It’s well documented that ex-WCW World Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner isn’t the biggest fan of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, and he showed that earlier today (Sun. August 20, 2017) when he took to Twitter to blast “The Game’s” recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Fallon read one of his ‘Thank You’ cards that mocked Triple H’s name for sounding like an extra strength hemorrhoids cream. Triple H’s music then hit, he appeared, and slammed Fallon (a stuntman) through his desk and then promoted SummerSlam.
Steiner blasted Triple H for ‘blocking’ the younger talent and suggested a wrestler who was actually competing on SummerSlam should have took his place. Check out Triple H’s appearance and Steiner’s Tweets below:
Candyass TripleH still trying to convince WWE universe he's a tough guy slamming jimmy Fallon
— Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner (@ScottSteiner) August 20, 2017
Your not on the PPV #assclown..in a real fight my money's on Fallon
— Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner (@ScottSteiner) August 20, 2017
Let someone who's actually wrestling promote the PPV & get the mainstream press
— Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner (@ScottSteiner) August 20, 2017
Triple H stopped by The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon while Fallon was in the middle of a “Thank You Notes” segment. Fallon made a joke about Triple H and The Game showed up and slammed Fallon through his desk. Triple H then promoted WWE SummerSlam and you can check it out in the video below.
WWE’s Triple H recently made an appearance on CBS Sports’ In This Corner Podcast to promote tomorrow’s (Sat. August 19, 2017) NXT TakeOver III: Brooklyn. During the interview, “The Game” talked about which competitor WWE needs to pay most attention to, New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), and if NJPW’s success has forced WWE to make any adjustments to their product. Here’s what he had to say:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCkcVx1QL6g
Which WWE Superstar the company needs to pay the most attention to:
“When you say, ‘What’s the No. 2 promotion?’ and ‘WWE doesn’t have a promotion knocking on its door and pushing them,’ Raw and SmackDown do. Raw and SmackDown have a promotion right on their tail pushing them to do more. That promotion is going to run a show on Saturday night at the Barclays Center, and it’s called NXT.
“[NXT] is going to set a bar, and the main roster is going to have to step up to that bar. And trust me, those are all people that are coming from NXT, and now the kids here are pushing them to do the same thing that they pushed the people in front of them to do.”
If NJPW’s success forces them to make any adjustments:
“I don’t think anyone forces anyone to make adjustments, I think it’s just that the world changes. What people will accept changes? What people will like changes?
“People’s styles that I bring in, I’m not trying to change these performers, I’m trying to give them a platform and then take them on that platform and make the biggest, global star you can make. Whether that goes on to NXT and then on to SmackDown or Raw, whatever that is. A lot of these kids, I want them to be headlining WrestleMania.”
You can check out Triple H’s full interview on In This Cornerat this link.
Posted August 18th, 2017 in WWE. Tagged: Triple H.
Usually, when WWE officials have made their mind about a star, he stays in the same position on the card for the majority of his WWE career. However, there are few stars who break this barrier and achieve things nobody thought was possible.
One such star is the current WWE Champion Jinder Mahal who was considered nothing more than a jobber few years before but now he is one of the top heels on the SmackDown roster and holds one of the two top titles in the company.
Many wonder what led to such a dramatic progress in his position on the WWE Programming and more importantly what changed Officials’ mind about Mahal which resulted in him winning one of the most coveted titles in WWE History.
During a recent conference call, Triple H was asked what led to the former 3MB member winning the WWE title. Replying to the question, the Game claimed that he always thought Jinder had the potential for such a push but in his first run; things didn’t pan out as thought.
Continuing on the topic, the former World Champion revealed that Jinder’s hiatus from the company from 2014 to 2016 made him more mature and when he returned, it helped him in receiving a push similar to another former 3MB member Drew McIntyre:
“Nothing always goes the way you plan. But, you take them out of the environment, when both those guys left us, it looked – go figure some things out, take your time, mature. Be ready for the opportunity, because when it comes back, you’re gonna want to be able to kill it, and they both have. I think that’s great. “
It’s worth noting here that previously Triple H has also credited Jinder Mahal for his hard work since returning to WWE and has revealed that he told him to go to other places and learn more in his career when the company released him.
