2024 was a monumental year for the world of professional wrestling, from the WWE exit of Vince McMahon to huge signings in AEW. With 2024 officially at an end, many in the world of wrestling are looking back at the year that was.
On X, WWE NXT Tag Team Champion Nathan Frazer reflected on teaming with Axiom, adding that the pair have become like brothers.
2024… it’s been a year that neither of us could have ever predicted.
Somehow we stumbled upon being one of, if not the best tag team in the world right now. And through it all, we’ve legitimately become brothers.
IYO SKY had an impressive 2024, including walking into WrestleMania as Women’s Champion. The Damage CTRL star also competed outside WWE and is ready to do even bigger things in 2025.
2024 was a great year with many of my dreams coming true! I will continue to fly even higher in 2025!????
NXT Superstar Arianna Grace ended 2024 with a party of her own, and hopes that 2025 proves to be as beautiful as the Beauty Pagent queen.
Watching NXT on CW is the best way to bring in the new year. Get your champagne popping to the show, that is also my home, NXT! ???? happy new years my little beauty queens. May your year ahead be as beautiful as me, I love you all so much! @WWENXTpic.twitter.com/oEhohCNseZ
Michin shared that she can’t wait to see what 2025 brings for everyone and included a photo of herself and her husband Keith Lee. The Limitless One has been out of action since December 2023.
Thank you for an incredible 2024! Can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for us all. Manifesting success !!
Variety, the long-running magazine covering the entertainment industry, named All-Elite Wrestling owner Tony Khan and several members of WWE parent company TKO, including Nick Khan to its “Dealmakers 2024” in an article published on the magazine’s website on Wednesday.
Khan, AEW and the TKO board were one of the few non-agency or law firms named to the Dealmakers list this year, which included Audible and several lobbying and entertainment law firms.
Tony Khan was credited with AEW’s new three-year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, five years after the company aired its first show on WBD television.
In October, five years to the week after Khan launched professional wrestling promotion AEW as a direct competitor to Vince McMahon’s long-dominant WWE, he closed a multi-year media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, worth a reported $185 million a year, that calls for AEW’s shows and events to be broadcast on TBS and TNT and stream on Max. The company is now valued at more than $2 billion, making it the third-most-valuable combat sports company in the world.
Ain’t bragging if it’s true: “Our new arrangement signifies that AEW will make history as the first professional wrestling promotion to simulcast events weekly on top cable channels and a top streaming platform,” says Khan.
The article called 2024 a year where “deals weren’t as plentiful or as rich, but necessity being the mother of invention, often more innovative.”
Longtime World Wrestling Entertainment executive and president Nick Khan, along with fellow TKO executives Ariel Emanuel, Mark Shapiro and Andrew Schleimer, were also named. Variety cited the Endeavor’s 2023 acquisition of WWE and WWE’s deal with Netflix.
Last year, Endeavor merged Ultimate Fighting Championship with World Wrestling Entertainment under the TKO Group Holdings banner. In January 2024, TKO’s leadership quadrumvirate closed a $5.2 billion, 10-year deal to make Netflix the exclusive home of WWE’s flagship show “Raw” in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Latin America and other territories beginning in January 2025. As part of the pact, Netflix will be the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S. from that date forward, giving roughly 80% of international territories immediate access to 100% its content, with the rest of the globe filling out their WWE lineups as outstanding deals expire.
“While the money is extraordinarily important, the downstream impact and ancillary benefits to being with the distributor and just south of 300 million homes globally was something that got us very excited,” says Schleimer.
Other members of the list included:
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld, the second-largest lobbying firm in the U.S.
Alter Kendrick and Baron, music lawyers who closed $1 billion in publishing and mater recording acquisitions in 2024.
Audible’s executive team
Perry, Plashuk, Lefebvre and Hill of Covington and Burling, law firm specializing in entertainment acquisitions
David Wright Tremaine, litigation law firm now advising on major entertainment projects
Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb and Dang, entertainment law firm
Nina Shaw of Del Shaw Moonves Tnaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb and Dang
DLA Piper, Hollywood legal firm
Francisco Arias of Fifth Season
Fox Rotschild, lawyers and talent reps
The magazine credited those on the list for maneuvering the economic ups and downs of the streaming bubble, COVID-19 and inflation, as well as strikes by the writers and actors unions.
Cody Rhodes managed to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship at the returning Saturday Night’s Main Event but things didn’t end on a high note for him as he may have been expecting.
