The 5 Best Things About The Triple H Era (& The 5 Worst)

The King of Kings Triple H has reigned as the Chief Content Officer of the WWE since September 2022, taking over the long time chairman of the board Vince McMahon. The WWE has since seen huge dramatic shifts in operations which have changed the landscape of the WWE in ways that have become highly controversial.

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Some of these alterations have benefited WWE exponentially in terms of profits and viewership, but much of it has come at the cost of the wrestling old-school fans used to know and love, and replaced with an emphasis on viral moments and long drawn out epic encounters to excite existing fans. Here we take a look at the 5 best things the WWE has achieved so far to benefit the product, and the 5 things that are the most detestable.

Best No. 1: Match Stipulations Feel Special

Back before Triple H took charge and Vince was running a tight Titan Towers-shaped ship, match stipulations started to feel samey and uneventful. Take all those Hell In A Cell matches at PPVs called Hell In A Cell-the WWE completely took away the aura of the Hell In A Cell Match by giving us too many of them, taking away the surprise of the match turning up at a PPV (save for The End Of An Era Hell In The Cell Match between Triple H and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 28), and worst still the cage was painted red to make it look like a silly pantomime display rather than a devilish construction. Thankfully, Triple H has gotten rid of the Hell In A Cell PPV, and we don't see as often now. The most-recent Hell In A Cell Match put Drew McIntyre against CM Punk during their hate-fueled feud in October 2024.

The Three Stages of Hell Match is another example of a rarely-used concept that is scheduled to see its return very soon on the January 9th edition of Friday Night Smackdown featuring Drew McIntyre as he looks to vanquish Cody Rhodes and take his WWE Championship. The most-recent Three Stages of Hell Match was on NXT in 2019 between current DIY tag-team partners Tomasso Chiampa and Johnny Gargano.

We can go through more examples such as the Ambulance Match and the Last Man Standing Match, but it is clear that Triple H has allowed these special stipulation matches to feel special, and you cannot fault him for that.

Worst No. 1: Obnoxious Celebrity Involvement

For decades WWE has featured celebrity appearances to big up their biggest show of the year at WrestleMania, but fast-forward to now the presence of celebrities in the WWE is beyond obnoxious and gives off problematic vibes that anyone can be a professional wrestler. In 2025 we got to see IShowSpeed turn up at the Royal Rumble to get speared by Bron Breakker, we witnessed Travis Scott appear to flaunt his YouTube sensationalism and remind us of his over-produced music, and then Jelly Roll put aside his confectionery to team up with Randy Orton in a tag-team match against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre at SummerSlam.

To be honest, this writer had never even heard of IShowSpeed until he entered the Royal Rumble, but be that as it may the emphasis on celebrities actively taking part in storylines and getting involved in matches is tearing away the purity and specialty of what it means to be a wrestler. Kudos to the celebrities who do enter the ring, and particularly to the ones who work their hinds off to make it big like Logan Paul. However, just like our modern culture in general, the WWE is continuing to utilize trends and viral moments to mask their lack of substance-and celebrities getting in the ring is a huge part of that problem. At least bring in celebrities with an athletic background and who have plied their craft sporting professions-y'know, then it'd make them believable when they're up against WWE superstars. It appears that all it takes these days to enter a WWE ring is a name who has millions of subscribers on social media-cos if they've got that many viewers and believers, then WWE would want to harness it to increase their own power and influence.

Best No. 2: Quality Over Quantity

When Vince was in charge, there used to be about 7 or 8 matches on any given Pay-Per-View card. Triple H has changed this, so now we get 4 or 5 matches on a Premium Live Event line-up, and they are usually very good and well-paced match-ups at that.

Sure, we may have some weird inclusions like Stephanie Vaquer vs. Nikki Bella on the Survivor Series: WarGames card, but usually we're treated to very exciting and enjoyable matches that are given the time to be great. The days of "Divas" getting 5 minutes or less for a match are out, now we're seeing women's matches that are truly worth the time investment more often than not.

Worst No. 2: Many One-Dimensional Feuds

Nowadays we're smothered with feuds based on one wrestler who desires another's championship or to prove who is the better wrestler. Suffices to say, these reasons for getting in the ring and wrestling scrape below the bottom of the barrel into the depths of turgid toot. Way too many feuds are basic and designed out of simple-minded reasons for two wrestlers to engage. Maybe WWE like our culture in general likes to insult the simple-minded, but we fans should be yearning for depth and substance, otherwise why on earth are we watching the product?

