Five Superstars who lost most from Triple H's reign as WWE head of creative

Triple H taking over WWE hasn’t helped these guys

The great majority of WWE talent has profited from Triple H taking over the company’s creative leadership two years ago, as well as the plethora of chances that have resulted from the regime transition.

Call-ups from NXT have made a more seamless transition to the main roster, while active members of the Raw and SmackDown rosters who were previously struggling are now being allowed to prove what they can accomplish and reach their full potential.

LA Knight, The Judgment Day, and Gunther have all seen their stock prices explode with The Game at the helm. Others, however, have had a reversal of fortune from where they were before on the card.

Although not everyone can be pushed at the same time, and WWE’s roster is more packed than ever, the undervaluation of some talents has been painfully obvious.

Vince McMahon’s past pet projects have suffered particularly after his departure, with many of them (Maximum Male Models, Lacey Evans, Veer Mahaan, and Riddick Moss) having been released.

Triple H’s time as WWE head of creative has cost the following five Superstars the most.

5. Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin’s thorough character change over the previous year merits high appreciation. After being undrafted in the spring of 2023, the former United States champion returned to NXT and produced some of his best work to date.

His popular partnership with Bron Breakker was abruptly ended in April so he could return to SmackDown via the 2024 draft, only to get stuck in an alliance with Apollo Crews. Corbin had fallen to an all-time low on the main roster before his return to NXT. His collaboration with JBL was ineffective, his booking was poor, and his audience reactions were almost nonexistent.

4. Shinsuke Nakamura

Triple H was responsible for bringing Shinsuke Nakamura to an NXT contract in 2016 and establishing him as a top star from the start. His popularity carried over to the main roster when he was called up in 2017, and he won additional trophies in the years that followed.

Surprisingly, Nakamura was a higher priority under the McMahon-led WWE than he has been in the Triple H era thus far. His 2022 was mainly disappointing, and after a five-month absence from television, he returned in the spring of 2023 for feuds with Karrion Kross and Bronson Reed. Neither program was really engaging, though.

Turning heel and challenging Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship that autumn gave him a fresh lease on life, but consecutive losses to The Visionary at Payback and Fastlane confirmed his status as a stepping stone on the Raw roster.

His subsequent clash with Cody Rhodes produced similar results. He was drafted to SmackDown in April but has yet to make a debut for the blue brand. Unless the King of Strong Style is wounded, there is no reason not to employ him in some way.

3. Omos

Omos, despite having no prior televised matches before joining WWE’s main roster in 2020, quickly gained prominence on Raw, initially serving as a bodyguard for AJ Styles before transitioning into an in-ring competitor. Following WrestleMania 38, his pairing with MVP as his mouthpiece hinted at plans for Omos to become a top heel.

However, his television presence diminished significantly after Triple H took creative control, with only a few notable performances, such as at Crown Jewel 2022 against Braun Strowman and WrestleMania 39 against Brock Lesnar. His lack of success in recent major matches, including the 2023 SummerSlam Battle Royal and the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, further highlighted his decline.

Undrafted in both 2023 and 2024, Omos’s future in WWE seems uncertain, despite his impressive physical presence and likable personality on social media. With MVP’s recent departure, Omos is once again on his own, making this a prime opportunity for WWE to experiment with a babyface turn, potentially tapping into his untapped potential and relatability with the audience.

2. Bobby Lashley

Bobby Lashley’s WWE career has seen its ups and downs, particularly under the creative direction of Triple H. While Lashley wasn’t always positioned as a top star during Vince McMahon’s tenure, his role in The Hurt Business and subsequent reigns as United States and WWE Champion showcased his potential. However, since Triple H took over, Lashley has been less of a focal point, with key storylines like his feud with Brock Lesnar left unresolved and his omission from WrestleMania 39 despite winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

Lashley’s brief return to the main event scene in early 2022 was promising, but he has since been relegated to midcard status, which does not reflect his capabilities or star power. His recent heel stable with The Street Profits had potential, but WWE’s need to pivot due to fan reactions further hindered his momentum. Given this decline in prominence, it’s not surprising that Lashley is reportedly considering leaving WWE once his contract expires.

1. Austin Theory

Austin Theory’s WWE career took a significant turn after winning the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match in July 2022, a major booking decision by Vince McMahon before he departed from the company. However, Theory has struggled to maintain that momentum under Triple H’s creative leadership. His run as Mr. Money in the Bank was marked by losses, ultimately ending in an unsuccessful cash-in in November 2022.

While Theory did hold the U.S. Championship for nine months and even retained it against John Cena at WrestleMania 39, his reign lacked memorable moments. His subsequent move into a tag team with Grayson Waller, where they won the WWE Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 40, further signaled a step back from singles competition. Though there remains a possibility for Theory to rebound as a singles star, the damage to his credibility makes it difficult to see him reaching the world title level he might have achieved under McMahon’s guidance.

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