Mr. Kennedy opened up about his strained relationship with Triple H during his appearance on René Duprée’s Café de René podcast, admitting that even years later, he still doesn’t have a clear answer as to why Triple H disliked him – only theories shaped by repeated backstage experiences.
When asked directly about the heat coming from Triple H, Kennedy was honest about the confusion surrounding it. “I don’t know. I don’t know, to be honest with you,” Kennedy said, explaining that there was never a single incident he could point to that justified the animosity.
Rather than citing any specific wrongdoing, Kennedy suggested that the issue may have been rooted in perception more than action.
One possibility Kennedy raised was his ability to connect with audiences. As Duprée pointed out, Kennedy had charisma and could talk – traits that often create friction in locker rooms driven by hierarchy. Kennedy didn’t dismiss the idea. “Could be,” he responded when it was suggested that his mic skills may have played a role.
Kennedy then recalled a moment that cemented his belief that Triple H was actively undermining him. During an overseas tour, Kennedy cut a promo where he referred to himself as “the future of sports entertainment.” After returning backstage, he tried to get feedback from Triple H directly. “I was like, ‘Did you happen to see that? You give me any advice?’” Kennedy said, recalling Triple H’s response. “He was like, ‘Oh man, I’m sorry. I didn’t catch you.’”
That wasn’t the full story. Moments later, Kennedy was pulled aside by another wrestler and informed of what had actually happened while he was in the ring. “He was f**king burying you while you were out there, dude,” Kennedy recalled being told. According to Kennedy, Triple H mocked him loudly in front of others. “Well, boys, better f**king save your paychecks if that’s the future of sports entertainment,” Triple H reportedly said.
The comment left Kennedy furious and ready to confront Triple H privately, but cooler heads prevailed. “I remember like I was f**king hot,” Kennedy said, admitting he was prepared to say something. Before he could, Chris Jericho intervened and explained why that would be a terrible idea. “He was like, ‘Listen, that guy has Sunday brunch with the boss every week,’” Kennedy recalled. “He’s like, ‘Don’t do it.’”
That warning stayed with him. The phrase “Sunday brunch” became shorthand between Kennedy and Jericho for Triple H’s political power within WWE, and a reminder of why fighting back would only make things worse.
Even now, Kennedy maintains that he never knowingly crossed a line. “I never did anything,” he said earlier in the discussion, reiterating that the hostility seemed to exist regardless of his behavior.
Looking back, he believes his confidence, momentum, and willingness to position himself as a future top star may have been enough to make him a target.
