Triple H has revealed the key piece of advice he received from Vince McMahon on how to book WWE TV.
Purchasing the company from his father in 1982, McMahon had been in control of the promotion for the best part of 40 years, including what fans saw on TV. Up until July 2022, virtually every creative decision, good or bad, was written, overseen or signed off on by McMahon.
However, things changed drastically when McMahon announced that he would be retiring from his duties in WWE following a series of allegations that hit the headlines, handing over creative freedom to Paul Levesque [Triple H]. Although fans had seen what The Game could do with NXT, the main roster was a completely different ballgame. With the magnitude of the task at hand, Levesque understandably recalled advice given to him by his predecessor.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Chief Content Officer Levesque gave an insight into how he books weekly television. Discussing the influence that McMahon has had on his own philosophies, Levesque revealed the golden rule he was taught by the Chairman:
“Vince taught me years ago, you put yourself in the seats and you’ll never go wrong. You’ve always got to maintain that perspective. I started out as a fan. Book what people want to feel and see.”
It could be argued that WWE prioritises moments and feelings over in-ring quality, wanting to give the fans memorable moments more than five-star classics. When discussing his own writing process, Levesque elaborated by stating how storytelling and emotion bring the fans back week after week:
“Writing this stuff is a feel. You can analyze stories and how they come together, but how does it make you feel? If you can make people feel those stories, they’re going to be invested in the product. That’s how we try to approach, find that ultimate emotional place for the talent and the characters and the stories they’re in.”
Triple H Discusses New Ownership
Despite retiring in July 2022, McMahon would make his return to the company in early 2023 to oversee a sale of the company he had owned for over 4 decades. The buyer would be Endeavor, who merged WWE with UFC to create TKO Holdings. When asked about his thoughts on the merger, Triple H stated that he was very pleased with the backing as it fast-tracks WWE to its future goals.