What a special night Wrestlepalooza turned out to be for Stephanie McMahon.
The former WWE CEO was in attendance at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse Saturday night, sitting ringside just before the main event match between WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre.
A hush had fallen over the arena after thousands of members of the WWE Universe witnessed AJ Lee win her first match in over a decade when she forced Becky Lynch to tap out to the Black Widow, but then the iconic gong of The Undertaker put the gassed crowd back on their feet.
The Undertaker is here at #Wrestlepalooza!!!
Stream Wrestlepalooza RIGHT NOW on the @espn App: https://t.co/jKAIj8nxxt pic.twitter.com/8uwGGhC0Iu
— WWE (@WWE) September 21, 2025
The American Badass road down the ramp on his motorcycle, but stopped short of doing his usual circling of the entire wrestling ring. He spotted McMahon sitting in the front row, hopped off his bike and took a seat next to her. The crowd new something was up, they just didn’t know what.
The Deadman then surprised everyone, Stephanie included, by announcing that she would be the first member of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Hall of Fame announcements are typically withheld until WrestleMania season rolls around, so this was truly an unexpected announcement. Stephanie, overcome with emotion, gave her longtime friend a hug as the audience cheered on in approval.
What a moment! 🙌
The Undertaker just revealed that Stephanie McMahon will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame next year in 2026! pic.twitter.com/3P7zuOSKah
— WWE (@WWE) September 21, 2025
This is the second straight year that The Undertaker has taken part in a surprise Hall of Fame announcement. It was just a few months ago when Taker, Shawn Michaels and WWE President Nick Khan informed Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque that he would be headlining the class of 2025.
Next spring, presumably during WrestleMania weekend, Stephanie McMahon will receive her own Hall of Fame ring to match the one her husband wears.
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar / WWE
Brock Lesnar defeated John CenaBron Breakker & Bronson Reed defeated The Usos with LA Knight as the special guest refereeStephanie Vaquer defeated IYO SKY to become the new Women’s World ChampionAJ Lee & CM Punk defeated Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins, Lee picking up the win by getting The Man to submit to the Black WidowCody Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre to retain the WWE Championship
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