WWE is holding talent tryouts ahead of Saturday’s SummerSlam event to sign the next Performance Center class.
While speaking with the media on Friday at the WWE tryouts in Nashville, Triple H talked about Paul Heyman possibly being involved in creative and development aspects.
Heyman, who had been the Raw Executive Director from 2019-2020, was at the tryouts to help scout talent.
“I want ideas from everybody, I want thoughts from everybody,” Triple H stated. “To me, this is inclusive. When I say, that goes for the talent. When I say this is going to take all of us, it’s going to take all of us. I want that, Paul is one of the best promos in the history of this business. Who better?
When I asked him to be part of this, he was thrilled. We both joke about the fountain of youth at these things. Paul always does this (rubbing his chest). Who better to come here to talk about that skill? Paul has the gift of gab, always has. Who better to come here and motivate these kids?”
Triple H mentioned Big E and SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair as people who have helped out with the tryouts.
Heyman worked on the WWE creative team from 2001-2003, including the lead writer for SmackDown from July 2002 to February 2003.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit with an h/t toSEScoopsfor the transcription.
It’s been one week since Triple H was named EVP, Talent Relations of WWE, and Vince McMahon announced his decision to retire from WWE, stepping down as CEO.
This past Monday morning, it was announced that Triple H would assume all creative duties that were previously held by this father-in-law. It was the first time he had been in charge of creative since stepping away from his duties with NXT last year due to health issues.
While speaking with the media on Friday at the WWE tryouts in Nashville, Triple H talked about the undertaking of replacing Vince McMahon.
“You’ve gotta watch the show…there are a massive pair of shoes to fill that I am trying to step into, but I do not dream, for one second, that I can fill those shoes by myself. It’s going to take a lot of us. It’s going to take a team, it’s going to take everybody here to fill those shoes and continue this on, but we will.”
Triple H continued, “the intent is to continue the legacy of what has been going on, that made me fall in love with this business that he created and to take it to new levels. To take it beyond where it is now. The only way we’re going to do that is as a team. That’s with Steph [McMahon], Nick Khan, myself, Kevin Dunn, everybody that is here. That is with all this talent. The great hardest working talent in the world. I have no doubt in my mind that with this team, we can do it, not an inkling of doubt. It’s just a lot of hard work, and we’re all going to grind. We have the greatest fans in the world, and we’re going to make sure they get everything they want out of this product and then some.”
Triple H later added after recapping his week so far, “like I said, it’s going to take all of us to fill a big pair of shoes, but we’re hell-bent on doing it.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit with an h/t toSEScoopsfor the transcription.
Last Friday, Vince McMahon announced his retirement from WWE, after four decades as the unquestionable leader of the promotion.
A month after stepping down as CEO and Chairman of WWE, McMahon’s retirement saw him relinquish his role as head of WWE creative, which has been filled by Triple H.
In addition to being the head of WWE creative, the former WWE World Champion now serves as head of Talent Relations.
Kevin Dunn Staying
Much has changed behind the scenes in WWE, and one name fans expected to depart the company is Kevin Dunn.
Dunn, who serves as WWE’s Executive Vice President of TV Production has worked with the company for years, but is reportedly not liked by Triple H among others backstage.
It was recently reported that Dunn was expected to leave WWE within the next year, either of his own choice or by being forced out.
It now appears that Dunn will be sticking with WWE after all, as in a recent talk with the media, Triple H name-dropped Dunn as one of the people who is doing important work in the company.
“The Game” spoke about building on the company Vince McMahon created and seemingly confirmed that Dunn will be staying despite the reports.
“To take it [WWE] beyond where it is now, the only way we’re gonna do that is with a team. That’s with Steph [McMahon.] That’s with Nick Khan. That’s with myself. That’s with Kevin Dunn.”
Triple H on the team who will lead WWE into the future in the post-Vince McMahon era.
It appears that with Triple H’s new role as Head of Creative, we will see the old NXT make a return.
Transition To NXT 2.0
In September, WWE changed several things with NXT, from their branding to the on-screen talent. The show was once focused on in-ring action and storylines and featured some of the best wrestlers in the world. However, now NXT 2.0 is focused on promos and character creation while developing young, home-grown talent.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque was away due to his cardiac event when WWE rebranded NXT as NXT 2.0. WWE stopped signing independent wrestlers and focused on younger athletes with no pro wrestling background.
Black & Gold NXT To Return?
Now that Triple H is serving as Head of Creative and Head of Talent Relations, fans may see NXT slowly return to Triple H’s vision.