Triple H will be a guest on Wednesday’s In This Corner Podcast on CBS Sports. Brian Campbell published an article today that featured some of Triple H’s quotes on the rumors that Ronda Rousey is coming to WWE. Triple H also discussed Rousey’s appearance at the Mae Young Classic tournament on the WWE Network and at WrestleMania 31.
Ronda Rousey attending the Mae Young Classic last month:
“I don’t know that I ever once looked out at the crowd and saw her without this ear-to-ear grin on her face. She was like a little kid after every break there would be when I would talk to her — like a little kid. What that means? Unsure. What that means down the line? I think she’s unsure.”
“I think [Rousey] is in a transition period in her life and is in a great place. I think she’s getting married soon or something. Look, she has got a lot going on, but I’m all about creating opportunities. That’s what the Mae Young Classic is all about — creating opportunities for these women that they never had before. If Ronda Rousey wants that opportunity, I’d be happy to talk to her about it.”
On Rousey being a part of WrestleMania 31:
“It’s funny. I remember when we did that stuff with Ronda at WrestleMania and she was talking about the roar of the crowd,” Levesque said. “It was the most amazing stuff she had felt and heard. She said, ‘I have never allowed myself to even hear it when I fight.’ She can’t. It’s not about the crowd. It’s not about entertainment and whether they are booing me or cheering me. It’s not about how loud it is. It’s about a focused one thing.
We do the exact opposite. Our whole thing is entertaining that crowd and getting them to react and doing all those things. It’s fun, and I think that she’s enamored and fascinated with what we do.”
Today marks the 20 year anniversary of D-Generation X. The stable has seen many incarnations through the years, from the early beginnings with Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chyna and Rick Rude to the New Age Outlaws, X-Pac and…Hornswoggle?
WWE celebrated the anniversary by posting photoshoots with the current roster in classic DX gear, check out the shots below and over on WWE.com
The stable has seen its fair share of controversy over the years, what are some of your favourite DX moments and matches?
Fans welcomed back long-time WWE announcer Jim Ross with a standing ovation for his return to the company at WrestleMania 33, where Ross called The Undertaker’s retirement match. Ross recently took part in an interview on the Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast where he revealed that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon made the call to bring J.R. back for the big match.
“Vince McMahon’s idea was to bring me back,” Ross said. “It was Vince’s idea to call the Undertaker match.”
“I was under the impression that Undertaker had suggested I call the match when he heard that I might come back,” he continued. “Kevin Dunn was crucial in the negotiations. For years McMahon would say to me and Kevin Dunn that we were his Number 1 and Number 2 guy. It’s all about talent and television, or television and talent. Vince will always say that the two elements of his company to become successful are television and talent.”
Ross also discussed Triple H, who is now more influential inside WWE than ever. Ross talked about The Game’s transition from talent to management.
“I gave him the nickname of the ‘Cerebral Assassin’ because it fit his character as a wrestling heel, and a smart, cagey, kind of a deadly planner, or strategist that has the physical skills to be very dangerous,” Ross said. “Hence, the Cerebral Assassin came about once while he was coming down the entrance on TV. Vince loved it, and Triple H has obviously embraced it, and it became his calling card.”
Ross adds that sometimes the members of D-X could be a handful to deal with behind-the-scenes, but Triple H was always the go-to guy because of his communication skills.
“We knew he was going to be a good leader; he had a good vision, a good feel, and could always add things to any scenario to make it better,” he said. “Here is the key thing; he had the ability to look at other people’s storyline and angles and make viable suggestions to make what they were doing better. Most top guys had the ability to do it themselves, but they’re not as forthcoming to do it for others to get them over because of the paranoia, anxiety and insecurities that people have in those regards. People feel as though they cannot acknowledge their competition.”
Global Force Wrestling’s James Storm recently spoke with Brian Fritz of Sporting News and below are some highlights from the interview:
Why he chose to not sign with WWE NXT:
“With the schedule of NXT and [Triple H] was telling me we’re going to try and run 100-120 shows from here on out throughout the year and stuff. It’s all great and everything but where I was, personally, in my life, I couldn’t be on the road that much because I had some family problems, my wife wanted to have another kid. So, it was one of those things where it wasn’t the right timing for me.”
What Triple H told him when he left NXT:
“Hunter straight up told me, ‘Go get your life together. This is my number. Maybe in two years, we can do business again.’”
