Projecting Triple H's Next Feud, Return Date and Role Within WWE

Conspicuous by his absence on WWE TV, Triple H has been left off programming since he lost the WWE World Heavyweight Championship to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 32. Of course, his return is only inevitable, so fans should expect to see The Game back in the ring sooner rather than later.

His one-month hiatus from TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs 2015 to January's Royal Rumble notwithstanding, Triple H had been a regular on WWE TV for close to three years as part of The Authority.

Although his heel turn at SummerSlam 2013 was initially regarded as a breath of fresh air for his character, he—along with the rest of The Authority—became one of the least anticipated parts of Raw on a weekly basis.

Triple H has always been a better heel than babyface, but as the overexposed authority figure, no one was benefiting from his ruthless reign of terror. His entertaining matches with Daniel Bryan, The Shield and Sting showed he had plenty left in the tank as an active competitor, but as an on-air character, he had grown stagnant.

Needless to say, Raw has felt fresh these past two months without Triple H prominently featured on the program. Stephanie McMahon returned to TV almost immediately after The Showcase of the Immortals, but thankfully, her presence has decreased drastically as she runs Raw alongside Shane McMahon.

Shane and Triple H haven't crossed paths since the McMahon family scion's WWE return in February, meaning they could be on a collision course for a match at SummerSlam to gain control of the flagship show once The Game resurfaces.

Credit: WWE.com

While that might be the most likely scenario for The Game's impending comeback, that doesn't necessarily mean it is the best. It was a thrill to see Shane back in the ring at WrestleMania 32 for the first time since 2009, but his match with The Undertaker was less-than-stellar, and Shane is better suited for a non-wrestling role.

Even if a potential match between the two did deliver, them competing for control of the company would make little sense with the brand split set to go into effect in July. It would also overshadow the SmackDown brand, and "the future of the flagship show at stake" storyline has been done to death.

Rather, Triple H should set his sights on Seth Rollins upon his return to Raw. It's possible The King of Kings will be back as soon as Money in the Bank on June 19 to cost The Architect the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Reigns, setting the stage for an epic encounter between the two at SummerSlam.

It might be too early to pull the trigger on that match, but it would befit the biggest blockbuster of the summer.

Despite the raucous reaction he received when he resurfaced at Extreme Rules, Rollins remains a heel. That said, he is bound to be a babyface before long, and a feud with The Game would be the perfect way for him to cement his status as a fan favorite.

Aside from Rollins and Shane, there aren't any other obvious opponents for Triple H. Unlike Brock Lesnar and The Rock, most fans aren't clamoring to see him back in the squared circle, meaning there isn't a need for him to be brought back as a wrestler beyond a feud with his former apprentice.

Instead, he would benefit from adopting the "proud papa" persona he has in NXT. There is often character continuity between the two shows, but the Triple H we see down in developmental is vastly different to the one we are accustomed to seeing on Raw.

Speaking of which, his association with NXT could possibly play a major role in the upcoming WWE draft. There has been plenty of fan speculation that Shane and/or Stephanie could call upon talent from the developmental brand to join Raw and SmackDown.

That could finally bring the Triple H of NXT to the forefront, especially given no one deserves more credit for ushering in the New Era than him. He is responsible for the success of many of the stars on the main roster, so he should continue to focus on the future instead of resuming his role as a regular on Raw.

Needless to say, the WWE Universe has yet to see the last of Triple H, and with his return to TV likely imminent, it will be interesting to see where he fits into the recently revamped WWE landscape.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is a Digital Journalism major at Endicott College. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling, and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.

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