The ending of the main event championship match saw the challenger Kevin Owens introducing a chair to the bout after the referee was knocked out. In the end however, Cody managed to use the chair to his own advantage. The American Nightmare won the bout after delivering a Cross Rhodes to his opponent on the chair.
Owens was visibly upset at how things turned out at the event and he attacked the current champion after the show went off air. Kevin delivered the banned piledriver after the broadcast. Per fans in the arena, Cody had to be stretchered out of the ring following the attack.
KO took the Winged Eagle title that was resurrected by Rhodes for the special event after taking Cody out. Triple H came out to confront the former NXT champion on the ramp and the two had an altercation:
What Happened On Saturday Night’s Main Event
Tonight’s show opened with a physical match between Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn. Unfortunately for Zayn, he lost the bout, continuing his losing streak against the Scottish Psychopath.
The event also featured the finals of the US Women’s Title tournament between Michin and Chelsea Green. Green was the clear favorite to win going into the show and she didn’t disappoint the fans.
It’s clear that the rivalry between Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes is far from over after how things unfolded tonight. It’ll be interesting to see when and where the next chapter of this blood feud will be written.
Triple H has explained why being an unconventional face of WWE works for Roman Reigns.
WWE tried to follow the blueprint of conventional babyfaces with Reigns after the breakup of Shield but for many years fans rejected him as the face of the company. It wasn’t until The Big Dog turned heel and became the Tribal Chief that he was able to truly cement his status as a larger-than-life superstar in league with names such as Hulk Hogan and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
During a recent appearance on the Roommate show, Triple H discussed how the same things do not work for different stars. He mentioned that people like John Cena or Cody Rhodes are guys that are the perfect representative of the company at all times:
“Every star sort of has the things that work for them. Cena is like the, if you were to say ‘Give me the perfect sort of I’ll do anything for the company guy,’ it’s Cena. He knows what he should do for him, he knows what he should do for the company. He’s the first guy there, last guy to leave. He’ll do all the media.
He’s a perfect representative of the company at all times. Cody Rhodes is very much like that as well. [He] sort of models himself [after that] because he was a young up-and-coming guy when Cena was on top. So he was seeing that and that’s how he sees himself as that’s how you become the top guy.”
Roman Reigns on the other hand is completely different. Triple H discussed how Reigns unlike other past faces of the company does not care much for appearances outside of WWE programming. This approach however, works for him:
“Roman is totally different. Not in a bad way like to do the ultimate PR thing or do the ultimate appearance thing. He’s like ‘I don’t feel like that’s worth my time.’
But that works for him because if we took that character and we put that character in all these other things, we kind of hurt the character. Because it’s not what the character is. So it’s not that he doesn’t want to do it. It’s that he doesn’t feel like the character should do that stuff.”
Gage Goldberg, son of wrestling legend Bill Goldberg, could follow in his father’s footsteps thanks to a tryout offered by Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. Speaking to Sportskeeda, the younger Goldberg shared nothing but love for WWE’s Chief Content Officer.
“I honestly love Triple H. He’s super nice to my dad, great person, very nice to my mom. I like him, honestly. He’s awesome.”
When asked if Levesque has reached out to him about trying out for WWE, Gage confirmed this is the case. Gage is currently playing for the University of Colorado under coach Deion Sanders.
Gage has yet to compete in WWE, but he’s no stranger to the squared circle. After celebrating his father’s return at Survivor Series 2016, Gage would be attacked by Bobby Lashley at SummerSlam 2021. More recently, Gage was by his father’s side when Bill Goldberg confronted GUNTHER at WWE Bad Blood 2024 in Atlanta.
With Bill Goldberg set to have his final match in 2025, fans could soon be seeing more of Gage ahead of his father’s retirement. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on both Gage and Bill as the Goldberg name remains strong in the world of WWE.
Triple H believes that a few NBA stars would be a slam dunk for WWE. The Chief Content Officer sat in with the New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and “The Roommates Show” to talk a little pro wrestling.
During the show, Triple H and the gang discussed what NBA stars would completely excel in a WWE ring. ‘The Game’ said the first person of ‘who got game’ was the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid.
“Joel for sure. Obviously, everybody’s a big dude, but like [he’s] sort of a big dude and has the personality to go with it.”
