Key WWE Names Return Backstage at SmackDown After Recent Absence

Triple H is officially back in the building for Friday Night SmackDown after several unexplained absences—and so is Road Dogg.

According to Fightful Select, Triple H had “been absent for some recent episodes of Raw and SmackDown,” but he was backstage for today’s taping of SmackDown, along with Road Dogg, who also missed last week’s show.

The timing of their return is critical, especially with WWE pushing hard into its final quarter of the year. But it’s Triple H’s time away that has stirred the most behind-the-scenes chatter.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter previously reported that Triple H missed several WWE TV tapings. While sources close to him claimed the absences were “planned” and that he’s still active in creative meetings, others inside the company have started whispering about whether outside distractions are starting to interfere.

“Paul Levesque has missed some shows of late and it’s led to people saying his political priorities (not wrestling politics but US politics) have started to hurt the company.”

The speculation didn’t stop there. Some within WWE—both supporters and critics—are starting to view Triple H’s moves as part of a larger play to become the face of WWE, similar to Dana White’s position in UFC. “Paul Levesque has missed some shows of late and it’s led to people saying his political priorities (not wrestling politics but US politics) have started to hurt the company.”

“He wants to be Dana White, basically positioned to the crowd as the biggest star of the brand.”

With both Triple H and Road Dogg now backstage, WWE’s creative team is back at full capacity. Still, fans and insiders alike are wondering whether these disappearances are truly nothing—or the start of a deeper shift in how WWE is being run behind closed doors.

Is Triple H just taking time for other priorities, or is WWE’s creative leader setting up something bigger? Drop your thoughts in the comments. thoughts and predictions about WWE’s creative direction in the comments below!