WWE’s creative hierarchy has undergone a strategic shift as the company enters 2026, with new details emerging regarding the internal influence of Paul Heyman and WWE President Nick Khan.
According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, while Paul “Triple H” Levesque remains the primary driver of the product, both Heyman and Khan maintain significant, albeit distinct, roles in shaping the company’s direction.
Paul Heyman continues to be a vital part of WWE’s long-term planning, specifically maintaining hands-on creative control over “his people.” This is a group that currently includes The Vision (led by Logan Paul), Brock Lesnar, and Roman Reigns.
Meanwhile, Nick Khan reportedly possesses a creative voice despite public denials of his involvement in booking. Khan’s input is restricted to direct consultations with Levesque, and he does not interact with the broader writing staff. The report also clarified the roles of other veterans: William Regal serves in a non-creative capacity to critique match “believability,” while Michael Hayes remains a producer for major events.
These updates follow a “mild shakeup” where Ryan Ward was promoted to oversee creative pitches to Levesque, while SmackDown co-lead writers Brian “Road Dogg” James and John Swikata took minor step-downs. This restructuring aligns with SmackDown returning to a three-hour format on the USA Network as of January 2, 2026.
There has been praise online from certain fans regarding the seemingly increased quality of the SmackDown brand and its weekly television show over the last two weeks. WWE had Drew McIntyre beat Cody Rhodes for the WWE Title in a three Stages of Hell match on last week’s show.
Across the aisle, AEW President Tony Khan has officially overhauled his own creative process for 2026. In a series of recent interviews, including an appearance on the Battleground podcast, Khan revealed he has reclaimed sole control over the promotion’s outlines to avoid the “crowded” process of previous years.
