Triple H Named WWE Head Of Creative After Vince McMahon's "Retirement"

It's time to play the game.

If you would've told me 10 years ago that the WWE would be in Triple H and Stephanie McMahon's hands after Vince McMahon was forced to "retire" in shame after sexual misconduct allegations ran wild through the news, I would've said, "No shit, Sherlock!" - but now that the day has finally come, I kinda can't believe it.

Triple H's time running NXT, the company's development-brand-turned-alternative-brand (marketed more towards the hardcore wrestling fan), was a rousing success with the fanbase and the talent that came from it. Honestly, the five year '14-'19 stretch is easily the best wrestling product the WWE put out in the last decade in my opinion. They were focused on long-term storytelling, establishing distinct characters and rivalries, creating "movie-like" entrances (see: Finn Bálor), and giving fans moments and matches to remember forever. It seemed like Triple H knew how to use everybody at their full potential and work around their weaknesses as well, and then for so many, that potential was squashed the moment they hit the main roster.

After Triple H stepped aside to deal with some serious health issues and NXT became NXT 2.0, the brand kinda went to shit. Don't get me wrong, there's been some great moments and matches there too (and the roster is full of talent), but the overall presentation of the product is just not for me at all. They've made the arena look more like a 90's Nick game show than a wrestling environment....

….and it's definitely not marketed towards the hardcore fan anymore. Now, it appears to be an attempt to bring in a younger audience - which is fine, WWE is a huge company, I get it - but again, it's just not for me.

I don't expect RAW to turn right back into NXT Black & Gold tonight at Madison Square Garden, but the news of Triple H taking over as head of creative for the main product makes me more excited and hopeful about the WWE than I have been since WrestleMania XXX. I think this is going to be fantastic for the fans AND the business, as WWE and AEW wage war; a rising tide lifts all boats kinda thing, ya know? Plus, there's even rumors about the rating going back up to TV-14 (from PG)….

Longtime WWE producer Kevin Dunn is reportedly expected to leave the company as well, now that Vince is gone, and that is perhaps as important to the on-screen product changing as anything else….

Dunn has been with the WWE forever, is known for his use of shaky cam and quick cuts during the action….

….and he DOESN'T have the best approval rating from the "WWE Universe", to put it lightly.

Triple H and Stephanie McMahon are incredibly well liked by the roster, and way more approachable than Vince and Kevin Dunn by all accounts, so I also see this as a great thing for backstage morale. I bet we're about to see it shine through on television in the coming weeks, too, and I really hope we do as well. It's an incredibly exciting time to be a wrestling fan.

P.S. Unrelated to this story/wrestling at all, we just put a new shirt on sale, and I think it's awesome….