Triple H has one major problem with the way some viewers watch WWE these days—they get angry at the writers instead of the wrestler standing in front of them.
During his appearance on Busted Open Radio, Triple H admitted that wrestling audiences are more aware of the creative process than ever before. Viewers know storylines are written, matches are planned and performers are playing characters, but he believes that knowledge sometimes kills the emotional reaction WWE is trying to create. Triple H said he loves passionate responses whether WWE is doing something viewers enjoy or something that makes them furious.
“Yeah, look, whether we’re doing something right or we’re doing something wrong, I love that passion. I love it. It’s amazing. They’re not always going to agree with everything that happens.”
The problem comes when a heel does something designed to make the audience angry and the immediate response becomes criticism of the booking. Triple H would rather viewers direct that anger toward the character responsible for what happened.
“I wish sometimes we could put that passion into the talent now, as opposed to—it’s like when somebody gets heat in our business, it’s, ‘God, why would they write that that way?’”
Triple H explained that the desired reaction is not for people to dissect the creative decision. He wants viewers to look at the wrestler and become angry at that person within the story.
“As opposed to, ‘That no-good piece of crap,’ right, did this.”
The WWE executive admitted that the business cannot turn back the clock completely. Backstage documentaries, podcasts and social media have made the inner workings of wrestling easier to understand, but he still believes there is value in temporarily forgetting how the show is made.
“I wish people could buy into sometimes. There’s something to saying that innocence of not knowing and, ‘It’s still real to me, damn it.’ But it is what it is.”
Triple H knows viewers understand that WWE is scripted. He just wants them to stop thinking like critics for a few minutes and allow the wrestlers to pull them into the fight.
Should WWE viewers blame the character when something happens on television, or is criticizing the booking simply part of modern wrestling? Leave your feedback in the comments.
