LAS VEGAS — Some of WWE’s greats will be put into wrestling immortality during WrestleMania 41 weekend with the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame.
A grand tradition that takes place the night before WrestleMania, the Hall of Fame ceremony serves as a time to honor those that made tremendous contributions to wrestling and became popular stars in the process. It’s an emotional night, from the people getting to induct their friends to those soaking in the honor of being part of the class. Five stars will be inducted and, for the first time, a match gets put into the class.
USA TODAY Sports will provide the highlights from the 2025 WWE Hall Of Fame ceremony, which will begin late in Las Vegas (early morning on the East Coast). Here’s what to know before the event kicks off.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque
Shawn Michaels introduced his longtime friend and tag team partner and recalled how Levesque didn’t try to be a mega star the moment his career began. “He just wanted to be a wrestler,” Michaels said. “The Heartbreak Kid” joked with Levesque’s wife, Stephanie McMahon, about how people always wondered how close they are.
It didn’t take long before Michaels began to fight back tears. He wondered why Levesque continued to be his friend, and gave him credit for helping him turn his life around from personal struggles.
Of all Levesque’s accomplishments, Michaels focused on the creation of NXT and how pivotal it was to WWE’s main roster today. Michaels recalled when Levesque invited him over to check out the brand in its early stages, and now it’s something he now oversees.
“Buddy, I love you,” Michaels said.
Levesque was emotional from the moment he took the stage, unsure if he’d able to get through his speech. As he gave flowers to all of the people that helped his career take off − from family to fellow wrestlers − he had to take a step back talking about Dusty Rhodes. Cody Rhodes got emotional as well as Levesque spoke about what the Undisputed WWE Champion’s father meant to him.
Scott Hall was someone Levesque leaned on a lot during their time working together, and he also talked about the impact of Chyna. He focused on the factions he worked with from DX to Evolution and how they ignited a spark in him.
Last year, Paul Heyman took time during his Hall of Fame speech to credit Levesque for taking WWE forward. This year, Levesque took time to talk about Heyman’s impact, and “The Wiseman” couldn’t hold back tears.
Levesque said he began to appreciate life when a health scare nearly led to his death in 2021, and how he thought about his daughters and wife and how important they are to him.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque acknowledges Vince McMahon
Married into the family, Levesque gave credit to Linda and Shane McMahon for their roles in his life. But Levesque also acknowledged someone that doesn’t get mentioned in WWE much in his father-in-law, Vince McMahon. The WWE co-founder left the company again in 2023 amid allegations of sex trafficking and sexual assault levied against him in a lawsuit by a former female employee.
“It’s a complicated story and a complicated relationship, but in so many ways, I would not be here without him,” Levesque said. “He’s the one that saw something in me creatively.”
Levesque added McMahon wasn’t just a friend or mentor but part of his family as his wife’s father and his daughters’ grandfather.
“When there’s somebody that helps propel you that far, you owe them so much. You taught me so much. What to do, what not to do. I’m grateful for all those lessons. I love you, Vince. I thank you,” Levesque said.