Paul Heyman Calls Triple H The "Best Editor He Has Ever Worked With" In WWE

Paul Heyman has described Vince McMahon as a “dictator” and Triple H as a “collaborator” while discussing WWE creative. The Hall of Famer explained how McMahon handled pitches and praised Triple H for listening to different ideas.

Paul Heyman called Vince McMahon a “dictator” and Triple H a “collaborator” while comparing how the two handled WWE creative. The WWE Hall of Famer made the comments on a podcast with Graham Bensinger, and he got pretty specific about what pitching to McMahon was like, where the job was winning over a boss who often had his own vision. Heyman also praised Paul Levesque, which is Triple H's real name, for listening to different perspectives and improving ideas instead of starting from scratch.

“Vince was a dictator. It was his money. And therefore it's his show,” Heyman said.

Then he talked about the pressure of presenting to McMahon, who was the final authority on what made it to the screen. According to Heyman, the job meant constantly trying to get McMahon to buy into a pitch instead of going with his own ideas.

“It's the constant chase for Vince to buy into your ideas over his own. That's the dynamic of pitching Vince McMahon,” he added.

Heyman still accepted that McMahon had the right to make the final call, even if the decision wasn't necessarily the right one. As he put it, “He's right. He has the right to be wrong. It's his show. Give me your best shot.”

Heyman had a very different description for Triple H, the current WWE Chief Content Officer. He praised him for working with people and not expecting everyone to follow a fixed creative direction.

“Paul Levesque is not a dictator. He's a collaborator,” Heyman said.

The difference, as Heyman explained it, is that McMahon liked a blank page while Triple H is more comfortable with ideas that were already developed. He called Levesque “the best editor I've ever worked with in my entire life,” and credited him for hearing out people who see things another way.

“His vision is to listen to very smart people that have different ideas than he does,” Heyman said.

Rumor Mill - WWE succession plan emerges as Shawn Michaels and AJ Styles eye new roles

According to reports from PWInsider, Michaels is expected to move into Prichard’s position, with preparations for the transition already expected to begin in the coming months.

The former WWE champion has led NXT since 2021, when Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque underwent a cardiac procedure. Michaels was subsequently promoted to Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Creative.

His experience with developing young wrestlers makes him a natural candidate for a more prominent position within WWE’s creative structure.

Michaels also shares a longstanding friendship with Triple H, which could prove valuable as the pair continue shaping the company’s future.

However, his potential promotion would leave a significant opening at NXT, with AJ Styles reportedly emerging as a candidate to take on greater responsibilities.

According to False Finish, WWE officials expect Styles to become more involved with the developmental brand following Michaels’ departure from the role.

Styles has previously expressed a desire to help prepare the next generation of WWE superstars, particularly after stepping away from in-ring competition.

Triple H discussed the former champion’s plans during an appearance on Cody Rhodes’ podcast, explaining that Styles had explored several backstage positions before identifying the area that suited him best.

“He really likes is getting to these young kids, spotting talent, and trying to help fan the flames of that little spark and turn it into something more, the developmental side,” Triple H said.

Top WWE Exec Reportedly Set to Retire After WrestleMania 43

One of WWE's top executives is reportedly set to retire in 2027.

Triple H has spent a lot of time building his creative team since Vince McMahon's departure in 2024. The Game has built a large team of talent to steer the ship, with a mix of new and veteran names who have been around the company for decades.

Hunter's booking team includes names like Ryan Ward, Bruce Prichard, Bobby Roode, and Ed Koskey. Other names, like Paul Heyman, also assist with long-term creative discussions. But a new report suggests Triple H will lose one of his top executives following WrestleMania 43.

Bruce Prichard will reportedly retire following WrestleMania 43

According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, longtime WWE employee Bruce Prichard is expected to retire as Executive Director of Creative Writing and Talent afterWrestleMania season in 2027.

Prichard is expected to remain connected to the company on a consulting basis. However, he would be moving away from his current home near WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, so he wouldn't retain his current duties.

