AN EMOTIONAL FINAL PROMO ON RAW?
For 20 years now, Triple H had left an indelible mark on WWE. We loved him, we hated him, and his legend is built: D-Generation X, Evolution, the era of terror, his dozen world championships… It is hard to top. But perhaps in 2012, we were reaching the end of a cycle. More than a week after his terrible loss at SummerSlam, Triple H is present in the August 27 RAW episode in Milwaukee. Already moved by what he was about to share with the crowd, the former member of D-Generation X steps toward the ring, cheered by the WWE Universe. Triple H has his left arm in a cast. For long moments, he looks at the fans before finally speaking:
« Well, damn it, let’s get to the point. Everyone wants to know: am I going to retire? If there’s one thing I’ve learned in WWE, it’s that you should never say “never,” right? Let’s go back to the beginning. When I started my career, there were two simple things I really wanted to accomplish. The first was to step into this ring and create something that people would never forget. And the other was to retire from all of this before all of this retired me. That said, everyone reaches a crossroads.
Everyone reaches a crossroads in their career. When you reach that crossroads, you have to ask yourself: is this the moment? Because time is the one thing you cannot fight. Time will win. I have never wanted to be the one who wanders aimlessly. I have never wanted to be the one who clings on too long, waiting solely for nostalgic excitement. I have never wanted to be the one who, to be frank, steps into the ring only because someone is ready to sign a check for him. I have never wanted to cling on too long. I didn’t want to be the one who was too battered and broken inside to be able to carry his own children. I never wanted to be that fighter hooked on blows who could no longer have a life once all of this is finished. That said, for the first time in my career, I find myself at this crossroads.”
THE LOSS TO LESNAR, A REVELATION?
In April 2012, Triple H was already in the management role at the time. After contractual tensions between The Game and The Beast, Brock Lesnar breaks his rival’s arm with a Kimura Lock. After several tensions that continued between the two men, the match is made official by Paul Heyman, and on August 19, Triple H and Brock Lesnar face off at SummerSlam. In the main event of wrestling’s biggest show of the summer, Brock breaks his rival’s arm a second time, forcing him to submit. On this August 27, the crowd is attentive and chants for The Game. Triple H continues his speech, opens up about his doubts, before addressing the Brock Lesnar case:
« Brock Lesnar forced me to ask myself: is this it for me? The answer is that I don’t know. I’m banged up. I’m probably more tired than I’ve ever been in my life. I’m broken again. What I want is to step into this ring and become the “Cerebral Assassin” again. I want to be the “King of Kings.” I want to be “The Game.” I want to be Triple H. I’d like to tell you that I’ll rise and I’ll kick Brock Lesnar’s ass, because that’s what I always do. That’s what I want to do, but I can’t.
And the truth is I don’t know if I’m capable. Brock Lesnar forced me to take stock of myself and ask: is this it for me? And if I can’t claim that I’m able to come back and beat Brock Lesnar, that I can come back and be better than before, then perhaps I’ve answered my own question.
I don’t know, maybe you’re right, maybe I’m not capable, but here’s what I can do while I’m here: I can take a moment to say something. I can come out here in front of you all and say thank you. »
BUT NO ONE STOPS THE GAME…
And to finish this tearful speech, Triple H warmly thanks the fans for their support.
« Whether you loved them, whether you hated them, whether you respected them or not, every superstar who comes down this ramp, every person who has ever stepped through these ropes to enter this ring, does it for one reason. They put their bodies and their health on the line. They give it their all in this ring. They sweat, they pay the price, they sacrifice every day for one thing: your entertainment.
And believe me, each of them stands there behind that curtain, just before their music hits, and when they are alone, folded in on themselves, with no one around, and they question themselves, wondering if, when they step through that curtain, anyone will care. And I can honestly say that, throughout my career, I’ve felt that every time I stepped through that curtain, you all cared. And that is what kept me going.
When I was exhausted from touring, when I was broken, when I was in a bad state, when I could barely walk, when I had muscle tears, when I had broken bones, what allowed me to overcome all of that was all of you and your reactions, and for that, I can sincerely say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for letting me do this sport. You all gave me your reactions every night, and for that, I will never forget, never, any of you. I hope that if I’ve achieved anything, even a little, in my career, I hope I’ve brought something to this ring and I hope that, in some way or another, you will never forget me. Thank you. »
Triple H turns back, tears in his eyes, and heads backstage. The fans were convinced that the former world champion’s career was over. But the following year, The Game makes his return in March 2013 to go after The Beast. This would lead to a WrestleMania 29 match where Triple H’s career was on the line. But Stephanie McMahon’s husband would come through.
Triple H would continue to wrestle, embracing his heel side with The Authority in particular. He would perform 40 matches until 2019 (even winning the world title in 2016). Triple H would then be forced to permanently retire from his wrestling career due to a serious heart condition that occurred in September 2021. He offered his official farewell the following year, before taking the reins of the creative direction.
The 2012 Triple H promo is available on YouTube!
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