2012

It feels like a lifetime ago, but it was only a few years back that I made my return to Raw after a long nine-month hiatus. I'd been away for some time, healing, recharging, and spending time with Chiara, the kids, and the family. But I knew it was time to return. The business had changed a bit during my time away, but some things remained the same—like unfinished business.

The January 30, 2012 episode of Raw SuperShow was where I made my return. When I walked out to that ring, I felt the energy of the crowd surge through me. It had been a while since I'd been in the spotlight, but it felt like coming home. The fans were on their feet, and I could see their excitement, their anticipation. It was the same feeling I'd had the first time I'd walked into that ring all those years ago. But this time, I wasn't just here to wrestle. I was here to confront Triple H.

We had history. I'd faced him countless times, both in the ring and in our personal lives. But after the match at WrestleMania XXVII—the No Holds Barred match—there was something left unsaid. I felt like I had proven a lot, but something still gnawed at me.

It was more than just a rivalry—it was about respect, pride, and legacy. So, when I returned that night, I walked right up to him and challenged him to a rematch. I didn't care that he had a whole career ahead of him. I didn't care about anything other than the fact that we had unfinished business.

But Triple H, ever the strategist, wasn't so quick to accept. On the February 13 episode of Raw SuperShow, he refused my challenge. I could see the hesitation in his eyes. Maybe he was scared. Maybe he thought he had nothing left to prove against me. But I wasn't about to back down.

That's not who I am. So, the next week, on February 20, I took it a step further. I accused him of living in the shadow of Shawn Michaels. I told him that no matter how many times he faced me, he would always be remembered as the guy who never quite stepped out of Shawn's shadow.

I knew it was a low blow. But I had to say it. I had to push him, get under his skin. I needed him to feel something—to feel the anger and frustration I felt all those months I spent away from the ring. And it worked. It was exactly what I was hoping for. He accepted my challenge, but with one condition: he wanted it to be a Hell in a Cell match.

Hell in a Cell. The match that had always carried such a heavy history. It was brutal, unforgiving, and the perfect way to settle our score once and for all. But Triple H didn't stop there. He made one final stipulation: he wanted Shawn Michaels to be the guest referee.

I couldn't believe it. Michaels, the man who had been so pivotal in both of our careers, was going to be the one who'd oversee this battle. The tension between all three of us was palpable. I had so much respect for Shawn, but at the same time, I knew that this match meant more than just wrestling. It was about proving that I could still be the best.

WrestleMania XXVIII came, and with it, the biggest match of my career. When I walked out to the ring that night, everything felt different. I had a new look—something that felt more like me. The mohawk, the look in my eyes—it was all about sending a message. This wasn't just about facing Triple H again. This was about proving that I was still at the top of my game, that my streak would not be broken. It was about extending the Streak to 20–0.

Triple H and I tore into each other the moment the bell rang. Every punch, every slam, every weapon used—it was all designed to send a message. Hell in a Cell matches are brutal, and this one was no exception. There were times when I thought it might be over for me, but I knew I couldn't let up. I had too much riding on this. My Streak, my legacy, my career—all of it was on the line.

And Shawn Michaels, who had been part of so many of our most iconic matches, stood there, watching. He wasn't just the referee; he was a reminder of everything we had been through. It wasn't easy for him, I could tell. He had his own history with both of us, and there was so much weight in that ring, more than any match I'd ever been in.

In the end, after a brutal back-and-forth battle, I made Triple H tap out. I had done it. I had extended my Streak to 20–0. I'll never forget the moment the bell rang, signaling the end of the match. There was no joy in my victory, though. Only respect. I knew how much this had cost both of us. I knew how much Triple H had sacrificed to get to this point, just as I had.

But there was one more thing that needed to be done. After the match, I turned to Michaels, and together, we helped Triple H to his feet. We helped him to the entrance stage, where the three of us stood, embracing. There, in that moment, the rivalry was gone. It was just three men, acknowledging the journey we had been on together, the sacrifices we had all made for this business.

It was a fitting end to that chapter. But I knew that for me, the journey wasn't over. It was only the beginning of something new.

Later in 2012, something else incredible happened. On the July 23 episode of Raw, WWE celebrated the 1000th episode of the show. The entire arena was buzzing with excitement, and the nostalgia was thick in the air. It was during this special episode that I made another unexpected return, this time to help Kane.

He had been confronted by a group of wrestlers—Jinder Mahal, Curt Hawkins, Tyler Reks, Hunico, Camacho, and Drew McIntyre. The odds were stacked against him, but the Brothers of Destruction were not about to let these guys take over.

I don't think anyone expected the two of us to come together again, but when Kane needed help, I was there. The two of us dominated those six other wrestlers, taking them down one by one, showing that the Brothers of Destruction were still a force to be reckoned with. It was a reminder to the fans and to everyone in the locker room that no matter how much time had passed, we were still one of the most dominant tag teams in WWE history.

But even though I was still active on-screen, the most important thing in my life was what was happening outside the ring. In August 2012, we celebrated another milestone in the family. Joe, our son, married his beautiful bride in a ceremony on the stunning island of Maui. It was an incredible day, filled with love, laughter, and so many happy memories.

Over 100 of our closest family and friends were there to witness the ceremony, and it was clear that Joe and Destiny had built something special together. Joelle was happy again to be a flower girl. It made me realize just how much my life had changed over the years.

And then, in November 2012, Chiara and I welcomed our third child together, a son named Titan. I'll never forget that day. Titan was a beautiful, healthy baby, and I couldn't have been more thrilled to become a father again.

The kids were over the moon to meet their new brother, and I could see the excitement in their eyes as they got to hold him for the first time. The kids were already so protective of him, and it felt like our family had grown even stronger.

I was on top of the world at that point. My career in WWE was still going strong, I had incredible family support, and now I had another beautiful child to raise. Chiara, as always, was my rock. I couldn't have done any of this without her. She kept everything together, even when I was on the road or wrapped up in my wrestling career.

As I look back on all of this, I can't help but feel a sense of pride. It wasn't just about the matches I fought, the Streak I extended, or the rivalries I faced—it was about the people I fought for. It was about Chiara, the kids, the legacy we were building together.

No matter how many matches I won, or titles I held, nothing compared to the family I had. It was them who made everything worthwhile. And every time I stepped into that ring, I did it for them.

Wrestling had been my life, but my family was my world. And in 2012, I was living proof that you could have both.