The benefit of Global Force Wrestling going on the road again:
“It’s really hard to judge who’s over and who’s not. I think with us getting back on the road, it will show management we need to push this guy because he’s really over or we should do something with this guy. It also helps younger talent learn how to work. Not just go out and do all these moves but to learn to work.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA5M8Rturcs
On being ready to do whatever GFW management asks of him:
“Now in my career, it doesn’t matter to me who is running what because I’m the guy now, I show up and do what’s asked of me,” Storm said. “I don’t try to argue why and stuff. I know my role. To me, it’s a physical play — professional wrestling. I didn’t sign up to be the writer. I signed up to be the wrestler. Whatever the writer wants me to do now, I don’t show up and try to b— and say ‘I want to do this’ or ‘My character wouldn’t do that’. That’s not what I signed up for. I signed up to go out and do what they asked me to do and that’s what I do now.”
You can check out the entire interview by clicking here.
WWE Performance Center roster sings “Happy Birthday” to Triple H
Yesterday was Triple H’s birthday and WWE uploaded a video of NXT Superstars and the coaching staff singing to “Happy Birthday” to him. Shawn Michaels didn’t sing along and walked away as soon as everyone was done singing.
5 legendary superstars The Great Khali has defeated
WWE uploaded a new list narrated by Corey Graves of 5 legendary superstars The Great Khali has defeated during his career. Khali made his return to WWE at this past Sunday’s Battleground PPV and help Jinder Mahal defeat Randy Orton in a Punjabi Prison match for the WWE Championship. The list included The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, Batista and Kane.
Superstar Ink with Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy was on the most recent episode of Superstar Ink with Corey Graves. Hardy explained that the tattoos on his neck symbolize his struggles with addiction and what he went through to overcome those demons. You can check out the full episode in the video below.
SmackDown Superstar Mike Kanellis posted on Instagram a photo of himself preparing for his PPV match against Sami Zayn tomorrow night at WWE Battleground. Kanellis noted that he was wearing The Rock’s T-shirt and The Rock responded to him wish some advice.
WWE uploaded a new Top 10 video today. The list focused on the most shocking confessions or revelations in the history of WWE. The list includes RAW GM Kurt Angle revealing that Jason Jordan is his son, Big Cass being revealed as Enzo’s attacker and Shane McMahon purchasing WCW and showing up on Nitro. You can check out the entire list in the video below.
Former WWE Superstar Alex Riley was recently a guest on Sean “X-Pac” Waltman’s podcast, X-Pac 12360, to talk about his time with the company. During the interview, Riley revealed how he was treated backstage by the likes of “The Chairman Of The Board” Vince McMahon and former WWE Champion Triple H, as well as if he would have stayed with WWE had he not been released.
Riley was signed to WWE back in 2007 when he was sent to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). He made his main roster debut and was paired with The Miz in 2010 for some time before embarking on a singles career. During his time with the company he also served as a color commentator on shows such as WWE Superstars, NXT, and Main Event before his release in May of last year. Check out here what he had to say:
How he was treated by Triple H and Vince McMahon:
“Vince McMahon [and] Triple H, they were straight [with me]. They were straight shooters and I always loved when somebody would say, ‘We’re just not gonna do it right now, sorry’ rather than bulls—ting me, and they never did. I heard – and I kind of got the feeling – that Vince was always a pretty big supporter of mine, so, hey, what a compliment to have. And I hope I’m making them very proud right now.”
If he would’ve stayed with WWE had he not been released:
“I don’t know, because I would’ve been torn. I really really love that job, but WWE is very in this way. They own you. They would’ve owned me, I don’t think I would have been allowed opportunities to do anything else.”
Alberto El Patron has once again gone on a tirade about WWE on social media. El Patron has taken shots at Triple H in the past, but this time he also mentioned the rap battle that aired on this past week’s episode of SmackDown between The Usos and New Day. The Usos took a shot at Xavier Woods during the rap battle and referenced Woods being in one of the private videos that were leaked involving Paige. Here is the lyric from the rap battle that El Patron may have had an issue with:
“Let’s just keep it PG, you know what’s good. Don’t get all rated-R like your boy Xavier Woods”.
