Triple H: Did the He Cut His Hair to Forward His Retirement Storyline?

If you’re a WWE fan, chances are that you know by now that Triple H cut off his signature locks a couple of weeks ago. 

Just like all the celebrity gossip sites freaked out when Miley Cyrus recently did the same, Triple H’s haircut has been a huge topic of conservation in recent weeks. 

Many are talking about it simply because they don’t like the way that Triple H’s new hairdo looks. Most, however, are analyzing what it might mean for the WWE star’s future. 

This likely has a lot to do with some other recent haircuts in the wrestling world. Guys like Edge and The Undertaker recently chopped off their signature locks, and as a result, many fans have begun to associate haircuts with retirement from wrestling. 

After all, Edge cut his hair shortly after he retired, and it’s pretty much accepted that Undertaker shaved his head in part because he’s nearing retirement as well. 

And now a new question emerges—Did Triple H cut his hair to foreshadow his retirement storyline, too? 

There seem to be two trains of thought here: Either Triple H chopped off his locks because he’s legitimately retired, or he did so to try to work the fans and make them think he’s retired. 

Let’s just completely dismiss the first one as a possibility because Triple H is not retired. He is one of the most accomplished WWE stars in history, and when he legitimately retires, we will see it coming from a mile away. 

So, perhaps the real question should be a broader one: Why did Triple H chop his hair off? I think the answer is two-fold. 

The reason that we fans care most about is that Triple H is playing up his retirement storyline and likely setting up for a big return match down the road, probably against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 29. 

In the past, we’ve seen superstars go to great lengths to play up their storylines outside of the ring, and that’s exactly what Triple H seems to be doing here. He cuts his hair off, the not-so-smart fans think he’s retired for good, and then, we’re “surprised” when he returns either later this year or early next year. 

While I applaud the WWE for the effort here, I don’t know anyone who’s buying it. Unless you’re seven years old, you can’t possibly think that Triple H is legitimately done for good, especially after seeing his very obviously scripted “goodbyes” at SummerSlam and on Raw two weeks later. 

Triple H may want us to think he’s calling it quits, but in reality, we know that his haircut had just as much to do with his career as a WWE executive as it did his in-ring career. 

Yes, chopping off his lucks is a good way to get the fans talking about his storyline retirement and feud with Lesnar. But in reality, it was probably a necessary move for Triple H, the businessman. 

It’s no secret that “The Game” is slowly but surely transitioning to a behind-the-scenes role in the WWE, and with that role comes a lot of meetings and other duties that require Triple H to look more like an executive and less like a wrestler. 

In order to make that happen, the locks had to go. 

Although this is 2012 and I’m of the belief that someone having long hair shouldn’t hinder any sort of business relationship, Triple H and Vince McMahon are a little more old-school than me. Chances are that they think Triple H’s long locks might not have worked in the business world. 

I think that’s a little ridiculous, but hey, who am I? If Triple H thinks cutting his hair off will help him do better business for the WWE, then by all means, he should do it. 

Just don’t expect us to believe that you’re doing this because you’re retired from the WWE for good, Triple H. We all know that isn’t the case.

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter!