Kane Thinks Triple H Is The One Person Who Can Take WWE To Even Greater Heights

For years, the belief has been that Triple H would be the person to take over WWE when Vince McMahon passes away or steps down as chairman of the company. 

Kane also believes this and talked about it during an appearance on The Doug Collins Podcast. 

“You know, I don’t know, actually. I’m not close enough to the company to say that right now. I think as companies mature, you become more risk-averse. Because you want to keep what you have and you’re afraid of losing that. Unfortunately, the downside is you become less aggressive and you don’t have that growth just because of where you’re at. I think you kind of see some of that, and that’s not a criticism, that just is what it is, and that’s the kind of lifecycle of an organization. So a lot of stuff as Vince gets older, I think things will change, for better or worse, I don’t know.

“A lot of folks lament, especially some of the wrestlers, how the company’s become much more corporate, but it had to, I mean, in this day and age, that’s just how things work. So you see these natural changes and then you see a change in leadership, I don’t know what’s going to happen. Triple H, I think. has an amazing mind for the wrestling industry. If I were to say, you know, one person that could really take the company and take it even higher and even further, it would be him. I think he’s just got that kind of talent. He’s a genius at this stuff. You know, so but we’ll see what the future holds, certainly.”

H/T to Fightful for the transcript

Stephanie McMahon Provides An Update On Triple H

WWE revealed some potentially scary news earlier this year when it informed fans Triple H had undergone surgery following a cardiac event. The details surrounding exactly what happened to The Game remain unclear. He has been off TV ever since, and before that in fairness, as well as absent from NXT tapings, presumably so he can continue his recovery at home.

Very little has been revealed in the more than two months since WWE broke the news that Triple H would be undergoing heart surgery. The Game tweeted fans a couple of weeks later, letting them know he was okay and thanking them for their support. Talk Sport's Alex McCarthy has now shared a further update after speaking with Stephanie McMahon over Survivor Series weekend.

When McCarthy asked McMahon how her husband is doing, she reportedly informed him that The Cerebral Assassin is “doing great”. Not much, but at least it's positive and a sign that Triple H is recovering well from whatever the event was and the surgery he needed to fix it. No word on if and when Triple H will return to NXT to oversee the brand.

Triple H Spotted For First Time Following Heart Surgery

Paul “Triple H” Levesque has resurfaced in a video posted on TikTok. It’s believed to be the first video of the WWE executive since he had heart surgery following a cardiac event.

The video shows Triple H wearing a hardhat as he walks in a group led by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and WWE President & Chief Revenue Officer Nick Khan. The group is touring a construction site, presumed to be the new WWE headquarters being built in Stamford, Connecticut. Triple H has not made any public appearances since his surgery. 

WWE talents were reportedly not given any timetable on when Triple H would return to work full-time. WWE executive Bruce Pritchard provided a brief update on Triple H’s health earlier this month on his podcast, Something To Wrestle With Bruce Prichard.

“He is feeling better, he’s coming along good,” Prichard said. “He’s moving along man, more power to him!”

The construction of the new WWE headquarters is still in its early stages. A report earlier this week stated that WWE employees are expected to begin moving into the company headquarters by the end of 2022. WWE originally planned to have construction completed in time for employees to move into their news offices earlier this year. That timeline was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

WWE Releases More Superstars

WWE has released multiple Superstars including multiple-time champion John Morrison alongside former NXT North American Champion Isaiah ‘Swerve’ Scott.

As first broken by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, WWE has released the following WWE Superstars on November 18th:

John Morrison

Top Dolla

Ashante Adonis

Isiah Swerve Scott

Tegan Nox

Drake Maverick

Shane Thorne

Jaxson Ryker

Stephanie McMahon Named One Of The Most Powerful Women In Sports

WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon has made Adweek’s 2021 Most Powerful Women In Sports list.

The group of 34 female leaders in sports made the list for moving athletics forward for everyone, and elevating their teams, leagues, brands, and clients.

Adweek’s David Cohen wrote the following on McMahon’s profile for the 2021 Most Powerful Women In Sports list:

“As pandemic restrictions began to ease, WWE exploded out of the gates. In January, McMahon was part of the team that inked a landmark streaming pact with long-standing partner NBCUniversal, giving Peacock exclusive rights to direct-to-consumer platform WWE Network. WWE also landed blue-chip brands including General Motors, Procter and Gamble’s Tide, Unilever’s Klondike and Universal Studios, and struck deals that made DraftKings the company’s first-ever free-to-play gaming partner and Snickers the presenting partner of WrestleMania for the sixth consecutive year. And when fans made their long-awaited return to WrestleMania in April, after more than a year of performances with no fans in attendance, the event brought the energy of sellout crowds and featured the first Black women to perform in the main event and a new company signature—’Then Now Forever Together’—which McMahon says was implemented ‘to recognize and celebrate our fans, our community and the message of inclusivity. It was important to show our fans that no matter who they are or where they come from, they belong and will always be part of the WWE family.’ Next up is a partnership with Spotify’s The Ringer for an exclusive audio network and new podcast slate.”

