The New Sides of Triple H

From The Layfield Report:

HHH is a man who brings up a lot of opinion in people. Even fellow wrestlers[Bret link]. But listening to all the opinions down through the years, there seems to be two mirror arguments when people talk about 'The Game.'

Some would say that he stooged himself as a chauffeur to a powerful backstage lobby, then married into the family to help elevate, and keep that elevation long term. That he never made anyone and used the mic to hurt his opponents.

Others would say that he always showed promise, even in WCW, and took it like a man when he was handed the combined tonnage of shit for The Curtain Call at the Garden. That he was a real student of the game and devoured wrestling day and night until he got the belt.

Maybe somewhere in the middle is true. Maybe both of those philosophies are crap. Point is - none of them matter now.

There's certainly two sides to the man. But maybe not those two anymore.

What matters now to anyone who has any love for pro wrestling, is how HHH is going to be as a future custodian of the overall company. Tangled up in the opinions and theories is the fact he did marry the boss' daughter and that he is being groomed for higher perches in the company.

That combination and circumstance certainly points to a lot more diverging opinion to come.

But the early signs look promising.



In 2011, he made the Sin Cara deal happen early in his role as head of Talent Development. Not that Sin Cara ended up a megastar or had great matches or sold containers full of merchandise. It was the fact that he rolled the dice at all. HHH looked like he was willing to bet straight out of the gate. And let's hope that continues.

It's always riskier signing a Mistico or Pac over rehashing older characters. It's always easier to "bring back" someone that to "make" someone. HHH seems to see the unarguable, long term value in "making" people now that his career has mostly shifted away from the ring.

Look at the new adjustments to the developmental system. Reports have pointed to HHH making changes, large and small, to the developmental system. Bringing in Regal and inviting Jim Ross back into the talent fold are moves to be applauded. He was also adamant about changing the thinking with regard to pushing new guys up before they were ready, or before there was anything for them to do. Sounds like simple stuff, but anyone who manages anything will tell you that getting back to basics is the most often missed pillar of a strategy.

For everyone who said he "made" no one when he was a full time wrestler - he's certainly trying now.


But more recently, maybe the greatest indication of where a HHH lead company might head is in his dealings with all-time great, Bruno Sammartino.

HHH was able to get done what his father-in-law couldn't. It apparently took him seven months, many lengthy conversations and even a couple of trips - but Bruno is going in this year.

"It was a credibility issue," HHH said in an interview.

Even after Bruno turned him down at first, HHH remained "respectful but persistent." But why was it so important to HHH to dedicate time to the HOF? Because then as now, he devours wrestling. He understands and respects the legacy of it and those who paved the way.

"He’s one of the biggest names there has ever been in the business. So for us to not have him in there...it was a major issue. For me, the more important thing was that nobody deserves to be recognized for being a big star and paving the way for the stars of today more than Bruno. Everything that we have today in the business, Bruno was a cornerstone of that foundation. He truly is a living legend." - HHH on Bruno Sammartino, Feb 2013.

So maybe after all the bullshit written and spoken about HHH, maybe there are two sides to the man. But maybe it's just as simple as the future and the past.

They both seem equally as important to him nowadays. And that can never be a bad thing.