge following the resignation of Vince McMahon.
The last nine days have been somewhat hectic for Triple H. Just hours before McMahon’s resignation, he returned to his previous role of Executive Vice President of Talent Relations.
It signalled a full-time return to the company for ‘The Game’. WWE fans doubted whether they would see the 53-year-old back in any full-time capacity, due to his previous health issues.
What were Triple H’s health problems?
Triple H suffered what was described as a ‘cardiac event’ last summer. Furthermore, few knew of the true severity of his health issues until he announced his retirement from wrestling in March.
Speaking to Stephen A Smith, he revealed he had viral pneumonia. He also had fluid in his lungs and around his heart.
He revealed: “They followed up on it, did an EKG. Basically, the way your heart pumps out, it’s 55 to 65 per cent of your injection fracture is a good number – I was at 30.”
“By the time I got the emergency room, my ejection fracture had gone down to 22,” he continued. “I was in heart failure. Bad. By the next morning, as they figured that out in the evening, the next morning, as I was settling in to get an MRI done and about to go in for a heart cap, my ejection fracture was down at 12.
“I was nose-diving, and at the one-yard line of where you don’t want to be.”
Triple H updates WWE fans on health, gives company vision
He now wears a defibrillator in his chest, which will prevent him from competing in-ring again. But he is now active on the business side. His new dual roles essentially allow him to shape the future of WWE.
Fans have reacted positively to the news. Some accept that a change was necessary in creative to allow more Superstars to flourish in the company. Triple H’s previous success in building up the NXT brand, meanwhile, means there is a lot of excitement around.
Speaking to BT Sport‘s Ariel Helwani ahead of SummerSlam on Saturday, the WWE legend has revealed how his heart problems have given him a new appreciation for life. In addition, he spoke about his vision for WWE.
He explained: “I feel great. Glitch in the road, but luckily for me, it was caught. It took a little bit to get over it, to get past it. But I’m past it. I’m over it. I’ve got a clean bill of health, 100 per cent.
“I’m very aware of all of it, I’m very aware of really what’s important in your life, and everything else.”
Speaking on what he sees in the future for WWE, he said: “I’m back, I’m 100 per cent. I’m ready to go, and I’m ready to tear through this and try to put on a big pair of shoes. Like I said, we’re all going to do our best and make this thing go to places it’s never been before.
“People ask me if I’m sad that I’m done wrestling – no. I gave it everything that I had, I rode it until the wheels come off. And luckily for me, they told me, you shouldn’t do this anymore. Sweet, I’m done, I was wrapping it up anyway. To me, there didn’t need to be the perfect out. It needed to be, I rode it until the wheels fell off, and gave it everything I had.
“Here I am, I came out the other side. I have a passion for the business that has been the same since the first day I ever saw it. I can promise everybody out there – I’m going to do everything I can in my power to make this better than they’ve ever seen before.”
In a separate interview, he added: “I want ideas from everybody. I want thoughts from everybody. To me, this is inclusive. That goes for the talent. When I say this is going to take all of us, it’s going to take all of us. I want that.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty
