Triple H and Vince McMahon Have More Defined Roles in WWE
The MMA Notebook runs every Friday – this week, with more of a wrestling flavor.
Paul Levesque in full control of WWE creative
When WWE merged with Endeavor last month, Paul “Triple H” Levesque did not receive a seat on the Board of Directors, a position he had held prior in WWE.
Yet that has not represented a loss of power.
In fact, the opposite has occurred.
If you have noticed a change in WWE programming, you are not alone. Levesque, who is WWE’s Head of Creative, has overseen all of the creative on SmackDown and Raw since the merger, which is precisely what his job description entails.
The difference is that Vince McMahon, who is synonymous with all things WWE, is no longer directly involved in dictating the weekly creative in the same manner he once did. McMahon remained the title of Executive Chairman in WWE, but he no longer possesses majority control of the company. That has allowed for change in the new regime, particularly in the creative department.
Multiple contacts within the WWE and UFC have confirmed that Ari Emanuel, who wields power as the Endeavor CEO, is behind the change. Emanuel has long been a firm believer that, in order for an organization to be as effective as possible, people need to do the job they are assigned. In this case, that approach has empowered Levesque to exert his full influence in the company’s creative sphere.
Not all is lost for McMahon. As Executive Chairman, his focus is elsewhere, particularly in overseeing a lucrative new media rights deal for Raw and the NXT brand. But it is a fascinating time for McMahon.
No longer the be-all, end-all of WWE, McMahon possesses an iron-clad contract that protects him financially–yet not politically. Will he view this as a loss of leverage? His response will be a very telling action.
Adam Copeland is the perfect fit for AEW
Adam Copeland is more valuable to AEW than WWE.
That has proven to be the case over the past two weeks since Copeland signed with AEW.
There was an opportunity for Copeland to remain in WWE, but it was a part-time deal where he would have rarely been seen or part of many major storylines. He instead opted to sign with AEW for more money and more opportunities–he is already a fixture on Dynamite, and there are plans moving forward for him to be a presence on Collision.
In many ways, Copeland replaces CM Punk on the AEW roster. Like Punk, Copeland is a veteran with endless experience. And like Punk, Copeland is eager to give back to talent hungry to learn. Copeland should prove to be a more unifying force in the locker room, an area that doomed Punk’s run in the company.
Before his 2020 return in WWE, Copeland was a frequent visitor to Shawn Michaels’ classes at the Performance Center. Copeland would discuss matches, promos, and the industry as a whole. He would even share his cell phone number, offering to analyze and critique matches to those interested.
In an interview from June of 2020, then-NXT star Adam Cole shared, “A lot of people make that offer, but then you’d never hear back. If Edge offered that, you were going to get a long list of positives and negatives. He’d put his heart and soul into your performance, whether it was an interview or a match. You could see how much he loves pro wrestling.”
Cole is now a star in AEW, though unfortunately residing on the injured list. Yet the point remains: Copeland is here for the betterment of the industry, which he can impact on a much wider, more frequent basis in AEW.
NXT wins the ratings battle
NXT won the ratings war this week, defeating AEW’s Dynamite on Tuesday night.
The outcome was never in doubt. WWE brought John Cena, Paul Heyman, Cody Rhodes, Asuka, LA Knight, and The Undertaker to NXT, ensuring a ratings victory. For AEW, it is a high compliment that WWE thinks so highly of their product that it necessitated appearances from their biggest stars.
To me, a highlight of Dynamite was the decision to hold out Jon Moxley. He had been advertised for a return match, but clearly it was too soon after he suffered his most recent concussion.
AEW should be playing the long game instead of risking their future for a one-time ratings battle that holds no real significance. Fortunately, that is exactly what they did when preventing a rushed return from one of their top stars.
The Pick ‘Em Section
UFC Fight Night featherweight bout: Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edson Barboza
Pick: Edson Barboza
UFC Fight Night women’s flyweight bout: Jennifer Maia vs. Viviane Araújo
Pick: Jennifer Maia
UFC Fight Night bantamweight bout: Adrian Yanez vs. Jonathan Martinez
Pick: Adrian Yanez
UFC Fight Night middleweight bout: Michel Pereira vs. Andre Petroski
Pick: Andre Petroski
UFC Fight Night bantamweight bout: Cameron Saaiman vs. Christian Rodriguez
Pick: Cameron Saaiman
Last week: 4-1
2023 record: 116-66
