I really don't have a problem with Trips, I don't. But everytime he's gone, I don't miss him and find myself most interested in the E when he's on hiatus. If he comes back to lay down for Sheamus to cement the Irish Rooster's spot and have some good matches while at it, I'm all for it. As far as he being a regular presence and/or a champion again, no, I don't want to see that. I'm having fun seeing new and different champs in (except for Swagger) Miz, Kane, Sheamus and possibly later down the line in Barrett and Del Rio. I don't want to see Trip's 13th-17th title reigns, I don't want to see anymore Trips-Orton matches, I don't want to see nor does the company need any of it's young talent to be losing to Triple H.
The company is in the midst of a young talent initiative, guys like Miz, Sheamus, Morrison, Barret and the Nexus, Dragon, Ziggler and so on are having so much time invested in them and really, things are as good now as they were when he was there. If he comes back to give rubs to Miz and Sheamus, GOOD. If he comes back, runs through Sheamus and takes the belt from Miz to feud with Cena or Orton, BAD. He can do either one of two things; help take the E another step forward or make them back peddle the five steps forward they have taken since his absence and I completely fear the later thought since there is no side project to keep him occupied the way DX kept him in the limelight but away from where he isn't needed. I fear we might get a repeat of his awful Smackdown run and the boredom of his return to Raw and the Orton feud.
There was once a time for him as a top guy, but now he can be a special attraction type guy. Wrestle two-three feuds a year, work 6 months out of the year, get a big pop and payday, then leave before the welcome is worn out. I know Trips has a great mind and respect for the business, but this is the true telling point of the man, is he in it for the best interest of the WWE or Triple H? Will he be remembered as the guy who did the right thing in his later years and helped create new stars or is he the prick that he was in 02-05 but even worse since he isn't as relevant as he was then?
I know people will counter my Trips arguments with "why is it ok for Taker to go over young guys and stay on top into his 40's"? Why? Because Taker is the longest tenured guy on the roster. Taker is a locker room leader. Taker has never been accused of going into business for himself or used his stroke to keep his spot. Taker is a bigger draw, his annual match at Mania is one of the shows drawing points and he is a special attraction in his own right, he is seriously as close as the E has had to Andre the Giant in terms of reverence and appeal since that mutant Frenchman stomped in the ring. Trips is a legend in his own right, but he isn't Taker, fans have never tired of Taker.