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that “in NXT, the belief was that the product will revert back somewhat to Levesque’s previous vision of it.”
Melter also noted the belief was that while they will continue to heavily recruit top-tier athletes, WWE would be open to using more experienced wrestling talent, and going forward, “the door would be more open to better wrestlers who weren’t as big or as good looking as [Vince] McMahon wanted on the roster.”
Since Triple H’s heart issues, Shawn Michaels has been in charge of the day-to-day running of NXT. However, Vince McMahon and Bruce Prichard had the final say on NXT’s booking.
Now that Triple H is the Head of WWE Creative, let’s explore five changes we’d like to see with Triple H in charge.
This week, Vince McMahon announced his retirement from WWE, after decades of running the company. Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan are now Co-Chief Executive Officers, while Stephanie is the sole Chairwoman of WWE now.
McMahon’s retirement comes one month after he stepped down as CEO and Chairman of the Board, due to the allegations of misconduct against multiple female employees.
McMahon is alleged to have paid over $12 million in Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) over 16 years.
WWE executive Paul Levesque (Triple H) has assumed “all responsibilities related to WWE’s creative,” the company announced on July 25.
With Triple H officially running creative, let’s explore five things we’d like to see changed in WWE.
The Women’s Division
At Money In The Bank, we saw Liv Morgan become the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Though there are many thoughts to be had on the quickness of her cash in which you can read here. However, this is a historic title win. Since Liv won the title from Ronda Rousey, it marked the first exchange of the SmackDown Women’s Championship that didn’t include any of the Four Horsewomen since Natalya won it from Naomi in 2017.
With that noted, it seems like we are beginning to transition away from the crutches of the Four Horsewomen. To be fair, three out of the four are currently out of action. So, it is more likely that they are forced to rely on the younger generation. Regardless, it’s a win for the future of women’s wrestling.
Three out of the four horsewomen are currently not active in the company. Sasha Banks is suspended. Charlotte is still taking time off. And Bayley has not yet returning from her injury. So, the WWE has been forced to center the up-and-coming stars of the division. Liv Morgan finally had her moment at Money In The Bank and Bianca Belair got her redemption at WrestleMania 38. As the division moves forward, there are many women ready and waiting to become the present of the division.
(WWE)
The following WWE Superstars represent the future of the WWE Women’s Division and deserve the opportunity to fulfill their destiny: Rhea Ripley, Queen Zelina, Doudrop, Raquel Rodriquez, Xia Li, Alba Fyre, Cora Jade, Elektra Lopez, Indi Hartwell, Io Shirai, Ivy Nile, Tiffany Stratton, Sarray, Roxanne Perez and many others.
I would love to see more women’s matches added to Premium Live Events outside of the usual championship matches. On a show like Raw, with so much talent, the division would benefit from a more fleshed-out mid-card.
I believe in Triple H’s booking ability as he’s proven during his time in NXT that he can create stars in that division like Shayna Baszler, Rhea Ripley, Asuka, Ember Moon, Paige, Charlotte, Bayley, Sasha Banks, and many others.
Tag Team Wrestling
The Street Profits
One of the things that have fallen to the wayside in recent years is the art of tag team wrestling within WWE. With The Usos holding both championships, there are no teams that are viewed as actual contenders to the title.
Tag teams get split up within weeks within WWE. That goes for both the women’s and men’s tag team divisions. In NXT, we saw Cora Jade and Roxanne split up after only teaming together for about a month. None of the teams in the Women’s Tag Team Championship match that took place at WrestleMania 38 are currently together. The match featured the teams of Sasha Banks & Naomi, Carmella & Queen Zelina, Liv Morgan & Rhea Ripley, and Natalya & Shayna Baszler.
FTR have said that they left WWE because of the lack of effort put into the tag team division. By rejuvenating the tag team division, WWE may be able to grab some major tag teams. Obviously, this would help the company overall. There are also many tag teams in NXT that show incredible potential and may help to advance the status of the main roster tag team division like The Creed Brothers, The Dyad, Legado Del Fantasma, Pretty Deadly, and others.
Superstar Branding: Names & Theme Songs
One of the main changes we’ve witnessed within WWE recently is the change in how the superstars are being branded. Superstars are being presented with new names and theme songs. Many of these changes happen without explanation or good reason at all.
Part of a superstar’s success is reliant on their identity and branding. For example, superstars like Edge, John Cena, Randy Orton, The Hardyz, Chris Jericho, and many others have incredibly memorable theme songs that make them easily recognizable.
