The news of R-Truth and Carlito left many across the wrestling community stunned. Fightful Select reported that internal reactions included terms like "utter nonsense" while calling the current leadership regime "ruthless." Those aren't the terms a the powers that be in WWE want to be made public when describing the work culture in the largest promotion in the world. But they weren't the only ones, as fans were openly upset and frutrated with TKO and Endeavor, taking to scial media to attack the company.
Since WrestleMania 41, WWE has been bombared by what could be described as "own goals" in the PR world. At times when the promotion should be celebrating massive successes, there were several instances when quotes were made or actions taken that left fans shaking their heads in disgust. Whether it was the involement of problematic talking heads like Andrew Schulz and Tony Hinchcliffe, the WrestleMania roast, or the series of releases that include performers like Shayna Baszler, Dakota Kai, R-Truth, Carlito, and several more. Endeavor, TKO, and those in charge are giving fans more than enough reasons to hate the direction they are taking the company.
The question that many are debating is who is responsbile for this shift in direction. Some fans want to blame Triple H as he is in charge of creative direction, meaning his voice is key in who is used and promoted on television each week. Others want to point to Endeavor, as they've been at the helm of the UFC for for nearly a decade, taking the largest promotion in mixed martial arts in a direction that has led to a decrease in popularity and interest, all the while growing revenue and profits at the same time.
The answer is plain and clear, the blame falls on both groups and there's plenty to go around.
Endeavor's path to value extraction is counter to everything fans want
It is always easy to point the finger at the big, faceless organization controlling the purse strings. Endeavor is "new" and it has only been two years since they announced the deal to purchase the WWE. While this is true, one can't ignore Endeavor's history when being in this exact situation in the past. Look at the trajectory the company pushed the UFC down and use that information to predict where things may be headed with the WWE.
For example, one of the biggest complaints fans have about UFC events is the lack of quality fights and cards. The shows are pumped out at a near weekly basis, with fewer and fewer recognizable names on the cards. Starpower is nearly non-existent, as fighters struggle to become household names like Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell or others that paved the way to what the UFC is today.
It has become nearly impossible to create create new stars in the UFC. Even names like Paddy Pimblett and Sean O'Malley pale in comparison to the names pushing through just a few short years ago. When coupled with the continued issues around fighter pay which has led to two different lawsuits, that's a problem that doesn't seem to be ending any time soon.
All in all, UFC is frequently described as a "shell" of its former self. What the company used to do well, promote, feels lifeless and "plug-and-play." This is an issue directly linked to Endeavor's owenership and chasing after profit over fan enjoyment.
As the face of WWE, much of the blame should hit Triple H as well
Endeavor isn't alone in this situation. Triple H is the Chief Content Officer, meaning he's the point person when it comes to all things that hit WWE television. That includes the good and the bad. But as the face of WWE, he has to also be the person at the forefront of these issues that fan despise. Triple H has expressed frustration with fan reaction, often lashing out at them for criticism as heard during his recent interview with Andrew Schulz. It is because of his own words that he can't be ignored when discussing the growing frustration fans and viewers have with the WWE product.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Triple H made the final call on who to cut, but the decisions on making cuts comes from higher up in TKO. As news like that continues to get out, fans will turn their focus on Triple H as more of these decisions come out. That's the right move to make because his voice is the most powerful one in the WWE, and if he wanted to advocate for someone he felt was valuable to the product, he could.
When fans see performers like Logan Paul frequently featured while pushing for names like Carmelo Hayes to get opportunities similar to their peers, know those decisions begin and end with Triple H. When popular figures are released or contracts not renewed, the decision on who lies with Triple H. He's the face of the organization and much like Dana White in the UFC, this comes with the position that he holds.
WWE is getting hit with a lot of strife online from fans, viewers, and media members alike. All of it is due to their own actions. The largest promotion in the world continues to struggle with its transition to new leadership who are focused on the bottom line, much to the chagrin of fans. Who is to blame? Look no further than both Endeavor and the biggest voice in the WWE, Triple H.