Here's an example of a feud that (in my opinion and with all due respect) really sucks-Chelsea Green vs. Giulia. So in this example with have Chelsea Green, who defeated Giulia to become United States Champion. Giulia then comes out the next week and interrupts Chelsea's celebration, and eventually Giulia would pin Green in a tag-team match. Recently, Giulia won back the US title from Green, so should put this feud behind them. Ok, so what's the issue? It's two heel superstars feuding over a title without a proper storyline attached to it. Giulia's representative Kiana James is holier than thou diva carrying a handbag, she's like a modern superstar's take on Eve Torres - how on earth are we meant to root for her or Giulia? Green is easy to consider a heel because she has cowardly traits and used to hide behind The Secret Hervice until Piper Niven got injured-but Giulia just isn't being given the best feud to work with to accentuate her talents. If Giulia is a heel then keep letting her be a heel, don't put her in a feud against another heel without something that makes it clear why she has to feud with another heel besides the US Championship.

Whatever happened to Carmelo Hayes vs. The Miz? They didn't even get a one-on-one match. Then again, Melo isn't all that interesting-he has cockiness and swagger like many others, and now he's a face it just doesn't make sense. Melo and Miz deserved to be a tag-team because Melo isn't crowd-pleasing enough to be a good adversary for The Miz.

Best No. 3 : The Netflix Deal

The WWE Network was nice during the decade it existed and was the primary means of watching WWE content. However, the Netflix deal has opened WWE up in a humongous way on the most mainstream video streaming platform in the world. We can now watch weekly RAW, SmackDown and NXT shows, as well as Premium Live Events all encased in a small monthly Netflix subscription fee, which of course includes all the films and TV shows therein.

Making WWE content this accessible is a real dream for viewers watching at home, and although their archive library still needs work, the fact you can sit and lie back and watch modern WWE programming any time on the biggest streaming service is top-notch. Of course it's more about WWE's money-making pursuits more than anything, but hey we get our wrestling we love so much, so why should we complain?

Worst No. 3: Dreadful Backstage Segments

Remember when backstage segments used to be exciting and dramatic? All that hubbub in late 2003 with the bounty Triple H put on Goldberg's head and when said briefcase went missing because Garrison Cade and Mark Jindrak stole it, and all the while Randy Orton was so worried about telling Triple H what happened because he was worried he was going to get a bollocking? You should see here how 2003 RAW was always full of suspense and intrigue all steered by a significant backstage-related event. Now in modern WWE, backstage sections are so dreary and hollow you may fall asleep rather than pay wide-eyed attention to what's going on.

Take Carmelo Hayes and Damian Priest's encounter from Smackdown on the 18th of July 2025. It starts out with Priest asking Melo whether he has seen Aleister Black, to which Melo responds by saying "no", then resorts to back chat "and even if I did I wouldn't say anything to you." This is an ok start as Melo's cockiness is a trait that contradicts Priest's seriousness, but then it all goes down south. What we shouldn't get is two men talking and Priest stating that he's going to catch Black and then stand there tolerating Melo's arrogance and saying he'll meet Melo in the ring and afterwards celebrate his victory after defeating him. Priest should've beat the swagger out of Melo's mouth right there and then, which would send a clear message that Priest isn't messing around and wants swift vengeance. You might say Priest would be a bit heelish by assaulting Melo, but if you were angry and irritated after someone like Aleister Black assaults you, then wouldn't you have a very short fuse?

We can further go on to explore all the dreary backstage segments featuring The Judgment Day. Sometimes it's cool seeing Dominik being cocky, but usually it's about whether certain members of the Judgment Day has another's back, and you rarely see proper conflict or any partying, it's all very vanilla and sterile.

The point is backstage bits in WWE are awful most of the time and don't do much to excite or add drama to the in-ring action. Sometimes there are good moments, but most of the time it is dire, especially when a backstage reporter like Cathy Kelly comes into the picture and asks a really dumb question.

Best No. 4: Viral Moments

Love them or hate them, WWE has produced some great viral moments. In 2025 two stick out the most, the one where Seth Rollins throws his crutches aside and cashes in his Money in the Bank contract on new World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk at SummerSlam, and at Elimination Chamber when John Cena turned heel by kicking Cody Rhodes in the nads. When WWE manages to keep surprises really hush hush, that is when the company is at its absolute best and it is something that easily tempts fans to tune into the product more and more just in case there are huge surprises in store.

The whole Seth Rollins situation was genius, just like it was when he pulled off the "Heist of the Century" a decade earlier. During a match on Saturday Night's Main Event between Rollins and L.A Knight, we see Rollins attempting his springboard moonsault, but when he flips to avoid landing on canvas due to Knight rolling out of the way, we assumed Rollins injured his knee. We thought Rollins was out of action for months. When Rollins turned up at SummerSlam, gingerly walking and reminding Punk of who the Money in the Bank briefcase holder is, we assumed he was showing up to warn punk. But as Seth slowly hobbles his way towards the back, he stops, he straightens his back, and throws aside his crutches. He'd then take of his sunglasses, turn around, slowly undoes his knee brace, and tears off his sparkly jacket and shirt and cashes in his contract on an exhausted Punk and wins it emphatically.