People like Edge, Ciampa, Alexa Bliss, Riddle, Gunther, Wes Lee, Alba Fyre, Lacey Evans, Shayna Baszler, Liv Morgan, Theory, and many others have debuted new entrance music across all of WWE’s television. In the Royal Rumble, we saw how detrimental this could be when fans weren’t able to recognize superstars by their entrance music.
A majority of these changes appear to be unnecessary. As a former wrestler, Triple H would be able to understand the importance of maintaining solid branding throughout your career. There would be a lot more synergy as superstars wouldn’t face full-on character changes when they move up to the main roster.
No More Unnecessary Name Changes
In 2022 alone, there have been 19 name changes. Some of the people who faced name changes had created a name for themselves outside of the WWE. Many believe this was likely the reason for the name change. The need to own everything is incredibly unnecessary as the legacy of the superstars should be prioritized.
Below, you will see the name changes that took place this year along with their previous name:
Kacy Catanzaro became Katana Chance
Kay Lee Ray became Alba Fyre
Raul Mendoza became Cruz Del Toro
Austin Theory became Theory
Raquel Gonzalez became Raquel Rodriguez
Marcel Barthel became Ludwig Kaiser
Pretty Deadly: Lewis Howley became Elton Prince & Sam Stoker became Kit Wilson
Elias became Ezekiel
King Woods became Xavier Woods
Kayla Inlay became Kiana James
Pete Dunne became Butch
Saurav became Sanga
WALTER became Gunther
Seth Rollins became Seth “Freakin” Rollins
LA Knight became Max Dupri
Tommaso Ciampa became Ciampa
Robert Stone became Mr. Stone
Channing Lauren became Channing Lorenzo
Simone Johnson became Ava Raine
Fewer Rematches
A report by Fightful Select (subscription required) stated that with Triple H a person working in and near creative expected “recall of what we have and haven’t done repeatedly. There were so many things that Vince insisted on doing that I’m pretty sure he didn’t remember doing over and over again, even when people would tell him.”
One of the many reasons that WWE’s programming has begun to become “stale” is because of the use of rematches in storylines. This does nothing for the superstars or stories except trading wins and losses.
We have seen Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns way too many times. I don’t believe that this is because Vince forgot that they did the match, but because of the lack of original ideas. I also think that it’s possible that the writers in WWE have had original ideas but because of the authoritarian leadership of Vince, they were ignored or turned down.
Stars like Bianca Belair, Bobby Lashley, The Street Profits, Charlotte, and others have had their abilities limited due to the number of rematches they’ve been booked in. Most matches on regular TV programming are already short, and the intrigue of most matches is gone after doing them the week before. Many times we have also seen creative burn big matches by booking them too early or too many times in general.
Fewer Premium Live Events
With WWE’s current schedule, there are 12 premium live event shows each year. The schedule of the premium live events only allows for about a month’s time to book a feud through the pay-per-view.
In AEW, there are normally around three months in between pay-per-views. I’m not saying that it should be exactly that length, but spreading out the shows could make them all feel more important. For example, just leaving the big five pay-per-views: Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, Money In The Bank, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series would benefit programming so much.
A schedule adjustment could lead to an increase in the quality of TV programming. A change in schedule would make the matches become more meaningful. Time and time again we have seen WWE put meaningless matches on pay-per-views because they need to fill space. Most times the matches are just used as filler for the card. However, more storylines will gain true substance and will deserve to be on the card.
Now, Stephanie McMahon is the Chairwoman and co-CEO, a title she shares with Nick Khan. Triple H is the Head of Creative. When it comes to Triple H’s role, fans have already noticed subtle changes that bring hope for the future.
It may be enough to sway one top free agent.
Top Free Agent Signing With WWE?
(via SIPA USA/AP)
Fightful reports that there is a top free agent who is now seriously considering putting pen to paper with WWE now that Triple H is at the helm of creative.
The report didn’t mention who the free agent in question is but speculation has already run wild.
Also noted in the report is that this individual has plenty of options on the table.
In a previous report, Fightful spoke with a slew of former WWE performers who had been with the company dating back to 2016. The overall feeling from those talents is that had Triple H been in charge sooner, they’d still be with the promotion today.
SEScoops will keep you posted as this story develops.
McMahon announced his retirement on July 22 but an 8-K report revealed that Vince actually resigned amid an investigation into his alleged million-dollar pacts with former employees.
With Stephanie McMahon in place as the Chairwoman and co-CEO, Triple H is the new Head of Creative. He is essentially running the show for Raw and SmackDown.
This was reportedly been well received by both current and former WWE performers.
