On a new episode of The Stevie Richards Show, former WWE Superstar Stevie Richards responded to a fan question: Is The Undertaker slowly being positioned to replace Triple H in a major executive role?
A viewer asked for Richards’ thoughts on The Undertaker’s recent high-profile presence in WWE (like at the WrestleMania 43 press conference) and whether TKO sees him as the preferred face of the company over Triple H – possibly even grooming him for eventual leadership. Richards didn’t dismiss the idea at all.
Richards acknowledged immediately that Undertaker has indeed been appearing more frequently in authoritative positions within WWE-related settings. “I have a feeling he’s preferred by TKO as the face of the company versus Triple H,” Richards said. He added that Saudi Arabia leadership has long shown special admiration for Taker. “Turki (Alalshikh) does like it when Undertaker sits next to him, and Turki might like it when Taker runs WWE,” he noted half-jokingly – but the meaning behind the joke was serious.
Richards’ co-host built on that point, noting how often Undertaker was seen accompanying Vince McMahon on the company’s major Saudi trips before the TKO merger. “Anytime Vince went to Saudi Arabia, who was right next to him? Taker,” the co-host said, suggesting that optics alone speak volumes.
Richards then went into the deeper question: does The Undertaker have the experience to take on Triple H’s role as Chief Content Officer or something similar? He reminded viewers how long Triple H had been groomed for that job. “How many years, if not a decade or more, was Vince grooming Triple H to be in power?” Richards said. “He was already in the office, an executive for years. He was on creative with Stephanie.”
Still, Richards acknowledged that if Vince were still fully running WWE, Undertaker would have been considered “another family member” and likely placed near Triple H in the chain of command. In the TKO era, however, everything is different – and Undertaker’s influence is growing from directions most fans aren’t paying attention to.
One of the biggest revelations Richards dropped was that Undertaker is now “highly influential” in AAA’s creative direction. His co-host clarified that Undertaker is not merely a symbolic figure in AAA – he’s actively involved. “He’s already involved in some booking,” the co-host said. “He’s creeping up… busy booking AAA for sure.” Richards added that Undertaker has been attending major AAA shows, particularly the ones WWE helps promote internationally. This, he suggested, could be a training ground for a future WWE creative position.
Richards admitted it is “not out of the question at all” that Undertaker is being quietly groomed for an eventual executive role – whether in WWE’s main office or in NXT alongside Shawn Michaels. He said the idea is “very, very interesting” and absolutely plausible from a business standpoint. He noted Taker’s loyalty, professionalism, and universal respect. “I don’t see anybody else that has been as trusted and loyal as Taker,” Richards said. “It’s not the worst choice in the world.”
The conversation then shifted to Triple H’s current standing under TKO. Richards made a bold statement: “Hunter puts himself in everything. Hunter is trying to make himself indispensable to not be fired by TKO or the Saudis.” He suggested that Triple H is fully aware that his position is not untouchable, especially now that The Rock sits above him on TKO’s board. “If the day ever came where Triple H got moved on from, I could definitely see Taker taking that Chief Content Officer or Chief Operating Officer type role.”
This led to an even deeper conversation: the historical tension between Triple H and The Rock. The co-host recalled stories from the late ’90s where Triple H and Shawn Michaels tried to get The Rock fired because they saw him as a threat. Richards and his panel believed The Rock may now be sitting back, allowing Triple H to shoulder the entire creative burden – and waiting. “Let Triple H think he’s indispensable,” the co-host said. “And then when the ratings are low and interest is down, it all relies on him.”
They also argued that WWE’s corporate identity now revolves more around executive figures than wrestlers. “When you say WWE, what’s the first name you think of?” the co-host asked. “Not Roman Reigns, not Cody Rhodes, not CM Punk… Triple H. And then Undertaker.”
Richards also broke down why Undertaker could fit well in high-level corporate meetings. He contrasted Undertaker’s calm communication style with that of longtime wrestling personalities like Paul Heyman, Bruce Prichard, and Michael Hayes, whom he said still have a “Carney” tone when speaking to executives. He believes Triple H has mastered the corporate-mannered presentation – and Undertaker could, too.
On the flip side, Richards didn’t see others like Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, or CM Punk fitting the corporate mold. While he praised Cody’s intelligence and creativity, he suggested that to corporate media executives, Cody’s appearance – bleach blonde hair, neck tattoo – might be a barrier. “You have to sit across from somebody and say, ‘We can do business together,’” Richards explained. “Triple H can do that. And I believe Taker can be like that.”
In the end, Richards stopped short of declaring an inevitable takeover – but he made it clear that the possibility is real. The Undertaker’s rising power in AAA, his ambassador role, his long-term trust within the company, and his proximity to both Saudi and TKO leadership form a picture that WWE fans can no longer ignore.
Richards closed the discussion by saying he wouldn’t be shocked if Triple H is ultimately being set up to fail. “It’s really weird,” he said. “But I think he’s being set up to fail 100%.”
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