The other host on the show said that Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler would be a lot like CM Punk because he does what he wants to. Triple H then asked about Trae Young, the scrappy point guard from the Atlanta Hawks. Hunter saw heel potential in Young.
“When I went and did the stuff with Joel he was playing and he seemed like an irritant to everybody.”
Embiid is a big WWE fan and he was notorious for doing the DX crotch chop during an NBA game. Young did play a heel role when he stepped foot into Madison Square Garden for an episode of WWE SmackDown back in 2021. Young got himself involved in a 10-man tag team match. Young said the following to GQ back during that time.
“They wanted me to come out, show some “love” to the crowd, and just have some fun. It was such a cool idea. I was a fan when I was a kid and my little brother watched it a bit, so he told me I had to do it when they called. The fans weren’t too happy to see me but it was a cool experience.”
Triple H played a crucial role in the Montreal Screwjob, going as far as to put forth the idea, according to WWE’s current Chief Content Officer.
The infamous moment at Survivor Series 1997 saw Bret Hart lose the WWF Championship to Shawn Michaels, despite not submitting to the Sharpshooter. The plan, as shared to Hart, was for the match to end in a no-contest, and the Canadian would vacate the title the next night on WWF Raw before departing for WCW.
On The Roommates podcast, the Game recalled the meeting backstage between Michaels and Vince McMahon, who feared Hart would refuse to give up the gold. With Hart refusing to lose to Michaels in Canada, it was Triple H who put forward that Hart should do ‘business’ one way or another.
“I was the least important person in the room at the time, but I just said, ‘F*** that, if he won’t do business, do it for him.‘ That started a conversation that led to the Montreal screw job.”
The act would sour Hart’s relationship with WWE, which would also be damaged following his brother Owen’s tragic passing at Over the Edge 1999. Outside of a Hall of Fame appearance in 2006, it wouldn’t be until January 2010 that Hart would make a return.
Nowadays, Hart makes occasional appearances for WWE, including earlier this year in his native Canada. Nevertheless, the Montreal Screwjob will forever be a mark on the Hitman’s career, for which he has WWE’s Chief Content Officer to thank.
There’s no shortage of celebrities wanting to be a part of WWE WrestleMania 41 in April of next year, according to WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. On The Roommates Show, Levesque shared that the 2025 two-night event has caught the attention of those outside of the world of pro wrestling.
“I have a celebrity list a mile long for people that want to do something for WrestleMania in Vegas. We just don’t have the real estate to do it with them, so we’ll pick the biggest ones.”
Using celebrities that “make sense storyline-wise” will also factor into Levesque’s decision-making process and it’s “incredible” just how many stars want to be involved. Next year’s show will be Levesque’s second time having full control over WWE’s most significant show of the years. WrestleMania 40 was the Game’s first time having full control of the show, following Vince McMahon’s resignation from WWE in January 2024.
Celebrity involvement in WrestleMania has been the case since the first event in 1985, which saw megastars including Liberace and Muhammad Ali participate on the show. At this year’s event, Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson got involved with the show, while Lil Wayne performed ahead of the Jey Uso Vs. Jimmy Uso showdown.
It remains to be seen which celebrities have a role to play at WrestleMania 41, but the show won’t be lacking in star power. WWE WrestleMania 41 will take place on April 19, and April 20, from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will be WWE’s first WrestleMania to stream on Netflix for fans outside the United States.
WWE NXT fans have been wondering about the whereabouts of rising star Oba Femi, who has been noticeably absent from recent tapings. However, there’s no cause for alarm regarding his status with the company.
Femi’s last appearance was at the Halloween Havoc Premium Live Event, where he faced Tony D’Angelo in a high-stakes match. Since then, he hasn’t been seen at NXT shows, leading to speculation about his future.
Contrary to rumors, Femi hasn’t left NXT or the WWE. A new report from Fightful Select, Femi is currently enjoying some well-deserved time off in his home country of Nigeria. There’s no indication of any injury or visa issues preventing his return to the ring.
Return Timeline
While an exact date hasn’t been specified, sources suggest that Femi’s return to NXT television will be “sooner rather than later”7. This news should reassure fans eagerly awaiting his comeback.
Contract Status and WWE’s Perspective
Although there’s some uncertainty about Femi’s current contract status, insiders would be surprised if WWE hadn’t extended his initial 2021 deal7. This confidence stems from the high regard in which Femi is held within the company.