McMahon answered a question from Adweek on how the last 19 months have been. She said they have been “a lesson in the importance of human connection.”

FOX Sports issued a message to Stephanie for the Adweek piece. They said, “The definition of power, style and grace. Congratulations, Stephanie! Keep bringing the SmackDown. Your friends at FOX Sports.”

Stephanie McMahon To Receive Corporate Leadership Award

It was announced yesterday that Stephanie McMahon will be honored with the Corporate Leadership Award from the organization. The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, November 30 at the 38th Annual Sports Luncheon, hosted by the March of Dimes Greater New York/New Jersey Market.

McMahon will be honored along with Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren, who is receiving the Sports Leadership Award. Longtime NHL player Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers and 11-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix will honored with the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards.

The March of Dimes press release noted, “As Chief Brand Officer, Stephanie McMahon is responsible for ensuring WWE’s global brand strength and growth across all lines of business. Stephanie oversees WWE’s Brand, Marketing, Community Relations and Pop Culture strategies as well as WWE’s Global Sales and Partnerships Division. Among her many contributions, she has been the driving force behind WWE’s Women’s Evolution, which has given female performers an equal share of the spotlight both in and out of the ring. Prior to being named Chief Brand Officer in 2013, Stephanie was Executive Vice President, Creative and was the first woman to lead WWE’s Creative Writing, Digital Media, Talent Relations, Talent Brand Management and Live Events businesses. Over the years, she has been recognized by Forbes in the publication’s annual World’s Most Influential CMO list, and in 2020 she was named the world’s most influential female CMO and earned the #2 position overall. Additionally, Adweek has included Stephanie in their list of the Most Powerful Women in Sports for the past five years and previously chose her as a 2019 Brand Genius honoree.”

WWE Reports Third Quarter 2021 Earnings

WWE Releases Several Main Roster Names

WWE has released several main roster Superstars, according to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful. The following names were released this evening – “B-Fab” Briana Brandy, Gran Metalik, Lince Dorado, Eva Marie, Keith Lee, Mia Yim, Nia Jax, and Harry Smith.

Furthermore, the following WWE NXT Superstars were also cut – Trey Baxter, Jessi Kamea, Karrion Kross, Jeet Rama, Zayda Ramier, and Katrina Cortez.

WWE has also released Scarlett Boudreaux, Oney Lorcan, Franky Monet and Ember Moon.

Jon Moxley Entering Alcohol Treatment Program

AEW President, CEO, General Manager & Head Of Creative Tony Khan took to Twitter tonight and revealed that Moxley is going into rehab, noting that Moxley has allowed Khan to make the announcement.

“Jon Moxley has allowed me to share with you that he is entering an inpatient alcohol treatment program. Jon is a beloved member of the AEW family. We all stand with him and Renee, and all of his family and friends, as he shifts his focus to recovery,” Khan wrote.

Khan noted in a follow-up tweet that AEW is embracing Moxley’s choice, and supporting him in any way they can.

“Jon is making a very brave choice to get help, and we’re embracing his choice and supporting him however we can. I’m proud to call Jon a friend, and like many of you, I’m also a fan of Mox and look forward to a time in the future when he is eventually ready to return to the ring. Until then, thank you for supporting Jon and respecting his privacy at this time. If you or a loved one need help, please reach out to SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357),” Khan wrote.

Moxley was scheduled to face Orange Cassidy on tomorrow’s AEW Dynamite episode, in a match for the AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament. The winner, previously expected to be Moxley, would then advance to the AEW Full Gear pay-per-view on November 13 to face Bryan Danielson in the finals. There is no word on how AEW will handle Moxley’s spot in the tournament, but we should know more after tomorrow’s Dynamite.

Moxley just released his “MOX” autobiography today, which you can find at this link via Amazon.

Lita ‘Would Love’ To See Wrestling Companies Give Their Talent A Mental Health Resource

Amy Dumas, also known as WWE Hall of Famer Lita, is part of the “Tag Me In” initiative, alongside names like Chris Jericho, Trish Stratus, and Mick Foley, among many others. The group behind this mission is trying to spread the word and normalize mental health in order to break the stigmas associated with it, particularly in the wrestling world.

In an interview with Steven Muehlhausen of DAZN News, Lita discussed the importance of mental health in wrestling. When asked, she stated that major promotions like WWE and AEW should make an effort to provide their talent with an official resource so they can “check in” about their mental health as needed. She argued that, in doing so, the companies would be setting themselves up for success because it would help the performers operate at their highest level.

