Jade Cargill has addressed the ongoing criticism surrounding her rapid rise in WWE, making it clear she has no regrets about accepting the opportunity.

The reigning WWE Women’s Champion spoke on The Joe Budden Podcast while promoting her WrestleMania 42 title defense against Rhea Ripley. During the interview, Cargill pushed back on the idea that she advanced too quickly to the top of the company.

“I do what I’m told. At the end of the day me being skyrocketed to the top, that’s a lot on my shoulders too, and people sit back and be like ‘oh, she got this,’ like who in the hell is going to say no? Who’s going to say no? Nobody. They’re going to be like hell yeah give it to me.”

Cargill acknowledged that while the opportunity is significant, it also comes with intense pressure to perform at a high level every time she steps into the ring.

“That’s a lot on my shoulders ‘cause I have to go out there and perform and it’s not a cake walk that people think it is, and I have to be able to have tough skin and deal with the critics and all the stuff that comes with it. People think it’s so easy to be at the top, and they’re like ‘you should be able to handle this,’ I’m a freakin’ human, like I put on my pants just like everybody else, I just gotta go out there and do the damn thing. So I can care less, guess what, I’m getting paid.”

Cargill is currently set to defend the WWE Women’s Championship against Ripley at WrestleMania 42, which will take place on April 18 and April 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The match is expected to be one of the marquee women’s bouts on the card, featuring two of the company’s top stars. As the event approaches, Cargill’s comments highlight both the opportunity and the scrutiny that come with her position at the top of the division.

Despite the criticism, Cargill appears focused on delivering on the biggest stage while embracing the benefits that come with her status.

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In a new TKO Spotlight video, WWE Hall of Famer and Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque opened up about his three‑decade journey in the company, offering rare insight into how his perspective has evolved from performer to executive. The conversation touched on his time across multiple eras, his passion for the creative process, and the challenges that come with leading WWE’s modern content machine.

Levesque began by reflecting on the longevity of his career and the sweeping changes he has witnessed firsthand. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have been with WWE for 30 years,” he said. “To see changes in the guard, I’ve seen talent come and go, I’ve seen ebbs and flows of the business. But I think having been through all of those, having been a key component in the Attitude Era… I’m fortunate in that I experienced all of it.”

That experience, he explained, shaped his understanding of the business far beyond what happens inside the ring. Levesque noted that early in his career, he became fascinated with the behind‑the‑scenes process — the creative discussions, the structure of the shows, and the mechanics of storytelling. That interest eventually guided him toward the executive path he now leads.

“Early in my career, I sort of fell in love with the behind‑the‑scenes of the business,” he said. “I was very interested in the creative process of putting the shows together.” He also praised WWE President Nick Khan, calling him “the most incredible businessman I’ve worked with on a day‑to‑day basis,” noting Khan’s combination of business acumen and genuine fandom.

Levesque then addressed the stark difference between life as a WWE Superstar and life as an executive. “When you’re a WWE Superstar, your focus is singularly on you,” he explained. “When you switch to being an executive, it’s about everybody else. Your job goes from being singularly focused to this wide net of everything you have in front of you.”

He added with a laugh that the hardest part of the transition is dealing with people without being able to settle things physically: “It’s a lot easier to deal with them when you get to slam them than when you can’t and just have to talk to them.”

The interview offered a grounded look at Levesque’s leadership philosophy — one shaped by decades of experience, a deep love for the business, and a clear understanding of WWE’s evolving landscape.

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Speculation surrounding Dwayne Johnson potentially being revealed as Randy Orton’s mystery caller has been addressed in a new update.

According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, while Johnson would represent the biggest possible reveal for a WWE SmackDown episode that is reportedly lagging in ticket sales, sources within WWE have denied that he is the individual behind the storyline.

The mystery caller angle has been unfolding since the March 16 episode of WWE RAW, with Orton shown speaking to an unidentified figure who he credits with helping him rediscover a more ruthless mindset following his heel turn on Cody Rhodes.

Meltzer noted that the identity of the caller is expected to be revealed on the April 3 SmackDown, while also emphasizing the level of secrecy surrounding the situation.

“Orton has a mentor who has been teased for weeks and was to be announced on the 4/3 SmackDown show,” Meltzer wrote. “As noted, while Dwayne Johnson fits the bill and would be the biggest addition for a show that is behind on ticket sales, those in the company have denied the name to us.”

He added that if Johnson were involved, knowledge of the plan would likely be limited to a very small circle, potentially including Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, Rhodes, and Orton. However, Meltzer indicated that people within WWE who are typically aware of key creative directions do not believe Johnson is part of the angle.

WWE itself previously fueled speculation by mentioning The Rock as a possibility in a WWE.com article written by Mark Kaboly. In that piece, Kaboly pointed out that Johnson fits the description of a figure from another wrestling family with ties to Rhodes’ recent WrestleMania storylines.

“The Final Boss had a main role in John Cena’s bad guy turn last year,” Kaboly wrote. “Could he be involved in turning another well-loved legend? It makes complete sense and maybe the most sense of all.”

Johnson was heavily involved in the build to WrestleMania 41, where he played a key role in influencing John Cena’s heel turn after Rhodes rejected his offer. Since the Elimination Chamber, however, The Rock has not appeared on WWE programming.

While speculation continues, the true identity of Orton’s mystery caller is set to be revealed on SmackDown, bringing clarity to one of WWE’s most closely followed storylines heading into WrestleMania 42.

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