El Patron posted on Instagram that he will be in San Antonio on Tuesday night at his restaurant. SmackDown Live is also being held in San Antonio that night. El Patron posted the following on Instagram and claimed that he will be waiting at his restaurant once SmackDown concludes:
Former WWE executive Bruce Prichard took to the 51st episode of his podcast, Something To Wrestle With, to talk about the rise of ex-WWE writer Vince Russo in the professional wrestling industry. Prichard talked about a variety of topics involving Russo and the era in which he was with the company, and told an interesting story about the first impression “The Chairman Of The Board” Vince McMahon had about Triple H.
Per Prichard, Russo was one of “The Game’s” biggest supporters early on in his run, but McMahon and Jim Cornette were not sold on the young “Cerebral Assassin,” calling him a mid-card talent at best:
“I do remember Corny and Vince McMahon saying that Triple H would be a midcard guy at best early on in his [pro wrestling] career and Russo was a huge proponent of Triple H. And I dare say that without Russo at the helm at the time, Hunter probably would not have gotten the breaks that he got at the time.”
“Yeah, [Russo was Triple H’s biggest advocate at the time] and then Vince McMahon became, but Hunter was one of those guys who was always around, always asking questions, and wanting to be a part of whatever he could do to learn. I liked Hunter because I always liked his attitude, just willing to do whatever it took to learn the [pro wrestling] business, but Russo was definitely pushing Hunter and had an awful lot of ideas for him.”
WWE Champion Jinder Mahal did an interview with Times Of India to talk about a bunch of different professional wrestling topics including how he and Seth Rollins fulfilled Triple H’s prophecy, improving his ability on the microphone when he cuts promos, and who comes up with the different ideas of how to present his character. Here are the highlights:
Fulfilling Triple H’s prophecy:
“I believe it was the prophecy made by Triple H in NXT at that time (Gold Rush tournament). Two young guys who he thought were the future of the business and it turned out to be true. Rollins is a multiple-time champion, I am the current World champion. We were having main event matches in NXT and now we are in the main events in WWE. So I believe it was the prophecy of Triple H. He is one of the smartest minds in the wrestling business and wrestlers that are in NXT right now, main eventing NXT shows are the guys who you are going see main-eventing WWE PPVs in Raw and SmackDown Live in the future.”
Continuing to improve on his promo work:
“My promos have improved because I put in a lot of effort during my time away from wrestling. I did promos in front of the mirror, I used to record it on my cell phone, used to review it and worked on it. I always go to Vince after every promo that I do on television and I seek his advice.”
Whose idea it is on how WWE presents his character:
“A lot of it is my idea and actually a lot has come from Triple H as well. He is also very hand on working behind the scenes. Presentation is everything and it is very important in this business I believe. Look at the all-time greats like the Bret Hart, The Rock- look at Finn Balor right now, his entrance is spectacular. It is so impactful and it sets the tone for the match. So, I have been throwing in my own set of ideas with Triple H, along with the backstage producers, stage crews, lighting guys and it is a combined effort. Credit doesn’t go to the people working backstage, but they are an integral part of the show.”
You can read “The Maharaja’s” full interview with Times Of Indiahere.
Former WWE Superstar Ryback recently took to his podcast, Conversation With The Big Guy, to talk about his time with the company and revealed a few feuds he had scheduled with the likes of Triple H and Dolph Ziggler, but they never saw the light of day. You can check out what he had to say here:
Feuding with Dolph Ziggler:
“Dolph desperately wants me to talk s–t about him on the podcast all the time because he wants to set up for [an angle]. We always joked about… I got him a ‘Little Guy’ belt made for one match up there. We thought we were going to be a s–tty tag team, ‘The Big Guy’ and ‘The Little Guy’. He’s not even [a little guy]. He’s in phenomenal shape, but I legit had a ‘Little Guy’ belt made for him and we always had a thing of our big tag run, probably no tag titles, but a big tag run, where I eventually turn on him.
“And I would, [Hulk] Hogan-style come out with the weight belt like a guitar and beat the s–t out of him with the weight belt. The whole angle revolves around the weight belt and how I gave him the ‘Little Guy’ weight belt, but I beat the s–t out of him with it eventually, just big bad Ryback again and poor little guy. We would always create stupid f–king scenarios, so he wants me to keep that alive. And I like him so much I can’t even. He’s going to be so mad that I exposed this, so if I ever do start talking s–t, someone can go listen to the archives and realize that I don’t hate him.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-0CB4aX_ow
His scheduled feud with Triple H falling through:
“I had a weird deal with Hunter. Did I ever tell [podcast co-host Pat Buck]? Do you remember that, where they had a thing where it looked like they were teasing a program with me and Hunter? They had us face off in England after I wrestled Kane. I think I broke my finger wrestling Kane one night. We were doing something and our hands hit and my finger went sideways. So I get through this match with Kane. I think it was the main event on SmackDown.
