WWE To Sack Triple H? He's Going Nowhere

Cena has suggested he was on board with the decision after he compared smiling and submitting to Gunther with accepting death peacefully. But that hasn't stopped speculation growing over Paul 'Triple H' Levesque's position as head of creative and former WWE writer Vince Russo has fuelled talk that it could soon mean TKO part ways with WWE's CCO.

WWE fans were stunned to see a SPORTbible report with the headline 'WWE set to sack Triple H', amid speculation that TKO has noticed the ratings downturn and that critics aresuggesting the product has regressed. Some were even calling for Vince McMahon to return, forgetting just how bad the booking was at the end of his regime.

Zombies invading a match between The Miz and Damien Priest, Karrion Kross donning a helmet and The Fiend and Seth Rollins' Hell in a Cell match ending in a disqualification are just some of Vince's outlandish booking decisions.

But the report on a possible Triple H's future wasn't from a reputable source, as it was just Russo's opinion. The former head booker of WCW predicted that the backlash over Cena tapping out would lead to Triple H's departure. He said on the Coach and Bro Show:

"I think that marked the beginning of the end for Triple H. I’m gonna tell you right now because the people have turned on him, because those boos were not just for the finish of a match. Those boos were for the last year, and the way this entire thing was penned out under his pen and under his guidance, and that’s where the boos were coming from. And that very, very, very well could be the beginning of the end because there has been a turn on Triple H."

Triple H has been WWE's head of creative and chief content officer since the summer of 2022, and the first half of his tenure thus far has been a huge success. He oversaw the latter stages of Roman Reigns' Bloodline leadership, Cody Rhodes' final story, and CM Punk's return.

There has been greater emphasis on pro wrestling than on sports entertainment, leading to a boom period until around mid-2024. That said, many are unhappy with this year's booking decisions, including Jey Uso winning the Royal Rumble and making Gunther tap out for the World Heavyweight Championship.

What TKO and WWE Stars Are Saying

Triple H's contract (per Justia Business Contracts) seems to include terms that could lead to dismissal, including 'involuntary termination of employment due to a reduction in force, reorganisation/restructuring, job elimination, or an involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than “cause."

But the noise from the WWE roster has continuously been one of support for their current boss and Rhodes indicated earlier this year that he will remain in charge long term. The WWE Champion responded to queries over possible replacements:

"The industry is not easy, and Triple H is doing a great job, so thankfully we have him for quite some time."

More importantly, TKO's hierarchy seems to firmly be backing Triple H, including COO Mark Shapiro, who spoke highly of the former WWE wrestler's work as head of creative. He said in May during an appearance at the JP Morgan Annual Global Technology, Media, and Communications Conference:

"The (other) X-factor is the creative power we have behind the brand. Paul Levesque lives and breathes; his whole life has been spent in WWE. He’s amazing on the creative storylines. Just when you think you know where he’s going, he turns left, like the heel John Cena became and then the champion."

Triple H might not have enjoyed the best of years calling the shots in WWE but many are forgetting the success of previous years that broke attendance records. Cena's retirement was always going to need to be handled with great care, and the pressure that came with booking the farewell tour is no longer taking hold, and that may give him the chance to refresh creatively.