Tag: Triple H

Triple H Reveals WWE is Building a “Bigger and Better” Performance Center in Orlando

Paul “Triple H” Levesque has had a busy week, popping up everywhere from The Pat McAfee Show to Tony Hinchcliffe’s Kill Tony taping, all while overseeing WWE’s huge crossover weekend in Las Vegas. Between WrestleMania 43 being announced for Saudi Arabia, the blockbuster WWE x AAA Worlds Collide event, and the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight tied to TKO’s Saudi partners, The Game has been at the center of it all.

During his Vegas trip, Triple H joined Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson on their Nightcap podcast, where the conversation turned to WWE’s future and the development of the next generation of stars. That’s when the Chief Content Officer revealed some major news — WWE is currently building a new Performance Center in Orlando.

The existing facility, which first opened in 2013, has been the hub of WWE’s developmental system and home to NXT. Over the years it’s gone through upgrades as the brand evolved, and it’s also been central to WWE’s plans for a global talent pipeline, bolstered recently by the AAA acquisition, partnerships with TNA and Evolve, and the NIL/ID programs.

With WWE now part of TKO, there’s been speculation about relocating more operations to Las Vegas and possibly tying into UFC’s Apex facility. But according to Triple H, that’s not the case for developmental — Orlando will remain the home base.

“It’s in Orlando,” Triple H confirmed. “We’re in the process of building a new one now in Orlando — it’ll be even bigger and better.”

While no additional details were given, the comment signals that WWE is making a serious investment in its talent system. Given how much WWE has emphasized international expansion and cross-promotion lately, fans can expect the upgraded Performance Center to play a key role in shaping the company’s future stars.

Triple H Posts Footage Of AJ Lee Signing New WWE Contract Before SmackDown Return

WWE fans in Chicago got the surprise they’d been waiting on for years last night—though most of them probably saw it coming. AJ Lee officially returned on SmackDown, stepping in to help her husband CM Punk when Becky Lynch tried to take him out in the main event segment.

From the second the show kicked off, chants of “AJ Lee” echoed through the arena, and it didn’t take long for those rumors to become reality. Between the Chicago setting and the Punk/Lynch confrontation being saved for the main event, all the signs were there that WWE had something big up their sleeve.

Adding to the excitement, Triple H took to social media after the show, posting a video of Lee signing her brand-new WWE contract just hours before walking back through the curtain. In the clip, AJ is dressed head-to-toe in black to keep her return under wraps, sharing a quick moment with The Game where she expressed how happy she was to be back in the fold.

Now that she’s officially on the roster, speculation is already heating up about her in-ring future. The leading rumor points toward a blockbuster mixed tag match: AJ Lee & CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins at the upcoming WrestlePalooza, the first-ever ESPN and WWE crossover event. That would not only pit two of wrestling’s most prominent real-life couples against each other, but it would also mark AJ and Becky’s first-ever showdown—something fans never thought they’d see given how their WWE careers never overlapped.

Beyond the dream-match possibilities, AJ’s return carries plenty of emotional weight. The former Divas Champion was a trailblazer for WWE’s women’s division, inspiring a generation of wrestlers who now fill out today’s roster. Seeing her share the ring with those she helped influence will be a full-circle moment that could reshape the women’s scene moving forward.

One thing’s for sure—AJ Lee being back in WWE is a game-changer, and if last night’s reaction in Chicago is any indication, the fans couldn’t be more ready for it.

Triple H Set to Headline WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025

The Road to WrestleMania is officially underway, and while the Royal Rumble will set the stage for WWE’s biggest event of the year, another WrestleMania tradition is also making headlines—the WWE Hall of Fame. This year’s headliner has already been revealed, and it’s none other than the man currently shaping WWE’s future: Triple H.

According to PWInsider, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque will lead the 2025 Hall of Fame class. Despite being in charge of the company’s creative direction, the decision reportedly caught Levesque by surprise. The news was broken to him in a meeting by his wife, Stephanie McMahon, alongside fellow Hall of Famers The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels.

A Legacy Built in the Ring

While Triple H has been at the helm of WWE’s creative resurgence in recent years, his Hall of Fame induction is a recognition of his legendary in-ring career. Levesque first gained national exposure in WCW in the early ‘90s before jumping to WWE, where he became one of the most decorated and influential superstars in history.

Over the course of his career, Triple H racked up an impressive 14 World Championship reigns, in addition to capturing the Intercontinental, European, and Tag Team Championships. He also cemented his legacy with wins in the 1997 King of the Ring tournament and both the 2002 and 2016 Royal Rumbles. Beyond the accolades, he was a founding member of D-Generation X, one of WWE’s most influential factions, alongside Shawn Michaels.

A Fitting Honor for “The Game”

With an unparalleled impact both inside the ring and behind the scenes, Triple H’s Hall of Fame induction feels like a long time coming. As the mastermind behind WWE’s creative direction, it’s ironic—but fitting—that he’ll now be the one deciding who joins him in the class of 2025.

