Hi folks! Following Vince McMahon’s departure, we have since covered how current WWE Superstars will fare under the creative direction of Triple H. Previous articles on the subject can be found here:
20 ‘Triple H Guys’ Who Can Benefit From Him Leading WWE Creative
Are WWE Superstars Losing Their Spots Without Vince McMahon There?
Today, to cap off this subject with one last article, we’ll be looking at former WWE Superstars who are more likely to return now that he’s in charge. That’s not to say that everyone will, but given their history with Triple H, I would expect a few to make their returns when they have fulfilled their commitments. This is an extensive list, so please forgive me if I can’t detail each entry too much.
Note: I wrote this yesterday with Dexter Lumis included. I’ll keep what I wrote about him, but his return on Raw means I’ve had to add someone else to make it 40.
#1. Adam Cole
Adam Cole holds the record for the single longest reign as NXT Champion and only sits behind Finn Balor on the all-time list. As a former North American and Tag Team Champion, he’s also a Triple Crown Champion, second only to Johnny Gargano. The Undisputed Era stable is known as the most dominant in NXT history, which makes Adam Cole arguably the most successful NXT Superstar of all time.
While his girlfriend Britt Baker and close friends are in AEW, I know he has the utmost respect for Triple H. Shawn Michaels is one of his heroes, so getting to work with him again would be tempting. It’s unlikely he will return soon, but give it a few years and he’ll be thinking about it. Even more so if he achieves what he wants to in AEW. We know Cole doesn’t like to get stale, so when he feels it’s time to return to WWE, he will, and I could see Britt Baker following him. She would love to wrestle with the likes of Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Bayley, and Sasha Banks, so that would be very enticing for the couple.
#2. Aleister Black
Triple H was looking to develop Black’s character, but being called up put him in a tough spot. Vince McMahon tried taking him in different directions, but nothing clicked. It’s unknown if it played a part, but it’s possible the tension between his girlfriend Zelina Vega & WWE kept him on the shelf for too long. After sorting that out, WWE was keen on getting him over, but they released him shortly after debuting a new gimmick.
I imagine Triple H wanting to put that right and develop Black with more freedom. AEW has helped Malakai Black to realize some of his vision, but he needs some finishing touches. Triple H is good at that, and I’m sure Aleister Black would trust him. Also, it helps that Zelina Vega is with WWE, so they’d be able to travel together again.
#3. Andrade
Speaking of Zelina Vega, could we see the return of Andrade soon? The answer is no. Last year, he said that he has a 3-year contract with AEW, which means he has two years left. Ric Flair has been heavily selling him for a while, understandably because he’s married to Charlotte Flair. His reason for leaving WWE was Vince McMahon not taking him seriously enough. He felt like his talent would be better used elsewhere.
This is an opinion piece, so I’m saying that while I admire his ability in the ring, I couldn’t care less about his character. I know English isn’t his first language, so promos will probably never be his strength, but I’m sure more could be done. I want to care if he wins or loses, but neither WWE nor AEW have given me enough reason. The best match I ever saw of his was when he faced Johnny Gargano at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia in 2018. I’ve been waiting for more of that, but no one’s since pushed him to the limit.
If AEW continues using Andrade as a mid-card guy for the rest of his contract, I’m certain he will return to WWE to reunite with Triple H and possibly Zelina Vega.
#4 & 5. Authors Of Pain (Akam & Rezar)
The Authors Of Pain were a force to be reckoned with in NXT. They were destructive and had solid chemistry. Combine that with Paul Ellering as their mouthpiece, and you have a team that should have worked out on WWE’s main roster. The problem was that WWE quickly did away with Ellering and wanted the AOP to do it by themselves. They weren’t ready for that, so WWE stuck them with Drake Maverick before using them as Seth Rollins’ lackeys.
They recently tried (& failed spectacularly) opening a promotion in the UK, but their future is uncertain. If Triple H wants a powerful heel team, they’ll jump on the opportunity. Even more so if Ellering returns because they worked very well together.
