WWE 2K26 announced with an Attitude Era throwback

2K Games has announced WWE 2K26, the next game in its long-running professional wrestling video game series.

The new game was announced during Friday Night Smackdown with an Attitude Era Edition, featuring a cover adorned with stars from the Attitude Era of the WWE such as Triple H and The Rock. The Attitude Era was a period between 1997 and 2002 that saw an increase in edgier content and unpredictable storylines.

In addition to the Attitude Era Edition, WWE 2K26 will have at least two more specially themed editions -- a Monday Night War Edition, referencing an overlapping era of weekly events during the Attitude Era, as well as a King of Kings Edition, which prominently features Triple H.

No further details have been revealed for the game yet, including the details for what's included in each edition, new gameplay features, or platforms. Las year's entry was released on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch 2. WWE 2K25 was the first game in the series to be released on the Nintendo Switch 2. It was released to generally positive reviews, with critics praising the small but meaningful additions, including the addition of intergender matches and improved presentation and performance.

The full reveal of the standard cover of WWE 2K26, including its cover star and new features and details about the game, will take place on Jan. 30, 2026.

Triple H Gets Candid On R-Truth’s WWE ‘Release’

Following a confusing situation that seemingly saw R-Truth released from WWE last year, we’re hearing more about what happened behind the scenes from Triple H.

Last June, the WWE Universe was in a state of shock when R-Truth announced on social media that the company was releasing him and not renewing his contract.

The reaction online and on WWE programming from fans in the audience was massive, and it led to the two sides coming to a new deal. Truth would return to the company days later at Money in the Bank.

Ahead of its official release tomorrow, a sneak peek of WWE: Unreal Season 2 was released, where Triple H would explain his side of the story regarding R-Truth’s “release,” stating there was never a point that Truth wasn’t under contract to the company.

“We got to a point in Truth’s run where his contract was coming up,” Triple H said. “When you are dealing with contracts and money, and you’re very far apart in the numbers and communication breaks down, it’s very easy for both sides to read into the communications differently. ‘Okay, well, if you’re not going to come to us, then… Your contract is at the end. We’re not going to renew.’

“Knowing that hopefully, maybe this will force his hand to say, well, hold on a second. Can we talk? He immediately went out on social and said he was fired, which he was never fired. Contrary to prior belief, he was never not under contract with us.” [H/T: Fightful]

Triple H: I went from 130 pounds to a world champ. We all must get fit.

WWE star reveals how Trump tapped him to revive Presidential Fitness Test as childhood obesity rates hit alarming 270% increase

Opinion By Paul Levesque

At 14, I was about six feet tall, pimple-faced and 130 pounds soaking wet. I remember because that was the year I joined a gym. It was on Daniel Webster Highway, not far from my house in Nashua, N.H., and my mother said she’d drive me as long as I kept up my grades.

I’ll never forget the sounds that greeted me as I walked through the door: the clank of the weights, plates being loaded onto the machines, the grunts that came with each rep. I remember thinking: powerful stuff is happening here. In fact, it was more than that. It was transformative. I couldn’t do a single pull-up when I started. Fortunately, some of the older guys encouraged me, giving me tips on everything from technique to nutrition. Suddenly, I was hooked. The gym helped me think of myself in a different way. It allowed me envision what I wanted to be. For me, working out illuminated a destination.

Now I’m not suggesting that you become a WWE Superstar or even an athlete. You do you. Just understand that a fitness regimen — doesn’t have to be clanking weights in a gym — will help you get there. And I’m imploring you, and your kids, to start right now. It will make you all better, sharper, healthier.

This year will mark the 70th anniversary of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Now, President Donald Trump is revitalizing the council and reviving a core tenet, the Presidential Fitness Test. We will work with schools and communities across the country to encourage Americans of every generation to be healthier, stronger and more active in their daily lives.

Here's the deal: our health has dramatically declined over the past few decades. Americans are increasingly sedentary and lacking nutritious diets. Our children, in particular, are facing a crisis. Rates of chronic disease and poor nutrition are through the roof. Childhood diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate. One in five American kids are obese — a 270% increase from 50 years ago — and obese children are five times more likely to remain overweight in adulthood.