“Then, they have this big stare [down] with me and Hunter and they teased it for a couple of weeks with different things and then it just went away. It was nothing. And even he came up, ‘the plan was never for us to work, just so you know.’ And I go, ‘oh, okay. I don’t know.’ I’m not in the creative meetings. I don’t know why. I just do what I’m told. He would always explain things weirdly, but, yeah, that never happened. It would’ve been nice, so he could f–king know that I could wrestle.”
Triple H was interviewed on BBC Radio 1 today while in the U.K. During the interview, Triple H poked fun at The Rock’s finishing move The People’s Elbow and stated that the move started out as a joke. Here are some highlights from the interview:
The People’s Elbow starting out as a joke:
“You’re trying to make each other laugh and one night The Rock did The People’s Elbow. [It] wasn’t known as The People’s Elbow, it was known as ‘watch this move that’s going to make all of you lose it in your corners’ These things morph in those ways, but they catch on. Trust me, we’re quick to go, ‘oooh, they like that, I’m sticking with that.’”
Waiting to take the move:
“You’ve gotta wait for like 20 minutes while he takes his elbow pad off and works the crowd,” Triple H said. “He runs back and forth, then he comes up and drops an elbow on you that looks like it barely touches you, except that a lot of times the point of his elbow hits you right in the mouth and you come up bleeding and you’re like, ‘how can you bust me open on that?’ It’s also so funny that you’re running away to the bank with it.”
H/T to Wrestling, Inc for the transcription.
James Ellsworth goes on Twitter rant about SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan
Last night on SmackDown, Daniel Bryan stripped Carmella of her MITB briefcase because James Ellsworth interfered in the match. Bryan also announced that there will be another Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match next week on SmackDown featuring the same five Superstars. Bryan also announced that Ellsworth is banned from the match next week on last night’s episode of Talking Smack. Ellsworth took to Twitter and ranted about Daniel Bryan and his decision in the following tweets:
On Saturday, August 26th, undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. will face UFC champion Conor McGregor in Las Vegas. It’s a fight that many are calling completely one-sided in Mayweather’s favor, but the two box office megastars meeting inside a boxing ring is sure to generate a ton of mainstream attention.
Triple H spoke to Sky Sports about the fight and said it’s all about entertainment. Triple H says ports are entertainment, news is entertainment – everything is entertainment. Mayweather and McGregor are not only incredible athletes, but also masters of self promotion. Despite Mayweather being one of the greatest boxers of all time and McGregor having zero professional boxing experience, there’s a lot of public interest.
“Can a world-class boxer, probably the best ever, can he stand in the ring with an MMA guy?” Triple H asked. “And can that MMA guy bring his striking skills up to the level of somebody like Floyd Mayweather?”
Triple H is a longtime friend of Floyd Mayweather. He’s accompanied him to the ring for some of his fights and trained Mayweather for his WrestleMania match against the Big Show back 2008.
With the top stars of boxing and MMA colliding, Triple H sees opportunity and invited both men to Monday Night RAW to hype their fight.
“You say it is sports entertainment and, if they want to really showcase what they can do, I would invite both guys to come to Monday Night Raw. There is no bigger platform that they could have to show the world and tell the world, who they are, and why they are the man.”
WWE has made a habit of giving out championship belts to to championship-winning sports teams, but will also do so for those who they feel have earned the honour in other ways.
Off-duty police officer, Charlie Guenigault, received multiple stab wounds while helping to protect others during the recent London Bridge attacks. He was wearing a Sami Zayn t-shirt at the time. Since the attack, Guenigault has been recovering in hospital.
Charlie Guenigault Presented with WWE Championship
“The highest recognition a WWE Superstar can get is winning the WWE Championship. But this honour is also reserved for those in real life who go above and beyond.” – Paul Levesque
Triple H also had this to say regarding Guenigault’s actions on that day:
“To run in the direction of a scary situation that can’t even be described in words, to help others, for that to be your instinct to help others – that is a hero.
