Grading Triple H's Booking of WWE Main Event Scene

WWE's main event scene remains top-notch at its best and frustratingly safe at its worst with Triple H at the helm.

The chief content officer and head of creative has had rewarding successes built on the right blend of nostalgia and chronicled professional wrestling mythos. Contrarily, he has also stumbled due to head-scratching decisions and failure to capitalize on the right timing.

Fans of his tenure with NXT expected satisfying conclusions to long-term stories that rewarded the audience's patience. They anticipated the nuanced storytelling and action-packed style the developmental brand was known for with WWE's trademark high production value.

In that regard, Triple H has offered the sweeping changes that many hoped for, but let's analyze his approach to the company's current crop of main eventers.

An Overreliance On Established Stars and Lore

Last October, WWE unveiled the poster for WrestleMania 42 featuring Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and Brock Lesnar. It was a fitting image because the company has centered around these four men for the past decade.

Together, they account for four of the last five men's Royal Rumble winners. Reigns has appeared in a record 11 WrestleMania main events since 2015, and he competed against Lesnar in three of them.

Similarly, Rhodes has headlined the event for four consecutive years as the first back-to-back Royal Rumble winner since 1998. Punk finally earned a spot among them last year with two main event appearances in a row.

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Obviously, these are the biggest male stars in the company, and it's not hard to see why they remain on top. Reigns, Rhodes, and Punk are always among the top merch sellers, and their sustained popularity and star power are unmatched.

Even more, they have delivered when called on to draw an audience and produce excellent matches and engaging moments. To that end, The OTC and The Second City Saint created magic in their instant classic on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

However, their shared dominance at the top of the card has undeniably created a ceiling for many upper midcarders. It has become harder for anyone else to break into the main event scene and stay in the mix long term.

Gunther is a perfect example because the Austrian wrestler hasn't been nearly as impactful in 2026 despite his high-profile wins over Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles. Contrarily, the most recent attempts to reheat The Bloodline on both Raw and SmackDown have been underwhelming.

Seth Rollins and Reigns' latest encounter was more entertaining, but many fans have grown tired of the reliance on old Shield lore, too.

WWE Doesn't Take Enough Risks With Its Main Eventers

WWE desperately needs to try something new and give some new faces the spotlight. The current product has become too predictable because Triple H rarely takes risks with the main event scene.

Sami Zayn's long-awaited world title win at Night of Champions was so well received because it was a pleasant surprise. The outcome of big matches hasn't been shocking for most of the year, and the matchups have been even less so.

Jacob Fatu was a refreshing addition to the title picture after WrestleMania season, but his rise ended too abruptly. No one expected him to dethrone Reigns so soon, but it would've been an exciting change of pace.

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Likewise, Zayn deserved better than an uneventful nine-day reign before he inevitably dropped the undisputed WWE title to a more established star ahead of SummerSlam. Punk vs. Rhodes is undeniably a blockbuster match we've been clamoring for, but pro wrestling is much more compelling when we believe anything can happen.

The company has such a wealth of talent, but its creative decisions are uninspiring sometimes. Even a big swing like Oba Femi's rookie year lacks substance when it's hard to believe he will take the logical next step and beat one of the top champions.

The Upcoming Youth Movement

Nevertheless, Femi's main roster debut has been one of the highlights of 2026. The 28-year-old currently leads the growing youth movement.

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Although WWE's main event scene has been much of the same this year, there is so much potential for the future of the company. Triple H's effort to revitalize the transition from NXT to Raw or SmackDown has been fruitful.

The follow-up to Femi's King of the Ring win was needlessly convoluted, but his trajectory is still clear. In fact, his detour to finish his feud with Lesnar is so frustrating because he is already a convincing threat to the old guard.

Bron Breakker has had a much more confounding year after a promising leap forward in 2024. It's hard to believe the former Intercontinental Champion didn't make a splash in the men's Royal Rumble match or the King of the Ring tournament.

Still, there is plenty of reason to believe he can recover and develop into a future main eventer in due time. Je'Von Evans and Trick Williams are also prominent names to keep an eye on following a successful move to the main roster.

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The Verdict

WWE is still home to some of the biggest stars in professional wrestling. Its main event scene still has the goods to create marquee matchups worthy of the brightest lights in the industry.

However, the title picture has been stagnant at times due to the creative regime's overreliance on established names and viral moments. The results lack drama and intrigue because the company so often refuses to take a chance on something fresh and imaginative.

Budding stars like Femi and Breakker have given Triple H the means to elevate to the next generation and address the brand's age problem. The Ruler looks ready, but it's still unclear if he will strike while the iron is hot.

There's still plenty for casual and long-time fans to enjoy, but the world title picture needs a major shakeup soon. Rhodes, in particular, feels stale because he has been on top for so long, and his storylines have grown repetitive. Meanwhile, Reigns could use a new direction that isn't so tied to The Bloodline.

Grade: C+