Impressive Track Record
Oba Femi has consistently impressed NXT officials, including producers and Shawn Michaels. His talent hasn’t gone unnoticed by top WWE executives either, with Triple H reportedly being a significant supporter of the young star, with Fightful claiming that he is a “very big fan” of the former NXT North American Champion.
WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque couldn’t have been happier with the New Day’s split on Raw as it highlighted the emotional investment from fans. Speaking at WWE’s recent media event with Netflix. Levesque said he was “so happy for those guys” and addressed the raw emotion behind the segment.
“It’s those moments. It’s why we do what we do. Rock says it all the time, it’s that electricity, that connection with the people. There’s no greater feeling than that.”
The segment saw Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods turn on Big E, declaring that they wanted nothing to do with their now-former ally. The emotional segment instantly went viral, with The New Day and Big E both trending shortly after the segment aired on Monday.
It wasn’t just online where fans shared their shock over what happened. During the segment, WWE’s camera crew cut to the crowd several times, including a viral shot of a distraught fan in the crowd.
“We couldn’t have comically asked for a better shot of somebody selling that storyline for us.”
Kingston and Woods have now been listed as heels on WWE’s internal roster, PW Insider has reported. With emotions among fans still running high, fans are eager to see what’s next from Kingston and Woods, and whether Big E, who has been out of action since March 2022, will be able to get payback on the two men he’s considered brothers for the past decade.
WWE’s current product surpasses all previous eras, including the acclaimed Attitude Era, according to WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Speaking at the WWE & Netflix Lunch and Learn event, Levesque responded to a comment from Michael Cole, who described the Attitude Era as WWE’s biggest and most robust era.
“I don’t think that is accurate anymore. I think it’s right now, and I think that the moment that we are going through right now.”
Levesque reflected on being a part of the Attitude Era, emphasizing that WWE today is “way bigger” than anything from the past. The COO, who also oversees creative, offered a name for this era of programming.
“You mentioned the Triple H Era. I don’t think it’s that. I think this, at the end of it, is going to be called the Netflix Era. That’s where the big change is.”
WWE’s partnership with Netflix kicks off next month when Raw debuts on the streaming giant on January 6. International fans will gain access to not only Raw, but also SmackDown, WWE NXT, Premium Live Events, and an extensive back catalog of content. Anticipation is building for the premiere, which includes the highly anticipated return of a former Women’s Champion. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest updates as WWE embarks on its next era. Check out our Events page for details on WWE’s upcoming shows.
Triple H has revealed that singer Jelly Roll is eying a WWE match in the future.
The Grammy-nominated artist is a vocal wrestling fan who even made an appearance at SummerSlam this year to give a chokeslam to Austin Theory.
During yesterday’s Netflix media event promoting Raw’s upcoming debut, The WWE Chief Content Officer discussed future celebrity involvement in the product. He specifically mentioned Jelly Roll who has been on a weight loss journey recently, saying that the singer & songwriter is aiming to have a match in WWE:
“I just saw Jelly Roll the other day and he’s still raving about wrestling. Every time I see him, he says the same thing, ‘I got another 100 pounds to go, baby, and I’m doing a match with you guys,'”
The American singer has previously detailed his battle with food addiction and his efforts to lose weight. In an interview with People last month he revealed that he has lost over 100 pounds just this year. The 40-year-old also frequently talks about wrestling, even revealing his thoughts on subjects such as the nuances of storytelling that have helped WWE grow its business in recent years.
Along with Triple H, WWE President Nick Khan was also present at the event. He revealed what rating WWE shows will have when they move to Netflix in January. You can check out his comments here.
The WWE ID program will help talent navigate the “very difficult” independent wrestling scene, according to WWE CCO Paul Levesque. The program has seen WWE partner with several wrestling schools and sign various independent talent as ‘prospects.’ Thsoe signed will receive access to WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, as well as training overseen by Dragon Gate USA founder Gabe Sapolsky.
Speaking at the Survivor Series: WarGames post-show press conference Levesque shared how WWE ID will help talent in the difficult, often cutthroat world of independent wrestling.
“The independent scene is very difficult. That’s a long hard road. We’re trying to make that easier.”
WWE ID will pay attention to the indie talent with the most potential, Levesque added, who will also be financially supported by the program. With that said, WWE ID will not be a permanent role for prospects, whether they show the necessary progress or not.
“If somebody is working really hard and busting their ass every week and they are progressing and continuing to grow, they stay in our system until it’s time for them to outgrow that system. If they are not, we’ll make moves and change some people around.”
