Triple H Facing More Criticism Over Wrestlepalooza Booking Decisions
The glow of Wrestlepalooza has dimmed, but the fallout is just beginning. WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, is under fire from fans and insiders alike after controversial booking decisions left the mega-event feeling flat in key spots.
Cena vs. Lesnar – A Farewell Gone Wrong?
The night opened with a blockbuster on paper: John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar in what was billed as a highlight of Cena’s farewell tour. Instead, fans watched a lopsided beatdown that lasted under ten minutes, with Lesnar steamrolling through the 16-time World Champion.
Reports indicate that the original plan was for Cena to score the win — giving him a feel-good sendoff on the ESPN stage. The last-minute decision to flip the finish and give Lesnar the clean victory has been met with heavy criticism, with many calling it anticlimactic and disrespectful to Cena’s farewell.
Cody vs. McIntyre – A Flat Ending to a Big Build
In the main event, Cody Rhodes successfully defended the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre. While the bout itself delivered physically, the finish has been labeled a major letdown.
According to insiders, an alternate plan on the table involved Randy Orton interfering, costing Rhodes the title, and setting up a fresh feud. Triple H and WWE leadership reportedly rejected that idea, opting instead for a straightforward finish. While Rhodes retained, many felt the ending lacked drama, leaving one of the company’s biggest rivalries without the payoff it deserved.
Stevie Richards Weighs In
On his podcast, Stevie Richards offered sharp criticism of Triple H’s recent creative decisions. Richards compared the situation to NFL players who fail as coaches — great at excelling individually, but less capable of managing the bigger picture.
“Hunter and others are proving that top guys aren’t always the best bookers,” Richards said. “They can get themselves over, they know how to win, but booking other talent in today’s era is a different skill. The honeymoon phase of the Triple H era is fading fast.”
Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Triple H’s booking philosophy has long been praised for its focus on in-ring quality and long-term storytelling, but Wrestlepalooza exposed a growing divide. Fans expected iconic moments for John Cena’s farewell and a shocking twist in Cody’s title defense. Instead, both matches felt “safe,” and perhaps too safe for a stage meant to deliver history.
If anything, this weekend proved that WWE’s creative machine cannot rely solely on nostalgia or straight finishes. Fans are smarter, louder, and hungrier than ever. And if the company isn’t careful, the “honeymoon” of Triple H’s leadership could turn into a backlash era faster than expected.