Triple H Just Chose His New Backstage 'Number One'

Someone is about to become Triple H's 'next Michael Hayes' behind the scenes at WWE.

Triple H Bobby RoodeWWE.com

Michael Hayes has revealed during a chat with Stephanie McMahon's 'What's The Story?' show that Bobby Roode will be his successor behind the curtain in WWE. What's more, it was actually Triple H who approached Hayes about training Roode to become the "next" version of himself.

That must've been rather trippy for Michael, but he's been around long enough to understand where 'The Game' was coming from.

In a candid moment backstage, Hunter told Hayes that it's no secret the 67 year old won't "be around forever". Trips has been impressed by some of the production work Bobby has done since he transitioned into that role a few years ago following his forced retirement from in-ring action.

Hayes agreed that Roode has done well, so he's happy to help Bobby flourish and learn on the job with a view to sitting in his chair once Michael steps down. The former Fabulous Freebird didn't put a timescale on that, but...he's 67 - it's going to happen at some point.

Roode achieved a ton in TNA and then NXT after joining WWE, but he'd arguably never make the splash he was expected to on the main roster. Eventually, Bobby settled into a tag-team role alongside Dolph Ziggler before serious neck troubles forced his hand on retirement.

On Roode, Hayes added this: "I see great things for him". 

As missiles rain down on Riyadh, WWE's Crown Jewel dilemma is becoming unavoidable

It's the most intriguing boardroom storyline in pro-wrestling — and one you shouldn't expect to see in the next season of "WWE Unreal." Should WWE go ahead with its Crown Jewel event, scheduled to take place Nov. 7 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, or opt for a safer alternative back in the U.S.?

That the Saudi security situation has deteriorated in the weeks after this year's Crown Jewel was first announced on Sept. 1 is an understatement. Since then, we've seen the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launch a barrage of missile attacks on Riyadh airport, claiming the lives of at least 20 people and injuring at least 370 in what is already the deadliest attack on Saudi soil in more than a decade.

Right now, WWE is insisting the show will go ahead — a decision that flies in the face of what other businesses and sports events are doing. Just this week, we've seen a bunch of major events in Riyadh postponed, including Saudi Arabia's annual Davos in the Desert, as well as the Six Kings Slam tennis tournament and Saudi International golf tournament.

Why is WWE plowing ahead with Crown Jewel when others are playing it safe? As ever, money talks. Anyone who has spent five minutes following TKO's financials knows how important the Saudis are for WWE — in recent years, they've contributed around one quarter of the company's live-event revenues. The average Saudi show brings in more money than this year's WrestleMania.

Forgoing that reported $50 million fee for Crown Jewel might be one thing. But the tougher question is what it might mean for the future relationship with the Saudis, particularly when the Kingdom is looking to ramp up its investment in WWE in order to bring WrestleMania to Riyadh next year.

We don't know exactly how much Saudi Arabia is shelling out for 'Mania 43, though the estimates of $150 million would appear credible. If anything, they could be said to be a little conservative, given that WrestleMania is at least three times bigger than the typical WWE PLE. What is certain, though, is that this will be the largest payment yet for WWE.

All of which brings us to Turki Alalshikh, the man who controls the Saudi purse strings. Perhaps the most intriguing twist in this whole Crown Jewel saga is the reports that WWE insiders are worried Alalshikh's glazing of Saul "Canelo" Alvarez — who is set to fight in Riyadh on Oct. 31 — on social media is a preemptive dig at those in TKO towers.

How so? When "Canelo" confirmed he would be going through with the fight, Alalshikh posted "hard times reveal true friends." One way to read that is a coded warning that those who cancel their commitments aren't true friends of Turki Alalshikh — and that's always a dangerous position to be in. Not just in the world of combat sports.