People say a lot of times that they watch WWE because these guys are like real-life superheroes. Well, Charlie is a real hero.”
Sami Zayn also sent Guenigault a personal video message which included the following message:
“You put yourself in the line of danger at a time when you really had no obligation to do so.
I can’t tell you how much respect I have for you. The fact you were wearing my shirt at the time really puts it into perspective for me.
Sami Zayn has always been the guy known to stand up to the bad guys, but you did it in the most horrific of circumstances.
Man, I’m just blown away, I really am.”
Guenigault had this to say regarding Triple H’s visit:
“It was an absolute pleasure to meet one of the greatest Superstars ever.
My comments when he first walked in the room are probably not suitable for a PG audience!”
Former WWE Creative Writer Kevin Eck recently spoke to Sporting News to talk about his time with the company. Since the WWE’s Money In The Bank (MITB) pay-per-view (PPV) was right around the corner, Eck shed some light on some past winners of the MITB Ladder Match. You can see what he had to say here:
How Daniel Bryan’s MITB Ladder Match win in 2011 led to his storyline with AJ Lee:
“I started working for WWE at the end of August 2011, six weeks after Bryan won the SmackDown MITB ladder match. Bryan’s victory was surprising at the time because he wasn’t getting much of a push beforehand. He wasn’t getting much of one after winning the blue briefcase, either. In fact, I was informed by some of my colleagues that Vince McMahon was having buyer’s remorse about making Bryan SmackDown’s Mr. Money in the Bank. The question was no longer when Bryan would cash in and win the title, it was whether he should be the first MITB winner to cash in and fail. …I didn’t know whether Bryan would ever be world champion, but I figured it could only help his cause if he had a story line, even a minor one.
“I pitched putting Bryan and another nerdy, undersized underdog — AJ Lee — together as a couple. Head writer Brian Gewirtz liked the idea, and we started writing some backstage segments with Bryan and AJ into the show. By the way, when I pulled Bryan and AJ aside at TV and told them they were about to become an on-screen couple, AJ was thrilled to be getting any opportunity, but Bryan was something less than thrilled. He said the last time he was involved in a romantic story line (with Gail Kim and The Bella Twins), it did him more harm than good. Despite his misgivings, however, Bryan was a total pro.”
Dolph Ziggler’s World Heavyweight Title win after cashing in his MITB briefcase:
“When Ziggler won the 2012 MITB ladder match for a guaranteed shot at the World Heavyweight Title, there was no specific plan in place as to when he would cash in and win the title. Ziggler actually attempted to cash in the contract several times only to be thwarted before the cash-in match could become official. It started to become a running joke. Much like Bryan, the longer Ziggler carried around the briefcase, the more likely it seemed that his eventual cash-in was going to be unsuccessful. To say McMahon had lost faith in Ziggler during this time would be a major understatement.
“Even though Ziggler was getting a good reaction from the fans, McMahon was highly critical of Ziggler’s instincts in the ring and his promos. Triple H wasn’t a big Ziggler fan, either. He thought Ziggler didn’t take direction well and was overly obsessed with trying to be the next Shawn Michaels. However, Ziggler did have one important supporter: WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson, who had been a member of McMahon’s inner circle on the creative side for decades and now had emeritus status. Even before Ziggler won the MITB ladder match, Patterson constantly prodded McMahon to give Ziggler a strong push.”
If you’d like to read Eck’s full interview with Sporting News, it can be found by clicking here.
Top WWE Superstar rumored to be opponent for Kurt Angle
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE officials are planning on doing a match between Triple H and Kurt Angle in the future. RAW GM Kurt Angle currently has a storyline going on RAW in which he is receiving messages on his phone. Angle and RAW announcer Corey Graves have also had several discussions and Angle has even come down to the announce table in the middle of the show to talk to him. Stephanie McMahon has been off TV since she fell through a table at WrestleMania 33. Kurt Angle was named the new RAW GM the night after WrestleMania 33. Stephanie McMahon should be making her return to RAW soon and will begin working with her new RAW GM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa7CH-Z9d90
Lana taunts Naomi on social media
Lana has been sending out a bunch of tweets about her SmackDown Women’s Championship match this Sunday at Money in the Bank. Lana made her SmackDown debut a week ago and asked to join the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. All the Superstars in the match laughed at her, but Naomi grabbed the microphone and poked fun at her. Lana hasn’t let that go and interfered in Naomi’s match last week. On last night’s SmackDown, Lana watched Naomi’s match against Tamina from ringside. After the match was over, Lana attacked Naomi and then celebrated over her with the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Naomi will look to get revenge this Sunday as she defends her title against Lana at Money in the Bank.