#6. Bo Dallas
Do you BO-lieve? I did. I was a big fan of Bo, even when he was the NXT Champion and no one wanted to see him. Then he continued to motivate me with his gimmick on the main roster, although again, many weren’t buying it because they weren’t bo-lievers. Later on, what came as a surprise was Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel getting the B-Team gimmick over. That was silly and people loved it, but every time Bo had anything going for him, Vince McMahon decided he didn’t like it anymore and buried it. Bo was buried so hard that he remained on the pay role for years with only rare appearances.
What we weren’t told is that in 2020, he had a neck injury and wasn’t cleared to compete. Last year, it became known that he is dating Liv Morgan. The former NXT & Raw Tag Team Champion has kept a low profile since his release. He & Liv have a farm together and they were trying to get into real estate (not sure if that’s still true) so they have work after wrestling. I still bo-lieve that Dallas will come back someday better than ever. Much like the next man, Triple H knows what he brings to the table, and Bo would still make a solid mid-carder for any of WWE’s shows.
#7. Bray Wyatt
The story of Bray Wyatt has been well documented. Apparently, there were clashes between Wyatt & McMahon and he was costing too much, but it’s all speculation. What we know is that Bray Wyatt wouldn’t be where he is without Triple H’s guidance in NXT. Back in 2014, he said this about Triple H’s influence on his character:
“I’m very uncoachable at times. I kind of have this mystique about myself where I don’t like people telling me what to do. I can tell you Hunter [Triple H] was very instrumental in the upbringing of the Wyatts. He saw something in us that we saw. We were so attached to it that we were dying to make it work and to get it out there.
Hunter saw the same thing. From the first glance, people are just comparing us to hillbillies. I’ve heard ‘Deliverance’ and all kinds of things, but they were missing that underlying factor. Hunter was able to see that because we are more complex in the way we speak if you listen to the message behind it. You’re not looking at three Neanderthals. You’re looking at three very smart, capable athletes. Hunter was able to see it.”
#8. Bronson Reed
Six weeks after dropping the NXT North American title, WWE released Bronson Reed from the NXT brand. The news came as a surprise to Bronson because he’d made strides in his career and was on an upward trajectory. He asked management why they were releasing him, but they didn’t give him any firm reason. Reed heard it was to do with his look, but without confirmation, it was a rumor.
So, he didn’t get sad about it, but he became furious because he’d put in a large amount of work and believed in the black & gold brand. The question is, now that Vince McMahon’s management isn’t there to clean out wrestlers whenever it suits, will Triple H reach out? Time will tell. He has since worked for Impact Wrestling & New Japan as JONAH.
#9. Buddy Murphy
When the 205 Live brand became part of NXT, Triple H inherited the show and its short list of talent. Of the cruiserweights, he felt that Buddy Murphy had the most potential, so he was the first guy to become the NXT Cruiserweight Champion. Triple H wanted to bring him to NXT on a full-time basis but he was instead drafted to SmackDown. Many will remember that Murphy became one of Seth Rollins’ disciples.
His release came as a shock to many fans because he’d done a great job in this role. No one knows for sure, but could it have had something to do with the Aalyah Mysterio storyline? Perhaps he did not commit enough for Vince McMahon’s liking? Murphy later admitted that he felt uneasy about the story because of her age. Whatever happened, Murphy was released and is now part of Malakai Black’s stable in AEW.
#10. Cesaro
Cesaro is unique on this list because he was never contracted to NXT. Some may remember that he had excellent matches with Sami Zayn, William Regal, and others while he was the United States Champion, but he was never a full-time NXT superstar. I believe Triple H respected Cesaro so much for his ability to get the most out of others. He also saw what he could do as a character, which is something he often struggled with under Vince McMahon.
Now he has gone back to his real name, Claudio Castagnoli, and is the ROH World Champion, we can’t expect him to return any day soon. Tony Khan has him under a multi-year agreement, and that will be respected. Everyone realized Vince McMahon didn’t see enough in Cesaro to push him, so he wallowed in the mid-card for many years. With Triple H in charge, Claudio might have a slight regret for leaving when he did, although having time away to show his worth could do him wonders. That match with Konosuke Takeshita this past Saturday was epic!