Former WWE Stars React to the News
(via WWE)
Fightful is reporting that talent who have since exited from WWE dating back to 2016 have shared their opinion on Triple H’s new position. The report notes that the overall feeling is that had Triple H taken over sooner, then they would still be in the company today.
Sean Ross Sapp also spoke to one current member of the AEW roster who used to be with WWE. This talent said that had Triple H been running the main shows when their deal was up, they probably would’ve re-signed with WWE.
In a previous report, it was said that the USA Network is quite optimistic about Triple H’s new role and the overall feeling is that of excitement.
McMahon’s retirement comes one month after he stepped down as CEO and Chairman of the Board, due to the allegations of misconduct against multiple female employees.
McMahon is alleged to have paid over $12 million in Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) over 16 years.
WWE executive Paul Levesque (Triple H) has assumed “all responsibilities related to WWE’s creative,” the company announced Monday morning.
“I believe that there are a lot of great wrestling fans all over the world who are following pro wrestling pretty closely and there’s obviously been shakeups. I’ve definitely followed that promotion since I was a small kid. And it’ll be interesting to see how things turn out in the world of pro wrestling and I’m a big fan of pro wrestling all over the place, not just AEW. And now not just Ring of Honor either. We’ve worked with New Japan Pro Wrestling, and a lot of other great companies all over the world.
So, we’ll see what’s to be held for the future of the pro wrestling business. But I’m glad that AEW and Ring of Honor are both a huge part of it with AEW every Wednesday on TBS, and every Friday on TNT and now Ring of Honor with the Pay Per View events on Bleacher Report hopefully, will lead to a weekly Ring of Honor also going forward.”
Triple H is leading up creative in WWE in place of Vince McMahon, who resigned from the company last Friday and is already talking to talent about the expected changes they can expect.
This move comes days after it was also announced he was the new EVP of Talent Relations.
Fightful Select reports Triple H spoke at a talent meeting before Monday’s episode of Raw. Talent they spoke with “said that the meeting went really well, and there was a lot of optimism surrounding the change in creative from others in the company.”
Triple H led the meeting and promised them transparency that some don’t feel has existed under the previous regime. He said that he wants open lines of communication between himself and talent.
The report noted, “Talent waiting for hours for the opportunity to maybe speak to Vince McMahon had become commonplace in recent years, with face time with him dwindling.”
Triple H said that he wants work to be fun. The general consensus has been positive regarding the meeting.
Monday’s WWE Raw was the first event that Triple H was in charge of creative.
Vince McMahon had his hand in the pot of just about everything creatively within WWE for decades. From character changes to scripts, it all went through Vince. You’ve often heard former WWE employees say they always worked for an audience of one.
That one, of course, being the former Chairman of the board.
Things have changed now, however. Vince McMahon “retired” mere hours before the July 22 episode of SmackDown went on the air.
In an 8-K report, a filing sent to the SEC, McMahon’s departure is officially listed as a resignation. The move was clearly in relation to The Wall Street Journal’s report of alleged million-dollar pacts with former female employees over the course of 16 years.
USA Network Reacts to Triple H’s New Role
(via WWE)
WWE has confirmed to several reporters that Triple H is now the Head of Creative. It’s a role that “The Game” took on during his time in NXT before enduring major health issues.
Now that he is back in the saddle, Triple H will be the point man for creative on WWE’s main roster shows, Raw and SmackDown. His wife, Stephanie McMahon, is the Chairwoman and co-CEO, a title she shares with Nick Khan.
Fightful is reporting that a source within USA Network says the overall feeling with this move is excitement.
Many have criticized WWE for being too stale and in desperate need of a change creatively. While business has been booming for WWE, its TV shows haven’t exactly been met with praise over the past few years.
WWE executive Paul Levesque (Triple H) has assumed “all responsibilities related to WWE’s creative,” the company announced Monday morning.
Vince McMahon’s retirement on Friday has sent shockwaves throughout the wrestling world. It’s led to a significant shakeup to WWE’s management structure, with Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan serving as co-CEO’s.
Prior to the Vince retirement announcement, WWE announced Levesque was appointed as the new head of Talent Relations. In a press release about his new role, Levesque stated,
“I look forward to returning to my prior position as head of Talent Relations. I’m healthy, fired up, and ready to take charge.”