Bottom line: We’re allowing our kids to eat super-sized portions of ultra-processed food, and spend too much time on their butts, looking at screens. Kids don’t play outside anymore. Schools rarely instill the lifestyle practices to live healthy lives — exercise, proper nutrition and the inclination to challenge oneself.

We can’t continue this way.

It’s why those of us at the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition are so committed to reversing this calamity and revolutionizing Americans’ health and fitness, especially for the next generation.

It's vital to take care of ourselves physically. But it’s even more crucial to set an example. Kids don’t just listen, they observe. The good news is, it’s not that complicated. You don’t have to spend hours pumping iron or start training for a marathon.

Just a daily 15-minute walk significantly reduces one’s risk of early mortality. So, get outside, move, begin pushing yourself. Start small, progress gradually — as long as you keep showing up. Remember: It’s not just about you. It’s about your kids.

Physical fitness is a lot more than being strong, fast, or playing varsity sports. Actually, I’m not writing this for those who already think of themselves as athletes so much as those who don’t. I’d tell them the same thing I told my own daughters when they said something was hard.

The reward is on the other side of difficult.

It doesn’t matter if you can’t do a single pullup, pushup or sit-up. It matters if you try. If you keep trying, you will. Working out will give you discipline. Discipline will give you confidence. It will open up a door to the possible. That’s what this is really about.

A physical fitness regimen changes you as a person. It changes the trajectory of your life. So, I’m asking, on behalf of the president: are you ready?

source: fox news

Lawsuit Filed Against WWE Claiming Fans Were Misled About PLE Access On ESPN

A new class action lawsuit has been filed against WWE, accusing WWE and ESPN of deceptive marketing practices.

Brandon Thurston of POST Wrestling, “The complaint takes issue with how some fans who already get ESPN channels through cable or other providers were still required to pay an additional monthly fee to watch WWE events. The plaintiffs allege this contradicts marketing communications from both WWE and ESPN, which they claim suggested all existing ESPN subscribers would have access to the PLEs.”

The lawsuit names only WWE as a defendant, not ESPN or Disney.

The complaint is brought by plaintiffs Michael Diesa of New Jersey and Rebecca Toback of New York.

The plaintiffs allege WWE and ESPN drew customers into a “bait and switch,” by requiring many existing ESPN subscribers to buy ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer product. When PLEs moved to ESPN, some pay TV subscribers who have ESPN as part of their service got access to ESPN Unlimited and the PLEs, while others did not.

According to Thurston, “Their proposed class would represent customers who paid for the ESPN Unlimited service between August 6 and September 20 while also being subscribers of services that get traditional ESPN channels. The class would exclude customers of DirecTV, Fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, Spectrum, or Verizon FIOS — services that did allow their customers to authenticate into the app and watch the PLEs by September 20.”

WWE has not yet responded in court. source: fightful.com

Classic WWE Content Is Coming To Netflix

As WWE’s domestic streaming landscape shifts away from Peacock, archival library content is beginning its transition to Netflix. Several classic events have been added to the platform’s “Coming Soon” section.

Netflix has updated its “Coming This Week” rail to include several WWE events. The initial list of archival shows scheduled for the platform includes:

WWE No Mercy The Great American Bash Breaking Point Greatest Royal Rumble Invasion St. Valentine’s Day Massacre The Wrestling Classic Breakdown: In Your House December to Dismember 2006 Capital Carnage Bash in Berlin Rock Bottom One Night Only Great Balls of Fire Capital Punishment This Tuesday in Texas

While Netflix currently hosts new and archived episodes of WWE Raw, Peacock will retain the rights to stream Saturday Night’s Main Event.

During the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro addressed the future of the WWE archive. Shapiro stated that the company is currently working on a non-exclusive deal for the library, indicating that the content may eventually be split across multiple platforms rather than tied to a single provider. A formal announcement regarding the permanent home of the archive is expected in the first quarter of 2026.

Regarding the rights for NXT Premium Live Events, Shapiro noted that TKO has not yet gone to market. He emphasized that the company is being “deliberate and thoughtful” and is in “no rush” to finalize that specific deal.

