Stephanie McMahon has shared the romantic story behind Triple H’s marriage proposal, revealing that his nerves initially left her thinking he was simply afraid to dance.

Speaking during a Q&A episode of What’s Your Story?, Stephanie recalled how Triple H popped the question in February 2003. He recreated a dance they had shared on an earlier holiday, with Sade’s “By Your Side” providing the soundtrack to a moment she would never forget.

However, rose petals and a beautiful hotel room did not immediately give away his plans.

“He didn’t say much. I go to meet up with him, and we go to this hotel. On the bed are rose petals in a heart, but I just think he’s being romantic.

“He asked me to order room service while he’s doing whatever. I order room service, and I’m looking around this amazing room that we’re in.

“He then brings out a boom box, which is like a little mini-fridge-size speaker on the shoulder. He plays Sade, and he asks me to dance. While ‘By Your Side’ is playing, he was shaking. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, he hates to dance so much that he’s shaking, but he’s doing it for me. How sweet is this?’

“The song ended, and he got down on his knee and asked me to marry him.

“I was silent. I was in shock. When I’m really surprised, I go quiet. But I was freaking out on the inside. He asked me, and it was so beautiful. I just didn’t say anything. He’s like, ‘Is that yes?’ And I was like, ‘Yes, yes, yes.’”

Their real-life engagement was a world away from the drama surrounding their marriage on WWE television.

On the November 29, 1999 episode of Raw, Stephanie was due to marry Test before Triple H interrupted the ceremony. He showed footage of himself marrying an apparently unconscious Stephanie at a drive-through wedding chapel in Las Vegas.

The storyline later revealed that Stephanie had been involved in the plan all along, helping launch the McMahon-Helmsley faction.

Away from the cameras, Stephanie and Triple H married on October 25, 2003, and have three children together.