Several talents have already been announced as prospects, with more names expected to be confirmed. Click here to check out SEScoops‘ hub on the WWE ID program.
The state-of-the-art Intuit Dome in Los Angeles is set to host the historic debut of WWE Raw on Netflix on January 6, 2025. The premiere episode will feature a star-studded lineup, including John Cena, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Bianca Belair, and more.
Fans are buzzing with anticipation about how WWE will adapt Raw’s format for its new streaming platform. Netflix’s lack of fixed time slots offers the opportunity for a fresh take on the iconic program. This flexibility could lead to significant changes in pacing, structure, and overall presentation, providing a unique viewing experience for subscribers.
For months, Raw has operated with a two-hour runtime following USA Network’s decision not to fund a third hour under their previous broadcast deal. This transitional phase has positioned WWE to experiment with new formats as the show shifts to Netflix.
According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE is still finalizing key details about Raw‘s runtime and its approach to advertising. The company must balance the flexibility of streaming with the constraints of international broadcast deals, which adhere to traditional time limits. WWE is exploring options for a consistent runtime and innovative ways to integrate advertisements into the streaming format.
In preparation for this groundbreaking debut, WWE will send Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, and other top talent to a promotional event at Netflix headquarters on December 3, 2024. This gathering is expected to build excitement and generate buzz leading up to the January 6 premiere on Netflix.
Posted November 29th, 2024 in News. Tagged: Triple H.
Another Thanksgiving is in the books as people around the United States have shared what they’re grateful for, all while digesting copious amounts of food. For the stars of wrestling, there’s plenty to be thankful for, and some names in the industry took to social media to share how they celebrated.
On X, WWE CCO Pal ‘Triple H’ Levesque gave a rare look at his personal life by sharing a Thanksgiving workout with his daughters.
Lyons may have twerked one too many times, as later in the day, she shared that she wasn’t thankful for the sickness she was dealing with. The Lioness said that someone had gotten her sick at an NXT live event last Friday in Lakeland, Florida.
Braun Strowman enjoyed Thanksgiving, which is more than can be said for the 8 deer he killed and later shared on his Instagram Stories.
NXT Superstar Lexis King was able to celebrate the day with his ‘Queen.’ The second-generation wrestler has been trying to become a better person as of late in the silver brand and avoid his usual heel tactics.
And AEW President Tony Khan celebrated Thanksgiving by sharing how thankful he is that there’s plenty more matches to go in the Continental Classic. The tournament has new rules this year, and its winner will be crowned at AEW Worlds End next month.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I’m thankful that we still have 30 matches left in the AEW Continental Classic!
The tournament continues with great matches this weekend on #AEWCollision! See you then at a special EARLY start time! 4pm ET/3pm CT/2pm MT/1pm PT THIS SATURDAY On TNT!
The LWO took their Thanksgiving celebration to Arizona by delivering over 50,000 meals as part of community outreach. We at SEScoops would like to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving as wrestling fans have plenty to be thankful for.
Earlier this month, WWE launched a tournament to crown the inaugural WWE Women’s United States Champion, an exclusive title for SmackDown. Now, another major milestone is in the works for the Raw brand: the introduction of a Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
The Women’s United States Championship marks a historic addition to WWE’s main roster, becoming the first secondary women’s title alongside the previously established Women’s North American Championship in NXT. This progression highlights WWE’s commitment to expanding opportunities within the women’s division.
According to PWInsider.com, WWE plans to introduce the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, making it exclusive to Raw, mirroring the men’s title structure. While no official launch date has been announced, the move promises to bring further prestige and depth to the Raw women’s roster.
Meanwhile, the Women’s United States Championship tournament on SmackDown has progressed to the semifinals after an exciting series of opening-round triple-threat matches. The winners will face off in the finals at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 14, where the first-ever champion will be crowned.
Fans eagerly await both the culmination of the tournament and further details about the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, which could mark another game-changing moment for WWE’s women’s division.
Posted November 25th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: Triple H.
The Chief Content officer was also asked about what is something he is looking forward to do with the programming when they move to Netflix. Triple H claimed that he thinks more about how they can continue evolving their storytelling and revealed what he really likes about the current WWE product:
“One of the things that I really like about the product that we’re doing right now is everybody is sort of, to some degree, we’re always going to have crazy characters and things, but to some degree, people are real.
