WWE Rumors on Triple H, Superstar Releases, Shayna Baszler and Jeff Cobb's Debut

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

Triple H Reportedly Maintains Direct Input on WWE Roster Decisions

The fallout from WrestleMania hasn't truly begun until WWE severs ties with some of its in-ring talent.

More than a dozen wrestlers have reportedly been let go, with Braun Strowman, Shayna Baszler and Dakota Kai among the notable cuts. While choosing which stars to keep and which to cut likely involves multiple officials, Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp made it clear Triple H wields a lot of authority.

"From what I was told, if he wants somebody to be there, they're going to be there. Gonna be there," Sapp said Friday (via Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News). "Let me be clear about that — if he wanted them there, they would be there. They would absolutely be there."

At the end of the day, WWE's approach to talent isn't much different now compared to the pre-TKO days when Vince McMahon was running the show.

WWE president Nick Khan told Bill Simmons (via Sean Rueter of Cageside Seats) in April the company "won't sign and bench people."

"We sign people who we want to use," Khan said.

While that was in reference to new additions, the same mindset can apply to wrestlers already with WWE. If creative doesn't have anything for you, then your job could be in jeopardy when it's time to evaluate the roster.

Baszler Reportedly Spent Time Backstage at NXT Before Release

Baszler's exit was one of the more surprising given the fact she had been with WWE since 2017. In addition, Sapp reported last September she had re-signed with the company with her contract due to expire.

Though the 44-year-old's usage on television had been somewhat sporadic lately, her role had expanded beyond what she did in the ring. According to Sapp, she was "helping out" behind the scenes at NXT.

That aligns with what he wrote in the fall after she re-signed.

"In asking about Baszler's contributions and how she's viewed, one longtime WWE staffer said that Baszler approaches WWE void of any ego, and is always easy for the company to work with," Sapp said. "One WWE higher up said that Baszler has long been helpful in many ways with newer talent as well."

Maybe the two-time NXT women's champion will return to WWE in a producing role down the line. For now, her short-term future lies elsewhere.

Cobb Reportedly Expected to Debut for WWE Despite Retirement Tease

As far back as mid-March, New Japan Pro-Wrestling star Jeff Cobb was reportedly penciled in for a spot with WWE. The plan remains the same despite him seemingly saying on social media he's retiring after wrestling his last NJPW match:

Fightful Select (via Steve Carrier of Ringside News) reported Cobb will make his way to WWE eventually. According to WrestleVotes Radio (via Mukherjee), he could bypass NXT and head straight to Raw or SmackDown.

That's what the company did with Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa and Jacob Fatu. They didn't waste any time familiarizing themselves with a WWE audience or the promotion's general in-ring style before making an impact with The Bloodline.

With Cobb, there isn't an ongoing storyline in which he'd seamlessly fit as there was for The Bloodline recruits, but he's a big enough star to where his debut would feel like an important moment on its own.

WWE may feel compelled to get the most out of him now, too, when he's going to turn 43 in July.