Triple H Assumes Control of WWE Creative
In a press release sent out Monday morning, WWE and its Board of Directors addressed the updated management structure:
WWE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNOUNCE NEW CO-CEOS STEPHANIE MCMAHON AND NICK KHAN
WWE (NYSE: WWE) and its Board of Directors today announced the appointment of Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan as co-Chief Executive Officers. Ms. McMahon has also been appointed Chairwoman of the Board, and Mr. Khan will continue to serve as a member of the Board. These appointments follow Vince McMahon’s retirement announcement on Friday, July 22.
We are grateful for the opportunity to lead WWE together with our unmatched management team,” said Ms. McMahon and Mr. Khan. “We recognize this is a tremendous opportunity and responsibility, and we look forward to serving the WWE Universe.”
Additionally, WWE executive Paul Levesque will assume all responsibilities related to WWE’s creative, in addition to his regular duties."
Monday’sRaw will be the first broadcast under the new creative regime headed by Paul Levesque.
Triple H has taken over “all responsibilities related to #WWE's creative.” How are you feeling?
STAMFORD, Conn., July 22, 2022 – WWE today announced that effective immediately, Paul Levesque will resume his executive position as EVP, Talent Relations.
“I look forward to returning to my prior position as head of Talent Relations. I’m healthy, fired up, and ready to take charge,” said Levesque.
Triple H’s Time Away
In the fall of 2021, Triple H left his duties as NXT producer to take care of his health issues. This included undergoing a successful procedure following a cardiac event.
During his time away, NXT rebranded to NXT 2.0 with more focus on newer talent and a brighter display. He did make on-screen appearances at NXT Stand & Deliver and night two of WrestleMania 38.
In March, Triple H announced his in-ring retirement and detailed his health scare from viral pneumonia.
Chris Jericho and Triple H were heated rivals in WWE for most of their careers in the promotion. They most notably feuded in 2002 when they headlined WrestleMania 18 for the WWE Title and later worked inside Hell in a Cell.
Although they had moments of animosity behind the curtain, it didn’t stop Jericho from having fun at the expense of Triple H.
During an appearance on the “True Geordie” podcast, the AEW star discussed the nickname he had once bestowed upon Triple H.
“I used to call Triple H ‘Prince Charles,’” Jericho said. “Prince Charles [isn’t] king, right, until the Queen passes away. And she’s been there 30, 40 years. She ain’t going anywhere. Triple H is the Prince Charles of wrestling in that he’s supposed to take it over, but it might be a long time. I think Vince [McMahon] is 78, so it could be another 20 years. And he’s not going anywhere. I don’t think Vince will ever give up the throne.”
For years, Triple H has long been considered a potential successor for his father-in-law, Vince McMahon. A decade ago, he started spending more time at WWE Headquarters instead of on the road, where he transitioned into being an executive.
He has served as Executive Senior Advisor, Executive Vice President, Talent and Live Events, Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative, and in his current role as Executive Vice President, Global Talent Strategy & Development.
Triple H also launched NXT and transformed their developmental program, although his power with the brand has declined following his health issues last year.
For years, Triple H was in charge of WWE NXT, and brought the brand to it’s arguable peak of popularity.
It was under the watchful eye of “The Game” that the brand became to many fans, the best part of WWE, with Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Finn Balor all getting their WWE starts in NXT.
It was believed that Triple H was alluding to a return to NXT, which was taken over by his father-in-law in late 2021.
Since then though, reports have come out that Triple H is not set to take control of NXT again as fans had hoped.
Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Triple H’s speech to those at the Performance Center was not about his NXT work at all.
“It appears that when Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque was talking to the folks at NXT and said he was back, and nobody knew what that meant, it appeared just to mean he’s back working in the office. He has not been doing anything direct with NXT, which is still being run by Shawn Michaels with a small creative staff for television. Levesque has not been at the Tuesday night tapings.”
“He has not been doing anything direct with NXT, which is still being run by Shawn Michaels.”
Dave Meltzer on Triple H being ‘back.’
Triple H’s wife Stephanie McMahon is the interim WWE CEO and Chairman, having replaced her father Vince McMahon due to the ongoing investigation into him.
Last night was WWE Money in the Bank 2022, the latest Premium Live Event by the company and the first of the Stephanie McMahon era.
The show saw Liv Morgan and Theory capture the two titular Money in the Bank briefcases, with Morgan cashing in hours later to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Even without names like Brock Lesnar, Cody Rhodes or Roman Reigns, Money in the Bank was a huge event, but it wasn’t the only big show around.
The McMahons at UFC
Money in the Bank 2022 aired from Las Vegas, as did the recent UFC 276 show.
Given that the two shows were so close, several names from WWE made the trip and were spotted in attendance for the mixed-martial-arts Pay Per View.
Vince McMahon, Triple H, Interim WWE Chairwoman and CEO Stephanie McMahon and Pat McAfee were all present on camera and seemed pleased to be there.
The UFC Europe account later tweeted about the four WWE personalities at the event.
Stephanie McMahon was at UFC 276, but that was just part of a full night for the WWE Chairwoman.
According to WrestleVotes, McMahon was also present at Money in the Bank 2022, and had a meeting with talent before the show got started.
It’s reported that the Interim WWE CEO met with stars at the MGM Grand Arena to discuss a multitude of topics, though WrestleVotes didn’t confirm what was said specifically.
One source said that the meeting between McMahon and her employees was “generally well-received.”
It seems Triple H has some level of power in WWE again.
At one point, it seemed like Hunter would be the one to take over once Vince McMahon’s time is up. He ran NXT to his liking and the brand garnered huge praise.
Triple H ran into problems when WWE wanted NXT to go head-to-head with AEW. NXT was often beat in viewership and “The Game’s” power soon dwindled.
Once the WWE legend suffered from heart failure, his entire NXT team was pretty much gutted. It seemed like it was a point of no return in terms of HHH’s power within the company but things may be turning a corner.
Triple H May Have Gained Back Power
(via SIPA USA/AP)
It was reported by John Pollock that during a recent visit to the WWE Performance Center, Triple H declared that he’s back.
Details have been scarce on exactly had that means. With that said, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer says that it would appear Triple H has gained some power within the company again.
What that exactly entails going forward remains to be seen.
Of course, this is all happening in the midst of an investigation into Vince McMahon’s alleged secret $3 million hush pact with a former employee. Vince has voluntarily stepped back as the CEO and Chairman of WWE.
Triple H may have just given a big update on his future with WWE.
“The Game” has been dealing with health issues, which forced him to retire from in-ring action. He has a defibrillator in his chest due to heart failure and many have questioned whether or not he can take on a potentially stress-inducing role behind the scenes ever again.
While details are scarce at this time, Triple is said to have made quite the statement during a recent visit to the WWE Performance Center.
Triple H Says He’s Back
(via WWE)
John Pollock of POST Wrestling is reporting that Triple H spoke while inside the WWE PC on June 22. It’s been said that “The Game” declared he’s “back,” although exactly what he means by that remains to be seen.
According to multiple sources, Paul Levesque was in Orlando today and spoke at the Performance Center.
Of the people I heard from, Levesque stated "he's back" – it is unknown what that entails but that was the wording I was given.
“According to multiple sources, Paul Levesque was in Orlando today and spoke at the Performance Center. Of the people I heard from, Levesque stated ‘he’s back’ – it is unknown what that entails but that was the wording I was given.”
Many have speculated that this is in regards to a potential return on the creative side of things for NXT 2.0. When Hunter was forced to step away due to health issues, his NXT team was gutted and the vision was changed.
The show has been doing far worse in viewership than it was when Triple H was at the helm. The whole point of the change, however, was to make the NXT brand a true developmental system to build the type of characters Vince McMahon would want on the main roster.
It’s pretty much certain that Hunter isn’t talking about an in-ring return. As one would imagine, WWE’s medical team wouldn’t clear him to have another match.
A big rumor has been making rounds regarding Stephanie McMahon and Triple H and it’s time to put it to rest.
Last week brought a firestorm of news in the wrestling business. WWE, in particular, was under a microscope following a report from The Wall Street Journal.
After news broke that the WWE board is investigating Vince McMahon for an alleged secret $3 million pact with a former employee, the company announced that Stephanie is now the interim CEO and Chairwoman of the company.
Fans noticed something in the press release and it started the rumor mill.
No, Stephanie & Triple H Have Not Split
Photo Credit: WWE.com
In the official WWE presser, Stephanie was referred to as “Ms. McMahon” rather than “Mrs. McMahon.” This led some to believe that Stephanie and Triple H may have quietly split from their longtime marriage.
Wade Keller of PWTorch is reporting that this simply isn’t true. In fact, sources told Wade that the two very much continue to be a “team.”
The source also told Keller that when Stephanie stepped back, Triple H actually reduced his hours in the company.
Stephanie is said to have taken the leave of absence in part due to the age of their kids and the fact that they are well off as far as money is concerned.
Wade also dismissed the notion that Stephanie initially took a leave of absence because she knew about the investigation on Vince.
Cody Rhodes isn’t expected back on WWE TV for months following his torn pectoral muscle suffered while training.
Despite the injury, Rhodes muscled through to defeat Seth Rollins at WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 in one of the gutsiest performances of his career.
On the Raw after Hell in a Cell, Rhodes was written off TV by a sledgehammer attack by Rollins.
Losing Rhodes is a huge blow to WWE who have made him the de facto face of the company since returning at WrestleMania 38, but the “American Nightmare” can expect a huge push upon his return.
Cody Rhodes – The New Triple H
A new report in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that there’s been talk about giving Cody a huge return, akin to Triple H in early 2002.
After “The Game” tore his quadriceps in mid-2001, he was out for months and had a lot of build to his January 2002 return.
WWE’s production team filmed Triple H’s surgery and recovery, with weeks of promotional videos hyping his return.
Triple H eventually returned to a thunderous response inside Madison Square Garden and captured the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 18.
Similarly, WWE reportedly recorded the entirety of Cody’s surgery and plans on using the footage in promotional packages.
Despite WWE reporting that he will be out for nine months, Cody is expected to return much sooner, and could be a selling point for the 2023 Royal Rumble.
The 2002 Rumble match marked Triple H’s first televised match back from his injury and he would win the 30-man bout.
It’s been a wild turn of events for Vince McMahon and WWE.
The Wall Street Journal recently dropped a bombshell report of an investigation. McMahon allegedly made a secret $3 million hush pact who a former employee. Vince supposedly had an affair with the ex-employee.
WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis may also be in hot water. The report notes that Vince allegedly passed the ex-employee to Laurinaitis “like a toy.”
The investigation is being conducted by the board of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.
Vince McMahon’s Potential Replacement
(via WWE)
The belief is that this could be the greatest threat to Vince McMahon’s power in WWE since the 1994 steroid trial. While Vince was facing prison time for that trial, this current situation is still serious and pressure could mount on the WWE Chairman.
During a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that there are two key people to look out for should Vince McMahon actually be forced to step down.
Bruce Prichard has been described as the “number two guy” in WWE right now in terms of booking the shows. Meltzer notes that many within the company don’t believe Bruce would be able to fill Vince’s shoes due to health problems and other things.
Triple H is still in play as well. He also has had some major health issues and many wonder if he should even take on such a role if offered. Of course, his vision for NXT being dismantled has many skeptical that he’d be the first choice to take over the booking.
PWInsider is reporting that WWE is taking the “business as usual” approach for the June 17 episode of SmackDown. The WWE crew has been informed that Vince McMahon will be at the show.
Triple H continues to make more public appearances for WWE after suffering a life-threatening medical situation last year as he recently was with the new WWE NIL class.
On Monday, the company announced that 15 college athletes will be joining the “Next In Line” program. The second NIL class features athletes from 14 universities. The first NIL class was announced last year.
Ali Mattox of Ole Miss, a 5-foot-7 cheer & dance athlete from Little Rock, Ark.
Case Hatch of Arizona State, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound football player from Gilbert, Ariz.
Chandler Hayden of Tennessee, a 5-foot-11 track & field athlete from Pittsfield, Ill.
Cohlton Schultz of Arizona State, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound wrestler from Parker, Colo.
Derrian Gobourne of Auburn, a 5-foot-4 gymnast from Sarasota, Fla.
Ericka Link of Elon, a 5-foot-6 volleyball player from Hedgesville, W.Va.
Keshaun Moore of Hampton, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound football player from Suffolk, Va.
Luke Ford of Illinois, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound football player from Carterville, Ill.
Maliq Carr of Michigan State, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound football and basketball player from Inkster, Mich.
Mikala Hall of Central Michigan, a 5-foot-5 basketball player from Danville, Ill.
Rachel Glenn of South Carolina, a 6-foot track & field athlete from Long Beach, Calif.
Ruben Banks of Arkansas, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound track & field athlete from Binfield, England
Thunder Keck of Stanford, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound football player from Northfield, N.H.
Tyanna Omazic of Miami, a 6-foot-2 volleyball player from Kansas City, Mo.
Zachary Knighton-Ward of Hofstra, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound wrestler from Rosedale, N.Y.
Triple H is back full-time in the WWE office after he suffered a cardiac event last September where he was struggling with viral pneumonia and was at risk for heart failure.
Brian ‘Road Dogg’ James is one of the most prominent backstage figures released by WWE this year. Some people wondered if his departure was related to Triple H losing power in the company.
The Game had to step away from WWE due to heart issues last year. The company has revamped the NXT brand since then and released numerous key members of his team.