They have real emotions, and they actually have memories of, you know, two years ago, this guy screwed me over, and I’m still, I still have an issue with that. Even if we’re both good guys now, I still have an issue with him over that. We’re not just, we’re not best friends, because we’re coming out the good guy door.
Triple H explained that the basics of storytelling have remained the same since the beginning of time. Tales like David vs Goliath are evergreen and what changes is the way you tell the story and how people consume them:
“It’s just more, it’s a different way of telling the stories and being a bit more real to real life, to people having grudges. Nobody’s perfect, right? Our heroes are flawed. Our villains sometimes are good guys. They’re not just, you know, kicking puppies down the street because they’re bad guys. They have real emotions and things.”
The former World Champion also claimed that the decline happens when you decide things are good the way they are. That’s why at WWE they’re always trying to reinvent themself and finding new ways to do things.
When the topic of the infamous Curtain Call was brought up, the Chief Content Officer claimed that even then he could see that the business was moving towards a more reality-based programming and he told as much to Vince McMahon:
“When all that went down and I took the brunt of the heat for it, because I was the only one that could. Kevin and Scott were leaving. Shawn was World champ. What were they going to do to him, right? So I took the heat. No problem.
But as I was leaving Vince’s office, after a thorough ass [whooping]. As I was walking out, I looked back at him. I said, let me ask you this, Vince. I said, ‘If this is so wrong, lifting that curtain is so wrong, why was it the loudest thing at Madison Square Garden that night?’ It was sold out. The biggest reaction by far was that.
The infamous moment took place back in May 19, 1996, during a Madison Square Garden taping. Both Scott Hall and Kevin Nash were on their way out of WWE to join WCW. After the main event of the show, both Hall and Nash shared a group hug with fellow Kliq members Shawn Michaels and Triple H to end the night.
This was seen as highly unusual as HBK and Hall were babyfaces at the time. Triple H and Nash on the other hand were heels and the top brass were not happy with them breaking character so publicly.
With the eventual rise of the internet and social media, Triple H proved to be right in his assumptions about the business. Though it didn’t stop Vince McMahon from punishing him at the time:
“The business is changing. It’s passing people by and they’re not seeing it yet. He said, ‘You might be right, but that doesn’t change where we are right now. So the punishment is what it is.’ [laughs] But that was the truth. The business was changing, right?
You go fast forward years from there, the internet comes in. Everybody knows what we do. They know the real stuff. They know who’s married to who, they know who’s in relationship, or at least they think they do right. Half the stuff in the internet is wrong, but it’s all out there, and they know how this works.”
The Game then discussed how things have changed completely now and people are as intrigued by content that shows how they build the storylines as they are by the storylines themself. He named the most recent WrestleMania 40 documentary as an example.
WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque won’t be too mad if Monday Night Raw sees buffering issues on Netflix similar to the Mike Tyson Vs. Jake Paul fight. The fight, which was watched by over 60 million households, saw several instances of buffering problems which greatly affected the viewing experience for those watching around the world.
These issues come mere weeks before WWE Raw moves to Netflix on January 6, 2025. Speaking to Greg and The Morning Buzz, Levesque suggested that he’d hardly complain if Raw buffered under the weight of 60 million fans tuning in.
“If our first night buffers and they come and say it was 60-70 million households watching, I’ll be good with the buffering.”
Netflix has ensured WWE that these issues won’t be a problem when Raw arrives on the streaming juggernaut. Currently, WWE’s flagship show does between 1.5 to 2.5 million live viewers, far below the number that affected the Paul Vs. Tyson fight.
Other Interview Highlights
During the interview, Levesque spoke about several topics related to WWE. They include:
Levesque took issue with older wrestlers who criticize the modern-day style. He said it’s akin to older people saying that they had ‘real music’ back in the day, adding that “you’re just old.”
He added that nobody texts him when he’s at a WWE TV taping as they know he won’t answer as he’s committed to his work.
Levesque said that WWE will “die” if the show becomes about what he personally wants, and that its important to think about the “overall big picture.”
Travis Scott’s wrestling fandom is no secret and now the rap artist has been gifted a custom Hardcore Championship, courtesy of Triple H. At Scott’s latest concert, the WWE’s Chief Content Officer stunned attendees with his surprise appearance and his unique gift for the founder of Cactus Jack Records.
When we say WWE goes big, we mean it. The first #WWERaw of the @netflix Era will be at the @IntuitDome in Los Angeles on January 6th, and @trvisXX will be there live and in person.