In a separate landmark agreement announced in August 2025, WWE confirmed that ESPN will become the exclusive US domestic home for all main roster Premium Live Events (PLEs) starting in 2026. The $1.6 billion deal includes marquee events such as WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam. Shapiro characterized the choice of ESPN as a strategic move to prioritize brand exposure and reach over potentially higher financial offers from other suitors.

source: WrestlingNews.co

Endeavor Executives Anticipated Vince McMahon’s 2023 WWE Return

The executives were plotting for McMahon’s return.

There’s an exclusive story up on POST Wrestling via Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics. It has to do with Vince McMahon’s return to WWE in January 2023 being anticipated by executives at Endeavor, which is the company that went on to acquire WWE in 2023. McMahon was a part of that transaction process.

When Vince McMahon announced his resignation/retirement from WWE in 2022 after sexual misconduct allegations emerged, a top executive at Endeavor had been relaying to colleagues on the same day that McMahon would only be gone temporarily.

After McMahon’s resignation, Endeavor President and TKO Chief Operating Officer, Mark Shapiro, sent the following message to Endeavor and TKO CEO Ari Emanuel and fellow Endeavor execs (POST Wrestling included photographic evidence of the text messages):

Nick and Stephanie are going to take over the WWE for the next nine months. Vince [will] be back with a new board or he will take the company private or he will sell it/coming to us. The race is on. The courtship is on.

Vince McMahon was back in the fold of WWE less than six months later. He was back on the Board of Directors after reinstating himself by using his superior voting power as the controlling shareholder.

The text message from Shapiro was disclosed in the WWE shareholder lawsuit in Delaware Chancery Court. The plaintiffs in that case allege that McMahon violated his legal and ethical obligation to act in the best interests of the shareholders, but instead of doing that, he helped move along the sale process to keep his own power.

There was communication between McMahon and Ari Emanuel throughout the backend of 2022.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are presenting the stance that McMahon and Emanuel had a friendship that would make sure McMahon stayed with WWE after the sale to Endeavor. On the other side of the spectrum, other potential suitors would have required Vince to leave WWE immediately. Vince denied that.

WWE President Nick Khan, Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, and former executives/Board members George Barrios and Michelle Wilson are being represented by TKO’s outside counsel. They’re being accused of being on board with McMahon’s plan to preserve his power. McMahon has separate counsel.

POST/Thurston reached out to WWE, TKO, and Vince McMahon’s reps for a comment on this story, but the requests were not responded to.

As mentioned, while McMahon was publicly retired, he had been in communication with Ari Emanuel. While they were exchanging messages, Emanuel told McMahon, “I will be your greatest partner.”

It was also revealed that several days after that August 2022 exchange, Emanuel texted McMahon and said he knew that McMahon met with Jeff Sine the day prior. Sine is a senior banker at Raine Group, who served as WWE’s financial advisor in the sale to Endeavor. Included on Sine’s extensive advisory résumé is that he advised Vince McMahon on his XFL revival.

Sine chatted with McMahon and said if things were to move forward, he would like to work for McMahon and McMahon only — not Ari Emanuel or Endeavor. He told McMahon that Morgan Stanley was not prepared to represent him.

The iteration of the deal that left Endeavor with less equity was the one that would lock in McMahon’s future with the company. The shareholders are positioning the situation as other bidders would have insisted that McMahon leave WWE, but WWE’s stance is that they did not have to give up anything to assure McMahon’s future. Endeavor gave WWE more equity to keep McMahon, which asserted his importance.

The article write-up has a section about Vince McMahon texting Nick Khan about WWE creative, per the court filings. Below is a text exchange from McMahon that he copied and pasted and sent to Khan. In the copy and pasted texts was a conversation McMahon was having with Paul Levesque and Bruce Prichard about the creative for Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 39:

Text from me to Paul and Bruce: “Hey guys just double checking. Does Roman [Reigns] and Cody [Rhodes] know the new creative re [WrestleMania] and next year ?”

Bruce : “Not to my knowledge. I don’t know if Paul has had a conversation with either. Roman’s first appearance since we spoke is Friday in DC. Both will be there in person.”

Me to Paul: “ Paul have U “?

