Prep Talk From HHH Before Raw To The Wrestlers

[Guest BoboBrazil]

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- July 15, 2002 -- The backstage area -- normally a

madhouse during shows this close to World Wrestling Entertainment's

Stamford, Conn., headquarters - was noticeably quiet this afternoon.

 

At about 2:45 p.m., WWE's agents asked all the RAW Superstars to head out to

the ring area for a meeting. For 45 minutes, all the talent leaned against

the black guardrail outside the ring. The agents - including John

Laurinaitis, Arn Anderson and Dave "Fit" Finlay, stood in the ring and

literally talked down to them.

 

"The purpose of the meeting was to get all talent together to discuss their

views on RAW, and what they feel they can do to better the show,"

Laurinaitis told WWE.com.

 

Laurinaitis said there was a similar meeting two months ago with the

SmackDown! crew, and this was the first time "in a long time" that he and

Finlay, who are normally SmackDown! agents, had worked on RAW. So it was a

good opportunity, Laurinaitis said, to get everybody together. But last

week's RAW, which Jim Ross described in his Ross Report as "bowling-shoe

ugly," no doubt made today's gathering a higher priority. (Neither Ross nor

Vince McMahon attended the meeting.)

 

"There are some problems within RAW," Laurinaitis said. "Just internal

problems, motivation, some of the work ethic, some of the energy that lacks

from the show. Therefore, we pointed out that part of being in this business

is being in the ring every day, working hard and helping one another out,

and learning from other people and applying it into your own matches.

 

"It was just something where some of the agents felt like we needed to talk

to some of the talent. It's better to do it as a whole group rather than

just individually, because that way they get a chance to talk back, ask

questions and give us their points of views. And then we can try to help

them if there are any problems."

 

Many of the superstars spoke during the meeting. Triple H, who was not

scheduled to appear on RAW or SmackDown! this week due to injury, but was at

RAW nonetheless, seemed to have the most to say. Asked after the meeting

what he said, Triple H replied that he told his peers that they don't

necessarily deserve more television exposure (a "push") just because they've

been in the company for a while.

 

"(Some superstars) go to a house show, look on the wall and see their name,"

Triple H said, "and if they're the first match, they're like, 'Yeah! I'm on

early. I'm going to get to the hotel early, and get to sleep early. Or watch

a movie or get a beer or whatever.' If they're in the first match on the

card, they should be going, "All right, great I'm on first. But I'm going to

watch every single match and learn from every single guy. I'm going to get

in the ring before the doors open, working on my stuff, trying to get

better. I'm going to talk to the older guys, try to get better.' Too many of

these guys are content to sit back and wait for somebody to come up to them

and say, 'We're going to make you champ.' That's not how this business

works. That's not how this business has ever worked. You go out and you make

the best of the spot that you're in. And you make them realize, 'This guy's

so good, we have to use him.' That's how you get your spot.

 

"Nobody gave me my spot. If anything, when I was coming up, they were trying

to push me out because of Madison Square Garden and all that stuff - the

Curtain Call. I worked backwards. I could have just quit and said, 'They're

not going to push me. Forget it.' You just keep going. A lot of these guys

are angry because they say, 'Well, I've been here a long time. Why don't

they push me? Why am I not a top guy?' Because you're lazy. Because you sit

in the back and play Nintendo instead of watching the matches. Because you

play cards all day instead of trying to learn about the business. Because

you can't work, but you think that you can because you have an occasional

good match on TV or you had a few good matches on TV, but you really don't

know how to work. And you don't realize that, and you need to."

 

Triple H continued: "One of the things that guys don't realize is that when

there's less people here (in the crowd), you have to work harder. There's a

prevailing thought with some of the guys - they look around and if there's

not a lot of people they go, 'I'm not going to work very hard tonight

because there's nobody out there. I'm not going to risk getting hurt for

these people.' And it should be the opposite. When there's less people out

there, you have to work harder, because you need those people to go home and

tell their friends, 'I went to the show and it was awesome. You gotta see

this.' That's how you build the business. That's what we did. There was a

time in this business that nobody came to the shows. We built it up

to where it was sold out every night. We did that with a lot of hard work.

That's what these guys need to do."

 

Laurinaitis said the only way to improve WWE is to have everyone working

together, and that was the main point they tried to get across in the

meeting.

 

"The agents are there to help the (superstars)," he said. "Creative is there

to help the guys. The guys need to help the guys. We have a lot of young

potentially great superstars ready to break through who need help. The only

way to help one another is to get in the ring every day and work out, and to

watch matches, watch tapes, and take advice from the top talent.

 

"The talent agreed (at the meeting) that they do need to pick up the pace a

little bit, and there is a lack of a lot of the guys supporting one another.

That's going to happen in such a competitive business, but by supporting one

another, everybody prospers - the company prospers. And that's the main goal

of everybody, is to make WWE strong."

 

wwe.com

[Guest Downhome]

Holy crap, we posted this at the exact same time!