#11 & 12. Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan (Kings of NXT)
Yes, that is Pat McAfee. Not long before he debuted as a commentator alongside Michael Cole on SmackDown, he was managing a stable in NXT. The group originally comprised Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan, before it expanded to include Pete Dunne (Butch). After several years of trying to get airtime on their own, the team became tag team champions and enjoyed success. The combination of their chemistry and Pat McAfee’s selling helped the Kings of NXT reach the next level. They held the titles for five months before Burch picked up an injury and it forced William Regal to vacate them.
Later that year, Lorcan requested and was granted his release. He hadn’t been used much since Danny Burch’s injury, so I guess he wasn’t interested in hanging around. While he apologized for not getting back to people about bookings in a recent tweet, that has since been removed. Danny Burch said in March that he is due back for a return soon, and will remind everyone who he is. Again, much like I said about AOP, if Triple H wants to flesh out the tag team divisions, he couldn’t do much worse than to call these guys up. They can work! And I’m sure Pat McAfee will get them over.
#13 & 14. Dean Ambrose & Renee Young
Both put so much of themselves into WWE, but creative issues and cutting back on shows like Talking Smack did not sit well with them. Now Jon Moxley is clean, and they have brought a baby into the world, a WWE not run by Vince McMahon may sound enticing. AEW knows this and has done all they can to keep Moxley, including not punishing him for his issues with alcohol. Tony Khan has been very understanding and patient, so there’s probably an abundance of respect there from both sides.
However, if Moxley ever feels he isn’t feeling it in AEW anymore, bringing that character to WWE is a real possibility. They’d throw Dean Ambrose into the main event scene right away, and the history with The Shield means he doesn’t need to build anything. The WWE Universe knows who he is, and they’d re-connect right away. Fingers crossed WWE gets rid of the ‘Lunatic Fringe’ name, though. That was dumb!
Dexter Lumis (returned on Raw)
*I wrote this section before his return* – From the latest batch of releases, including Dexter Lumis’ was a painful one. His icy stare, drawings, and relationship with Indi Hartwell had gone a long way to get him over with the NXT audience. His wedding with Hartwell was one of the most entertaining segments I’ve ever seen in WWE. Lumis was money, but Vince McMahon and management didn’t see it that way.
His character was far from conventional. It’s possible that they couldn’t see it working on the main roster because it would be “too creepy” for kids. To be fair, his stare freaks me out, never mind the little ones. Also, they were going in a different direction for NXT 2.0, so no amount of good work was saving this character. You can’t change him up either, because it would be odd if he started talking like any other superstar. I’m hoping Triple H brings him back, if not for the main roster… then for NXT at least.
#15. Ember Moon
Her main roster run was terrible… it didn’t live up to anything she did in NXT. No, she wasn’t the greatest women’s champion, although holding the title after Asuka was a tough act to follow. She has one of the best finishers in the game, but once she came up to the main roster, they stripped away much of her image. The Ember Moon we saw winning the NXT Women’s Championship was not who we got, so she ended up back there.
She found success with Shotzi during her second run by becoming tag team champions, but they released her not long after losing the title. Now she’s Athena in AEW and it’s time to show WWE what they are missing. She was so critical of the company’s creativity in interviews, that she was publicly criticized by her trainer Booker T. Many of the issues are to be ironed out now that Vince McMahon isn’t around, so expect her to return to WWE at the next opportunity.
#16. Eric Young (Sanity)
The long-time TNA (Impact) wrestler Eric Young came to WWE to show the world his best work. As the leader of the Sanity stable in NXT, Young did that while highlighting his leadership skills and ability to mentor those under his wing. When he got to the main roster, they killed off Sanity and he became an enhancement talent. The only member of Sanity who got any moderate success was Nikki Cross, who we now know as Nikki A.S.H. Eric Young was a different animal on NXT compared to the main roster, and here’s why:
“I enjoyed almost my entire time there. My NXT time was very special to me. I loved working with Triple H. He and I became very close. A lot of what you saw with SANITY was my ideas and his ideas. It was a very close collaboration. We grew SANITY into one of the top acts in the company. Tag Team of the Year, Match of the Year. We were a huge part of every show we were on! We were on every Takeover. I’m very proud of that.”