The shareholders in the lawsuit are not concerned with McMahon’s involvement in WWE creative, but are focused on these discussions amongst executives being relegated to the Signal chat app, which has an auto-delete function. The shareholders argue that key communications were not preserved on Signal, which would be a loophole of sorts to get around special preservation measures during mergers and acquisitions. If the messages weren’t properly maintained, it could factor into the outcome of the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs asked the court to order Nick Khan, Ari Emanuel, Paul Levesque, and Brad Blum (former WWE exec/McMahon aide) to sit down with attorneys and take screenshots of any relevant messages they have on the devices on which Signal was downloaded. The decision on that order is still pending.

The lawsuit is nearing the end of discovery.

After the TKO deal was finalized in September 2023, it secured multimillion-dollar bonuses for Nick Khan and Paul Levesque. The shareholders allege that those bonuses are what encouraged executives to go through with McMahon’s plan to keep his power.

The WWE and UFC merger under TKO guaranteed McMahon a lifetime role with TKO unless he resigned. He resigned in January 2024 after former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a sex trafficking lawsuit against McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. The former WWE exec, Laurinaitis, has since been dropped from the ongoing suit after agreeing to provide evidence for Grant’s case.

If the plaintiffs in the shareholders’ suit emerge victorious, they could recover financial damages on behalf of stockholders and financial institutions that held WWE shares during the specified period of time.

The merger lawsuit is going to trial in June 2026.

source: fightful.com

Triple H Reflects On Motörhead’s Outlaw King Ten Years On

Motörhead were untouchable, but Lemmy existed on a different level entirely, he was more than just a frontman. He was a historian, philosopher, war nerd, speed freak, gentleman, and walking contradiction, usually with a Jack and Coke glued to one hand and a cigarette burning down in the other.

Nearly a decade on, Lemmy’s absence still echoes, to mark the loss of one of rock’s most singular figures, Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H, caught up with Revolver and reflected on their friendship and the unlikely crossover between Motörhead and WWE.

Three Intro themes Motörhead famously wrote three entrance themes for Levesque, ‘The Game’, ‘King Of Kings’, and ‘Line In The Sand’, even performing live for his WrestleMania entrances.

The connection ran deeper than licensing deals, Lemmy and Triple H were genuine mates.

Asked how Motörhead first hit him, Levesque pointed to their lack of artifice.

“I just loved the sound and the raw energy of it. There was no gimmick to it… It was guys that looked like you might not wanna meet them.”

That authenticity was exactly what he wanted when WWE pushed him to reinvent his entrance music.

“I kept saying I wanted something raw and guttural… Then they asked me for an example and I said, ‘I want it to sound like Motörhead.’”

Lemmy wasn’t a wrestling fan and didn’t initially know who Triple H was, but that changed fast.

“They sent him some video of me and he said, ‘I can do that.’”

Their friendship properly formed during the recording of Motörhead’s ‘Serial Killer’, when a chaotic studio day turned into hours of conversation.

“Lemmy was a deep guy… [Life] was simple for Lem, in a way. He didn’t [care] about what anybody thought.”

That simplicity carried through to Lemmy’s final days, Triple H recalls Lemmy quietly acknowledging the end was near during their last meeting at the Rainbow.

Perhaps the most telling moment came when Lemmy credited Triple H with helping introduce Motörhead to a younger generation.

“All these kids and young people here — that’s because of you.”

Coming from Lemmy, that meant everything, because behind the volume, the vices, and the mythology, Lemmy Kilmister was exactly what rock and roll pretends to be.

source: bluntmag.com.au

Mick Foley Cuts Ties With WWE Citing Continued Association With Donald Trump

Back in October, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley made the news when he posted a several minute video addressed to fellow WWE Hall of Famer and President of the United States Donald Trump, where he criticized Trump's approach to immigration and implored him to change his ways. While Foley has long been critical of Trump, his words raised some eyebrows at the time due to Foley's continued association with WWE, and the promotion's stronger bonds with Trump over the past year.

Now a few months later, it appears that WWE/Trump relationship has forced Foley to make a decision. Taking to Facebook on Tuesday morning in a lengthy message, Foley officially severed ties with the promotion he called home for most of his legendary career.

"PARTING WAYS WITH WWE," Foley said. "While I have been concerned about WWE's close relationship with Donald Trump for several months — especially in light of his administration's ongoing cruel and inhumane treatment of immigrants (and pretty much anyone who "looks like an immigrant") — reading the President's incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner's death is the final straw for me. I no longer wish to represent a company that coddles a man so seemingly void of compassion as he marches our country towards autocracy. 

