Triple H threw down a challenge after SummerSlam, telling every WWE superstar frustrated about their spot on the card to stop waiting for an opportunity and go take it. Vince Russo and Jonathan Coachman think that’s a great speech. They just don’t think that’s how WWE actually works.
The pair spent a lengthy segment on The Coach & Bro Show tearing into Triple H’s comments, arguing WWE keeps telling talent to “earn” the top spots while continuing to rely on the same handful of established stars. In their eyes, the company can’t keep asking where its next breakout star is while refusing to find out what wrestlers like LA Knight, Jacob Fatu or Bron Breakker can actually do with the ball in their hands.
Coachman immediately took issue with one specific part of Triple H’s philosophy. Triple H argued crowd reactions aren’t enough because WWE also has to know whether someone can handle the pressure of a bigger role. Coachman believes that’s exactly why new stars struggle to break through. Instead of focusing on what someone might become, Coachman argued WWE has become obsessed with what could go wrong.
“When they’re in the room… it’s Punk, Punk, Punk, Punk. They’re saying, ‘Well, Cody’s been around. We know Cody won’t screw it up.’ Triple H just said it. ‘Are they going to screw it up if we give them the spot?’ So they just put Cody in there again.”
Coachman pointed to LA Knight as the perfect example. Knight received one of the loudest reactions of SummerSlam, yet WWE still hasn’t fully committed to him as one of the company’s centerpiece stars. To Coachman, that’s proof the company is choosing safety over upside. Russo actually agreed with one part of Triple H’s message.
“First of all… let’s go positive. I do agree with him on one thing. It is nobody’s turn. No, bro. You’ve got to earn the spot.”
Then he completely flipped the conversation. Russo argued WWE isn’t rewarding the people who are earning those reactions. Instead, he believes the company keeps the same stars on top because they’ve already been there—not because creative is giving them anything special. He immediately pointed to Cody Rhodes.
“Let’s take Cody Rhodes for instance… They brought Cody in and Cody had his story. After Cody beat Roman Reigns, they’ve had nothing for Cody. So what has kept Cody over? His longevity and being on the show every single week in a top spot. Storylines have not kept him over. Being in the spot is what’s kept him over.”
Coachman said WWE’s own Unreal documentary backs up Russo’s point. Rather than taking chances on someone new, he believes creative naturally gravitates toward the same proven names because they’re viewed as the safest option. Then he threw out the question he thinks WWE should already be asking itself after SummerSlam.
“If that’s the SummerSlam you have with arguably your four top guys… why can’t you go back into that creative room and say, ‘We’ve got to change everything?'”
Russo believes the answer is simple. WWE will never know if the next generation is ready until it actually gives them the opportunity.
“There’s only one way you’re going to know. You’ve got to put them in the spot to find out.”
That wasn’t the end of it. Coachman then played another section of Triple H’s press conference where the WWE CCO argued wrestlers get themselves over first and creative follows later. Coachman couldn’t make sense of that logic.
“I can’t get on TV, so I’m supposed to get over and then you’ll give me the push? How does that work?”
Russo said Triple H’s comments ignore one major reality about the wrestling business: almost everybody is already working as hard as they possibly can. To explain why talent alone isn’t enough, Russo compared wrestling to Hollywood.
“Here’s what I have to say about wrestlers all the time, bro. These are blue-collar guys. Very rarely in my 30-plus years in the business have I ever seen a talent phone it in in the ring. They’re working hard. LA Knight is working hard. They are working hard. We know the great Robert De Niro… Great actor. But De Niro was in Rocky and Bullwinkle. Rocky and Bullwinkle sucked. De Niro could not save Rocky and Bullwinkle. You’re only as good as your material.
“Why do you think people in Hollywood wanted to work with Scorsese? Wanted to work with Spielberg? Because people like that made them look their best. That’s why. You’ve got to give these people material.”
Coachman agreed completely. He then reminded everyone that Triple H’s own rise to the top wasn’t built on wrestling matches alone.
“That’s why there’s 20 full-time people. That’s why they’re spending millions a year on creative. “Triple H drove a rocket launcher up to the WCW building. Does he not think that didn’t assist in him getting over? When you think of Triple H, that’s one of the top three things you’re going to think of. No doubt about it.”
Coachman wondered how wrestlers like Damian Priest, Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes and Bronson Reed are supposed to react after hearing Triple H tell frustrated talent to simply work harder. Russo admitted he finds it hard to believe someone like Bron Breakker isn’t already doing everything possible behind the scenes.
“You’re basically saying to these guys, ‘You’re not working hard enough.’ And what if they are? … I find it very hard to believe there are five people you would put your money behind more than Bron Breakker.”
Triple H says WWE’s next top star has to force the company’s hand. Russo and Coachman believe WWE keeps talking about creating new stars while repeatedly betting on the same proven names instead. Until someone like LA Knight, Jacob Fatu or Bron Breakker is truly given the chance to sink or swim, they don’t believe Triple H’s philosophy can actually be tested.
What do you think? Do you agree with Triple H that WWE stars have to force their way into the main event, or do Russo and Coachman have a point that the company needs to start taking bigger risks on fresh talent? Let us know in the comments below.
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