Key Name to Miss September 12 WWE SmackDown

One of WWE’s biggest names will be noticeably absent from tonight’s SmackDown in Norfolk, Virginia. Triple H, WWE’s Chief Content Officer, will not be backstage for the September 12, 2025 episode due to obligations tied to the WWE & AAA Worlds Collide event happening later tonight in Las Vegas.

It’s been a whirlwind week for Triple H, filled with appearances ranging from the All-In Summit to TEDSports Indianapolis, a guest spot on Tony Hinchcliffe’s Kill Tony, and a stop at The Pat McAfee Show, where he confirmed he also missed Monday Night Raw earlier this week.

Today, his WWE duties took him to Las Vegas for the official announcement that WrestleMania 43 will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. And according to WWE, he’s staying in Vegas tonight alongside Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker to oversee the Worlds Collide event between WWE and AAA.

The Undertaker is playing a backstage role in the AAA collaboration, while Jeremy Borash is said to be handling the show’s creative direction. Worlds Collide kicks off at 10 PM ET—immediately following the end of SmackDown—making it impossible for Triple H to attend both events.

Even without The Game behind the curtain, SmackDown is stacked with key matches and moments:

• Sami Zayn defends the U.S. Title in an open challenge
• Brock Lesnar makes an appearance following his brutal attack on John Cena
• Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre in a major one-on-one match
• WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill in a SummerSlam rematch

While Triple H won’t be physically present at SmackDown tonight, his fingerprints are still all over the show—and fans can expect plenty of action on the road to Wrestlepalooza.

Are you surprised Triple H is missing SmackDown for the Worlds Collide event? Do you think the show will still deliver without him backstage? Let us know what you think in the comments.