Last month, it was reported that Scott had been in talks to appear on the debut Raw of 2025. The rap artist has never shied away from his WWE fandom and performed at the recent ComplexCon which also featured CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, and other WWE names.
Scott is already a huge name in the world of music and his role with WWE will provide the opportunity for more crossover for rap and wrestling fans. Whether Travis Scott defends his Hardcore Championship, that remains to be seen, but expect plenty more from the artist, especially when Raw moves to Netflix in January.
A number of WWE names were present at the UFC 309 event this Saturday Night including the Chief Content Officer Triple H who got to meet Donald Trump at the show.
The president-elect was in attendance for the show alongside the announced co-head of his Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk. Trump got a huge response from the crowd during his entrance and the heavyweight champion Jon Jones also handed him the title belt for a bit after his win in the main event.
The WWE official who was in attendance with his wife Stephanie McMahon got to share a brief moment with the billionaire politician and UFC president Dana White during his visit:
Donald Trump is dancing, Elon Musk is here, RFK, and even bloody WWE’s main man Triple H too!
Triple H’s wasn’t the only WWE representative at the show. Both the Terror Twins in Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest were also in the arena and the official TKO account shared a video of them on Twitter.
Other notable names in attendance included legendary boxer Mike Tyson, and rapper Jelly Roll both of whom have made appearances on WWE TV before.
The WWE Top Brass has always had a good relationship with Donald Trump. Apart from his involvement in WWE storylines in the past, Trump also appointed Linda McMahon as the administrator of the Small Business Administration during his first presidential term.
Reports suggest that McMahon would be joining the new Trump cabinet as well, this time serving as the leader of the Department of Commerce.
There is also a lot of chatter about how Trump’s win will affect the ongoing investigations against Vince McMahon. You can check out our analysis on how the former WWE chairman can benefit from Trump’s presidency here.
The women of WWE have wasted no time in laying claim to the United States Women’s Title after the title was announced during this week’s SmackDown. Nick Aldis revealed the new gold during the show and said that the inaugural champion will earn the gold, rather than it be awarded.
Chelsea Green has proven to be a thorn in the side of ‘Sir Nicholas The Nasty’ and despite Aldis’ claim, is ready to be handed the new title.
Green’s tag team partner Piper Niven would likely love for her friend to hold gold, but she also has her eyes on becoming the first Women’s United States Champion.
Natalya, who inked a new contract with WWE this year, is ready to hold her first singles title since 2017, when she held the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
A new title for women in @wwe, I’m beyond excited for this. It’s been 7 years since I’ve won a singles title and I’ve never stopped working towards winning a championship again. I truly believe hard work always pays off. LFG!
While WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque is pleased that the title will showcase the continued effort of the women of the promotion.
The women of WWE continue to show that they are the very best in the business. The Women’s United States Championship will showcase their continued effort.
There have been calls for years for WWE to introduce a mid-card title to its roster, with the likes of Drew McIntyre, Bayley, Tiffany Stratton, and even The Undertaker, being on board. WWE introduced its first Women’s mid-card title earlier this year with the NXT Women’s North American Gold, but now the women of the main roster will have a new opportunity to showcase their talent.
It’s been close to a decade since Wade Barrett last stepped into the ring as a competitor, but the commentator is ready for one more match. Speaking with Phil Johnson for PWMania, Barrett was asked for his ideal opponent if he wrestles again, and had a fellow Superstar from the UK in mind.
“Absolutely it would be Drew McIntyre. He’s someone I go way back with and very close friends with the guy over the years. He did talk a little smack to me a few weeks ago on Raw and I haven’t forgotten about that. I’m not going to make a major deal of it, but he’s lucky he stopped where he did.
“Let’s just put it that way because if he did take one more step forward, the old bull hammer would have come out, boom, knocked him on his ass, and perhaps that in-ring comeback would have happened by now, but I’m not clamouring for anything like that.”
The pair’s real-life friendship has been no secret on WWE TV, with Barrett attempting to calm McIntyre during his post-Money in the Bank tirade. The incident Barrett is referring to though took place on the September 9, 2024, edition of Monday Night Raw and saw McIntyre warn Barrett to stay out of his way amid the Scotsman’s feud with CM Punk.