Here are some of the tweets Lana has been sending out recently about the match:
This Sunday at #MITB I'll shock my doubters by making history & become the 1st ever #RAVISHING Smackdown Women's Champion! @NaomiWWE sorry ? pic.twitter.com/Zvpv8GiGXl
Sunday at #MITB I'll make @NaomiWWE regret FOREVER laughing at me.I'll CRUSH your GLOW.Becoming the 1st RAVISHING Smackdown Women's Champion pic.twitter.com/F0HSHgtOhV
Oh PLEASE!Stop being a insecure brat. I'm RAVISHING! You laugh at me! At least I don't wear some cheap tacky neon glow colors !Get a stylist https://t.co/Sxpr15k0rx
Former Impact Wrestling star and former WWE Superstar recently did an interview with Kevin Eck for PressBoxOnline to discuss her time with the WWE. During the interview it was brought up that Vince McMahon doesn’t like for women to wrestle the same way the guys do inside the ring. Kim talked about her own experience with that, as well as what Triple H told her before she left the company:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOVBjLeOnNA&t=26s
KE: When I worked on the WWE creative team — I started in 2011 right after you left the company — Vince McMahon said several times that “no one wants to see the girls fight like the guys.” Was that something that was ever said or implied to you while you were there?
GK: “It wasn’t politically correct to say out loud, nor would they say that straight up, but — I’m not going to say which agent said it — but they would tell us that Vince doesn’t like that. I remember specifically a match I had on “Superstars” with Jillian [Hall]. We got seven minutes, which was rare back then — we usually got three minutes. There’s no way to tell a story in the ring in that time, so when we had a match on “Superstars” it was like a pay-per-view match [laughs].
“Jillian and I had awesome chemistry, so we’d want to wrestle. We wanted to do a superplex off the top rope, and the agent — again, I’m not going to name names — said, “Go ahead. I’ll take the heat for it,” because he knew Vince wouldn’t really be happy with that. Now I heard WWE has announced a Money in the Bank match for the girls. I honestly feel like [Triple H] has done so much for the girls, because he started that whole thing in NXT with the Four Horsewomen. When I left WWE, he was one of the people who was so positive. He told me, “You’re talented and don’t let anyone else tell you any different.” I was very flattered and glad that he respected women’s wrestling.”
Triple H and Stephanie McMahon are often on-hand at Super Bowls to personally deliver customized WWE championship titles to the winning team. WWE also sends championship titles to other championship-winning teams all over the world.
Former WWE European Champion William Regal recently did an interview with Metro to talk about NXT, his friendship with Triple H, and much more. You can check out some highlights from their conversation here:
About his friendship with Triple H:
“We have a very odd friendship in the fact that I probably speak to him less than anyone in the company. He trusts me with what he needs to trust me with. He can literally look at me from across the room, and we know that have the same kind of mindset.”
Triple H getting an offer to go to WWE in 1995:
“We got put together as a team, so we trained together all the time at the old Power Plant in WCW. I didn’t know how long the British wrestling style would last at that time because it was dying off then, so I started teaching him some of that stuff that I knew. It just went from there, the team worked well for a short period but his contract was coming up and he got an offer from WWF. I said to him he had to go, he wanted to go anyway, but he asked me and I said he had to because they were working nearly 300 dates a year at that point.I’d done all my work working every day, and I told him he could only get better doing that. Some people are good from the get go. I wasn’t, and he wasn’t. We had to learn everything that we ever got. The only place to get better is to work in front of a crowd every night, that’s when you’ll find what really works and what doesn’t.”
What NXT stars to look out for:
“I know people have been seeing Drew McIntyre for the last few years in the UK, and now you get to see him in NXT with the new way he’s going to get presented. The experience that he has got over the last three years and the confidence he has gained means he’s like a whole new person with how good he is. Bobby Roode is a star, he’s great for the brand, while Aleister Black is somebody who if you’ve never seen him, you’ve got to see him. It’s hard to explain, he just has a presence. Some people are great wrestlers and some people just have a presence about them, and he’s got both. To get to see Roderick Strong and Kassius Ohno as well, they’re exceptionally good pros and they’re going to have excellent matches. The best of the best keep being brought here, and NXT has its own rawness and special quality to it.”