"Last night, I informed WWE talent relations that I would not be making any appearances for the company as long as this man remains in office. Additionally, I will not be signing a new Legends deal when my current one expires in June. I love WWE, will always treasure my time with them, and I am deeply appreciative for all the opportunities they afforded me. But, in the words of Popeye the sailor "I stands all I can stands, and I can't stands no more."

Triple H Responds To Fan Backlash Over John Cena’s Loss And Teases The Dawning Of A New Era

Following Saturday Night’s Main Event, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque spoke to the media about John Cena’s final match, the reaction to the finish, and what comes next for WWE.

Levesque addressed the crowd response to Cena tapping out to Gunther and made it clear he had no regrets.

“I’m actually mildly disappointed. I thought it would be so much louder,” Levesque said. “There are time honored traditions in our business. There is a way that you handle your business agenda. John has said the right thing his entire career, that it is about leaving this place better than you found it. But you do what is right for the business, you do what is right for this industry. John has done that his entire career, and I’m going to do that my entire career. I will do what I believe is right for this business.”

He explained that the finish was exactly in line with who Cena has always been.

“If you were to say, ‘What will Cena do on his way out?’ Take the emotion out of it. He will put over somebody on the way out. He will leave this better than he found it. He will go into the ring and he will make somebody on his way out. That’s what John does. It’s what John has always done,” Levesque said. “I know people will criticize this. People will talk about this moment right here. I’ve got big shoulders. I’m good with it.”

Turning his attention to the rising stars on the show, Levesque had high praise for NXT Champion Oba Femi and Sol Ruca.

“Oba was just incredible. If there’s anybody with a presence that says star. He is a bona fide, charismatic X Factor star that will be on top of this business when he gets there, and will stay there for a long time,” he said. “Not long ago, a little over three years ago, he had never stepped into the ring in his life, came to a tryout with dreams and hopes coming out of college, and you see where he is today. I don’t know how anybody stops this kid.”

He also addressed the early Brock Lesnar comparisons.

“You’re talking about Brock Lesnar, the ultimate destroyer in the business, and already there’s a comparison to him walking in the door.”

On Sol Ruca, Levesque pointed to her game changing athleticism.

“The level of athleticism that you see in Sol is another, just a whole nother level. You see people that come into an industry, and in a moment when you see them, you think, ‘Wow, they just changed the business.’ Sol Ruca just changed the business.”

Levesque described the night as a clear turning point for WWE.

“What you saw tonight to me, was the dawning of a new era. This whole thing goes full circle. You see the end of the John Cena era, and the beginning of a whole new wave in this business that will carry everything over into the future,” he said. “January 5, we’re gonna sort of hit that one year mark on Netflix. We’re gonna have a big event coming up in Brooklyn, at the Barclays Center there that’ll be a whole other launch into a new generation.”

He closed by confirming Cena is not done with WWE, just done in the ring.

“John Cena’s passion for WWE didn’t end tonight. John Cena’s in ring career ended tonight,” Levesque said. “He had his sort of farewell run for this year on his terms, and got to do it here in a way tonight that just meant the world to him. One thing that I know about John is every time I’ve seen him go into that ring, he’s had a blast doing it. Tonight was no different.”

Reflecting on the atmosphere, Levesque said the respect for Cena was unmistakable.

“My takeaway is just respect, respect for a man that deserves all the respect he’s getting. The records that were set tonight, we crushed a record here for this building, not just for WWE, but also for this building. We didn’t have to make anybody want to be here tonight. They all wanted to be here. It’s respect for John. He is probably one of the most universally respected performers I’ve ever seen in this business.”

Triple H Booed by WWE Fans After Controversial End to John Cena’s Retirement Match

The Time Is Now...And Now It's Over

John Cena Signs New Contract With WWE

John Cena may have reiterated multiple times that he is done with in-ring competition after his retirement match on December 13, but that hasn't stopped the Never Seen 17 from signing a new WWE contract.

However, before anyone gets excited or outraged over the man with a PHD in Thuganomics going back on his word, the deal Cena has signed isn't to remain as an active wrestler.

