Triple H needs to better leverage the Black talent on main roster WWE

There’s an interesting going on in reference to the main roster programming in WWE. The consensus is that booking is much better under Triple H. At least that’s the case for most of the roster. There’s a growing concern about the perceived lack of strong booking for Black performers on WWE Raw and SmackDown. Digging into the data from 2024 shows some interesting information that can’t be ignored.

To bring some numbers to the debate, this piece looks back at all the 2024 episodes of WWE Raw and SmackDown through July 31. This piece breaks out four specific categories: number of matches on the show, the total number of performers that participated in the matches (this includes in-ring performers and “managers” like Paul Heyman), the number of Black performers, and the number of Black performers appearing in main events (the last match of the show). Using those breakouts, the following data was compiled.

Through July 31, Black talent makes up 15 percent (103 of 687) of the in-ring performers on WWE Raw and 20 percent (101 of 495) of the in-ring performers on WWE SmackDown. WWE Raw has had 31 shows to this point in 2024, with Black talent appearing in the main event 8 times. SmackDown has had 30 shows through the same point with 13 Black performers in the main event.

Looking at that data and the overall perception of the show, it’s understandable why fans are concerned about the positioning of Black performers. WWE SummerSlam featured 14 in-ring performers across 7 matches with only 1 Black person on the entire card in Nia Jax. Money in the Bank before that featured only three Black performers in Naomi, Zoey Stark, and Carmelo Hayes.

Compare this to what fans are seeing every week on WWE NXT and it’s understandable why there’s a growing concern. That show is filled with a diverse cast both in the men’s and women’s divisions.

The criticism comes back to Triple H, as he leads the creative direction for all things main roster. In the last few weeks, news of Bobby Lashley’s contract status and MVP’s plan to leave WWE created discourse on not only how WWE was leveraging those two stars and the Hurt Business, but Black performers overall on today’s show. Nia Jax picked up the WWE Women’s Championship at SummerSlam and she’s the only Black champion on the main roster at this time. The picture seems even more dire for the men on the roster.

Fans even had blowback for the angle that GUNTHER versus Damian Priest took, as the story shifted from being a battle of two men fighting about “class.” The last few weeks of promos and videos harkened back to that infamous storyline between Booker T and Triple H that still leaves a disgusting taste in the mouths of Black fans everywhere.

WWE has a roster that is packed with some of the best entertainers and wrestlers in the world. Several of those names are Black men and women. Fans are paying a close eye on how that roster is used on Mondays and Fridays. Right now, Triple H is falling short when it comes to featuring the talented Black performers in the company.