Longtime WWE announcer Michael Cole says that Paul "Triple H" Levesque's leadership has pushed the company to be "more entertaining" than ever before, piling praise on the former champion-turned-Chief Creative Officer.
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Cole recently appeared on "The Pat McAfee Show" and spoke on the ongoing Triple H era of WWE, saying that he "never had as much fun" in previous years.
Considering that virtually every era of the WWE/WWF prior to recent years was masterminded by former CEO Vince McMahon, it is not difficult to read some subtext into Cole's words.
"I've seen everything in this business for nearly 30 years," Cole told McAfee. "I have never had as much fun as I've had the last couple of years. Not only working with you, but working with [Triple H]."
Cole also praised Triple H for the amount of "freedom" that he gave other personalities within the company. It is perhaps worth noting that McMahon was notorious for his rigid control over WWE during his decades of leadership, which eventually bled over into the in-ring persona of the domineering, scheming "Mr. McMahon" character.
"I think that freedom has really allowed the superstars," Cole said. "And I know for me and I know for Pat as well, has allowed us to be more entertaining, to be more relaxed, to be able to sit back and enjoy this product as a fan."
The WWE announcer singled out Triple H's willingness to let wrestlers help shape their own storylines as part of the success of the current era, which can be conjectured to be connected to Levesque's background as an in-ring performer.
"Also, who knows characters better than the character?" Cole said. "Seth Rollins knows his character better than anyone on the planet, so why not allow him to be able to bring that character forward."
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Triple H officially took the reins of WWE's creative direction in July 2022, following the unexpected departure of McMahon.
McMahon, who had led the company for decades as both CEO and head of creative, stepped down amidst a swirl of still-ongoing personal and legal controversies.
As a result, Triple H, who had long been involved with WWE in various capacities, was handed the monumental task of guiding the company's creative future.
Before assuming the top creative role, Triple H was already a key figure behind the scenes. He had been instrumental in the development of WWE's NXT brand, where he worked as both an executive and a mentor to younger talent.
His leadership in NXT was marked by a focus on in-ring quality and the cultivation of fresh stars, which set him apart from McMahon's more entertainment-driven approach.
By 2022, Triple H's growing influence within WWE became clear, and he was positioned to take over once McMahon's exit made way for a change in leadership.
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In the wake of McMahon's retirement, Triple H took over the creative reins, ushering in a new era for WWE. His approach immediately became evident as he focused on revamping storylines, rebuilding the company's roster, and incorporating a more wrestling-centric product.
While Triple H's official takeover occurred in 2022, his impact on WWE had been building for years through his work with NXT, and his creative influence has since become a defining feature of the company's post-Vince era. According to Cole, it seems things are better than ever.
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