In fact, John Cena's new WWE deal will see the Grand Slam Champion remain under contract as an ambassador for the company.

The 17-time World Champion put pen to paper on a five-year deal, discussing the new contract in a recent interview with Tom Rinaldi.

“I will be an ambassador to WWE. I’m already signed on for another five years. ‘Please, as long as you can do it. I would like to be in this family as an employee, as a contributing part for as long as I can.’"

Cena continued, “It’s not my time to perform anymore. I have a bunch of strengths and gifts that I can pass on. I’m looking forward to the second mountain of being an ambassador.

"Maybe ambassadorship comes with letting more people know to watch this, which was my goal in the first place, and maybe mentorship to talent I wouldn’t spend time with where I can sit and be like, ‘Who are you really? How can I get the rapping moment on the bus? I want that guy or girl on TV.’ I’m looking forward to that stuff,”

New Report Refutes Freddie Prinze Jr's WWE-ESPN Deal Claim

WWE and ESPN haven't even gotten to WrestleMania season and there are claims being made that their broadcast agreement is on the rocks.

Freddie Prinze Jr. made some eye-catching headlines on Wednesday.

The actor, director and former WWE creative contributor released the latest episode of his "Wrestling with Freddie Podcast", and during his review of Saturday's Survivor Series Premium Live Event, he claimed that ESPN has been less than thrilled with the early returns on their agreement to broadcast WWE PLE's.

WWE and ESPN are only three events into their 5-year, $1.6 billion deal, with their next broadcast a little less than two months away.

“ESPN, by the way, so unhappy with the deal," Prinze said during the show. "I was talking to a friend of mine who works for Disney, and he was just like, ‘Yo, they better make their money back on this deal.’ He just said, ‘They’re hot.’”

There has now been some internal pushback to Freddie Prinze's claims.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reached out to sources within WWE and ESPN on Wednesday, with one rep from the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" saying they haven't heard any negative chatter and that they've found the partnership to be enjoyable thus far.

Those comments are more in line with what ESPN President Burke Magnus said publicly on the SI Media Podcast just within the past week.

“It’s gone great so far," Magnus told Jimmy Traina. "They are fantastic to work with. They really hustle on behalf of their property... The superstars are highly engaged in promoting themselves, the broader WWE, and their stories. It’s been really good so far. We’re looking forward to WrestleMania [next] year, which would be our first."

ESPN has committed heavily to promoting WWE content across the network since the broadcast agreement started back in September. Major superstars like CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, AJ Lee, Becky Lynch and Chief Content Officer Paul 'Triple H' Levesque have been regular guests on ESPN programming in the days leading up to events.

"When we spoke to sources in WWE, a higher up said "no one in WWE upper management is aware of Freddie Prinze's role in wrestling or otherwise," Ross Sapp said in his report.

The next two major WWE events are NXT Deadline on Saturday, December 6 and John Cena's final match at Saturday Night's Main Event on December 13. Both shows will be streamed live on Peacock.

The Royal Rumble will be the next Premium Live Event to air on ESPN on January 31, 2026 from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

source: si.com

After a solid stretch of storytelling, WWE fans have begun to turn on Triple H and his booking strategy... which is mostly due to personal bias

Triple H Gives a Tour of WWE's Insane HQ with $2 Million in Rare Wrestling Collectibles

WWE's Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque visits Albany pro wrestling hall of fame

This past Friday, Albany’s pro wrestling hall of fame got a visit from “The Game.”

World Wrestling Entertainment returned to MVP Arena on Friday night for a live episode of “SmackDown.” Earlier that day, WWE chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque took a trip inside the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, which is located inside the MVP Arena atrium.

Levesque was joined by members of WWE’s creative team and backstage crew.

“They’re all fans of the history of pro wrestling,” said Seth Turner, the hall of fame’s president and co-founder. “They love seeing the artifacts we have and taking it in.”

It wasn’t the first trip Levesque has made to the museum. In fact, Turner said, when WWE comes to Albany, the museum opens up several hours before the arena opens to the public, allowing WWE wrestlers and crew members in for a private look at the hall of fame’s impressive collection of wrestling memorabilia.