However, his time under Vince McMahon’s vision was very different:
“I’m not the first person they missed on, I’m not the last. There are no hard feelings over it. I’m not bitter! I told Vince McMahon this to his face ‘if you can’t find 5 minutes for me to do something, then you’ve failed!’ And I would say it to his face again. It is nothing personal. He’s always treated me kindly. He always made time to listen to me when I pitched ideas and he was complimentary to me early on.
Somewhere, he was busy producing a billion-dollar television show and he decided I wasn’t someone he was interested in so we went our separate ways. But I have no hard feelings. He’s a genius! Wrestling exists today because of his ruthless approach saying pro wrestling can be mainstream and it is. I wouldn’t be sitting in this nice home in Nashville and be enjoying this great life unless it was for his persistence, his vision, and his promoting and belief that pro wrestling can be a mainstream product.”
Since returning to Impact Wrestling, he has become the World Champion and currently leads a new stable called Violent By Design. Expect Triple H to snatch him up the next time he becomes available. I’m not exaggerating when I say that Young is one of the best talkers in the business. WWE needs more guys like him.
#17. Isaiah ‘Swerve’ Scott (Hit Row)
AEW recently signed him and he is their current tag team champion with Keith Lee. Before that, WWE fans knew him for his stable Hit Row. They filled the group with musical talent and they had plenty of chemistry in the ring, too. The most befuddling decision was WWE releasing all of them mere weeks after being drafted to SmackDown. To be honest, they weren’t ready for promotion. They should have stayed in NXT 2.0 and made names for themselves.
Yet, it was telling of WWE’s management issues to see a stable promoted, only to be released shortly after. I don’t believe AEW is interested in bringing them in as a stable, so if Strickland wants to get back to WWE with them at some point, there’s plenty of unfinished business there. They are the type of stable that would thrive under Triple H’s direction, but both WWE and AEW will fight to get or keep Strickland on their show.
#18 & 19. Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae
There was a mutual understanding that Johnny Gargano would stay in NXT because that’s where he was best used. I don’t reckon he or Triple H had any faith that he would flourish on Raw or SmackDown, so it was never an option. When Gargano left WWE, he did so with the utmost respect. WWE gave him the time to say his goodbyes, so the bridge remains for a return.
Candice LeRae is the same. She had done good things and left because she had a baby on the way. When the couple decides they’ve had the time to raise their baby (who was born in February), expect them to return to WWE. Only this time, because Triple H is in charge, I’d anticipate them appearing on Raw or SmackDown. There’s nothing left for them to do in NXT, and there’s not enough room in AEW. Much like Ciampa, who was in a similar position as Gargano, Triple H will find the time.
#20. Keith Lee
Out of all the NXT stars who were called up, Keith Lee is one of Vince McMahon’s biggest blunders. As can be seen above, Triple H appreciated him so much that he made him a double champion. Lee started well on the main roster by going up against Brock Lesnar in the Royal Rumble and having a strong showing at Survivor Series. But over time, McMahon decided he didn’t like the way Lee talked or worked in the ring.
There was a report about management sending some of the big guys (him, Otis, Strowman, etc.) back to the performance center for “extra training”. Not long after this, Lee became noticeably more aggressive and changed the way he talked. He soon adopted the ‘Bearcat’ gimmick, but none of it was explained and it didn’t feel natural. His release came as a shock because many fans supported him and assumed he would be a big star in WWE’s future.
AEW snatched him up, and he’s a tag team champion now, although it hasn’t been smooth sailing. He’s been dealing with personal issues, so he has seldom been around, but hopefully, things get better for him. When he becomes available again, Triple H will do everything he can to get ‘Limitless’ back.
#21. Kyle O’Reilly
NXT did more for Kyle O’Reilly’s career than anywhere else. Yes, he had some great work in ROH, but Kyle was made in NXT. Did you know? He held a title in NXT (the tag title) longer than anyone else in the brand’s history. Following his feud with Adam Cole, it looked like he was on course to become the NXT Champion, but then the rebrand happened and he was instead partnered with Von Wagner.
