Triple H Comments on WWE Going Ahead With WrestleMania, Storyline Plans for Roman Reigns Not Competing, More
Much of the wrestling world was in shock when WWE decided to go ahead with WrestleMania 36, although not a single fan would be able to be in attendance due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Triple H recently sat down with ESPN MMA and explained that they although they did consider postponing the event, they felt that going on with it was the best decision.
“I think [postponing or canceling] was obviously considered but we feel like it’s an obligation for us. Our fans have been there for us for years and years and years and we want to be there for them in this time where everybody is just doing the best to get through this, stuck home and the world needs entertainment right now. We feel an obligation to give them that. Whether it’s exactly what we would like it to be or they would like it to be, it probably won’t be, but it will be a version of that. We will make it the spectacle that it needs to be and that we can to the best of our ability and we’ll give the fans something to be entertained by. Sometimes people get very caught up in what we do, the arguments of what’s happening and why and should’ve done this or that, but at the end of the day if you don’t take it too seriously and you enjoy WWE for what it is, an entertainment source that hopefully we can do what the intent is is putting a smile on your face. If you can forget all that and put it aside and just sit in front of your set and just be entertained by what we do, then we’ve succeeded.”
“There’s going to be critics of everything, we’re doing this to provide what we believe is an essential service in entertaining our fans, entertaining people around the world. You see that with ESPN picking up past WrestleMania’s, FOX, NBC and that partnership, even our historic content is evergreen in nature because of the storytelling aspect of what we do.”
Triple H went on to explain how they are taking every safety precaution possible while still trying to produce new content every week.
“We’re taking all the precautions necessary, we’re working with the government officials very closely locally, we’re taking all the precautions, we’re screening our talent. We’re making sure there are no risks, anybody that doesn’t want to do this, doesn’t have to. The crew and the staff is very very limited, we’re working the talent in waves where we bring them in for their particular stuff and then they can leave. We’re keeping people as separated as possible. Trying to do this as safe a way as possible, yet still being able to perform a vital service. We’re doing the best we can.”
One wrestler who will not be competing this weekend at WrestleMania 36 is Roman Reigns. Reigns decided to drop out of his scheduled Universal Championship match with Goldberg due to his underlying health conditions. Despite the match being changed, however, WWE continued to advertise Reigns on all their programming over the last week.
“You can watch our business in multiple different ways, one of them is the storyline aspect of it and to follow the storyline. Another way is the online component of it and the reality of it behind it. Roman has his situation and his reasons for doing the things he’s doing, but I will say from our standpoint and the storyline standpoint, it’s going to play out in a unique manner and we want it to play out that way. I don’t want to give away the ending of the movie before the movie takes place. Everybody just has to watch and see how this unfolds. It will unfold in a unique way and I think it will be meaningful for everybody.”
“There will always be critics, it’s our company’s mission to put smiles on peoples faces, and that’s what we’re trying to do in this situation at a time where people really need those smiles. It might not be the perfect product but it is the product and it is what it is right now.”
Thank you to WrestlingInc. for transcribing the interview. The full interview can be seen in the video below.
Matt’s Musings: If WWE should have postponed WrestleMania 36 is a question that will be debated for years to come. As for WWE continuing to advertise for a match they know they are not producing? Although I understand WWE’s reasoning for it, I do not agree with them doing it. I feel that it is poor business practice to try to get fans to pay as much as $59.99 by promising them a match that will not happen.