-- Paul "HHH" Levesque participated in a conference call with members of the media ahead of Sunday's NXT TakeOver: In Your House. Below are the highlights:
- HHH thanked everyone for joining and offered his sincere condolences to the families of George Floyd and countless others who have lost their lives due to senseless violence. He then notes a lot of international attendees on today's call and welcomes them. He said he is very excited about Saturday's card, especially given all the things happening in the world. He said it's very apropos with everyone quarantining in their homes that they bring back "In Your House" and a fun and entertaining PPV. He said he expects some fun little "history pieces" and things people will enjoy and it will be very retro but still current to today. HHH said he feels this card is spectacular and he expects it to exceed expectations. He then sort of runs through the card before taking questions.
- The first question talked about Florida opening up as they enter Stage 2 and whether NXT and WWE will be running events outside of the WWE Performance Center. Triple H says that they have been looking at all options from the very beginning and trying to figure out how to navigate things. They have worked closely with the government of Florida to ensure they are compliant with all their guidelines as well as CDC protocols. They have been looking at options for when this time came and all options are on the table. He said they still need to understand exactly what the reopening orders mean and what can and cannot be done and they will respond accordingly. What WWE does is for the fans and it is their duty to continue to deliver and the faster they can get back to doing what they do, the better - as long as it's safe.
- The next question asks about Triple H's 25 years in WWE and talks about his achievements and what moment he finds particularly significant. He said 25 years is a long time and he's enjoyed all of the moments. He's enjoyed things backstage even more than in the ring and the relationship that he's built and the people he's worked with are things that will stick with him forever. He said now it comes down to the future talent grow and knowing that they are giving them that platform to get there. He noted that those moments might be bigger for him than his own moments and compared it to watching your kids grow and succeed.
- He was asked about the Drake Maverick situation, his release, his heartfelt message, participation in the Cruiserweight tournament and then getting another contract and the details surrounding the decision to bring him back and specifics of his contract. Triple H said Drake's situation was that they had already promoted in the tournament but then the releases happened. He talked about how horrible it was but it was a difficult decision to let people go as many other companies are having to make. Triple H said that Drake was offered the opportunity to continue in the tournament and he wanted to do that and wanted to prove that he could still be in WWE. He praises Drake saying he is very passionate and loves being with the company and that it was his dream, etc. Through the process of the tournament, he captured people's hearts and they decided to turn it into something based off of his performance. Triple H says he's personally thrilled for Drake to be able to continue living his dream because he's a great guy.
- The next caller is from Italty asked what Triple H wants to say to the Italian audience as well as the success enjoyed by Fabian Aichner. Triple H said they are looking to bring in great performers and it doesn't matter where they are from. They are looking for great athletes, great characters and great personalities and Fabian is all those. He talks about the diversity of the entire WWE roster and he's very proud of it and as for Aichner, he has the whole world in front of him.
- The next question asked about the cinematic qualities of recent matches and for TakeOver, what matches are live and what are taped. Triple H confirmed that Cole vs. Dream is taped but everything else will be taped. He talked about the taped match and that it was taped outside and there were elements of the weather that they had to be cautious of but everything else will be live.
- The next caller was very difficult to understand but asked about the triple threat match and had to repeat her question because HHH didn't understand her. Even on the second attempt it was tough but Triple H believed the question was about how well the women have done over the last year. Triple H said he is continually blown away by the women of WWE and he has been since the beginning. He talks about all the superstars who started in NXT and how they changed the pace of what women are doing in the ring. And now they are more often than not stealing the show and it's amazing what they can do and the in-ring performance is off the charts and he is proud of them.
- He was asked about cinematic matches, specifically the Bone Yard Match and the influence of Jeremy Borash and Matt Hardy on its success. Triple H says that cinematic matches have been happening for 20 years and points to the Rock vs. Mick Foley at Halftime Heat and Steve Austin vs. Booker T in the grocery store and there are others over the year. He praises Borash saying he is an incredible talent with an eye for story telling and that he loves working with him but there was a whole team of people who worked on the Bone Yard Match. There was an entire team who was responsible for that match who turned it into artwork and while Borash is phenomenal but there are so many people who deserve credit. Triple H says he was thrilled for the fans, AJ and especially Taker.