It’s crazy how far Kyle fell in such a short time. He’s in AEW now as part of a stable with Adam Cole and Bobby Fish, so not much has changed there. The difference is he’s having to start from scratch again because NXT was a smaller pond than AEW. He had the chance to carry NXT, and the best he can hope for in 2022 is becoming a trios champion. Triple H knows this, and if he can get back in WWE, he’ll push him as a singles star because he’s more than ready for that.
#22. Leon Ruff
I’m joking, right? Nope, this is a serious entry. In NXT, Leon Ruff went from jobber to North American Champion almost overnight. He shocked the world by pinning Johnny Gargano in a title match where no one thought he stood a chance. Yes, he had some help from Damian Priest, but the kid has potential. Triple H knows this, otherwise, he wouldn’t have given him this moment.
Now he’s working for AEW as an enhancement talent, so he’s back to doing what he was before. He deserves more than that, and Triple H may want him back. He would likely return to NXT for more seasoning, but he’d be taken seriously this time. There’s no sleeping on Leon Ruff! This kid has what it takes. He merely needs someone to believe.
#23. Neville
Very early in the life of NXT, Triple H sought an NXT Champion who could carry the black & gold brand. Bo Dallas was the champion and had some of the biggest heat I’ve ever seen (I’m still a BO-liever), and Neville was tasked with taking the title. He became the longest reigning NXT Champion, a record he held until Finn Balor beat it two years later.
Like many on this list, his main roster career did not live up to his NXT standard. It looked promising when WWE made him the “King of the Cruiserweights”. Neville ruled 205 Live and made the show worthy of watching, but his losing the title to Enzo Amore was the last straw. He wanted nothing to do with WWE after that, so he was one of the first names to sign up with AEW and hasn’t looked back.
Pac is the current AEW Mid-Atlantic Champion. After being loyal to them since the beginning, he finally won something and is defending the title around the world. When his contract is up, there will be quite the bidding war. He’s one of the best athletes in the business today, and Triple H would love to have him back. AEW has treated him well, though, so it won’t be easy.
#24. Paige
She’s not medically cleared to wrestle and officially left WWE last month. While retired, Paige pitched many ideas to creative to manage talent or have some other role on TV, but nothing surfaced. As the first NXT Women’s Champion, Triple H is aware of her abilities and what she’s worth. When I make posts on social media, Paige remains one of the most popular female talents in the world, despite being out of the spotlight for so long.
Having her around the product in any form is a positive. So why didn’t WWE do it? Who knows? Maybe Vince McMahon felt she wasn’t a good enough mouthpiece? Whatever was holding her back is likely gone now. She’d be given more to do under Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Paige is working hard to train for a return to the ring, although that hasn’t been confirmed. Will she return to WWE? Or is a stint with AEW on her mind?
#25. Ruby Riott (Riott Squad)
Ruby Riott was a severely underused WWE Superstar who did everything she could with what they gave her. Despite the Riott Squad gaining in popularity, WWE did not give them much. Liv Morgan has since flourished on her own, but it was the Riott Squad who got her in the spotlight. She wouldn’t have survived working on her own, so she owes a great deal to Ruby and Sarah Logan.
Ruby has since debuted with AEW as Ruby Soho and is doing well, although there’s no guarantee she will become a champion. Getting back to WWE would be easier if she could prove herself as one of the biggest stars in AEW’s division. Even if she doesn’t, Triple H could bring back Riott & Logan as a tag team. If they want to take the women’s tag team championship seriously, they need teams with chemistry who won’t mind being together for a long time.
#26 & 27. Rusev & Lana
From all the NXT call ups, few saw as much success as Rusev & Lana. Vince McMahon took a liking to them right away, and everything looked to be going well. Then, for whatever reason, Lana lost her Russian accent, Rusev became a Russian (despite being Bulgarian), and the “Rusev Day” catchphrase got over despite Vince never wanting it to. They’d also enjoy time apart so Bobby Lashley could get Lana into bed on TV.
