The June 30 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw produced a lot of interesting action throughout the night. However, two of the biggest talking points coming out of the show were Rhea Ripley getting yet another shot at the WWE Women’s World Championship and The New Day losing the WWE World Tag Team Championship. These are two contentious topics, but when looking at them, both are clear examples of fans’ growing frustration with Triple H’s booking.
Since taking over the creative department for WWE, there are a lot of good things Triple H has done with the main roster. Some examples that stand out are Bron Breakker and Jacob Fatu becoming hot new names in the men’s division, and Lyra Valkyria carving out a place for herself in the women’s division.
But there are a lot of ways that fans are highlighting issues with Triple H’s booking direction as well. Breaking down the situations with Rhea Ripley and The New Day are just two worth more in-depth conversations.
Rhea Ripley is back in the title picture: Why can’t other women get a chance to rise up the ladder?
Let’s break this down. One week ago, IYO Sky told her long-time comrade, Asuka, that she would love to face her for the championship in a one-on-one match. Asuka loses to Jade Cargill at Night of Champions, and Sky has the opportunity to pick an opponent for a big match at Evolution, and she chooses Rhea Ripley. A woman she has already defeated for two different title reigns. Once for the WWE Women’s World Championship and for the WWE NXT Women’s Championship back in 2020.
Sky doesn’t have anything left to prove against Ripley, yet it made “sense” for her to be booked to face Ripley instead of a big dream match like Asuka. Sky hasn’t had a title match since winning the strap back in April and has only had four matches in the past three months since. It doesn’t make sense, and it is nothing but lackadaisical booking on Triple H’s part.
For those who want to see Ripley hold the championship again, the best time to put the title back on her is coming in October when WWE returns to Australia. Seeing the hometown hero pick up the championship in a big-time one-on-one match could have sold the show as the main event. But WWE’s creative team doesn’t seem to have the ability to think that far ahead today.
The New Day heel turn and title reign were not any better
The New Day turned heel, rejected Big E, and won the tag team titles at WrestleMania 41. All for naught. They defended the titles one time back in May in a triple-threat match. That’s it. WWE used the carrot of Big E’s potential return as a heart-jerking moment to present Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston in a new light. Just to do nothing with it after.
After dropping the titles, where do The New Day go from here? There’s basically nowhere for them to go as the tag team division is dead in the water. Remember all the hype about Ron Killings’ return? Yeah, all that momentum is gone too. Triple H’s booking of particular male demographics on the main roster is not good, and he’s not looking to beat the accusations that are thrown his way.
While discourse about professional wrestling can be tiresome online, there are some good faith critics who simply want the product to be the best it can be. Pointing out issues like Rhea Ripley being back in the title picture immediately or The New Day’s booking as champions and heels are two prime examples of creative decisions that aren’t working and were completely avoidable.