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Former NXT boss Triple H has claimed that the independent wrestlers WWE used to sign brought bad in-ring habits with them. He implied that this is part of the reason the company has shifted to signing untrained college athletes.
With the shift to NXT from the Black and Gold era to the 2.0 format, WWE has implemented several changes. One of the most significant was the decision to begin recruiting more former athletes like Gable Steveson over independent wrestlers like Adam Cole and Malakai Black.
Triple H recently sat down for an interview with Chris Vannini of The Athletic, where he discussed various topics. In one highlight, The Game pointed out why the brand altered its approach to signing and showcasing talent that is trained in WWE's Performance Center:
“The tryouts we did before, where there were a lot of athletes and experienced indie guys, I don’t think there’s any less of a 'That’s a rock star'. The indie stuff, half of it is, ‘He’s a good in-ring performer, but the rest is a mystery. He’s got bad habits I have to get him out of.’ This is almost cleaner. It’s a blank slate," said Triple H.
The former world champion also said that WWE is focusing on to untrained athletes right out of college and others who have been released from sports leagues like the NFL.
With these changes, it seems as though the company prefers to mold its superstars rather than inherit the talent on the indie circuit.
Triple H comments on AEW, says competion makes everyone sharper
During the same interview, Triple H said that the formation of AEW and its subsequent success is good for the wrestling business.
NXT and AEW Dynamite don't officially compete anymore, as the two shows air on different nights now. But bidding wars over talent are expected to heat up in the coming years with many wrestlers expected to jump to the rival promotion.
With AEW signing megastars like CM Punk and Bryan Danielson, it could be in the early stages of encroaching on WWE's market. With AEW's growth in mind, Triple H noted that competition is good for all companies and the wrestling business itself:
“As long as there aren’t things hurting the business overall, I think any of that stuff is good," Triple H continued. "If you’re a 6-year-old kid, you turn on the TV, wrestling is on and you like it. Now you’re caught up in it. Then you start sampling all of it. You get to where you’re a huge fan. That’s the money."
Do you agree with Triple H? Sound off in the comments section below!
