We begin by acknowledging the passing of Joe Doering and expressing our stance against cancer.
Triple H’s tenure as Head of Creative began in September 2023, after TKO’s acquisition of WWE restored him to the helm of the company’s creative direction. The move was widely welcomed by fans, given his successful work with NXT and his earlier stewardship during Vince McMahon’s first departure.
Initially, the outlook was promising; 2024 delivered strong storytelling across WWE programming. However, the announcement of the Netflix partnership and its debut special introduced an odd mix of nostalgia‑driven moments and celebrity cameos. While the main event was solid, the World Champion, Gunther, was relegated to a video package.
As 2025 progressed, a noticeable dip in narrative quality emerged. The Rock’s renewed involvement in Cody Rhodes’ storyline—instigated at the behest of Nick Khan—precipitated John Cena’s turn at Elimination Chamber. After that appearance, The Rock vanished from television, and a poorly executed run‑in marred the WrestleMania conclusion, offering no payoff. These developments reflect broader corporate influence, with figures such as Nick Khan and Ari Emanuel increasingly intervening in creative decisions, exemplified by the forced inclusion of Pat McAfee in the Randy Orton versus Cody Rhodes match.
While some attribute these missteps to Triple H’s leadership, a growing discourse questions whether he should be replaced. This article explores potential candidates who could assume the Head of Creative role.
Paul Heyman often tops fan wish‑lists for the position. His legendary ECW era and the acclaimed SmackDown Six era continue to inspire admiration. From a purely creative perspective, many would welcome his return.
Nevertheless, two significant obstacles stand in his way. First, Heyman’s history in corporate settings—particularly his tumultuous stints in WCW—suggests he would clash with executives like Nick Khan and Ari Emanuel. Even though he has performed adequately in his current managerial role, his instinct is to push back when corporate directives conflict with his vision, likely leading to friction over mandated celebrity inserts. Second, recent fan sentiment has turned against Heyman due to several off‑character remarks that have been deemed insensitive, and at times, overtly racist. Although WWE’s current leanings favor a more conservative tone, the organization still expects its creative lead to maintain professional decorum.
Shawn Michaels has demonstrated impressive creative acumen with NXT, notably elevating the women’s division to flagship status. While this focus has occasionally come at the expense of the men’s roster, NXT remains a consistently enjoyable, two‑hour show devoid of overtly offensive content.
Many wonder how Michaels would translate that success to the main roster, especially the SmackDown Women’s Division. The leap to a larger talent pool and expanded television schedule presents uncertainties; despite a larger support team, the scale of responsibility would be substantially greater.
Additionally, loyalty considerations arise. Michaels and Triple H share a long‑standing friendship, raising questions about whether Michaels would accept the role if Triple H were displaced, and whether TKO would favor appointing someone so closely aligned with the incumbent.
The Undertaker, alongside Jeremy Borash, has consistently produced high‑quality booking for AAA, helping to introduce its stars to a broader WWE audience and playing a pivotal role in the El Granda Americanos storyline’s success. Their straightforward, “keep it simple stupid” approach to wrestling resonates with many fans who prefer uncomplicated narratives.
Should a vacancy arise, Undertaker (with Borash) appears a plausible fit. However, uncertainties remain regarding his ability to manage a significantly larger roster and increased television time, as well as his willingness to tolerate corporate mandates such as the Pat McAfee integration. While he would likely avoid the confrontational style of Heyman, his dissatisfaction with such interventions could still pose challenges.
Despite fan speculation, Triple H shows no immediate signs of being ousted, and, at present, he remains the most viable option to steer WWE’s creative direction. The industry no longer boasts the deep bench of creative minds that existed during the territory era or the 1990s. The only individual with comparable experience currently leads a rival promotion (AEW).
A few alternative names—such as Gabe Sapolsky and Scott D’Amore—have been mentioned, but their lack of national‑level exposure makes a WWE appointment unlikely. Moreover, any successor would inevitably face heightened scrutiny from Nick Khan and Ari Emanuel, whose influence over creative decisions appears unlikely to diminish.
In short, for better or worse, Triple H remains the best candidate to lead WWE’s creative team—for now. Future possibilities could include figures like Cody Rhodes or CM Punk, but until then, the organization must rely on his continued leadership, hoping that his corporate superiors allow him the autonomy to execute his vision.
