Big TKO Rumor Slammed As “Bullsh*t” Regarding WWE Releases
A rumor about why certain WWE superstars were released has been debunked, and it also clarifies the roles of Triple H and Nick Khan.
Nick Khan is the WWE President who runs the business side of the company under the TKO Group, while Paul “Triple H” Levesque is the WWE Chief Content Officer in charge of the creative process for the WWE main roster, and also has a major say in talent relations.
It was reported earlier this week that Triple H received a new contract as WWE’s CCO, which will extend his run as Head of Creative for at least another three years.
Following the releases of 20+ WWE superstars on the main roster, NXT, and developmental, there have been multiple reports about who decided which wrestlers would be let go. Some reports claimed that TKO’s bosses had a major say, while others denied that.
There was also a report claiming that WWE released the Wyatt Sicks and Aleister Black & Zelina because TKO Group executives aren’t interested in supernatural characters.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the Wyatt Sicks were released because WWE officials felt like the group had done all it could.
“It was just felt that the group had run its course. Even at first there were those who saw it as a short-term idea. It was basically a tribute to Bray Wyatt and was over big at first but it was limiting how they could be used with that gimmick over the long haul.”
TKO Group Not Liking Supernatural Characters In WWE Debunked
Regarding why WWE felt the need to cut Aleister Black, even though he left AEW to return to WWE, the lack of creative ideas was cited as a major reason.
“The feeling was they got all out of the Wyatts they were going to get and Black and Vega was just a decision made on who they weren’t going to do anything more with. The reality is that even though they recruited Black hard to get out of AEW, once he returned, they really didn’t have much in the way of ideas for him.”
Meltzer was also told matter-of-factly that TKO executives’ dislike of supernatural characters was false.
“Regarding the story that the Wyatts and Black were released because TKO didn’t like dark characters, we were told that was ‘bulls**t’ and that these were not decisions that even reached that level.”
It has been reported that WWE’s releases were ultimately decisions made by Triple H, Nick Khan, and members of the talent relations department.
Part of the reason why WWE released so many wrestlers is also that they called up some NXT talent as well.
The May 1st edition of WWE SmackDown takes place at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with this lineup advertised so far.
- Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes kicks off SmackDown
- Charlotte Flair looks for payback on Jacy Jayne after Fatal Influence invade SmackDown
- Jacob Fatu returns to SmackDown after brutally securing a title match against Roman Reigns at WWE Backlash
- Ricky Saints debuts on SmackDown
The next WWE PLE is Backlash on May 9th.