Triple H Unveils New WWE ID Championships To Spotlight Up-And-Coming Talent

As announced by Triple H Tuesday afternoon, the Men's and Women's WWE ID Championships will be defended across the independent scene in the near future.

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul 'Triple H' Levesque has unveiled new men's and women's championship titles for the WWE Independent Development (WWE ID) program.

The WWE ID program, which launched last fall, was created to help provide assistance and publicity to some of the best wrestlers on the independent circuit. In many cases, the program would provide talent with recourses they need in order to properly pursue their dreams of being signed to a major promotion.

Levesque showcased the Men's and Women's WWE ID Championship belts in a post on social media Tuesday afternoon, writing:

The top independent wrestling prospects have been ID’d… and now, we’re ready to spotlight the best of the best.

Here’s your first look at the Men’s and Women’s WWEID Championships.

source: si.com

Triple H Receives Certificate From Connecticut State Assembly

WWE Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque received an official citation from the Connecticut State Assembly, recognizing his recently announced WWE Hall of Fame induction.

Triple H wrote, “An honor to receive…Thank you to all in the Connecticut State Assembly for the recognition and the excitement around this year’s #WrestleMania.”

The WWE executive and former champion will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025 later this April during WrestleMania Week.

Michelle McCool will be inducted into the 2025 WWEHOF

Feds drop criminal probe into whether WWE boss Vince McMahon covered up sexual misconduct allegations, his lawyer says

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have dropped a criminal probe that focused on whether former World Wrestling Entertainment boss Vince McMahon tried to cover up multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, his lawyer told The Post.

The revelation comes as appeals judges on Friday revealed that a grand jury had considered whether the 79-year-old billionaire broke the law by hiding allegations of sexual misconduct from two female former employees, whom he ended up paying $10.5 million to keep quiet.

The ruling from a three-judge panel does not name McMahon but refers to “the subject of an ongoing grand jury investigation concerning whether, as CEO, he engaged in a criminal scheme to circumvent the company’s internal accounting controls and mislead company auditors in order to conceal multiple allegations of sexual misconduct raised against him by two former company employees.”

Prosecutors’ apparent decision to abandon the case comes despite federal Judge Valerie Caproni ruling in June 2024 that the government had “established probable cause to believe” that McMahon and one of his former lawyers broke the law.

There’s evidence that the“circumvented [the Company’s] internal controls andcreated false books and records,” “concealed the Victims’ claims and settlement agreements from [the Company],” and “made false and misleading statements to the Company’s auditors,” Caproni’s ruling said.

Both Caproni and the appeals panel — Judges Gerard Lynch, Beth Robinson and Sarah Merriam — ruled in favor of prosecutors on an evidence issue, writing that McMahon’s conversations with his attorneys were not subject to attorney-client privilege.

source: nypost.com

Jim Ross Responds To Critics Of Triple H’s WWE Hall Of Fame Induction

WWE recently announced that Triple H will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025. WWE Hall of Famer and current AEW commentator Jim Ross has shared his thoughts on the upcoming induction, which was met with plenty of criticism.

While speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross congratulated Triple H and made it clear that he believed that he deserved the honor.

“Congratulations to Triple H for being inducted or going to be inducted soon,” he said. “Certainly… You know, anybody that says, ‘Well, he’s not deserving. The only reason he’s in is because of who he married.’ Is such bullsh*t. It’s weak. If you’re saying that stop. And stop embarrassing yourself.

“He was the top heel in the hottest era, one of the hottest eras of WWE, and now he’s the quarterback, the head coach of that same team that’s setting records. Give me a break. You know. Stop it. You’re embarrassing yourself by showing your ignorance. Don’t do that.”

JR also shared that he texted Triple H, and he heard back, as Triple H didn’t forget those who helped him.

“And so, I’m happy for him. I sent him a text the other day congratulating him. And believe it or not, it was the day after the Rumble, he texted me right back. So, he’s… He doesn’t forget those that have helped him along the way and those that he respects. And he’s doing a great job there,” Jim Ross said. 

Arn Anderson Says No One But Triple H Should Run WWE

WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson has voiced his strong support for Paul “Triple H” Levesque as the creative force behind WWE, stating that no one else is more qualified for the role.

Speaking on his ARN podcast, Arn Anderson reflected on his longtime acquaintance with Triple H, recalling his early days in WCW and his passion for the business.

“I’ve known Triple H since he very first started in the business with WCW, and I liked him right away, I could just tell—here you got a young guy that’s a student of the business, he’s studying, he’s learning, and he’s asking questions.”

Triple H’s career trajectory saw him transition from WCW to WWE, where he became one of the most decorated wrestlers of all time. His shift from in-ring competitor to top executive has impressed Anderson, who believes he is uniquely suited to lead WWE’s creative direction.