Who else will be inducted alongside Triple H? And what does this mean for the Hall of Fame ceremony during WrestleMania weekend? Stay tuned as more names are revealed in the coming weeks!

Kevin Owens Shocks WWE Universe: Piledriver on Cody Rhodes and Chaos with Triple H Over Winged Eagle Title

The aftermath of Saturday Night’s Main Event turned chaotic when Kevin Owens not only left Cody Rhodes battered after a brutal piledriver but also attempted to steal the iconic Winged Eagle Championship.

In the show’s main event, Rhodes successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against Owens in a hard-fought battle. Post-match, as Rhodes celebrated in the ring with the Winged Eagle title—a belt he’s long spoken about as a symbol of his championship dreams—Owens struck with a ruthless attack. The shocking piledriver left the champion needing to be stretchered out of the arena, leaving the WWE Universe stunned.

But Owens wasn’t done. Seizing the historic title, Owens marched up the ramp, seemingly intent on taking the belt with him. However, his path was blocked by none other than WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Video posted to X (formerly Twitter) captured the heated confrontation as Triple H intercepted Owens at the stage. The two men exchanged words before the confrontation escalated, with Triple H knocking the championship out of Owens’ hands and shoving him multiple times. Officials quickly intervened to separate the two as tensions flared. WWE later posted its own video to X.

According to PWInsider, Triple H recovered the Winged Eagle title and ensured it was safeguarded after Owens was escorted to the back. WWE later shared its own video of the incident on social media, sparking widespread speculation about what’s next for Kevin Owens and his apparent fixation on the historic championship.

Cody Rhodes has been vocal for years about his love for the Winged Eagle design, which holds sentimental value to him as a callback to a classic era of WWE champions. While Rhodes got to fulfill his dream of wearing the title for one night, Owens’ actions cast a dark shadow over his victory celebration.

The fallout from Owens’ attack and his confrontation with Triple H promises to be explosive. Is this the beginning of a bitter rivalry between Kevin Owens and WWE management? And what consequences await Owens for his actions? Stay tuned, as this story is far from over.

Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque Teases Upcoming Changes In WWE

WWE will be transitioning through various programming changes in the near future, with “WWE Raw” heading to Netflix come January 2025 as well as “WWE Smackdown” moving to the USA Network and “WWE NXT” going to CW in October. However, according to Chief Content Officer and Head of Creative Paul “Triple H” Levesque, “NXT” leaving the USA Network will not be the only change coming to the gold brand later this year. 

Speaking at the Money in the Bank 2024 post press conference, “The Game” went into detail about WWE planning ahead toward making more changes to “NXT” in the fall. He also explained that, over time, the audience will see various differences to “Raw” and “SmackDown” as we inch closer to December. 

“We are just getting started. I really feel like that. We got a whole fall thing coming up with CW for NXT. Which by the way Shawn is just killing it right… Whether that’s talent development, recruitment, NXT in general. I can’t say enough good stuff about it. I’m in awe of what they’re doing down there… When they move to CW, when SmackDown makes the move to USA, when Raw makes the move to Netflix. We’re just getting rolling. We’re lining up all this stuff that’s gonna happen. A lot of the changes you see now, we are slow rolling things out. When we get to the fall, when we get to the winter, there’s gonna be a lot.”

Triple H also expressed how excited he is about John Cena returning to the ring for a full year after announcing his retirement at Money in the Bank. Furthermore, he stated how grateful he is to be running creative with the current talent on the WWE roster.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Triple H Comments On Damian Priest Kickout Botch At WWE Money In The Bank

While Damian Priest emerged with his WWE World Heavyweight Championship still in hand after WWE Money in the Bank, he also emerged to viral videos highlighting an in-ring mistake of his. The mistake in reference occurred when Seth Rollins laid out Priest with a Falcon Arrow, to which Priest was meant to kick out of. As the referee’s hand inched closer to the three count, though, Priest’s shoulder remained firmly planted on the mat. Nevertheless, the referee ruled that Priest had kicked out of the pinfall attempt. At the Money in the Bank post-show press conference, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque addressed the confusing spot.

“Human beings in a ring, mistakes happen, things happen. It is what it is,” Levesque said. “It’s funny, for me, now looking at that, if that was something I was involved in as a talent, I don’t care how good the rest of it was, that would be all I would think about. To me, it’s a shame that that’s all people will talk about, and that’s all people will hit Damian Priest with, while he had a phenomenal performance tonight. But a bunch of people will attack that, criticize that, comment on that.”

Knowing that the negative aspects of a match can sometimes eclipse the positive, Levesque further wishes he could have powered off Priest’s phone to allow him the proper space and time to reflect on all the shining moments in his WWE World Heavyweight Championship reign. “He has stepped up to a place where when you see him as a performer now, I feel like I’m watching a champion come out. I feel like I’m watching a top tier guy,” Levesque said.

Despite the questions surrounding Priest’s kickout, or lack thereof, Levesque asserts that the referee’s decision stands, and Priest remains the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Looking ahead, Priest now turns his attention to WWE SummerSlam, where he is slated to defend his title against the 2024 King of the Ring, GUNTHER.

Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to WWE

Triple H Dramatically Raises The Stakes For WWE King & Queen Of The Ring Tournaments

The 2024 King and Queen of the Ring tournaments will culminate at WWE’s eponymous premium live event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this weekend. Before the finalists head into their respectives battles, though, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque has shared a significant update regarding the stakes of these tournaments.

In addition to taking the proverbial throne, Levesque confirmed (via the WWE Experience event in Riyadh) that the winners of the King and Queen of the Ring series will also receive world title matches at the August 2024 SummerSlam event, which emanates from Cleveland, Ohio. Levesque further clarified that the victors will definitively challenge the world champions of their respective brands, rather than having the option to choose their title match opponents.

https://twitter.com/TripleH/status/1793701796042482171

This week’s episode of “WWE Raw” hosted the first pair of semi-final tournament matchups, with Jey Uso wrestling GUNTHER in the King of the Ring brackets, while Lyra Valkyria collided with IYO SKY in pursuit of the Queen of the Ring throne. Ultimately, these contests resulted in GUNTHER and Valkyria punching their tickets to the finals. The second pair of semi-final faceoffs will take place on tomorrow’s episode of “WWE SmackDown.”

Within the King of the Ring tournament, Randy Orton will tangle up with The Bloodline’s Tama Tonga, who will likely have Solo Sikoa and Tanga Loa lingering in the shadows as back-up. The winner of the Orton-Tonga match will then move on to face GUNTHER in the finals. Similarly, Nia Jax and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Bianca Belair will also square off tomorrow, with the victor advancing to a concluding round Queen of the Ring tournament matchup against Valkyria.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Triple H Confirms A New WWE Draft Is Coming “In A Month Or So”

During an appearance on Impaulsive, Paul “Triple H” Levesque was asked by Logan Paul if the United States Champion could move from SmackDown to RAW when Netflix airs the program in January 2025.

Triple H responded:

“I’m sure we’ll see people float all over places. There’s a thing called, in a month or so, there is a thing called the Draft. That’s when you can switch around and make moves.”

The draft has been a fixture of WWE since 2002, with only occasional breaks including a year away in 2022.

It is unknown when the 2024 WWE Draft will take place as of this writing.

Source: Fightful via WrestleView

Triple H Announces Women’s Wrestling Legend Bull Nakano For 2024 WWE Hall Of Fame Class

Following the news earlier this week that Paul Heyman would be part of the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame class, the company’s Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque has now announced the second performer set to be recognized — former All Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling star Bull Nakano. Levesque revealed the news on X and recognized the retired wrestler for her contributions to the industry.

“An unbelievable talent with an unforgettable look, and a mean streak a mile long,” Levesque said. “Bull Nakano isn’t just one of the best women’s wrestlers of all time — she’s one of the best of all time, period.”

Nakano began her wrestling career in the early 1980s when she was still a teenager. She captured the AJW Championship before the age of 18 and promptly held onto the title for more than three years. In the early 1990s, after years at the top of the promotion, Nakano left AJW.

In addition to her main body of work in Japan, Nakano made various appearances for both WWE and WCW, primarily from 1994 to 1996. Throughout this time, Nakano had a lengthy rivalry with Alundra Blayze (AKA Madusa). The two feuded in WWE in 1994 and 1995, including a match at WWE SummerSlam 1994, and Nakano later won the WWF Women’s Championship for a time. Both Nakano and Blayze wound up leaving the WWF for WCW in 1996 and their feud continued there.

After retiring due to injuries in 1997, Nakano spent some time as a professional golfer. She would later come out of retirement twice for very brief spots in gauntlet matches. It was also recently announced that Nakano would serve as the onscreen commissioner for Sukeban, a United States-based promotion that focuses on Japanese women’s wrestling.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Triple H Introduces Nick Aldis As New WWE SmackDown GM, Kevin Owens Traded From Raw

The season premiere of “WWE SmackDown” was always set to have an announcement from Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, but what we got was a triple-whammy, with Adam Pearce announced as the new General Manager of “Raw,” Kevin Owens as the trade chip returned to “SmackDown” in exchange for Jey Uso, and former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Nick Aldis, introduced as the new GM of “Smackdown.”

After the appointment of Pearce, who Levesque acknowledged for doing a great job as the all-encompassing authority figure on both brands for the last several years and subsequently promoted to “Raw” GM, Levesque alluded to the “SmackDown” side of things. He was interrupted by “NXT” North American Champion — and The Judgment Day’s biggest heat magnet — Dominik Mysterio before calling Aldis into the ring.

Aldis, following a handshake agreement with Levesque, fought off Dom’s interjections and the ensuing crowd displeasure, to turn the conversation back to the completion of the Jey Uso trade. That’s when Owens’ music hit and “KO” made his way to the ring. Not showing any patience whatsoever, Owens immediately Stunned Dom, putting an end to the segment and seemingly kicking off a new era for both brands on the road to Survivor Series.

Source: Wrestling Inc.