Add as a preferred source on Google Triple H is catching heat from fans after his answer about the same names sitting in WWE’s top spots at the press conference following night one of SummerSlam on Aug. 1 in Minneapolis.
Asked about Damian Priest’s recent comments that the locker room is tired of seeing the same guys on top, the chief content officer said talent has to earn those spots, and that 99 percent of the time somebody gets over first and gets the push after.
“I get that. If you are the guy who wants to take the spot, it is frustrating when there’s guys above you who have the spot, and that’s the thing.
We are in a period of time where there is a lot of top performers in top spots that, over time, have earned those spots and, over time, are selling tickets and, over time, are incredibly popular, right?
So, you really have to do something. The narrative of, like, ‘It’s my turn. I’ve been here a while. It’s my turn.’ There are no turns. That’s not how it works.
You earn the spot. But it is not just that. It is not just I’m getting a loud crowd reaction or anything else. Are they going to be good in the spot? Are they going to hold up their end of the bargain? Are they going to screw it up if we give it to them? Are they going to make a mistake that we regret giving them the spot?
There’s all those things factored in. The right human in the right position. All those things factor in.
I love the fact that sometimes talent are like, ‘This is frustrating.’ Great. That means work harder. Work harder. Get yourself there. Figure it out. Figure the way. Figure how it gets done.
You know, I have seen a million talent succeed because of what they do. Not because of storyline, not because of creative—they gave them the spot or whatever.
99 percent of the time in this business, the person gets over, then gets the push, right? That’s how it works. That’s how it’s supposed to work.
You go do yours, then we follow it. Because otherwise, most of the time they will choke on it if it is not what the fans believe in, if it is not what the crowd believes in.
I’m a big believer that if you want the spot, go take it. It’s all there for everybody to take, right?
You know, when anybody says, ‘Well, I don’t know why I’m not in that spot.’ I don’t know, are you more over than Cody? Are you more over than Roman? Are you more over than Punk? Are you more over than Liv, Iyo?
Get there. Start to make those crowd reactions happen. Whatever you need to make it happen, that’s what we are all here to do.
I love that mentality because I think it makes people work harder. If they are not willing to work to get the spot, shouldn’t have it anyway.”
The backlash was immediate, with fans on X responding with some version of “explain LA Knight, then,” while others brought up Carmelo Hayes.
Knight got one of the loudest pops of the entire night in Minneapolis. Hayes, meanwhile, was left off WrestleMania 42 and then off the SummerSlam card altogether, losing his spot in the United States Title program to Baron Corbin, who challenges Trick Williams on night two.
Ilja Dragunov’s name started getting brought up as well. The former United States Champion hasn’t been on TV since the go-home SmackDown before WrestleMania 42, and it’s been reported that WWE views him as an interchangeable midcard act rather than a top guy.