They then got married and publicly shared the good news on Twitter while they were apart on TV, so WWE had to backtrack on their story. They tried Lana as a wrestler… but man, that was asking for much. It’s crazy how much crap they had to endure after what was originally a winning formula. All Rusev had to do was kill guys and not talk, while Lana looked smart (but still hot) and put people down in that fine Russian way.
How AEW hasn’t gone the same route is baffling. I know Miro can talk, but why have him do that when Lana can? Either way, Miro wants more from his time there, and if he doesn’t get that soon, I wouldn’t put it past him to walk out. He’s never been seen as a “Triple H Guy”, but the original incarnation of Rusev & Lana was founded in NXT. Would it not make sense to go full circle to where it started? Bring back classic Rusev & Lana and watch them flourish.
#28. Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe didn’t fit into the NXT rebrand and he wanted to wrestle, so it made little sense to keep him around. Joe and Triple H have done much together backstage, and I’m sure they are good friends. When Joe is done with his current stint in AEW & ROH, I’m expecting him to return to WWE.
He’s at that age where Triple H won’t push him as the #1 guy on any of the brands, but he’ll be used often enough to put over the next generation. And when Joe is done wrestling, he has a job for life in WWE as a producer. Samoa Joe is contracted to AEW and is the current ROH Television Champion. He was recently inducted into the ROH Hall of Fame.
#29. Tegan Nox
In a similar way to Hit Row, Tegan Nox was called up to the main roster only to be released a few weeks later. It made little sense because there was a ton of potential there. She needed more time in NXT to prove herself as a champion, but I didn’t mind her coming up to partner with Shotzi.
Tegan Nox once suffered a serious injury, and Triple H consoled her. She was upset because it would set her career back, but Triple H reassured her that wouldn’t be the case. In a way, it could have because it didn’t give management enough reason to keep her around when those releases happened.
With WWE going to Wales for Clash At The Castle, what would be better than to see her return for the biggest show ever in her home country? I’d be super happy about that. Tegan Nox is worthy of being called a WWE Superstar. She has kept a low profile since leaving WWE.
#30. Tenille Dashwood
When most WWE fans try to remember Tenille Dashwood, they won’t know who you mean unless you say “She was Emma”, or “She was going to be Emmalina”. What they won’t remember is that long before she got to the main roster, she was one of the best wrestlers NXT had to offer. She & Paige laid the foundation of what became the NXT Women’s Division.
In the first-ever NXT Women’s Championship match, she fought and lost to Paige, but she proved her worth in that match. William Regal has since said on Gentleman Villain:
William Regal on working with Paige and Emma in NXT:
“I’m gonna have to give Paige and Emma – the highest compliment I can give them is that they were the two people before the four horsewomen and everybody else. They, Paige and Emma, were the people, the two ladies that set all that in motion as far as being where everything went from then onwards. And it’s weird to see that [first] TakeOver because if you’d have asked me, I wouldn’t have thought Paige had gone to the main roster by then. It’s just, that’s how quick all the time goes. And I remember being there the first night she debuted. We were in New Orleans, and I remember talking to her afterward and going, ‘This is it. The ride’s about to start. Whatever you’ve just done in NXT, the ride’s about to start now.’”
On how they were the foundation of the women’s revolution in NXT and WWE:
“We’re probably not gonna get to that until another episode, but I’m saying it right now. Paige and Emma were the foundation of whatever came out of the incredible run of ladies that came through NXT and all the happenings afterward. They were the two starting ladies that sort of got attention on everybody. And they never got to do a TakeOver. You think they would have done one, right? You think they were part of that but it was before their time. I mean, sorry, it was after their time was before the TakeOver started. But Paige was actually on the main roster as the Divas Champion. That’s incredible.”
#31 & 32. The Fashion Police aka Breezango (Fandango & Tyler Breeze)
They were hit & miss, but man, I loved Fashion Police segments. So long as you didn’t take it too seriously, there was something to take away. I’m a big fan of Tyler Breeze, so keeping him around was a plus, and he was also a popular guy backstage. I remember Bayley getting upset upon hearing the news of his release.
