Triple H has been at the helm of WWE’s creative team ever since 2022, and whilst Vince McMahon managed to worm his way back in at times, it has been Triple H’s decisions which have been final (for the most part). Today, McMahon is well out of the picture and WWE’s creative direction is in Triple H’s vision, and this has seen him succeed with several wrestlers.
There are a few wrestlers who are currently inactive for several reasons. These names could return soon, and here’s what they should do next.
However, some of these success stories, entertaining pushes, and certain wrestlers who have been turned into stars, would not have been fathomable under McMahon. In fact, it is easy to imagine them being ruined, buried, and neglected under the old regime.
Dominik Mysterio Would Still Be A Cheesy Babyface Under Vince McMahon
Triple H Turned Mysterio Heel, And The Rest Is History
The ascent of Dominik Mysterio has been gradual, but over time he has grown into a tremendously gifted heel, becoming more and more comfortable on the mic and in the ring over time under Triple H, getting more heat than perhaps any heel in the whole business.
When he was working under Vince McMahon, Mysterio was a completely generic babyface, backpacking off his father in a tag team. There is no guarantee he would have ever turned heel, let alone be handled so well if McMahon was still in charge.
Vince McMahon Wouldn’t Have Had The Patience For The Sami Zayn/Bloodline Story
Even Though This Started Under McMahon, It Would Have Ended Sooner
It should be noted that Sami Zayn being paired with The Bloodline was something which began under Vince McMahon, however, there is no way he would have had the patience to allow the terrific long-term story play out in the way it did.Zayn would have been buried long before that, being made to look like a fool rather than a courageous babyface who fans rallied behind, before going on to main event one night of WrestleMania.
Vince McMahon Would’ve Split Up The Judgment Day Ages Ago
He Didn’t Know How To Keep Teams Together For The Long Term
In just the first few months of The Judgment Day under Vince McMahon, the leader of the group had already been attacked and replaced, so imagining it continuing for another few years would’ve been unfathomable under the former regime, especially given his track record of breaking teams and factions up.
The Judgment Day have instead been the number one heel act on RAW for years, creating stars and elevating names, becoming very successful and popular in the process.
LA Knight Would Still Be Max Dupri Under Vince McMahon
His Potential Was Ignored By McMahon
When LA Knight worked under Vince McMahon, he was completely repackaged to Max Dupri, dropping everything that made him successful in the first place as he led the Maximum Male Models group in a dead-end direction. Triple H rectified this by bringing back his old gimmick, which led to him becoming one of WWE’s most over stars today.
While wrestlers rarely commit to their retirement, these older competitors should stay away from the ring.
McMahon would not have pushed Knight, especially since he got over organically. For whatever reason, McMahon had such a rejection of potential stars who fans got behind naturally.
Vince McMahon Was Never A Fan Of Bronson Reed
Reed Was Released By McMahon
Bronson Reed has become a star under Triple H in 2024, steadily climbing up the card and breaking out when given the chance. McMahon would have never given him a chance.
The proof is that McMahon released Reed without ever allowing him any opportunity to prove himself on the main roster.
The Wyatt Sicks Would Have Never Succeeded Under McMahon
His Booking Of “Spooky” Gimmicks Hardly Ever Worked
Aside from The Undertaker (and even then it wasn’t always perfect), spooky gimmicks failed in WWE under Vince McMahon, who had a tendency of going too far and not knowing when too much creepiness was enough.
The Wyatt Sicks faction would have suffered the same fate and would have been ruined by Vince McMahon. Triple H’s approach has been more patient than McMahon would ever dreamed of being when it comes to this act.
Vince McMahon’s Track Record With Rhea Ripley Was Not Good
He Failed With Her Booking Time And Time Again
Even though Rhea Ripley has “star” painted all over her, Vince McMahon butchered her booking as a singles competitor when she first arrived on the main roster, and then allowed her to get lost in the women’s tag team division.
Given this history, it is easy to imagine Ripley getting ruined, stop-start pushes, and never reaching the level of stardom that she has achieved under Triple H, which has seen her arguably becoming the biggest women’s star outside of the Four Horsewomen ever since the women’s revolution began.
Vince McMahon Was Not A Fan Of The Damage CTRL Idea
Damage CTRL Created New Stars And Good Storylines For The Women’s Division
Triple H’s first several months booking Damage CTRL didn’t go well, and if it were Vince McMahon in that position, the group would’ve split up or been buried. However, Triple H persisted, and eventually succeeded.
Iyo Sky became a great world champion, and her storyline with Bayley was one of the best of 2024. McMahon was reportedly opposed to the idea of the group anyway, so it is hard to imagine it gaining any legs under him.
Drew McIntyre’s Best Work Has Come Under Triple H
His Babyface Run Under Vince McMahon Was Killing Him
Vince McMahon was responsible for Drew McIntyre’s brilliant rise in 2020 and strong run during the pandemic era, but he was also responsible for his fall, and the awful direction his character took, losing his star power and becoming bland
What other matches can WWE fans expect besides the crowning of the inaugural Crown Jewel Champions?
McIntyre may very well have continued down this path if it weren’t for Triple H coming into power and bringing about a heel turn. This turn has salvaged McIntyre and turned him back into one of the biggest and best stars in WWE today, and he has been thoroughly entertaining for the last year.
Gunther Was On His Way To Being Buried By Vince McMahon
Reports Suggested Gunther Was Weeks Away From Losing His Spot
One of Triple H’s biggest success stories is Gunther, who has broken the record for longest Intercontinental Title reign and longest time spent in a Royal Rumble, not to mention winning King Of The Ring and World Heavyweight Champion. He is a certified star, and that is thanks to his booking.
Reports at the time suggested that Vince McMahon was going to bury Gunther, with WrestleVotes via GiveMeSport noting in a report that he wasn’t happy with a segment involving Gunther and R-Truth, so was going to bury him and send him back to NXT.