Would the country really pull the plug on SaudiMania if WWE canceled Crown Jewel? All common sense would suggest not. But that's the problem with relying on one source for such a hefty chunk of your revenue — you can't really afford to call their bluff. On the other hand, it's not like the other course of action is safe either, with the risk of missiles raining down on Riyadh airport. So what's a TKO executive to do?

If it's so dangerous, you might ask, why is "Canelo" fighting there on Halloween? Well, you'd probably have to ask him. Which is sort of the point: "Canelo" is one man who can make his own decision whether to go to Riyadh to collect his purse or not. (He's also a man who gets punched for a living, so he probably has a different outlook on risk than your typical Wall Street suit.)

More seriously, "Canelo" isn't a corporate entity like TKO. He doesn't have to take a whole production crew, or send dozens of supporting talent on commercial jets into Riyadh airport. He doesn't have to justify the fallout to shareholders should the proverbial mess really hit the fan. He's never going to be dragged in front of Congress like the bosses of Enron and Facebook when they faced scandals.

So given all that, will WWE go through with the show? Without knowing what's in Nick Khan's head, it's hard to do much more than speculate at this point. Obviously one thing that could influence the decision is how the security situation holds up over the next few weeks. Right now, it's been over a week since the last attack on Riyadh, but fighting continues in Yemen.

According to credible media reports, WWE does at least have a backup venue in the States if they need it. Though that's still going to leave an alleged $50 million hole in the next earnings report and a bunch of awkward questions about WrestleMania 43. Even a single emoji from Alalshikh's social media profile could hammer the TKO stock price.

That's the main problem here: WWE might be between a rock and a hard place with Crown Jewel, but you can't say they weren't the ones who walked into that situation in the first place. Can they get themselves out of it without triggering a bigger headache down the line? Over to you, Nick Khan. source: yahoo.com

Tyrese Haliburton pays homage to Triple H's MSG outfit in return to NBA action

Tyrese Haliburton returned to the NBA in style for his first game in over a year

The Indiana Pacers star missed all of last season after tearing his right Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. His long road to recovery ended Wednesday with the Pacers' season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Haliburton rocked a special outfit to commemorate his journey's conclusion. An avid WWE fan, Haliburton wore a denim and leather jacket similar to the one worn by WWE legend Triple H when he returned from a torn quad in January 2002. The current WWE chief content officer came back from the injury just eight months after tearing his hamstring off the bone during a match in May 2001.

For Triple H's surprise return to Madison Square Garden, he wore a jacket with "Triple H" stitched on the back. Haliburton donned a similar look ahead of Indiana's road matchup with New Orleans.

Prior to his arrival, Haliburton posted a hype video on his Instagram narrated by none other than Triple H, seemingly teasing his outfit.

The two have collaborated before, with Haliburton wearing custom D-Generation X shoes in a March 2025 game. Triple H was a core member of the D-Generation X professional wrestling stable in WWE. Haliburton wound up hitting a game-winning four-point play and received praise from Triple H.

Haliburton attended Royal Rumble in Indianapolis in February 2024, and he went face-to-face with New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson at a WWE event in June 2024.

His return to the court comes after leading the Pacers on a stunning run to the Finals in 2025. They lost in seven games to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Steph McMahon’s Q&A | Untold Triple H stories & childhood memories | What’s Your Story?

Ari Emanuel Details Vince McMahon Resigning From WWE

In July 2022, a report was published by the Wall Street Journal accusing Vince McMahon of sexual misconduct and hush money.

McMahon would retire from WWE after the report was published, though he found his way back into the company by the end of the year.

In his new book “Roll the Calls: A Memoir,” Ari Emanuel detailed where he was and how he felt about the news and McMahon resigning.

