Vince McMahon was positioning Austin Theory as WWE's next big thing; however, when Triple H took over, he slipped down the card and many fans were left to wonder whether The Game simply didn't have the same level of faith in the former United States Champion.
During a recent appearance on the Battleground podcast, Theory shared his thoughts on what it's been like working under Triple H and seems happy with the greater level of freedom that's given him and other WWE Superstars.
"I would have to say, man, with the creative process now, it’s very hands-on," he explained. "There’s a lot of opportunity for us Superstars to make tweaks, make changes, have our own ideas and not be shut down. Then, actually having the opportunity to be looking at and say, 'Well, you know, maybe we could go somewhere with this,' or 'That’s not really the plan, but you know that might have something to it.'"
"So it’s very hands-on, but the creative is very creative for all of us because we’re all able to create. When it comes to what we do as sports entertainers, professional wrestlers, is showing our art, so that creativity is so important for us to have in our own hands and I feel that way now that we do have it," Theory added.
In recent weeks, we've seen Theory teaming up with Grayson Waller in NXT and the former Money in the Bank briefcase holder - he cashed in on then-United States Champion Seth Rollins and failed to secure the title - shared his thoughts on returning to the developmental brand.
"You have the Performance Center. That’s where I started when I got signed. Then you slowly get on NXT TV, and then eventually you make it to the main roster. It’s crazy how the feeling of NXT has changed, the caliber of superstars that they have, and the level they perform on, the arenas they go to, and how they showcase those stars. Man, you can’t really argue that it’s not a main roster feel. So to me, I feel like WWE, it’s this universe, and we have all these different planets. You got SmackDown, you got RAW, you got NXT. I think it’s so cool to look at it as, wow, there’s all these new characters. There’s all this new talent."
"Let’s see how an Austin Theory would collaborate with this star, or Grayson Waller would collaborate with this star. So I look at it more so as anybody that’s on TV in the WWE, whether it’s NXT TV, SmackDown or RAW, you’re looking at a Superstar. That person made it out of millions and there’s a reason they’re there. So for me to go to NXT, it’s not a step back. It’s not a downgrade. It’s not a ‘Oh no. Do I have to get worked on or do I have to get better at something?’ It’s none of that. It’s just about elevating everybody, and all of us being in there together, it just makes us all better and it improves the WWE for sure."
It feels like WWE is waiting to pull the trigger on a babyface turn for Theory as the company has been teasing a split between him and Waller for months now. Given Grayson's obnoxious personality, when the tag team does split, Austin is the natural choice to become a fan-favourite.
When that happens, there's a very good chance Theory will get back into the main event.