The IPWHF has a “good, collaborative relationship” with WWE, Turner said. The museum has been featured in the A&E documentary series “WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures” in a 2023 episode about Trish Stratus and Lita, and the opening of an Albany episode of “Monday Night Raw” was filmed inside the hall of fame.

Levesque was joined for his visit on Friday by Rich Hering, a retired long-time WWE employee and former executive with the New York State Athletic Commission.

Levesque, a 14-time world champion in WWE as “Triple H,” has been a part of the company’s front office for more than 15 years. He’s been in charge of the company’s creative direction as its chief content officer since 2022.

Turner said that Levesque enjoyed getting a chance to see the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy, which is on display at the hall of fame on loan from WWE.

“He told a great story about the original trophy falling and breaking into a lot of pieces by accident,” Turner said. “He was glad to see that one. He’s always a huge fan of Killer Kowalski, who was his trainer. We have a full mannequin of Killer Kowalski, and we have some other artifacts.

“Everyone is always a fan of the Gorgeous George hair curling machine, too. And I would say Paul really liked some of the older artifacts that we have that go back 100 years; scrapbooks and things like that.”

Turner said Levesque’s interest was also piqued by a copy of the card from the first WWE (then the World Wrestling Federation) show at MVP Arena (then Knickerbocker Arena) in February 1990.

“It’s a who’s who of WWF from that era,” Turner said. “It was Hulk Hogan vs. Mr. Perfect, and Macho Man vs. Dusty Rhodes. I mean, everybody was there, and those were some of the stories we were talking about.”

Las Vegas Approves $6 Million Payment To WWE For WrestleMania 42

According to a report from LV Sports Biz, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is preparing to approve a $6 million payment to WWE in support of WrestleMania 42, which is set to take place next April. The approval is expected to be made official during the board’s upcoming meeting on Wednesday, November 12.

The report notes that LVCVA CEO Steve Hill is an enthusiastic supporter of WrestleMania and has often spoken about the significant economic and cultural impact the event brings to the city.

WWE will once again stage WrestleMania at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, marking the first time since 1989 that the event has been held in the same city two years in a row. As part of WrestleMania weekend, WWE is also set to host several major events including SmackDown, NXT Stand & Deliver, and the Hall of Fame ceremony.

Originally, WrestleMania 42 was scheduled to take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on April 11 and 12, 2026. However, plans shifted, and the show will now take place at Allegiant Stadium on April 18 and 19, 2026. To compensate, New Orleans has been confirmed as the host city for the 2026 Money in the Bank Premium Live Event, scheduled for September 6.

TKO President Mark Shapiro: A Lot Of Our WWE PLEs Were Created By Vince McMahon, We Need To Get In The Business Of Taking That Torch & Moving Past That

TKO head is enjoying the progression.

The latest episode of The Main Event with Andrew Marchand featured a sit-down chat with TKO President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro.

While the conversational focus was on WWE, Shapiro spoke about how the company’s Chief Content Officer, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, and President Nick Khan are moving things forward.

He added that a lot of WWE Premium Live Event titles were created by former Chairman Vince McMahon. Shapiro said they needed to take the torch and move past that, so Levesque and Khan introduced the Wrestlepalooza PLE. Shapiro said securing the I.P. to Wrestlepalooza to sell event merchandise was a success.

“And yet, they’re open to new ideas. They never seem exhausted. They’re ready to take on a new shot, a new risk, a new opportunity. ‘Hey, Nick, let’s talk about launching a new event.’ Right now, a lot of our PLEs were created by Vince McMahon. We need to get in the business of taking that torch and moving past that, and Nick (Khan) and Triple H created Wrestlepalooza, which is the launch event for our new ESPN deal, which did incredibly well and may turn into a superfranchise. Not to mention from a merch standpoint, I don’t need to tell you, securing the I.P. rights and then selling merch at Wrestlepalooza, let’s just say it was a real winner…”

The first-ever Wrestlepalooza event was produced under the ECW banner in 1995.

The next Premium Live Event on the docket for WWE is Survivor Series: WarGames on November 29th from Petco Park in San Diego, California.

credit The Main Event with Andrew Marchand with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription

Triple H Compares WWE's Booking Style To Marvel Cinematic Universe

Triple H has been the head of WWE creative since the summer of 2022, and his tenure as booker has had it' ups and downs.

