Triple H has offered insight into his creative process.
Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque has been the head of WWE’s creative team for around 18 months, first taking control following Vince McMahon’s initial retirement in July 2022. For the most part, the changes Levesque has implemented have been well-received by the fanbase, and his position as Chief Content Officer has only been strengthened under the banner of the TKO Group, as they have shown full confidence in him to lead the creative direction since the recent merger.
Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Triple H talked openly about his role, first discussing how his rise from the bottom of the card to the main event helps him understand what the creative process is like for the active roster.
“I started at zero and saw all the various stages of it. I’ve worked in front of basically no people, and I’ve worked the biggest shows in the world. I understand the process–the successes and the failures. Even when you get an opportunity to move up the card, then you’re moved back down and you’re not sure if you’re going to get that opportunity again–I’ve been there.”
-Triple H
He went on to reveal a tip given to him by Vince McMahon, which was to always imagine himself as a fan watching the product that he’s creating for WWE. That way, he always has the perspective to be able to book what the viewers want to see.
“Vince taught me years ago, you put yourself in the seats and you’ll never go wrong. You’ve always got to maintain that perspective. I started out as a fan. Book what people want to feel and see.”
-Triple H
In particular, Triple H specified that his primary goal is to invoke an emotional reaction in the fans and is always considering how his creative plans will make people feel.
“Writing this stuff is a feel. You can analyze stories and how they come together, but how does it make you feel? If you can make people feel those stories, they’re going to be invested in the product. That’s how we try to approach, find that ultimate emotional place for the talent and the characters and the stories they’re in.”
-Triple H
To close, the 54-year-old continued to emphasise the importance of WWE’s audience, stating that the vast majority of their roster grew up as fans of the industry, which helps them form a connection with the viewers of today without taking them for granted.
“We don’t take our fan base for granted, and the way our talent operates is different from other generations. They want to go out there and put on the best possible show they can. A lot of these kids are already invested–they grew up wanting to do this. And if they didn’t, they fell in love with it by learning from people who grew up wanting to be in this business, and that’s how they learned the respect for it. To me, that’s what makes you successful. That connection with our fan base, that’s a big part of our core.”
-Triple H
Triple H is currently the overseer of both Raw and SmackDown, and is currently gearing up to this weekend, when WWE head to the Allstate Arena to put on the 37th annual Survivor Series. The event will feature both a men’s and women’s War Games match, something which we didn’t see on the main roster until Levesque took over the creative helm.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on Triple H and his creative process as we hear more.