I’m not sure what happened to Breezango. I know they had issues with injuries, so whenever one of them was out, the other had to wait around. When they finally got back together in 2020, Triple H wasted no time sticking the tag titles on them. They lost them two months later and wrestled rarely after that before being released. Fandango currently works for the NWA, while Breeze sometimes joins Xavier Woods on his YouTube series. It’s another team Triple H could bring back if they’re looking for more depth.
#33 & 34. The IIconics (Billie Kay & Peyton Royce)
The biggest missed opportunity of the Women’s Tag Team titles was not making a bigger deal out of The IIconics. They were the only “real” tag team in any of WWE’s women’s divisions, so it made sense to treat them as such. Asuka & Kairi Sane would have been some decent rivals, but I don’t recall this happening. After The IIconics lost the titles, they were around, but never got back to where they were in NXT or early in their main roster career. Vince McMahon decided he wasn’t a fan and buried them as a team.
Some may remember that near the end, Vince split them up and pushed Peyton Royce as a singles star, while Billie Kay introduced a gimmick where she’d try (and often fail) to sell her services to anyone who would listen. Royce enjoyed a decent push for a month or two before WWE forced her into an unnatural team with Lacey Evans. The IIconics were both released not long after and went to Impact Wrestling, where they became the tag team champions right away.
Although, I am not shy in saying that their Impact tag title reign was horrible. They hardly defended it, and when they did, they lost it. Nothing they did in Impact felt like a good fit for either side, so after they lost the title to The Influence (Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood), they both requested their release. They are working on other projects now, like acting. Would they return to WWE as a team if the time and money are right? Absolutely. They would trust that Triple H would treat them right and give them opportunities.
#35 & 36. The Revival
When The Revival was in NXT, they worked in several candidates for the match of the year. Triple H gave them the freedom to flourish as an old-school tag team who focused heavily on the wrestling side. They worked hard, and the results proved it was worth investing in them. The annoying part is that when they were called up to the main roster, Vince didn’t understand this. He wanted to repackage them with a sports entertainment gimmick when the whole point of them was to honor the past and show that tag team wrestling was still a valuable asset to any show.
After leaving WWE, they picked up the AEW Tag Team Championships. They currently hold the ROH, AAA, and IWGP Tag Team titles, making them the only triple champions on the show. And it’s not because they are former WWE Superstars, but because they have earned it with their performances in AEW and ROH. They are without a doubt one of, if not the best tag team in the world today. And Triple H will feel he set them on that path, and that WWE did not give them the chance to prove themselves on Raw. When their contracts are up, there will be a fierce bidding war for their services from any promotion that can afford them.
#37. Timothy Thatcher
Everyone who follows me knows how high I am on Timothy Thatcher. The guy has exceptional technical skills in the ring. He may not be a pretty face, but it was a joy watching him work in a style that very few would imagine trying. Yeah, you’ve got to be an enthusiast to appreciate the subtle things he would do in his offense. But outside the ring, he had a character too.
Thatcher played the part of a brutal trainer who would punish his students for the sake of it. There was a psychotic side to him, which is why he clashed with Ciampa. When they settled their differences, they formed a tag team that would strike fear into anyone standing across from them. They brought the pain, but they failed to pick up the tag titles in their one opportunity. In the second half of 2021, Thatcher was written off TV and became a coach before his release in January 2022.
He disappeared for a while, but recently resurfaced and was booked by Pro Wrestling NOAH. They had to cancel his booking this week because of a visa issue. Whether he comes back to WWE as a coach or a full-time superstar, Thatcher would be an asset to WWE. He’s 40 next year, so there are a few years left in his career and not seeing him on TV feels like a waste.
#38. Toni Storm
Triple H and Stephanie McMahon were both very high on Toni Storm for years. In the picture above, you can see them with Toni after winning the Mae Young Classic in 2018. She worked her hardest in NXT UK and NXT to get to where she wanted to be, which was the main roster. However, when she got there, she realized it wasn’t what she hoped it to be. I’m guessing that she wasn’t enjoying the process, and not long after a brief rivalry with Charlotte Flair, she went home and was later granted her release.
