4 WWE Superstars who deserved a better farewell under the Triple H regime - 19-year veteran, 2x world champion
Every story in WWE deserves a fitting end, whether that story is a program between two superstars or a celebrated wrestler's run in the company. But, unfortunately, not all decorated stars get a proper farewell.
Ever since Triple H took charge of WWE booking, fans have noticed numerous improvements. From deserving wrestlers getting fair opportunities to the quality of storytelling improving steadily, The Cerebral Assassin has been one of the prominent factors behind WWE's current surge in popularity.
Despite that, it's no surprise that some feel even The Game has handled certain things in a lackluster manner. Among those things is the lack of respect shown to some accomplished names in the business on their way out of WWE.
That said, here are four WWE Superstars who deserved a better farewell under the Triple H regime.
#4 2x WWE Champion Bobby Lashley
Almost all the top names from The Ruthless Aggression Era are no longer full-time stars. But there is one superstar who is still performing at the same level that he was between 2005 and 2007. The star in question is Bobby Lashley.
In the last four years alone, The Dominator has been on a roll. From becoming a two-time WWE Champion to being a key part of one of the coolest factions in recent history a.k.a. The Hurt Business, Lashley just refuses to leave his prime.
However, ever since his infamous WrestleMania 39 snub, his booking has been questionable at best. First, he was miscast as a heel alongside The Street Profits. Upon turning babyface, he entered a forgettable feud with Karrion Kross' The Final Testament.
Now, all signs point to The Dominator leaving the Stamford-based promotion. It goes without saying Lashley should've gotten the opportunity to close the book on his successful WWE run in a memorable way rather than exiting in complete silence.
#3 Shelton Benjamin
While the previous WWE regime should be held accountable for not letting The Hurt Business live up to its full potential, it's the current one that is responsible for not fully trusting the members to run with the ball individually.
While Shelton Benjamin was not the main focus of the MVP-founded group, The Gold Standard had a major part to play in its success. So, when the Team Angle alum went back to being a solo competitor, fans were hopeful to see Creative do something with Benjamin's newfound momentum.
Unfortunately, that didn't turn out to be the case and the three-time Intercontinental Champion's place on the card remained an abysmal sight for his fans. Given how WWE books the rest of the top stars from the OVW class of 2002 such as John Cena and Randy Orton, it's a head-scratcher why Benjamin's rich set of skills weren't utilized better.
Even after Triple H took over in the summer of 2022, Benjamin remained an afterthought. He had a slew of forgettable matches on RAW and Main Event before being let go in September 2023.
#2 Dolph Ziggler
Given the dynamic nature of the professional wrestling business, it's not wise to call an active wrestler a 'lifer.' However, many fans truly believed that Dolph Ziggler would be a 'WWE lifer.'
The self-proclaimed perfectionist had a 19-year tenure at the sports entertainment giant. While he was never given the opportunity to be the face of the company, there were numerous occasions where he came unbelievably close.
From his iconic Money in the Bank cash-in on the post-WrestleMania 29 edition of WWE RAW to his outstanding performance in the Survivor Series 2014 main event, Ziggler never hesitated to 'Show the World' that he could hang with the best. However, every time he gained significant momentum, there was never an acceptable follow-through.
As the years went by, The Showoff slowly slipped down the ranks of relevancy before eventually being shown the door in September 2023. It was surprising that a 19-year veteran didn't get a well-deserved farewell or an engaging final storyline.
#1 Goldberg
While many feel Bill Goldberg's last WWE run turned him into a polarizing figure, it can't be denied that he's one of those legends who had a tremendous impact on the industry.
One could argue that he had no right defeating the likes of Kevin Owens and The Fiend when he did. At the same time, a megastar of his caliber deserved to go out on a graceful note. His final match in the Stamford-based promotion saw him unsuccessfully challenging for the Universal Championship at Elimination Chamber 2022.
Later in the year, after the Triple H regime took effect, the WCW icon seemingly kept waiting for a call to return to the ring, only for it to never come. By the end of the year, his contract expired, turning him into a free agent.
One could argue that a match against The Tribal Chief is a fitting way to close the book on a wrestling career. However, Goldberg has publicly stated that he never got a proper retirement match and that only he reserves the right to decide when he's done.