WWE Hall of Fame 2025 Reaction, Highlights from Triple H, Lex Luger and All Speeches

The latest class of WWE Superstars and legends took their place in immortality during the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, headlined by the solo induction of WWE's Chief Content Officer and 14-time world champion, Triple H.

The King of Kings was joined by former WCW world champion Lex Luger, former Divas champion Michelle McCool, and the first-ever Immortal Moment inductee, the Submission Match between Bret "Hitman" Hart and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin from WrestleMania 13.

Revisit their speeches, including highlights, with this recap of the ceremony.

Lex Luger

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From his arrival in Jim Crockett Promotions in 1987 through the end of his in-ring career, "The Total Package" was a consistent main event attraction. From the Four Horseman to Made in the USA, Luger excelled as a babyface and heel and in 1995, he jumped ship from WWE to WCW, firing the first shot in the Monday Night War.

He took his place in immortality this year, inducted by friend and fellow Hall of Famer, Diamond Dallas Page.

Recalling his life from the top of his industry to living out of hotel, unsure if he would walk again and finding hope in the walls of a Walmart, Luger delivered an emotional speech full of gratitude and appreciation, ending with a tribute to his late mother.

Top Moments

* "We are here to induct a transformation," Page said during his introductory speech before recounting the life Luger lived outside of the ring that led to him to this night.

* "...but I'm standing for this," Luger said after revealing he 'took a bump' getting into his Uber earlier in the afternoon.

* "I didn't get the fans. I thought y'all were out of your minds."

* "From the penthouse to the jailhouse to no house to living out of a hotel."

* "We made it mom!"

Michelle McCool

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Arriving in WWE in 2004 as part of the experimental Diva Search, Michelle McCool exceeded expectations by developing first as an in-ring competitor, then as a character.

One of the few success stories to come out of that competition, McCool overcame liver and kidney disease to became a four-time champion, two-time Slammy Award winner, and one of the most despised villains of the late-2000s, early-2010s during her time as one-half of LayCool with fellow Diva Search alum Layla.

Inducted by her husband, The Undertaker, 2025 Hall of Famer delivered an inspirational speech in which she detailed her "Flawless Finishes," including 'ignore the noise' and 'failure is not fatal.' She took a few jabs at the way the women's division was treated during her time on top, shouted out her peers, who helped her along the way, and teased running it back one time with her LayCool teammate.

Top Moments

* "Without Michelle McCool, there are a lot of women who wouldn't have the opportunies they thrive on today," Undertaker said in his speech.

* "I don't know how many of you were around during the Divas Era, but things weren't always easy."

* McCool recalled being told to pull her punches during LayCool's rivalry with Natalya because they "looked too good" before putting her head down and forging ahead, ultimately leading to the first Divas Tables Match.

* "What you tolerate is what you validate."

* "Real talk...I normally ran to the ring because we only had three or four minutes."

The Natural Disasters

Earthquake and Typhoon may have entered WWE as singles Superstars but their union in 1991 began a run as a tag team that would see them achieve success at the highest level as The Natural Disasters.

Two enormous competitors who were often larger than the competition but succeeded as both unstoppable heels and lovable babyfaces, the tandem would win tag team gold while feuding with the likes of the Legion of Doom, Money Inc., The Beverly Brothers, and more.

On hand for the pair's induction were Earthquake's wife, Josephine Tenta and their children, John Jr. and Joanna, and his grandson. Representing Typhoon was his son, Berkley Ottmon.

A heartfelt speech ensued, with Typhoon recalling how special his friendship with Earthquake was and dedicating their enshrinement to his longtime, championship-winning partner.

Top Moments

* Joanna Tenta revealed that she has picked up where her father left off, beginning her journey in professional wrestling.

* "Big ol' cutie," Typhoon called his partner.

* "Quake...I miss you. This one here is for you!"

Immortal Moment: Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin from WrestleMania 13

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The Submission Match between Bret "Hitman" Hart and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is the greatest match of all time, an instant classic that changed professional wrestling forever and launched The Texas Rattlesnake into superstardom.

Featuring a rare double turn fueled by a red-hot audience in Chicago that shifted allegiance from Hart to Austin, it was an appropriately brutal, bloody masterpiece that showcased the hatred between the combatants and culminated their months-long rivalry on the grandest stage imaginable.

