Triple H says Stephanie McMahon has made an immeasurable impact on the pro wrestling business.
The WWE CCO spoke with Joe Tessitore ahead of WrestleMania 42, from the match card to other ancillary events, like the Hall of Fame ceremony. Triple H’s wife, Stephanie McMahon, was the first inductee announced for the 2026 class, and he highlighted how important she has been and continues to be to WWE.
“Yeah, it’s so hard to even put in words because also Steph sometimes looks at herself as this inconsequential piece of the business. Yet I believe one of the most influential characters, especially on the women’s side,” he explained (via F4WOnline.com). “All the time when we’re out, people come up to Steph and talk about ‘when you were one of the only powerful women characters, female characters on TV at that time. And when I was 10 or I was 12 years old, man, I wanted to be you. I wanted to be that powerful woman in business, the powerful woman that, physically wasn’t intimidated all.’”
Triple H can’t think of too many people who deserve a Hall of Fame honor like Stephanie McMahon
Triple H pointed out how many will call her the “heart and soul” of WWE, and hopes fans can one day realize how much she has impacted the company.
“She knew everybody that worked here. I can’t remember names to save my life. Steph knew everybody’s name. Steph knew their families, knew their kids’ names. We would laugh all the time because it would take us 45 minutes to leave the building as we were trying to get out of there when the show would be over. [Because] Steph was stopping and saying goodbye to everybody along the way where we’d be like, ‘we’re gonna see him tomorrow at TV. Can we go and get in the car?’ It’s just who she is and her impact on this business is second to none. And I mean that, second to no one. So whether fans fully understand that or not, that it’s hard for me to think of many people that deserve Hall of Fame as much as she does and she doesn’t think she deserves it.”
McMahon will join AJ Styles, Demolition (Ax & Smash), Dennis Rodman, Sid Vicious and Bad News Brown as this year’s WWE Hall of Fame inductees. WrestleMania 42 takes place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18 and April 19, 2026.
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