WWE COO and 14-time WWE World Champion Triple H recently did an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard. During the interview, the former leader of D-Generation X was asked about the criticism over the style of the WWE and its Performance Center:
“The misconception is always the same, and it’s absolutely wrong. We are looking to make our talent as diverse as possible. People say everyone is wearing the same thing and training the same way. Yet they are not training the same way. We are grouping people together to work on building certain skills. The core of what we do is the same – yes, you have to learn the same skills, techniques, and foundation when you start. Then we set you up with people to develop your characters. We want the talent to develop their character, and our job is to help harness the character. We want them, every single one of them, to be unique and have their own feel.
“Yes, we are all wearing the same WWE gear. That is because, when you’re here, we’re all the same. No one is above anybody else, and we’re all here to learn. We are a team and a family. What we do in the WWE is a partnership–it’s a partnership with the guy across from you, and a partnership with everybody here. One of the pieces of the Performance Center that makes me so proud is when somebody succeeds here, the whole place goes nuts for them. They’re all here to help each other succeed. When you can build that type of climate, it shows our culture within this place is right to develop and to cultivate the best talent possible.”
“The King Of Kings” was also what makes a successful Performance Center Coach, and was asked in particular about current coaches Matt Bloom, Steve Corino, Norman Smiley, Terry Taylor, Robbie Brookside, Adam Pearce, Scott Taylor (Scotty 2 Hotty) and Sara Amato:
“What makes a successful coach? The coaching process is very difficult. Just because you were talented in this business does not mean you will be gifted at teaching it. Great players don’t always make great coaches, and great coaches weren’t always great players. We’ve worked to find a very diverse group, focusing in on who connects best with people and who gives the right message, and then connecting a coach with the message they are best at conveying.
“For example, Norman Smiley is one of our best beginner training coaches. Norman is one of our most trusted and valuables coaches. His work is incredibly important in formulating the building blocks to create success in the ring, so it is essential to build a strong foundation. That’s Norman’s wheelhouse – areas like the movements, the rolling, and how to protect yourself at all times. So you find the right people that have that right connection with the talent, you narrow in on the area where they are exceptionally talented at coaching, and you then have them work in that facet.”
You can check out Triple H’s full interview with Sports Illustrated by clicking here.
Triple H and William Regal spoke with ESPN.com this week about WWE’s developmental system and expressed confidence in several performers they feel will be major players in WWE one day.
Over the past year, several NXT veterans were called up to the main roster, including Finn Balor, Shinsuke Nakamura, American Alpha, The Rivival, Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax, Mojo Rawley, Carmella and Tye Dillinger. In order for NXT to continue thriving and supplying WWE with the next generation of Superstars, there is a constant demand to recruit and develop talent. Triple H feels WWE is well-positioned in that respect and discussed several standout NXT performers he thinks they can build around.
The Authors Of Pain
“There’s a few guys in our performance center right now that are just sort of guys you’ve never heard of that have never been anywhere,” Triple H said. “Not even in the indies. The two kids in [the Authors of Pain] tag team in NXT. Those are two kids we picked them from nothing. No experience. Period. Anything. A year later, they are a really, really good tag team. There’s a lot of talent like that.”
Otis Dozovic of Heavy Machinery
“I’m telling you, he’s just got personality,” Triple H said. “He’s a huge stud. Looks like an old-school strong man. He’s already having matches. He’s already got a huge personality. I don’t know he’s been with us a year.”
Aleister Black:
“Aleister Black is very talented. I think he’s going to be a player.”
Regal added that he’s known Aleister black (formerly Tommy End) for many years. At one point he told Black to give him a call when he’s ready to join WWE. It wasn’t long before Regal’s phone was ringing and he was at a WWE tryout camp. Triple H saw Aleister Black and told Regal, “Yeah, he’s definitely got something that we’re looking for.”
Head over to ESPN.com to read the full interview, including William Regal’s thoughts on each of these performers and Regal’s approach to scouting talent and referring them to Triple H.
Discussion: Which current NXT wrestlers do you think have the most potential?