Friday night, Hart and Austin added another major accomplishment to their respective legacies, becoming the first match to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as the inaugural Immortal Moment.

Hart discussed realizing almost instantly that he had perhaps just had the best match of his career. Austin expressed the doubt they had that the double turn would work before noting that he almost teared up watching the video package put together by WWE because the match was as great as it was.

Ending with a toast with some Steveweisers, Austin and Hart celebrated their achievement on stage and in front of an audience who, in some form or fashion, was affected positively by the contest.

Top Moments

* "They've given me two minutes to talk about the two greatest, generational workers the business has ever seen," CM Punk said in his pre-induction speech.

* "It's the greatest match in WrestleMania history. It's perfect," Punk added.

* "It's a huge honor to be the first guy to get three Hall of Fame rings," Hart said to start his speech.

* Austin praised the commentary team of Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Jerry "The King" Lawler, all of whom saw the vision and got it over to the viewing audience that night.

* Austin laughed over special referee Ken Shamrock being more jacked that him and Hart.

Triple H

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Wrestler. Champion. Icon. Executive. Hall of Famer.

Triple H debuted in WWE in 1995, fended off early roadblocks in his career, evolved into one of the greatest and most successful Superstars the industry has ever seen, and transitioned into an executive role that saw him take over the creative direction of the company that he has led to unprecedented success.

He oversaw the creation of NXT and the developmental program that churns out the stars of WWE's future, expanded it to Europe, and introduced a worldwide audience to competitors who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to shine on the most prominent star in the industry.

Introduced to the audience by Shawn Michaels, his best friend, Triple H easily could have taken a victory lap. He could have touted his successes, basked in the glory, and put himself over. Instead, he spent over 60 minutes highlighting the important people throughout his career who helped him reach the heights that he did.

From those he met in the gym as a high schooler to the men and women in WCW and WWE who helped shape him as a wrestlers to, yes, even Vince McMahon himself, he thanked everyone for giving him the life he has today.

He wrapped things up by promising the fans that he would do everything in his power to keep the business alive and ended with two words: thank you.

Top Moments

* "I hope everyone is enjoying this year. The 2025 ass-kiss..." Michaels joked to start the speech, cutting himself off mid-sentence. He added to the NXT talent, "if I don't show up tomorrow morning, it's because that joke didn't go over well in the back."

* "We've spent so much time together that we probably know what the other is thinking."

* "I can honestly say I'm not sure why he chose to stay my friend."

* "That card is damn near all NXT alumni," Michaels said while touting Triple H's greatest success, his creation of the developmental territory.

* "The Paul I work for is a huge pain in my ass!" Michaels exclaimed. "He's getting me back for everything I did in the 90s."

* "Just like in the 90s, he didn't leave me and I'm damn sure not leaving him."

* "I've been sitting back there for the last 15 minutes blubbering so if I pass out up here, someone come and give me an elbow so we can get some mileage out of it or something," Triple H said to start his speech.

* Triple H shouted out Rich Hering, who previously received the Warrior Award at the Hall of Fame, and who started with WWE 55 years ago today.

* "The deeper I dug into this, the more I realized it isn't about me, it's about the people who got me here."

* "I said it before when we did DX, my mom taught me all of that stuff," the honoree said before congratulating his parents on their 61st wedding anniversary.

* "Eric, you gave me a start. For that, I am eternally grateful," The Game told former WCW president Eric Bischoff.

* "You're father meant a lot to me," a the tearful inductee told Cody Rhodes"

* Triple H credited Terry Taylor for making him feel like family when he was in WCW and William Regal for encouraging him to leave and got to WWE.

* He credited Chyna for grounding D-Generation X and admitted that the group may no have lasted without her.

* He thanked The Kliq, Mick Foley, Steve Austin, Randy Orton, and Batista. "Thank you for being the pain in the ass that you were," he told Orton, because it prepared him for where he is.

* "It just dawned on me how pissed off Shawn must be. He's gotta be at NXT in, like, 15 minutes."

* Welp, there's the Vince reference. Boo.

* The King of Kings told the story of The Undertaker giving him the advice he needed to advance his relationship with Stephanie.

* "It may not be great, it may not be perfect, but I will do everything in my power to keep this thing moving forward."