The working experience in WWE requires talents to often win over both Triple H and Vince McMahon at different stages. Most wrestlers spend time in NXT trying to showcase their skillset under Triple H’s guidance. There is more creative freedom in NXT than on Raw or Smackdown, but the vision of Triple H is what matters most.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t lead to success on the main roster working with Vince. The mindsets of Triple H and McMahon are inherently different when it comes to their presentation of wrestling. Many talents have witnessed their WWE careers falling apart during the transition. Find out just how much the differences between working environments can harm wrestlers in WWE.
Fundamental Differences Between Triple H & Vince McMahon
The biggest difference in the belief systems of Triple H and Vince McMahon comes in the storytelling form. Triple H likes the reality-based approach of the show hoping to blend scripted and unscripted atmospheres. However, that goes against everything Vince wants from his style of professional wrestling. The larger-than-life sports entertainment approach is all McMahon knows since it brought him immense success.
Chris Jericho referenced this difference between the two on his podcast multiple times. The biggest story featured the infamous Festival of Friendship segment between Jericho and Kevin Owens. Triple H did not want the “list of KO” to be the way Owens betrayed Jericho despite the tremendous anticipation and payoff.
The humor of Jericho’s list made Triple H believe the comedy would take away from the reality. Jericho went over Triple H’s head to call Vince who already confirmed he loved the idea. To his credit, Triple H admitted he was wrong afterward when Jericho’s idea played out in successful fashion. It was still the perfect example of how both men wanted drastically different things from the segment.
The Problem With Two Leaders
Fans fall in love with wrestlers in NXT before they debut on the biggest stage. NXT doesn’t have the audience sizes of Raw or Smackdown, but the fans who overlap are the most passionate. Names like Kevin Owens, Finn Balor and Sasha Banks were getting huge cheers before the main roster audience knew anything about their characters.
Triple H builds the NXT talents to develop an identity before they start working directly for Vince McMahon in a creative sense. That makes it all the more confusing when their personas receive changes on the main roster. McMahon will tinker with the acts he feels need a change since their NXT history means nothing to him in the bigger picture of WWE.
Balor becoming the first wrestler to hold the Universal Championship was Vince’s biggest risk in trusting a Triple H favorite. The instant injury doomed Finn who never received the full confidence of McMahon in his booking again. Balor returning to NXT and thriving again shows just how different the philosophies can present for the booking of a talent.
These Dueling Visions Kill WWE Careers
Renee Young asked Aleister Black on her podcast Oral Sessions about the differences between working for Triple H and Vince McMahon leading to struggles for wrestlers. Black was pushed hard in NXT from day one with Triple H talking to him about his vision for the new character. Vince praised Black, but he admitted he had no idea how to use him in the early stages of his singles run on the main roster.
The release of Black showed just how brutal a career can change from a future world champ to a released superstar in the WWE landscape. Other names have witnessed the same issue dooming them when looking to make the next bigger step in their career.
Women’s division talents like Ember Moon, Emma and the Iiconics looked like future stars, but McMahon just never believed in them. Bo Dallas and Neville were former NXT Champions who became lower card talents looking to reinvent their careers before turning 30.
The job turns into an impossible task of having to impress Triple H by cultivating a persona in the NXT bubble and getting over for an important sect of the fan base. McMahon makes them change on the fly with the new job task of having to win him over by changing many things that define them. The wildly different bosses in WWE can become a career killer for any wrestler moving from NXT to Raw or Smackdown.