There was a time when fans were begging for this. For years the wrestling audience clamored for Triple H to take control of WWE creative. Vince McMahon’s vision had grown stale and disconnected. Triple H represented something different — long-term storytelling, a better understanding of talent, a fresh approach.
And for a brief moment, it looked like we were right.
But now that confidence is fading fast. Because the truth is, much of what worked in those early months was momentum already in motion — storylines involving The Rock and other long-established arcs. Once that initial wave passed, the cracks started showing. Now we’re staring at a WrestleMania season that feels disjointed, underwhelming, and in some cases completely mismanaged.
It’s fair to ask a question that would have sounded ridiculous not long ago: did we get this wrong?
Start with Gunther. This is one of the most dominant champions in the company — a performer built on credibility, consistency, and in-ring excellence. He should be walking into WrestleMania with a defining program that reinforces everything he represents. Instead the rumored plan was Gunther versus Rey Mysterio in a retirement match. That completely misses the point.
If Rey Mysterio is going to retire, there is only one person who should be doing it: Dominik Mysterio. That story has been sitting there for years, practically writing itself. Father versus son is a WrestleMania story. Gunther has nothing to do with that. Putting Gunther in that position doesn’t elevate him, doesn’t properly honor Rey, and wastes two completely different opportunities at the same time. That’s not how you book your biggest show of the year.
Then there’s LA Knight. He’s one of the most organically over performers in WWE. The crowd reactions are undeniable. The promos are strong. The connection is real. And yet he’s being pushed behind others, stuck in a holding pattern, constantly close to a breakout moment but never actually getting there. WrestleMania is where someone like LA Knight should thrive. Instead he might not even have a meaningful role on the show. That’s not a missed opportunity in isolation. It’s a failure to capitalize on one of the few things that’s clearly working.
Tiffany Stratton is another version of the same problem. She’s one of the most popular women on the roster right now — presence, charisma, clear identity. But instead of building something meaningful around her, she’s tied to a rumored match with Giulia for the United States Title that may not even make the WrestleMania card. No strong emotional hook, no compelling narrative, no clear reason why it should be on the biggest stage of the year. If one of your most popular talents is at risk of being left off the card entirely, that points to a much larger issue with direction.
Individually, any one of these decisions could be written off as an isolated misstep. Together they form a pattern. Gunther potentially wasted in a storyline that doesn’t fit. LA Knight underutilized despite overwhelming support. Tiffany Stratton lacking direction during the most important time of the year. This isn’t bad luck. This is creative failing to connect the dots.
What makes it more frustrating is that the early days of Triple H’s leadership showed real promise. Stories felt more grounded. Characters had clearer direction. But once the existing big-star momentum ran its course, the consistency disappeared. What we’re seeing now feels reactive rather than planned. Feuds start without strong foundations and end without meaningful conclusions.
That’s not long-term storytelling. That’s drifting.
This WrestleMania is not a total loss. There are still strong matches on the card and performers delivering at a high level. But WrestleMania is supposed to feel complete. Every major talent should have a purpose. Every major storyline should feel earned.
Right now, plenty is still missing. And that falls on creative.
Triple H was supposed to be the answer — clarity, structure, a deeper understanding of storytelling. Instead we’re seeing inconsistency, missed opportunities, and a growing disconnect between what fans want and what’s being delivered.
The margin for error is shrinking.
Because if this is the version of WWE creative under Triple H, the question is no longer whether he’s better than what came before. It’s whether any of this is what fans actually wanted at all.