“The evolution that he’s had… to be in the saddle where he is right now—you’ve got a wrestling person with a wrestling mind, but he’s smart enough, and he’s learned so much about the business, he’s into every other aspect—the marketing, you name it. He is a well-rounded boss.”

Since taking charge of WWE’s creative direction, Triple H has been widely praised for his approach to storytelling, talent development, and long-term booking. Anderson believes WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, fully recognises his value.

“If somebody asked me, ‘If it wasn’t him, who would you put in that seat?’ nobody comes to mind. He’s doing a phenomenal job across the board, and I’m sure TKO is very happy to have him and thrilled to have him because he’s a leader.”

TKO and Saudi Arabia Launch New Boxing League Led by Nick Khan, Dana White, and Turki Alakshikh

TKO is teaming up with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to create a new boxing league.

During the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed that WWE President Nick Khan, who also serves on the TKO Board of Directors, will be involved in the initiative.

The boxing league will reportedly be led by UFC President Dana White and Turki Alakshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority.

Meltzer commented, “Nick Khan is supposed to be a major part of that as well. A lot of the rival promoters had a meeting in Las Vegas about how they’re going to combat this. Almost sounded like the famous meetings that the Einhorn’s arranged when Vince started his expansion…and they all got together, all the rival promoters got together and ‘We’re going to put a united front against him,’ which didn’t last very long at all, of course. But now the boxing promoters know they’ve got a real threat. And in their minds, it’s Nick Khan, Dana White, and Turki Alakshikh as the three people running this new boxing venture.”

Triple H Discusses His Reaction To Upcoming WWE Hall Of Fame Induction

This year's WrestleMania weekend will once again see the WWE Hall of Fame take place, which will be headlined by WWE CCO Paul "Triple H" Levesque. At the Royal Rumble Post-Show press conference, Triple H commented on his upcoming Hall of Fame induction.

"Nick [Khan] and I talked about the Hall of Fame many times, and he would always bring up the fact that, 'When are we are gonna put you in?' And I would say, 'Not now because no matter how I do it, it looks like I'm putting myself in the Hall of Fame,'" Triple H remarked. "He would say, 'Well, we have to do it eventually,' and I would say, 'Okay, well if we have to do it eventually, let's wait 3, 4, 5 years and then we'll talk about it.'"

At the company's town hall meeting last week, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker made surprise appearances to give Triple H his Hall of Fame news. When Triple H noticed Khan walk aside, he got the impression that something involving him was happening. Soon to be a two-time Hall of Famer, Triple H's first induction came in 2019 as part of D-Generation X. 

"We did it with DX, it was a lot of fun. It's different when it's you, and while I've been a part of all of these and I've seen some talent see it as the biggest honor, I've seen other talent be like, 'Eh, whatever,'" Triple H continued. "Because of our passion for what we do, it hit me way harder than I thought it would. It's one of the most meaningful things in my career, and to have it come from Shawn and have it come from 'Taker ... [Khan] doing that for me was incredibly meaningful."

credit: "Royal Rumble Post-Show" with a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription

WWE Evolve: WWE and Tubi Launch Wednesday Night Wrestling Program to Highlight New Talent

For the future of wrestling, WWE is looking to the past. WWE and Tubi announced the launch of a new weekly wrestling show, “WWE Evolve” which will premiere Wednesday March 5, at 8pm ET / 5pm PT. “Evolve” gets its name from the defunct wrestling promotion Evolve, which was purchased by WWE in 2020 following a five-year partnership.

“WWE Evolve” relaunches as a showcase of in-ring action for up-and-coming WWE prospects, including talent from the recently established WWE ID program, a developmental program that works to provide indie wrestlers a more seamless transition to WWE.

“We are excited to work with our incredible partners at Tubi to showcase our young, rising talent to the WWE Universe, as they start their in-ring journey competing each week to fulfill their lifelong dream of becoming a WWE Superstar,” said WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels.

According to a press release, “Evolve” will feature “the most intense and charismatic prospects recruited from college athletics and independent wrestling as they strive to build their in-ring careers and elevate their personas,” emphasizing a focus on homegrown talent from the WWE performance center in Orlando in addition to talent from the first-of-its-kind ID program and NIL athletes.

Wrestlers featured in the “Evolve” teaser include “NXT” stars Wendy Choo, Brinley Reece and Kali Armstrong, as well as WWE ID prospects Sean Legacy, Brad Baylor and Jack Cartwheel.

“Evolve” will mark the fourth WWE show currently streaming weekly, joining Monday night “Raw” on Netflix, “NXT” Tuesdays on The CW, and Friday night “SmackDown” on USA.

source: variety.com

CM Punk Compares Triple H And Vince McMahon’s Leadership Styles

CM Punk appeared on Friday’s edition of The Pat McAfee Show, where he discussed a range of topics, including the differences between working under Triple H and Vince McMahon.

