Triple H’s Endless Shopping Spree
Grab a stool, order a cold one, and let’s talk about how WWE is currently treating the wrestling world like a midnight run to a convenience store. Triple H is grabbing everything off the shelves, tossing contracts around, and leaving independent promotions with empty shelves. The latest whispers from the rumor mill suggest that Orlando is about to get a lot more crowded.
According to the latest reports, WWE has set its sights on two major names from different corners of the wrestling globe. The first is former Major League Wrestling standout Richard Holliday, who has been making waves in the National Wrestling Alliance. The second is former New Japan Pro-Wrestling junior heavyweight icon Hiromu Takahashi, who departed his home promotion back in February.
As reported by Wrestling Inc, the WWE recruitment machine is in overdrive. Holliday is reportedly close to putting pen to paper, if he has not signed already, while Takahashi is expected to report to the Performance Center shortly. This is a massive double-swoop that shows WWE has no intention of slowing down.
Richard Holliday and the Ghost of the Dynasty
Let’s start with Richard Holliday, the self-proclaimed "Most Marketable Man in Wrestling." If you watched MLW during its peak years, you know exactly who this guy is. He was the smug, coffee-sipping spine of The Dynasty, a heel group that also featured AEW's MJF and powerhouse Alex Hammerstone.
They were the most entertaining team of obnoxious prep school snobs in recent memory. Holliday and MJF even captured the MLW World Tag Team Championship, showing they had the in-ring chemistry to match their promo work. Holliday has been grinding on the independent circuit for ten years now, showing massive dedication to his craft.
He also fought a heroic battle against Hodgkin's Lymphoma in late 2022, completing a successful return to the ring. That comeback earned him the respect of every locker room in the country. Currently, Holliday is running things as the NWA Midwest Heavyweight Champion.
Holliday holding that title is a nice accolade, but let's be real about the NWA. Billy Corgan's promotion has been running on fumes and questionable booking decisions for a while now. Getting out of that territory and into the WWE umbrella is a massive career upgrade.
He is still hitting opponents with his signature double underhook powerbomb, the Market Crash, to pick up wins. But we need to ask the hard question here. Does WWE actually have a plan for him, or is he just another body for the Performance Center?
NXT is already overflowing with guys who have great hair, perfect teeth, and look good in trunks. Holliday previously had tryouts with WWE and was even considered for the "Mr. Elegance" character in TNA. That gimmick sounded like a cheap cologne advertisement, so he probably dodged a bullet there.
If he signs, he must avoid getting lost in the Florida developmental shuffle. Let's hope he doesn't end up chasing the WWE Speed Championship on Twitter. That would be a waste of a guy who can actually talk people into the building.
The Nox Raijin Mystery Tour
Then we have the Takahashi situation, which is a completely different beast. Hiromu Takahashi is an absolute legend in Japan. He spent the last decade tearing up the junior heavyweight division with high-risk maneuvers and unmatched charisma.
He won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship five times, putting on clinics against the likes of Will Ospreay and Taiji Ishimori. Takahashi left NJPW in February, sending shockwaves through the puroresu community. Now, he is reportedly headed to Orlando, but there is a major red flag waving in the wind.
Hiromu's departure from New Japan also leaves a massive void in their junior division. The company has relied on him to carry the Best of the Super Juniors tournament and main event Tokyo Dome shows for years. Without his colorful presence, New Japan has to scramble to find a new babyface anchor.
WWE has reportedly trademarked the ring name Nox Raijin for him. That name sounds like a generic villain from a Playstation 1 game. This is the classic WWE creative problem.
They did the exact same thing to his former stablemate EVIL, renaming him Naraku. Hiromu is a guy who famously talked to a stuffed cat named Daryl and wore colorful jackets that looked like an explosion at a paint factory. You cannot over-produce a personality like that without ruining the magic.
If creative tries to turn him into a silent foreign heel or a generic ninja, it will fail immediately. Speculation suggests he might pair up with Naraku in NXT to recreate some of their old chemistry. That makes sense on paper, but only if they let him keep his chaotic energy.
We do not need another great international star sitting on the bench because writers do not understand him. Let's hope Triple H remembers what made Hiromu a star in the first place. Otherwise, this is just another expensive toy left in the box.
The AEW Exodus and the Backstage Veterans
But the shopping spree does not stop with Holliday and Takahashi. Former WWE star Big Bill, known to AEW fans for his powerhouse run, has reportedly notified AEW of his plans to exit the promotion. Bill has been a solid mid-card presence, but rumors of a WWE return are growing louder by the day.
This brings up the inevitable Enzo Amore conversation. A reunion between Enzo and Cass would certainly get people talking on social media, even if it divides the fanbase. However, we have to wonder if that act belongs back in 2016.
Nostalgia is a powerful drug, but it rarely translates to long-term success in the current product. Big Bill has improved immensely as a singles competitor, and reverting to an old tag team feels like a step backward. Let's hope he gets to stand on his own two feet.
Meanwhile, WWE is also looking to bolster its backstage presence. Veteran wrestler Eric Young, who was recently let go by TNA, is expected to return in a wrestler-coach role. This is actually a brilliant piece of business by Triple H.
Young has a legendary wrestling IQ and can teach the next generation how to work a crowd. We also have rumors surrounding Mike Santana, who recently dropped the TNA World Championship. Santana is a phenomenal tag team specialist and singles competitor who deserves a massive spotlight.
If WWE snags him, they are getting a locker room leader who can work any style. But once again, the roster is getting dangerously crowded. WWE is collecting talent like they are running out of storage space.
It is great for the stock price, but it is a nightmare for the independent scene. If you are an indie promoter, you are watching your top draws disappear into the Orlando void. Let's hope these guys actually get to show what they can do instead of collecting dust.
