Backstage News On WWE Creative Changes Since Vince McMahon's Removal

WWE creative has underwent major changes over the past few weeks following Ari Emanuel's decision to remove Vince McMahon from the creative process, implanting Triple H as the sole head of creative in the process. McMahon still holds power within WWE as Executive Chairman of TKO Group Holdings and he is currently overseeing negotiations for Raw and NXT's United States media rights.

Vince McMahon's lack of creative influence has been evident over the past few weeks, with talent returning to WWE TV, the likes of Carlito making their returns, several cameos, longer matches, and more time for female talent on-screen. According to Fightful Select, sources within WWE expected this to continue and adjustments to creative went through "overnight." WWE have looked to establish the in-ring aspect of Monday Night Raw over the past few weeks through Ivar vs. Kofi Kingston, Ricochet vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, and Gunther vs. Bronson Reed.

One WWE writer noted the creative changes have "freshened up things and relaxed the process now that Raw has a much more wide open roster of talent to implement and use."

Another writer said about Vince McMahon: "Well, I guess he wasn't lying when he said he wasn't in the weeds, but in a way, he just sprayed roundup on the weeds and checked in on them every so often." 

This was in reference to Vince McMahon overseeing WWE creative between from April until early October, with the 78-year-old remotely making changes in the days and hours ahead of TV tapings on a semi-regular basis.