Credit: Larry Csonka
* Triple H held a conference call today to discuss tomorrow’s NXT special and
more. Here are the highlights and audio…
* Triple H doesn’t like
referring to NXT as developmental because he feels that it is much more. He
feels that NXT is more like college football is to the NFL of the original ECW
was to WWE AND WCW during the Monday Night Wars.
* He takes the time to
break down the title matches for tomorrow’s show, and notes that he is proud of
the NXT ladies division. Charlotte and Bayley headlined a recent NXT live event,
which he was very proud of.
* When asked about the use of NXT talent on
Raw and Main event this week, Triple H noted that they are open to do more of it
in the future. They did it this week to obviously hype the special, and that it
did feel fresh. He also doesn’t think that they looked like “developmental
talent” while working the big shows this week.
* Triple H says that they
have a plan in place for both Prince Devitt and Kevin Steen. They want to bring
them o the right way and to make them as big of stars as they possibly
can.
* Going back to using NXT talent on the main shows, Triple H said
that they are open to a lot of things, but that it is also a work in progress.
The main thing is to keep the appearances special, because if they appear too
often, then they are just Raw and Smackdown guys, and it isn’t special.
*
Triple H discusses the learning curve in NXT, noting that you never stop
learning about wrestling. Things that worked years ago do not work now, while
other things can be brought back. Sometimes wrestlers that come in become
victims of their own success.
* Triple H says that the editor of Muscle
& Fitness was just at the Performance Center and went through a workout camp
for an article
* When asked about Steen, KENTA and Devitt keeping their
names thus far, Triple H says that these guys have history and doesn’t want to
bury his head in the sand and ignore that history. He doesn’t want to erase what
they did prior to WWE, because they bring a lot to the table and that is what
they want to build on. Due to intellectual property issues the names could
change.
* Triple H was asked about mainstream athletes working for WWE,
and Triple H noted that they have a loose working relationship with the NFLPA
and they have a few name guys that they are close to bringing in. He did not
want to give any names at this time. To him, he will take talent where ever it
comes from; NFL, Indies, actors, whoever it is. He notes that the Road Warriors
claim to fame is that they were bouncers, and most regard them as the greatest
tag team in wrestling history.
* Triple H looks at NXT as the petri dish
for the main roster, they look at a lot of talent and they try a lot of things
with the talent in front of the smaller audience as their test run.
*
Triple H says he is like a proud father when he sees the NXT talent rise up to
the main roster and then succeed there. He noted that seeing Bray Wyatt headline
in Madison Square Garden made him very happy.
* When asked about the
Monday Night War series and if Mick Foley made him a better performer, he said
absolutely. Triple H feels that guys like him, Foley, Austin and Rock helped
them all up their game because they all wanted to prove that they could be the
top guy.
* As far as the talents in NXT developing, he is happy with it
overall and notes that guys obviously develop at different rates. What he knows
is that the NXT brand is growing, sales are up and the wrestlers are becoming
stars. He would love for the NXT brand to become a major brand, but wants to get
there the right way.
* Triple H closes by thanking all for listening, and
also extended his condolences to the family and fans of Sean O’Haire.