“I was at Wimbledon when The Wall Street Journal dropped its first bombshell report: Vince making secret payouts to several women to settle harassment suits. I stared at my phone, then did something I never do: slipped it into my pocket. The rest of the match I didn’t look at the thing once. But I felt it in there like some tiny animal, wiggling, buzzing, chirping. People asking if I’d seen the story. Asking what it meant for the company. For me. Truth was — I didn’t know. And now, months later, I still don’t. As I walked out of Wimbledon, Vince called and assured me the charges were false. But he also said he was going to step down, for the good of the company. His daughter, whom I’ve always remembered fondly from our first meeting, would take over. A short time after that, however, Vince changed his mind and took back the company. What a mess. Such a mess, in fact, that I can see only one solution, and now I’m steadily pitching that solution to Vince. Vince, old buddy: Sell us your company. The idea is to merge Vince’s wrestling empire with UFC, creating one giant fighting mega-organism. Vince can stay on as a sort of chairman emeritus. Shapiro and I get him into a room, show him all the things we’ve learned from UFC, the knowledge that we could bring to bear. We talk about running his company, but it’s more about saving the company. Because the whole enterprise is teetering. Vince, who’s having all manner of health problems, seems not to fully understand.”

Emanuel, leading Endeavor, and McMahon, leading WWE, would eventually negotiate the merger with UFC that led to the formation of TKO.

In January 2024, after the TKO merger was agreed to, Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against McMahon, accusing him of sexual assault.

“And then…fuck. More revelations. The worst yet. Vince accused of defecating on a woman during a threesome. Incredible how many things in the world of business are undreamed of in business schools. These revelations are on a different level, orders of magnitude more troubling than the previous ones. Moments after they break, Shapiro calls. Ari—you reading this shit? Yes. We gotta get him out. Yeah. I know. All the way out the door, Ari. Right the fuck now. No emeritus position, no involvement in the company whatsoever. I know. You ready? Yeah. Shapiro dials; Vince answers right away. I know what needs to be done, I have clarity, but I’m feeling uncomfortable. So I deploy my go-to phrase— Tell him, Mark. Shapiro sighs. Vince, we’ve crossed several red lines and we’re in new territory here. We both wait, listening to the white noise. Finally Vince says— Okay. Tell me what to do and I’ll do it. Today. With these two enormously profitable companies now under one banner, which we call TKO, we hope this new structure of Endeavor will, at long last, thrill Wall Street. It doesn’t. The stock price doesn’t budge.”

McMahon would resign from TKO after the Grant lawsuit was filed.

Ari Emanuel: TKO Will Never Be For Sale

In promotion of his new book ‘Roll The Calls’, Emanuel has spent the past number of weeks on the interview trail.

During a recent interview with The Town, Matt Belloni asked Ari to name the ideal buyer for TKO.

“TKO.”

Belloni pressed Emanuel, saying that the company will surely be for sale one day.

“No, it won’t. No. Never.”

Continuing to push for an answer, Belloni brought up other media companies like Paramount and Amazon.

“No. No, not for sale. Never.”

Emanuel then proceeded to explain why the company will never be sold.

“Why would it be? Here’s the great thing. In 2016, Egon Durban, Mark, myself, Patrick, we saw where sports was going and saw where the streamers were going. At the time, people thought that the value — [that] we were crazy to pay what we did when we bought IMG [or] crazy that we paid the two cheapest acquisitions of all time in the sports space. As my son Leo says to me, Thursday is baby Friday. With AI, probably Wednesday is going to be the baby Thursday. There’s going to be more free time than ever. If we grow at 3% GDP, we’re going to have more money than we’ve ever had with AI in my opinion, and I agree with that. Take all the bad things that could happen, you’re sitting in a situation that there’s going to be more time for people to consume entertainment or [be] social animals. Go out, go to sporting events, consume sports. Sports is the greatest reality show of all time. Owning sports assets — now people are trying to own teams — we own four leagues. It’s an incredible asset. The value is going up and to the right. Egon Durban, myself — there’s no chance that that’s happening. Zero."

AEW wrestling star Benjamin Satterley, known as Pac, dies at 40

Benjamin Satterley, an English wrestling star known by his ring name Pac, has died at 40, according to All Elite Wrestling.