Road Dogg addressed the rumors of his release being related to it during an interview with ITRWrestling.com. He noted how WWE released over a dozen people on the day he was let go and it probably saved the company $5 to $10 million per year:
“So from a business perspective, ‘Hey, we got to trim some fat down there.’ Now, if by trimming that fat, my name came into play because I was a Hunter guy. I can’t speak to that and I don’t think that would be the case.”
Per Road Dogg, the officials must have decided to just cut down people who were making the most money. He also revealed that he talked to Vince McMahon after his WWE release and thanked him:
“These are the people that are making the most money, to be quite honest with you, but how else do we trim the fat? Vince and I spoke after that via text and it’s all gravy, I thanked him for the ten years of life experience and ten years’ worth of pay.”
You can check out Road Dogg’s full interview below:
Triple H recently attended the graduation ceremony of his nephew, Declan McMahon, the son of brother-in-law Shane McMahon.
Declan graduated from the Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn. During his time there, he played football for the school, at positions such as running back and quarterback. Now, he’ll head to Indiana University, where he’ll also play football.
Recently, Declan took to Instagram to share some photos from his graduation ceremony, where he posed with uncle Triple H. Check out the photos here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CehgKlULzTw/
As for Declan’s father, Shane, he’s currently on the outs in WWE. This began back in January at the Royal Rumble. Shane took a lot of heat for his part in helping produce the Men’s Royal Rumble.
Shane was actually involved in the match. Plans for Shane to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania, as well as being part of the Elimination Chamber match this past February, were scrapped.
He also reportedly pushed to work with Theory at WrestleMania 38, with Vince McMahon also being involved, however, those plans ultimately ended up with Pat McAfee. Declan’s aunt, Stephanie McMahon, recently decided to take time off from the company.
Stephanie McMahon announced a leave of absence to spend more time with her family, leading to WWE searching for a replacement for her position. Her husband, Triple H, is now back with WWE full-time.
“The Game” did deal with a health scare earlier this year, which forced him to retire from in-ring competition. He later revealed that he was dealing with affects from pneumonia and heart complications.
One AEW star has confirmed suspicion from fans that he’s been paying homage to Triple H.
On the April 22 episode of Rampage, fans noticed something interesting about the attire of one particular star. This athlete went one-on-one with Eddie Kingston but he was rocking a Kangol hat during his entrance.
As it turns out, Daniel Garcia was indeed rocking the Kangol hat in honor of WWE legend Triple H. Here’s what Garcia said about the entrance attire during an appearance on Talk is Jericho.
“In real life, I’m really into streetwear and workwear, stuff like that. I wear really baggy clothing, but I knew I couldn’t do baggy pants and a baggy shirt. I know I would look like 120 lbs soaking wet.
“So I figured ‘Okay, I can keep the baggy pants because I just look better in that. I’ll just wear a tight tank top or top as if I took a baggy shirt off.’
“But then one day, I can’t remember exactly what it was, what made me think of it, but I just thought to myself ‘Man, Triple H used to always wear that backward leather hat.’ I was like ‘He always used to wear that backward leather hat.’
“And it’s funny because, on my Snapchat, something popped up at my wrestling school that I train at. My trainer has a Shawn Michaels costume from the 90s, and it came with the leather hat.
“And I, this is my first couple months of training, I put it on backward and I’d do Triple H impressions at the gym.”
William Regal has said he encouraged Triple H to jump from WCW to WWE, helping to kickstart a lengthy, successful career with the company for the “King of Kings.”
Speaking on the very first episode of the Gentleman Villian podcast, Regal said that while he was locked into a deal with the Atlanta-based promotion, he knew the future WWE World Champion would do better elsewhere:
“There was an offer for me to go at the time but I had a guaranteed contract with WCW and they were very good to me… I said no [to WWE], but what [Triple H] needed to do is go to WWE. Because what he needed is what I had had for the last 10 years, he needed to work 200+ days a year.
“He had all the skills there, but you get better at wrestling [when you find] what you’re good at, what you’re bad at. You make mistakes and rectify those problems and you try and work on them, and the experience makes you a better talent. He went [to WWE]. We always kept in touch.”
” I said no [to WWE], but what [Triple H] needed to do is go to WWE.”
William Regal on encouraging Triple H to go to WWE.
Triple H signed with WWE in 1995, turning down an offer to have his WCW contract renewed.
In his biography ‘Making the Game’ Triple H claims that then-WCW talent head Eric Bischoff could not understand the decision to join WWE where he’d have to work more dates.
Regal would join the promotion in 1998 but was released due to his substance abuse problems.
He would later be rehired in 2000 where he remained until his release earlier this year.