What Barrett Loves About Triple H’s Leadership
Should Barrett step into the ring again, it’ll be a decision that’ll involve the 44-year-old and WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. In the interview, Barrett spoke highly of the unpredictable nature of Levesque’s creative direction.
“I love the fact that today, I don’t know who’s going to be in the main event of the next premium live event. I have absolutely no clue what the card is going to look like. I don’t know if Cody Rhodes is going to be anywhere near the card, he might be left off and he’s one of the biggest stars we’ve ever seen. I don’t know if Roman Reigns is going to be there, CM Punk might be back, I have no clue. That to me is really, really exciting and I think that one of the key factors in the success of Triple H is his ability to keep the audience guessing and not be so formulaic.”
Triple H also excels in “tying up loose ends” Barrett adds, and has thrived in preserving continuity since taking the creative reins from his father-in-law.
“I think he has a real respect for the need to tie up loose ends and call back things that maybe happened a year ago that everyone forgot about.”
Whether Barrett proves to be one of those callbacks fans are reminded of in the ring, that remains to be seen. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Wade Barrett and his potential return to competition.
WWE may bring NXT to Saudi Arabia in the near future. On Friday, WWE held the Crown Jewel Kickoff show. The event was hosted by Michael Cole and Triple H, and featured appearances from Cody Rhodes, Gunther, Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, The Usos, Randy Orton and more.
Triple H revealed that the winners of the Crown Jewel Championship matches will receive Crown Jewel Championship rings, in addition to the men’s and women’s Crown Jewel Championship belts.
Fans in attendance chanted WrestleMania, to which Triple H replied, “Yes, WrestleMania – it’s in Las Vegas, Nevada.”
The crowd in Saudi Arabia was chanting for WrestleMania.
Triple H responds with by saying: “Yes, WrestleMania, it is in Las Vegas, Nevada.”
Chants then broke out for NXT and received a more-favorable reaction. Triple H then teased bringing the developmental brand to Saudi Arabia, and said he’ll speak with Shawn Michaels about making that happen.
“Who wants to NXT here in Saudi Arabia? I’ll talk to Shawn and see what we can do.”
An NXT event in Saudi Arabia would be historic, and there doesn’t appear to be any significant hurdles preventing it. In fact, this weekend will be a good test to see if it’s feasible.
The day after Crown Jewel, WWE tapes this week’s Monday Night Raw before everyone heads back to the United States on Monday. The first-ever WWE Raw from Saudi Arabia will be a chance for WWE to iron out the logistics of running back-to-back events from Saudi Arabia, and could pave the way for a hypothetical ‘NXT Takeover: Jedda’ PLE.
Posted November 1st, 2024 in NXT. Tagged: Triple H.
The work culture of World Wrestling Entertainment has been under scrutiny since Janel Grant filed her lawsuit against former Chairman Vince McMahon. Now more former employees have spoken up about unfair treatment during their time in the company.
Rolling Stone recently published a piece giving insight into the chaotic writer’s room under Vince’s leadership. Several former writers described the day-to-day hardships of working in the challenging environment in detail, including one saying that WWE is a ‘kingdom ruled by fear.’
The women who ended up a part of the mostly male-dominated space say that they became hyper-aware of their gender because of how they were treated. On the condition of anonymity, one former female writer claimed that she was touched inappropriately by her colleagues:
“They would touch me where they would have me come closer [to them], they would pull me by my waist to come somewhere or move closer to them. I’m just super aware that it’s kind of close to my butt and most people don’t touch me by the waist ever. I thought, ‘This is strange.’”
While this behavior was not explicitly sexual, the female employee says that it felt like a means of controlling her in a way that didn’t happen to male writers.
Another former writer revealed that she was fired from her position when she complained to HR. When enough female writers complained about the treatment, a Zoom call was held by the leadership in 2020. While the writers were encouraged to speak on their issues, the leadership was ultimately dismissive of their problems.
The Zoom call was followed by an in-person meeting with the entire writer’s room. The leadership there allegedly told everyone not to go HR if they had any problems in the future and that they were acting like ‘middle schoolers.’
When asked about the allegations made into the Janel Grant lawsuit back in January, WWE’s current head of creative Triple H had told reporters that he didn’t want to get ‘bogged down’ by the negative and focus on the positives instead.
One former writer told Rolling Stone that they don’t believe there will be any major changes in the overall work culture of the company despite the leadership change. They said that there are ‘a lot of people complicit’ in continuing this culture and they don’t have faith that it can be undone overnight.