The ups? The Bloodline saga, CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre, and Cody Rhodes finishing his story. The bad? John Cena turning heel, the disappearance of The Rock, and more.

The stakes couldn't be higher for Triple H as TKO Group continues to load up the WWE calendar and tries to break company records year in and year out. Through all of that, Triple H says his focus is still on telling stories.

In an interview with All In, Triple H opened up on his booking strategy and compared it more to a Marvel movie than a UFC fight.

“I would say we’re much more akin to the Marvel Universe, where you’re planning out long term where the movies fit and how they go with all the characters, than we are direct MMA. At the end of the day, direct MMA is — you’re booking matches and the interest is, ‘That guy’s really good. He’s really good. I’m not sure who’s going to win."

The Chief Content Officer of WWE continued and confirmed what has been widely speculated — telling stories is the most important aspect of the job, not putting on great matches.

“We tell stories. People within our business sometimes take this wrong, but we don’t write the shows based on ‘That’ll be a great match.’ We write it on the stories that we can create, the protagonist, the antagonist, how does that work with each other, telling stories that can resonate with people that maybe they’ve experienced in their real life."

Triple H was a multiple-time world champion as an active wrestler in WWE. He spearheaded the popular NXT black and gold run and turned that promotion from being strictly a developmental territory to a true third brand for WWE.

In 2026, Triple H will need many strong stories for some huge events that TKO Group has planned for the business. The 2026 Royal Rumble will take place inside Saudi Arabia for the first time ever. The company will return to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for Wrestlemania. And in 2027, WWE will produce WrestleMania from outside of North America for the first time in history.

source: si.com

WWE Superstar's Contract Terminated Early Following Social Media Criticism

Things have gone from bad to worse for former WWE Superstar Ridge Holland.

Holland, real name Luke Menzies, announced his impending departure from the company last month after he was informed his contract would not be renewed. The decision to cut Menzies from the roster came at a time when he was still recovering from a Lisfranc injury he suffered during a TNA taping back in September.

Earlier this week, Menzies vented some of his frustration over the situation in a social media post. He blasted WWE's decision to release him while he was still months away from being able to work again, and expressed concern over whether he'd be able to continue paying his mortgage.

"I feel like I've been hung out to dry after getting injured working for another company on behalf of WWE," Holland wrote. " Yes they are taking care of the surgery and physical therapy, but let's be honest, that's the bare minimum after what we sacrifice for the company."

Menzies' WWE contract was set to expire on Friday, November 14, according to separate social media post he made. However, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported Wednesday night that his deal was terminated early.

"The word within WWE was that they considered some of his recent posts a breach and the call was made to release him from his deal early," Ross Sapp said. "It was strongly suggested that he won’t be paid for the remaining period."

While Menzies will not be able to wrestle until sometime in 2026, he has now opened himself up for media and signing appearances.

Releasing someone from their contract with roughly seven months of rehab ahead of them is something that was almost never a practice in WWE, according to Ross Sapp. At least until the last year or so, following the formation of TKO Group Holdings when WWE merged with UFC.

"It was noted that WWE has to continue providing [Menzies] rehab, but they would almost certainly open themselves up to legal action if they didn’t," Ross Sapp said.

Ridge Holland had been with WWE since May of 2018. He debuted in NXT later that summer and stayed with the developmental brand until he was drafted to SmackDown in 2021.

Many at the time didn't believe he was ready for the main roster, but he received a fair amount of opportunity to prove himself alongside Sheamus and Pete Dunne. The Brawling Brutes, as they were called, developed a rivalry with The New Day and even scored a very decisive win over Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods at WrestleMania 38.

Holland will always be associated with the unfortunate injury that appears to have ended the in-career of Big E. During the March 11, 2022 episode of SmackDown, the former WWE Champion landed awkwardly on his head following belly-to-belly suplex from Holland and suffered a broken neck. He has not wrestled since and the current belief is that he never will again.

Holland returned to NXT in 2023 and stayed there until his release this week. Veteran pro wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer spoke about Menzies' situation on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio and said the company had plans on cutting him last year before he signed a one-year extension at a much lower rate.

source: si.com