“I think definitely in professional sports, it’s more focused, and just checking in would be great,” said Lita. “There are these huge companies in professional sports, and just to add an additional point of resource to check in, I think it could provide huge benefits and potentially more profits, which obviously any company is looking at. But if you can have your performers performing at a top level because they feel great, that works for everyone. I would love that.”

Earlier in the interview, Lita shared her stance on the reason(s) it has taken so long for mental health to get the attention it deserves in professional wrestling. She described how it’s often perceived as a weakness, but in actuality, it deserves to be recognized as a vital part of the athletes’ training.

“…Professional sports, in general, is all about being at the top of your game physically, but mentally is also tied in,” said Lita. “I think it’s a perceived weakness that I don’t want to show or let anybody in to think that I can’t perform at my top level. But really, it all goes hand in hand. If you can’t be at your top level and feel comfortable mentally, you’re physically inhibiting yourself from performing at your top.

“So it needs to be extended as a part of your training and not only the physical preparation that goes into it but check in with yourself mentally to make sure that you’re dealing with whatever it is that you need to deal with, whether it is your anxiety, depression or feelings of loneliness to know that you’re not alone.”

ROH Announces Hiatus For Early 2022 As They “Reimagine” The Company

Ring of Honor is planning to go on a brief hiatus.

ROH announced to staff, talent and fans today that they are looking to make changes to their business operations, with a pivot to a new mission and strategy.

Following the December 11 Final Battle pay-per-view in Baltimore, ROH will go on a hiatus as they take the first quarter of 2022 to “work internally to reimagine” the company. There will be no live events during the first quarter of 2022 as the current plan is to return to acting in April with the Supercard of Honor. ROH noted that they hope to return with a “new fan-focused product and provide a unique experience” for fans.

It was noted by PWInsider that this decision was made about one week ago.

Stay tuned for more on this developing story. You can read ROH’s full statement below:

“Throughout the pandemic, our top priority was to keep everyone healthy and safe, and despite not producing any live events over 18 months, we were able to keep everyone fully contracted. We now find ourselves at a time where we need to make changes to our business operations and are planning a pivot for Ring of Honor, with a new mission and strategy.

The year will culminate with a Final Battle in December, and we will be taking the first quarter of 2022 to work internally to reimagine ROH. ROH has the most dedicated fans in the industry, and we appreciate their loyalty and patience as we reconceptualize ROH.

We anticipate returning to live events in April for the Super Card of Honor with a new fan-focused product and provide a unique experience for wrestling fans.”

Shawn Michaels Steps Up for Best Friend Triple H After Health Scare

Forever one of pro wrestling’s all-time greats, Shawn Michaels showcased a rare blend of charisma, athleticism and in-ring precision during his iconic career. He delivered an unmatchable slate of matches, particularly at WrestleMania, creating a timeless body of work in the ring. For the past five years, Michaels has worked as a coach at the WWE Performance Center, where he has also become an integral part of NXT.

Since its inception, Paul “Triple H” Levesque has been NXT’s driving force. But a health scare last month temporarily removed Levesque from his post, and it has been Michaels helping to carry NXT while his friend takes every step needed in his recovery.

“Trying to step in and fill his role is impossible to do,” says Michaels, whose official title is vice president of talent development. “Everybody here misses him unbelievably, especially me. But I always go back to this—everything in real life takes precedence over everything else. This was a situation where my best friend needed my help and needed me to step in, so I look at this as an opportunity, in a small way, to thank him for everything he did for me earlier in my career.

“Taking over the responsibilities here is a drop in the bucket compared to what he did for me all those years back. I’m honored to at least have the opportunity to pay him back a little bit and be there for him. That’s what this whole company does—this whole relaunch has been everyone pulling together, and I’m energized and inspired to keep this NXT territory going strong during his absence.”

NXT just rebranded from its trademark black-and-gold look to a colorful “2.0” version. Michaels noted that change is an inevitable, unstoppable force in the business of professional wrestling.

“Doing this now for 35 years, I’ve seen constant change,” Michaels says. “And change is certainly not new to us in WWE. It’s constantly evolving and changing. I’ve heard people call this a refresh, but it’s still the same crew, which is great because they’re so damn talented. It reminds me of he Attitude Era. We had the same roster the day before he Attitude Era started, and I still remember Vince coming into the locker room and making that speech, inspiring us and making us hungry for the future. That’s what this is—turning over a new leaf, restructuring a few things and putting a brand-new coat of paint on a dominant and incredible brand. It’s chummed the waters, so to speak, and that’s fun to be around.”

source:  si.com