“A native of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Satterley began his wrestling career in 2004 and went on to perform for wrestling organizations all over the world, captivating fans with innovative high-flying moves and incredible in-ring ability,” said AEW in its announcement Sunday night.

“Pac signed with All Elite Wrestling in 2019 and held multiple AEW Championships and competed in some of the most memorable matches in AEW history,” it said, extending condolences to his family, friends and fans.

He previously wrestled for WWE under the ring name Neville, and became known for his aerial attacks and explosive style – earning himself nicknames like “King of the Cruiserweights” and “The Man That Gravity Forgot.”

The circumstances and cause of his death were not provided.

The announcement came just a day after Satterley wrestled a match at AEW’s “All Out” pay-per-view event near Chicago, going up against Andrade El Ídolo.

During his acclaimed career, Satterley made history as the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Champion in 2022 before the title changed to the AEW International Championship. He was also an acclaimed AEW World Trios Champion, winning the championship alongside teammates Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta in front of tens of thousands of fans at Wembley Stadium in his home country in 2024. source: cnn.com

Triple H Gets Emotional Seeing Shawn Michaels & Undertaker’s Success, ‘Nothing Makes Me Happier’

Triple H loves seeing Undertaker and Shawn Michaels thrive.

Earlier this month, cameras recently followed ‘The Game’ as he traveled around North America for WWE, AAA, and Zuffa Boxing events.

While he was backstage for AAA TripleMania 34, Triple H said that he gets emotional when he sees his friends/contemporaries succeed in their roles.

“Seeing the guys that are my generation, my contemporaries, my friends being able to step into these roles, be able to continue — as our bodies won’t allow us to do it anymore — but continue to be able to take all the knowledge that they have in their minds and be able to give it back to this next generation, to me, that’s what this business is all about. To be able to have Shawn running NXT and taking it to a whole other level and to have Undertaker come here and revitalize Lucha Libre in Mexico and take it to a level that it hasn’t seen maybe ever, it’s incredible. It’s emotional for me to see that and to be a part of it and do it with those guys. Nothing makes me happier.”

credit WWE.com and Fightful for the transcription.

WWE Main Event Moves From YouTube to Rumble, a Conservative Streaming Platform Backed by JD Vance

Starting Oct. 14, WWE Main Event is tagging out of the YouTube ecosystem and strutting down the entrance ramp to Rumble — a video-sharing platform and cloud provider that is a favorite of conservative commentators like Dan Bongino, Steven Crowder and Andrew Tate, the journalist Glenn Greenwald, and gamer Dr. Disrespect. Rumble is also where Dana White’s Power Slap competitions stream — the WWE deal highlights a further push into sports (or “sports,” depending how you feel about real slapping and fake fighting).

Rumble markets itself as being anti-cancel culture. It was founded in 2013 and went public as “Rumble Inc., The Neutral Video Platform” in 2021.

Main Event, which features matches that take place weekly ahead of Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown, will stream Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. These used to be “dark” (non-televised) matches until WWE Main Event debuted in 2012.

“WWE Main Event will be a key pillar in Rumble’s expanding sports programming lineup,” Claudio Ramolo, Rumble’s chief content officer, said in a statement. “WWE content has consistently ranked among the most-watched programming on television, top streaming platforms and social media for decades — a rare combination that resonates with both fans and advertisers alike. This partnership reflects Rumble’s ongoing commitment to bringing our users the very best in sports, entertainment and beyond.”

“Serving a digital-first audience is a core focus for WWE, and Rumble has built an accessible platform that is committed to delivering premium sports and entertainment programming,” added Alex Varga, an executive vice president with WWE.

In 2024, crypto stablecoin venture Tether invested $775 million in Rumble. The platform’s shareholders also include Bongino and a venture capital firm co-founded by Vice President JD Vance. At the time of the Tether investment, Vance’s financial disclosures showed that he had a personal stake in Rumble valued between $100,000-$250,000.

source: hollywoodreporter.com