Triple H Made HUGE Change To WWE SummerSlam 2022 Plans

One of WWE SummerSlam 2022's biggest moments wouldn't have happened under Vince McMahon.

Triple H SummerSlam
WWE

Becky Lynch's WWE SummerSlam 2022 babyface turn would not have happened without Paul 'Triple H' Levesque.

PWTorch reports that Levesque made the call to flip Lynch's alignment at the 30 July event, flexing his booking power after being announced as WWE's head of creative earlier that week. Originally, disgraced former Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon planned on having Becky stay heel after SummerSlam, where she was defeated by Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair.

Belair and Lynch have effectively been feuding since the latter returned at last year's event, squashing Bianca to become SmackDown Women's Champion in 26 seconds. After an acclaimed series of matches culminated in Bianca's victory, Becky offered the champion a handshake, mirroring the SummerSlam 2021 spot that saw Lynch sucker her opponent in and claim the belt. There were no shenanigans here, though: Belair took Lynch's hand and accepted her embrace.

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Becky then backed Bianca up when the returning Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Io Shirai (now Iyo Sky) confronted the Raw Women's Champion after the bell. Fightful Select note that this was another Triple H move. This stable had actually been pitched to McMahon prior to Kai's April release, though he turned this (and alternatives featuring Alba Fyre and Raquel Rodriguez) down.

Triple H's WWE ascent comes following Vince's 22 July "retirement", which was referred to as a "resignation" in WWE's Q2 2022 financial reports. The 76-year-old is currently amid a "hush money" scandal after the Wall Street Journal revealed he'd paid several millions of dollars to suppress allegations of sexual misconduct.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.