Q: What was behind the decision to run 4 matches instead of more at Takeover this Saturday?
HHH – WarGames takes time to get into, and you have to give it more time. During the planning phase, Evolution sort of changed how this took shape. Shayna vs Kairi needs more time because of the 2/3 falls stipulation, and he doesn’t really want to get into a set format with number of matches. They could run another match, but they wonder if it really helps / hurts the show. They want to put on the best show, and they collectively agreed this works and hopes it comes through.
Q: Does HHH see more appearances between brands like NXT and NXT UK, or more shows?
HHH – We’ll definitely see more touring from NXT UK guys during Wrestlemania weekend, and says we’ll see more of guys between those brands. He says he wants to keep people moving and working. He is unsure of the schedule, and is unsure if the style is conducive to running more events, but he would like to add more events, whether they are Takeover shows or not. They will experiment with more shows in the next 12-18 months and it will be about keeping the finger on the pulse. It’s a work in progress.
Q: Does HHH see more appearances between brands like NXT and NXT UK, or more shows?
HHH – We’ll definitely see more touring from NXT UK guys during Wrestlemania weekend, and says we’ll see more of guys between those brands. He says he wants to keep people moving and working. He is unsure of the schedule, and is unsure if the style is conducive to running more events, but he would like to add more events, whether they are Takeover shows or not. They will experiment with more shows in the next 12-18 months and it will be about keeping the finger on the pulse. It’s a work in progress.
Q: Has WWE softened their mentality about hiring talents that are older or further along in their career?
HHH – Says it’s not a hard and fast rule, and it became a ‘norm’ of sorts. He says they have to be a special talent to succeed in a certain time frame. HHH says the talent could come in and have a different role in the company, and they can help out younger talent and giving them more hands on experience. He cites his own experience coming into veteran locker rooms, and says there are many reasons they hire talent. He says there are some people hired internationally that they take a chance on, saying he might have a different role if they can’t make it as a wrestler first. He says there’s a lot of thought that goes into hiring people.
Q: Is there any chance we get another Breaking Ground series, or could we see something similar? Why has the success been there?
HHH – There was a lot of interest, if they did it again they would be doing it differently. HHH this is just him talking, but he’d want to make it more successful. He wants to step outside of WWE / WWE PC for a moment, and talks about NFL, NBA teams coming in to see the PC operations. It’s a compliment to see other people come in and consider them best in class. He says there’s a culture here where it’s a team environment; talent wants to succeed individually, but it’s a team effort to get there. HHH cites Gargano, Ciampa, Cole as people that have experience that help give back to the talent coming up under them, calling it a trickle-down effect and says this could be why the growth curve of talent has grown. Talent isn’t just performing and watching matches, they are there 24/7 and it’s an amazing culture that he’s proud. He calls it the secret of the success at the PC.
Q: What does HHH think about the success of The Undisputed Era, and where does he see them going as a faction?
HHH – Talks about the connection between talent and calls it authentic, saying it’s not forced. He says this is very seamless and they get along and it shows. You see it in teams and groups, and there’s something authentic and thinks it could lead them to wherever they want to be. He says he’s heard criticism about their size or other, but he thinks that doesn’t matter in a group of this caliber and thinks they can go anywhere. He expects WarGames to be spectacular and he thinks they will work to make it something great for the fans.
