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| Is this the man we want molding the future of the entire professional wrestling industry? |
Triple H has spent the last few years training to do Vince McMahon’s job for whenever the day comes that Vince can no longer continue running the show. I have been very concerned about The Game’s ability to put business in front of ego, so you can imagine how worried I was when it was rumored that he would be facing Daniel Bryan at Wrestlemania XXX. With Bryan becoming the hottest breakout babyface act to come along in ages, WWE management has been slow to get with the program due to Bryan being an undersized performer with a quirky personality and a strange look. In the past, with WCW breathing down their neck, the company might have been more willing to push Bryan because they were in a position simply to stay alive. But in a day when WWE is expecting to double or triple their TV rights fees despite gradually lower ratings year after year, they seem to think they can afford to push who they want over who the fans want.
So the big question is: Will Triple H do what’s really “best for business” and put Daniel Bryan over cleanly, without any outside interference, fluke finish, or other nonsense? In the past, Triple H has been a master of initially seeming willing to put someone over, but then changing his mind when push comes to shove. Triple H was going to put Rob Van Dam over at Unforgiven 2002, but changed his mind because he needed to be hot for the returning Kane. He was then supposed to put Kane over at No Mercy 2002, but changed his mind because he needed to be hot to work more matches with Shawn Michaels. These aren’t hunches, but came out of interviews former writer Seth Mates had with Wade Keller of the Pro Wrestling Torch. The most damning of all was when Triple H was supposed to put Booker T over at Wrestlemania XIX, but changed his mind because he made the argument that he needed to be hot so he could work with Goldberg. You might be able to understand why I am worried that even though the current plan is probably for Bryan to beat Triple H at WMXXX, plans could damn well change.
You would think that since Triple H will be relying on WWE’s success long after his in-ring career is over, he would be happy to make sure the current crop of talent are perceived to be big stars. That is why I cringed in 2012 when Triple H told Undertaker that the both of them were the “last of the smash mouth stars” to imply that no one else on the roster was worthy. I also groaned in the fall of 2013 when Triple H told rising star Daniel Bryan that he was a B+ player and not worth him lacing up his boots to face (in the midst of trying to sell fans on spending $55 to see Bryan face Randy Orton at the next pay-per-view).
If Triple H wants to inherit the responsibilities of running WWE and taking it into the future, he must prove that he has the company’s best interest at heart, and right now that means making Daniel Bryan the biggest star possible.
