Triple H is turning heads lately by consistently calling up NXT talent to the RAW or SmackDown rosters. The most recent, obvious examples are Trick Williams and Jordynne Grace.
It wasn't just an end-of-2025 strategy shift; that growing trend has continued into 2026, too. Lola Vice is rumored to be the next NXT star called up to the WWE roster. It is believed that Vice should make the SmackDown roster to join her boyfriend, Damian Priest.
To be completely frank, the timing of these NXT call-ups is unorthodox. WWE has only called up NXT stars to the main rosters before the hectic January-April period sparingly in the past. This trend isn't a coincidence; it's methodical, but it might even win Triple H some respect from WWE fans.
Unfortunately for WWE fans, Triple H might be right with NXT decisions
Make no mistake about it, this year's Royal Rumble will be like no other. Of course, WWE continues to push into new global markets, but we are bound to see an influx of young, fresh talent like never before.
It would be awesome to see the likes of Trick Williams, Je'Von Evans and Oba Femi in the Men's Royal Rumble and Sol Ruca, Lola Vice and Jordynne Grace in the Women's Royal Rumble.
After the Royal Rumble, storytelling will switch to build hype for the Elimination Chambers and, of course, WrestleMania. The hope is that the NXT recruits will not get lost in the chaos of it all, but truthfully this could be a big reason why WWE added an additional hour to SmackDown.
It's hard to be optimistic about such decisions as a WWE fan. We've seen, time and time again, those big decisions fall flat on their face.
That said, maybe it's even more reason for Triple H to look at the unofficial rule book, and rip it up. Why wait to protect NXT stars when WWE could push them into the limelight instead?
Look, there's an elephant in the room. Everybody knows that WWE viewership is about to peak. The first half of the year is when casual fans turn into diehards, and then that viewership tends to drop off a few weeks after WrestleMania.
The reason why? Well, it's up in the air, but pushing a fresh wave of NXT names onto casual fans who might not recognize them can't help viewing figures.
That's why Triple H might be in the midst of a genius play here. While interest in WWE is peaking again, those fans are being introduced to carefully selected NXT stars who may carry the roster after WrestleMania is over. Introducing them to casual fans now avoids that element of surprise when the inevitable happens.
Triple H isn't the most popular figure in WWE, and honestly, that's completely valid. Expect his relentless NXT recruitment to receive some backlash, but WWE fans might be thankful it's happened earlier than usual this year when seeking storylines post-April.
Not to be the bearer of breaking, unexpected news, but Triple H is doing ... the right thing?