Similarly, when Cody told The Rock to "go f*** himself" and thus refusing to grant The Rock his soul, that was amazing in itself, however, when Cena comes out and seemingly looked as though he was in full support of Cody, one throat cut gesture from The Rock would signal a heelish grin from Cena, who then kicks Cody down low and both The Rock and Cena proceed to assault Cody viciously-that was wholly unexpected and a moment that was truly legendary.......even if Cena's heel run would go on to disappoint many.

The way WWE creates dramatic moments can be sublime in execution, and this is why seeing them is so extraordinary. If everything else fails, WWE can always tap into the magic of viral moments to bring out the best in itself, something they've tapped into for years and use sparingly at the opportune moment to create magic that can harness the power to restore one's faith in the product, even if for a fleeting moment.

Worst No. 4: Dropping The Ball

We thought when Triple H took the reigns as the Chief Content Officer that we'd be heading back a time when wrestling meant something and feuds felt exhilarating in line with the greatest rivalries in history, such as Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H, Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock, The Undertaker vs. Kane, Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant and so on. What Triple H has delivered is far from our assumptions though, and not in a good way.

Whether it's feud payoffs not panning out as we'd hope, putting the kibosh on storylines, releasing talent for no good reason or halting the progress of fan-favourite superstars, there's much to bemoan about Triple H's direction. So much of the Triple H appears to be derided now when several years ago it was celebrated and we believed Triple H would pull us into an era that far surpasses Vince's antiquated designs.

So many baffling decision have been made. Why on earth was R-Truth let go just before the Money In The Bank PLE last year just to be reinstated due to immense fan support for Truth? Why is L.A Knight being defeated by the core main event heel talent time and again? Why did John Cena's heel turn become a dud when it started so promisingly? So many question belie so many flaws, and Triple H is at the center of it all. It doesn't help that Triple H like most important men at the head of powerful business. decides to veil the truth in order for him and WWE's reputation to save face.

Maybe it's because WWE are too powerful to fail and fans can moan and groan, but if they keep watching then the results will always be the same. Fans have power just like they had power to force WWE's hands to reinstate R-Truth, so they should use that same power to inform Triple H that the product is a mess-but unfortunately too many people defend this dreck, so no progress can be made.

Best No. 5: The Talent And The Wrestling Is (Usually) Great

Say whatever you'd like about the flavour of the WWE right now, it's still loaded with so much talent all over the place, and the wrestling is still very good and delivers continuously. The crop of rising talent from NXT is always paving the way for the future, the array of exciting moves and high-paced matches keeps the action exciting, and the top main event talent still pulls fans in to watch every single week.

On social media there is no shortage of fandom for the biggest male and female superstars, and they drive more interest into the WWE than the WWE can handle themselves with the product as it is. We still get fancy of Rhea Ripley and we adore Iyo Skye, while many of us heavily support Cody Rhodes, join in on every YEET, and throw our index fingers into the air in acknowledgment of The Tribal Chief Roman Reigns. WWE has always had fantastic talent that resonates with audiences and they'll never fail in this regard.

Top-level matches continue to be produced and under Triple H they're better than they ever were. You may argue there's too much flash the substance in the matches, but they are engaging and the fans are a bigger part of the wrestling product than ever before without getting in the ring of course. The lengthy matches and the stories told still captivate audiences worldwide and that cannot be disputed no matter how stale the product may seem.

Worst No. 5: The Product Is Style Over Substance

The look of the wrestling product seems more important now than anything else, so if you find matches that contain explosive spotfests, you know they're meant to be exciting and to pull you in constantly. You could say every match is trying to be a like a Cruiserweight match from the late 90s in either WWF/E or WCW. Difference is, today's matches tend to go on too long if they're epic with near falls happening too frequently. Yes, matches should tell the stories they should without criticism of feeling overlong, but matches ought to be paces appropriately so that they warrant a lengthy endeavor.

This piece has already mentioned how the WWE mirrors our wider culture, but there's no escaping the fact that they themselves always place their finger on the pulse of what we're up to culturally. So in connection with the wrestling we watch, we see there's plenty of emphasis on moves looking great, superstars looking great and everything needing to look great.

No time for intricacies and not a lot of space reserved for depth, just look pretty and you'll be popular-and that's what the WWE is telling us, especially when they encourage us to gaze at our smartphones like the superstars often do when they enter the arena before the start of shows. The point is the aura of the product now doesn't have room for intricate character details. Imagine heel Kane from 2003-2004 entering the arena staring at his phone-that's completely take away from the fear we're meant to be feeling for the monster because he used human technology to speak to mates.

WWE today isn't about character it's about being relatable to the audience first and foremost. Inoffensive WWE superstars who participate in an accessorized version of the WWE that doesn't make us care as much as they make us abide by it.

We should return to a time where style and substance was equal, but it turns out the powers that be make more money out of us if we just accept inferiority, and the thing is we very often do just accept tripe instead of throwing it in our oppressor's faces. Yes it is quite an extreme take, but WWE much like the culture we live in has simply given up on much of what has made it thrive in the past. It's not Triple H's fault ultimately, it is ours-Triple H like the WWE is just responding to what we give them.