- Triple H was then asked about the increase in surprises on NXT and the presence of "red herrings" and whether the amount of surprises is a calculated strategy or something that just happened. Triple H said you always want to make the best possible show and sometimes ideas lead to nice surprises that hope you don't come out and get reported on. Triple H said one of the nice things about the way they are doing TVs doing now they have the ability to do things and not necessarily have it get out there before it airs. It's nice from a fan's standpoint to be surprised and tune into something and not know something is going to happen. It takes away from the enjoyment from fans and whenever we try to do that, we do.
- The next question wondered how pleased Triple H is to have Charlotte as the NXT women's champion and her recent matches. Triple H said that he's been thrilled with everything and he knows sometimes she's bashed because of her Dad and her name, no matter what she does. But it speaks to her as a performer that she's willing to work across all the brands and carry that torch. The long term is building up other talent and as spectacular as a moment that Rhea Ripley had, he wished it could have happened in a stadium. However, that loss might help her get to the long term arc of her character while Charlotte carries with her as the aura of as a champion and carries herself in a different way. To have Ripley and Io Shirai step into the ring with Charlotte, they are going to tear things up. They all want to step up and this match will be off the charts and they will want to steal the show.
- Triple H was then asked about possible Performance Centers in Japan and Latin America in the future. He said that is still a goal, the international expansion, whether that is PCs or recruiting or creating localized content. The global pandemic has put a lot of that on hold and you have to figure out where things will go after we are out of this situation. However, that remains very much the goal and they remain committed to NXT UK and there are a lot of athletes champing at the bit for the reigns to come off and given the green light.
- The next question asks if all the wrestlers and the crew are receiving COVID-19 testing and if not, why? Triple H said the testing they have now is based on their medical experts on the team, working with CDC and the government to determine the best approach to take to ensure the safety and wellness of their performers. Working with local and federal government and in terms of various types of testing, the accuracy of those tests become questionable. WWE is doing what is being told by medical experts and once widespread and accurate testing is available, they will do it. In the meantime, the medical protocols are extensive and most importantly, they've worked.
- The next caller from India talks about the huge WWE following in that country, second only to cricket. He wanted to know about the challenges of pulling off an NXT tournament during the pandemic. Triple H said the challenges have been about keeping people safe and as far as India, he said he's very excited about the fanbase there and it's one of his favorite places. Triple H said he cannot wait to be back in India to increase that footprint and bring NXT and get further into that market.
- The next caller talks about the Riddle vs. Thatcher match last week and whether they could have more Fight Pit matches in the future. Triple H said it came about organically, with the right performers - two talent who bring a different style, a more ground-based, grappling style. That type of environment seemed like the right one and they based it off things in the past as well as some things they wanted to see. He feels like it really captivated people and delivered, and he thinks it will become one of the signature matches of NXT - the Fight Pit can sort of be the go-to grudge match and you'll see more of it in the future. The caller then jokes that with the return of In Your House, he hopes doesn't bring back memories of the Hogpen match back in 1995 in which HHH competed. Triple H said he still has nightmares of that match.
- The final caller asks about the In Your House theme coming back and when this idea came back and whether it had to do with the current situation and if there is a possibility it could become an annual event like War Games. Triple H said it absolutely came about due to circumstances, specifically with everyone "in (their) home" and it seemed like the perfect timing with everyone stuck in their house. The reaction was huge and it was funny because by coincidence it was only a couple days away from the 25th anniversary of the first ever In Your House. They will take note of the enjoyment and if people demand it, it will come back.
- Triple H then ends the call, asking everyone to stay safe and healthy and he'll chat again after TakeOver.