She wasn’t enjoying it in WWE, so she got out of there. It’s admirable because some people get stuck in jobs they hate and don’t dare to get out of them because they assume they won’t find work elsewhere or will make less money. Toni didn’t care, so she left and is now working for AEW. She’s bound to become a women’s champion at some point, although she’ll have to work hard and wait her turn. If that doesn’t work out, Triple H will take her back with no hesitation.
#39. Tye Dillinger
His “Perfect 10” gimmick had no right getting over, but it did amazingly. NXT loved Tye Dillinger, and his main roster promotion looked promising because the 10 chants crossed over. There was one problem, though. The type of problem that no matter how much anyone gets over, they aren’t going anywhere because of it. You guessed it… Vince McMahon. He buried the “10” chant so hard that Tye Dillinger struggled and went from being a consistent mid-carder to an enhancement talent.
To be fair, his time in AEW has been difficult too. Even with Tully Blanchard as a manager, Shawn Spears’ bookings on Dynamite and PPVs were sporadic. After becoming the “Chairman”, it looked like he’d become a regular, but again, his bookings weren’t consistent. What regularly got him on TV was becoming a member of MJF’s Pinnacle stable, where he served as his right-hand man. He didn’t wrestle much but was regularly around to do MJF’s dirty work. Since MJF’s absence, he hasn’t been used in AEW.
His strength comes from how reliable he can be, and that’s what Triple H would want from him. Not everyone you sign is a future world champion, but someone who knows that their place is to get others over in the mid-card. Tye Dillinger was one of those guys in WWE, but Vince McMahon never got the point. Triple H would use him more than AEW does, and he’d probably get his Perfect 10 gimmick back. Which, to be fair, is what transformed his career. Nothing AEW does will get him on that level. Before we move on to the last guy, here’s what Spears had to say about Vince McMahon’s creative vision:
“Credibility. One of the last conversations I had with Vince, I went into his office… I needed to say what I needed to say. The biggest difference between both companies is credibility. Talent needs credibility. They don’t necessarily need pushes… but talent does need credibility.
If you’re watching the product and two guys come out and you’re already able to tell the finish of the match based on entrances alone, that’s a problem. Because now we’re giving an audience the opportunity to change the channel, we’re giving them the opportunity to text on their phone… they don’t care. They’re not invested. And that’s what I said to the chairman. I said, ‘with all due respect, I think we’re insulting their intelligence.’ He just kinda looked at me and said, ‘oh sh*t,’ But I still stand by that sentiment today.”
#40. William Regal
When we heard WWE had released William Regal, there was a collective groan heard around the world. How do you release somebody as knowledgeable and helpful to the next generation of superstars as William Regal? It’s mind-boggling. To this day, it is surreal to see him turn up on Dynamite and share his thoughts on commentary. This is a guy who was so ingrained in the WWE system, especially NXT, that many never gave it a second thought he could work anywhere else.
Now he’s trying to instill his wisdom into AEW’s roster, along with being the on-screen manager of the Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta). It’s such an enormous loss for WWE because NXT created so many stars during Regal’s time. Triple H didn’t build NXT alone. He needed guys like Regal and Dusty Rhodes to help. In saying that, imagine if Triple H could entice him back from AEW. Would Regal play a bigger role in WWE than he did before? Or perhaps he could get him back in NXT to help his friend Shawn Michaels, so he can focus more on other shows?
Whatever Triple H does, it is clear from this extensive list of superstars that many of the men & women that he and Regal developed would love another chance to work with him. This is an exciting time for talent, for they no longer have to answer to Vince McMahon, and can be safe knowing that WWE will book them to their strengths. For all those who were let go by WWE, they either had no choice or felt like they had no choice. WWE has since become a more enticing place to be, and this is good for the talent and even more so for the fans. We don’t know who’s going to show up!
I hope that these three articles have shed plenty of light on how WWE can use its current superstars, along with who is likely to return in the future. It shows how much the landscape has changed since Vince McMahon’s resignation, and how much of a bright future we have to look forward to. There’s an incredible era ahead of us, because of the dynamic between WWE, AEW, and others.
I’d love to read your thoughts about wrestling’s future and where it’s going. Who would you like to see return to WWE? And who do you envisage as being better off staying where they are? Please let us know in the comments. Thank you for taking the time!
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