Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment is appointing a familiar face as the head of talent relations.
Paul Levesque, known to wrestling fans as the 14-time World Champion Triple H, takes over for John Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis went on administrative leave at the same time WWE announced that Vince McMahon was stepping down as chairman.
that McMahon had paid more than $12 million in hush money over a span of 16 years to suppress allegations of sexual misconduct. a WWE board investigation had uncovered several non-disclosure agreements related to sexual misconduct claims made by women against McMahon and Laurinaitis.
McMahon鈥檚 daughter Stephanie became interim CEO after the report was published, and WWE is now turning to her husband, Levesque, to replace Laurinaitis.
鈥淚 look forward to returning to my prior position as head of Talent Relations. I鈥檓 healthy, fired up, and ready to take charge,鈥� Levesque said in a statement released Friday by WWE.
Levesque retired from the ring earlier this year. that a bout with viral pneumonia last year resulted in heart failure. He also said he had a defibrillator implanted in his chest.
Levesque led WWE鈥檚 talent department in the 2010s.
McMahon, who鈥檚 run WWE for 40 years, of the creative direction of the company鈥檚 wrestling product.