Punk highlighted Triple H’s openness to feedback and willingness to consider other people’s ideas—something he believes was less common under McMahon. However, he also acknowledged the importance of having a definitive leader in charge.

“I think he’s receptive to other people’s ideas, whereas maybe Vince wasn’t. He was like, ‘I’m the boss. We’re doing this, and this is how we’re doing it.’ And that’s great. If you run a company, you need somebody who is the yes and no man and [has] the final say.”

Punk continued, emphasizing Triple H’s collaborative approach:

“But I think Triple H thinks he’s surrounded, and oftentimes is, by a lot of really, really genius wrestling minds. If he has an idea or see something one way, he’ll look at Michael Hayes and be like, ‘What do you think?’ He’ll turn and look at Paul Heyman. These are people who have Bonafide resumes. They have literally done everything you possibly could do in the sport. I think their voices should be heard. Not all the time everybody’s going to have this dynamite idea. But I think the best idea always wins in today’s WWE.”

WWE legend's name added to Janel Grant's blockbuster lawsuit against Vince McMahon

The blockbuster lawsuit being brought against Vince McMahon and the WWE by former employee Janel Grant has been ammended to include the name of WWE and UFC legend.

In the 104-page lawsuit, Grant now alleges that she was offered to Brock Lesnar “for a sexual encounter” during his contract negotiations with the WWE. In addition, Grant allleges that she was told to sent sexual content to the former WWE champion. It was reported earlier this month that Grant was planning to alter the suit.

The new allegations involving Lesnar come alongside further accusations that McMahon was active in trafficking Grant during her time working at the WWE.

“Ms. Grant's amended complaint reveals new details. That further demonstrates the sexual abuse Janel Grant suffered at the hands of Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis and pulls back the curtain on the dangerous workplace culture McMahon created at WWE. Ms. Grant looks forward to holding her abusers accountable in a court of law,” Grant’s lawyer Ann Callis said in a statement.

The lawsuit was submitted to the U.S. District Court in Connecticut. Grant alleges that the WWE was negligent in allowing McMahon’s behavior to go on unchecked. One of the men previously name in the lawsuit, John Laurinaitis, claims that he too was a victim of McMahon.

Another WWE legend, Michael Hayes, is also named in the new filing with Grant alleging that McMahon told her to make pornographic content for him. At the time, Hayes worked as part of the wrestling company’s creative team.

Other names in the new complaint include Vince McMahon’s daughter and former co-CEO Stephanie McMahon, WWE President Nick Khan, former COO Brad Blum and former legal executive Brian Nurse.

In another section, Grant accuses McMahon of sending her nude photos to others without her consent. At one point, Grant also says that McMahon recorded her naked while he was on a video call with Laurinaitis.

Grant originally accused McMahon and Laurinaitis of sexually assaulting her inside of WWE’s office.

Text messages in the new filing detail McMahon discussing his authority in arranging her sexual encounters and discussing his fantasies involving her. In a voice message, McMahon allegedly pressed Grant to sign an NDA “really f*****g fast.”

In another message, he allegedly wrote: “I’m the only one who owns U and controls who I want to f*** you.”

Vince McMahon’s representatives have responded to the new allegations.

“As expected, the proposed amended complaint is nothing more than the latest publicity stunt in an ongoing smear campaign. It is filled with desperate falsehoods from a team that continues to disregard the law and the truth,” the statement, given to reporter BJ Bethel.

Stephanie McMahon to helm new show on ESPN+

Former WWE exec Stephanie McMahon appeared on the " Pat McAfee Show" on Thursday to announce a new WWE-centric show in partnership with Pro Football HOFer Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, ESPN and WWE. The new show, titled “Stephanie's Places,” will be “a part of” Manning’s “Peyton Places” that currently airs on ESPN+ and will see McMahon travel around the country to “to really find out the stories behind the biggest stars in WWE.” The show will air in March and will include appearances from former and current WWE stars including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Charlotte Flair and Roman Reigns.

McMahon, who will host the show, said the goal of “Stephanie's Places” is to “really tell the stories that haven't been told, and to find out more about the people behind the characters.” She said, “These people are all hugely successful, but like most people, they've been knocked around a lot. So how did they overcome the challenges that were put in front of them?” McMahon said she was “really nervous” to be a part of the show as it was her “first step back” into WWE.

McMahon stepped down as WWE co-CEO in January 2023 after her father, Vince, had forced a return the company. “I never stopped being proud, ever," she told McAfee. "I do think I wanted to disappear for a little while, and I kind of did. It was good for me. I needed it, and now I’m back.”