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Triple H Comments on Daniel Bryan’s WWE Return, Stephanie’s First WrestleMania Match and New Championship in NXT

TJR Wrestling

Triple H, real name Paul Levesque, is a busy man these days as the WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative that helps run the company with his father-in-law Vince McMahon and his wife, Stephanie McMahon-Levesque. Triple H is also the real-life General Manager in WWE that is in charge of building the roster and developing talent in the company’s NXT brand.

Recently, Triple H talked to USA Today For the Win about a number of interesting topics. Here are some excerpts.

Triple H on Stephanie McMahon teaming with him at WrestleMania against Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey and the reaction of their three daughters:

“They’re thrilled. I think they’re still not fully believing it yet, though they’ve seen us training and all that stuff. It’s unique for them to see their mom in the ring. They see me in the ring occasionally but not all that often either.

This is an exciting match. My oldest daughter’s old enough to know who Ronda is and understand what she’s bringing to the table, so it’s exciting. But also, this is the first time Steph’s ever competed at WrestleMania. People don’t get that – she’s been out there, she’s been in the ring, she’s been a part of a lot of big things…. This is a moment for her. First time ever at WrestleMania, it’s huge. And, look, we have three daughters. In the time that we’re in with the Women’s Evolution and seeing an athlete the caliber of Ronda come in and get media and get attention on a different level, it’s very exciting for them.”

Triple H on Daniel Bryan getting the green light to return to the ring as an active wrestler:

“It’s been an amazing process. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do is tell talent that they can’t do this anymore. That you can’t live your dream. And for somebody like Daniel, man, it was soul-crushing.

He went through *a lot* to try to get back to where he was, without any guarantee that it would ever work. But you take the advice of the doctors, the same doctors that told you he couldn’t, tell you he can… man, it’s like a second lease on life for him. Really excited, really happy for him. Watching him on TV the other night, just sitting at the monitor watching was unbelievable.”

Triple H on the new North American Championship that is debuting at NXT Takeover New Orleans on April 7:

“I think it’s part of a long-term strategic plan for the brand. You see with the UK title, the North American Championship, I think as we branch out and become bigger, [with more] opportunities in different places.

It allows for multiple events to take place with championships represented where I feel like, in locations across North America, Mexico, Canada, the North American Championship can be defended and be a main event-style match with the right players. The NXT Championship could be going internationally at that same period of time. It really depends, but it’s part of a long-term strategic plan.”

There’s more in the interview at For The Win, so check it out now.

Analysis: Triple H is very well spoken and does a great job of selling shows in these interviews. NXT is on fire again. That North American Championship ladder match is going to be outstanding.

Triple H also made an interesting point about his wife Stephanie McMahon having her first match ever at a WrestleMania. Stephanie hasn’t wrestled that much in her career, but most fans probably assume she has wrestled at WrestleMania at some point in the last 20 years. Nope. It hasn’t happened. I’m sure their kids will be thrilled about it.