A new critical analysis has emerged regarding the creative direction of WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H, with former superstar Stevie Richards publicly questioning the booking decisions at the recent Wrestlepalooza 2025 event. Speaking on his podcast, Richards targeted the finishes of the John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre matches as evidence that top-tier wrestlers do not always make the best bookers.
The criticism stems from two key matches at the event. In the opener, Brock Lesnar defeated John Cena in a match lasting under ten minutes, which was part of Cena’s ongoing farewell tour. This outcome was reportedly a change from the original plan, which called for a Cena victory. In the main event, Cody Rhodes successfully defended his WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre. According to insiders, a proposed alternate finish that involved an interference from Randy Orton to cause a title change was ultimately rejected by Triple H and WWE management.
Richards framed his argument by drawing a parallel to other sports, asserting that elite athletes often struggle when transitioning into coaching or management roles.
“Some of the top guys, like top football players, make terrible NFL coaches,” Richards said. “In other words, they know how they can play. They know how they can get over. They know how they are going to read defenses. Whatever analogy you want to use. Hunter and other people are proving that top guys aren’t always the best bookers and aren’t always, in fact, good bookers. You need outside influences.”
He further elaborated that the perceived positive momentum from the start of Triple H’s creative tenure may be fading, suggesting the executive is now being “exposed” for an inability to effectively book the current roster.
“People can write. This is really a situation that maybe maybe not in 2022 to 2024, where it was like the honeymoon phase of the Triple H era, but it is coming up really quick that he’s been exposed as really not being the best to book other talent,” Richards stated. “They can get themselves over all day long. So, what he’s saying is right. Hunter can always book himself, get himself over, book himself to win the titles, but when it comes to this era of wrestlers, it’s falling short.”
This commentary arrives as Triple H’s leadership faces increased scrutiny. Having taken control of main roster creative in July 2022, his booking has recently drawn questions from other industry figures, including veteran booker Dutch Mantell, who speculated on his Story Time show that Triple H’s CCO position may be less secure than it appears.