In August 2022, Paul “Triple H” Levesque assumed leadership of WWE’s creative team, which handles all WWE bookings. Under his direction, SmackDown and WWE entered a new era, but some main events on Raw and SmackDown often felt random, awkward, or poorly executed.
Fans often find themselves puzzled by certain SmackDown main events, as Triple H generally treats “main event” as the promotional segment rather than the actual final match of the show.
8. Liv Morgan vs. Shotzi (WWE SmackDown 08/19/2022)
Liv Morgan, then SmackDown Women’s Champion but not yet a major star, faced Shotzi in a relatively bland main event match. Rather than making it a title match to boost viewer interest, Triple H opted for a non-title bout, which was a questionable decision early in his tenure.
7. Miz vs. Jimmy Uso (WWE SmackDown 03/28/2025)
During WWE’s European tour leading to WrestleMania 41, Triple H surprisingly chose a less compelling match between Jimmy Uso and Miz as the main event for a special international episode. Neither wrestler had significant momentum, making the choice feel odd despite being a spotlight occasion.
6. Karrion Kross vs. Madcap Moss (WWE SmackDown 10/28/2022)
Madcap Moss, who was popular under Vince McMahon, was booked to lose in the main event to the returning Karrion Kross in an uneasy match to showcase Kross’s comeback, though the momentum didn’t stick.
5. John Cena & Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns & Sami Zayn (WWE SmackDown 12/20/2022)
In a rare TV main event featuring top stars and a surprise twist, John Cena returned to team with Kevin Owens against Bloodline members Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn. This was notable as Cena’s only match of 2022 and an unusual occasion with such star power on regular TV.
4. Dominik Mysterio vs. Butch (WWE SmackDown 07/21/2023)
Dominik Mysterio defended the NXT North American title against Butch in a seemingly random main event. Though Mysterio regularly appeared on all WWE shows, this match’s placement felt strange for a main roster SmackDown close.
3. Hit Row vs. Legado del Fantasma vs. Viking Raiders (WWE SmackDown 12/16/2022)
Hit Row, a trio given a fresh push early in Triple H’s era, won a triple threat match for a future tag title shot. However, the team is now disbanded, making this once-promising main event look like a failed experiment.
2. Gunther vs. Madcap Moss (WWE SmackDown 02/17/2023)
Gunther defended his Intercontinental Championship against Madcap Moss in a match that was decent but unconvincing for Moss, who was losing steam at the time. It was surprising to see Moss in the main event spot of the card.
1. Edge vs. Grayson Waller (WWE SmackDown 07/07/2023)
This match marked Grayson Waller’s main roster debut and was one of the most random main events under Triple H’s creative reign. Edge, who was nearing his WWE departure, defeated Waller, but with Edge now in AEW and Waller’s current lower card status, the pairing feels disconnected from the present wrestling landscape.
Fan Take:
Triple H’s tenure as WWE’s creative head has brought a fresh approach but also some puzzling booking decisions that challenge WWE fans’ expectations of main event quality. These mismatched or low-stakes matches highlight the growing pains in WWE’s creative direction and suggest the need for clearer storytelling and star-building to elevate the sport’s appeal.