[Guest Anglesault]

Okay, Hunter is secretly backing the HHHaters. He couldn't just accidently give us this much material...

[Guest myburninghammer]

The only thing more mind-blowing than the hole they've dug themselves into is the way they continue to go deeper when they think they're coming back up. Quoth Chief Wiggum: "Dig up, stupid."

 

And can we all say it's official now: Fuck Triple H.

[Guest Nevermortal]

Yeah, he's definitely reading our shit.

[Guest Edwin MacPhisto]

Interesting.

 

I know a good 60% of this board, at least, loathes the ground that Trips walks on, but kudos to him for 'stepping up' and least trying to motivate some people. I don't know how much locker room sway he has, but a kick in the ass is usually good for anybody, whether they resent it or not.

[Guest HartFan86]

If he's readin...hey HHH! What's up?

[Guest art_vandelay]

Any guesses as to who HHH was referring to as "lazy, playing video games, etc."?

[Guest goodolemr]

Triple H is the last man to talk about other people's workrate.

 

I wish someone on the RAW roster would call Triple H on his shit.

[Guest justsoyouknow]

"You don't get your spot just because you've been here for awhile, you get your spot by sleeping with the boss's daughter! Um...I mean....:::spits water::: I AM THE GAYME!"

[Guest myburninghammer]

I'm guessing the video game jab was at Booker; I think Ross made some mention of it in his Report the day after the 4th. I suppose that explains the rationale--probably Hunter's--for Booker's constant jobbing, but then if your role mostly consists of you staring at the ceiling while Kevin Nash tries and fails at basic human movement, what kind exercise would you really need? At least his thumbs get a work out. Er, sucka.

[Guest Kid Kablam]

Interesting.

 

I know a good 60% of this board, at least, loathes the ground that Trips walks on, but kudos to him for 'stepping up' and least trying to motivate some people. I don't know how much locker room sway he has, but a kick in the ass is usually good for anybody, whether they resent it or not.

Oh please, it's easy to give a "firey motivational speech" if you've watched enough movies.

[Guest bcu1979]

I can't believe the entire RAW crew had to stand around and get lectured by Triple H. It's amazing he didn't get knocked on his ass if he actually made all those comments in the interview during the actual meeting. If Vince or even J.R. wants to hold a meeting to blame the talent for the WWE's problems, then that's understandble. Misguided, but understandable. Triple H talking down to everyone as if he's above the rest of the guys is crazy. I am sure it further endeared him to the majority of the locker room.

 

Besides, what has Triple H done in the last 7 months to set any kind of example as a leader or a team player? Triple H may have been a workhorse in 2000, but those days have long since passed.

 

Interesting that they said many people spoke but only focused on Triple H's comments. Either the writer only cared what HHH said or maybe the other wrestlers felt the comments should have remained amongst themselves.

[Guest y2jailbait]

I'm guessing the video game jab was at Booker; I think Ross made some mention of it in his Report the day after the 4th. I suppose that explains the rationale--probably Hunter's--for Booker's constant jobbing, but then if your role mostly consists of you staring at the ceiling while Kevin Nash tries and fails at basic human movement, what kind exercise would you really need? At least his thumbs get a work out. Er, sucka.

YOU TOOK MY POST!

[Guest Austin3164life]

Interesting.

 

I know a good 60% of this board, at least, loathes the ground that Trips walks on, but kudos to him for 'stepping up' and least trying to motivate some people. I don't know how much locker room sway he has, but a kick in the ass is usually good for anybody, whether they resent it or not.

God damn right. As it has been said many times, wrestling fans have the absolute shortest memories. I guess the same goes for all of us "smarks". People seem to forget how Triple H was pretty punished in 96-97, and how he became better and better until he reached WWF Title levels. It's good to see Triple H take the initiative to try and motivate the other guys who don't give a damn. It shouldn't just be about "Oh, I deserve a push, I need it". If wrestlers want to be pushed, then they damn well better work their asses off for it. Sure, the booking team is in shambles right now and there's not a lot of spotlight for such a large roster, but the message is there and is loud and clear. You want money, and fame, and accolades, and respect? Earn it. That is all.

[Guest Edwin MacPhisto]

Interesting.

 

I know a good 60% of this board, at least, loathes the ground that Trips walks on, but kudos to him for 'stepping up' and least trying to motivate some people.  I don't know how much locker room sway he has, but a kick in the ass is usually good for anybody, whether they resent it or not.

Oh please, it's easy to give a "firey motivational speech" if you've watched enough movies.

Of course it is. The fact that people on staff are talking to each other about problems is at least something to admire. Sure, it might be kind of silly to have Trips being all George Patton to all the guys in the back, but at least he's getting a point across, no matter whose point it is or how much he himself follows it.

[Guest bob_barron]

Triple H goes out there and motivates the troops.

 

And we get a good RAW.

 

I say- good for him. I wish more wrestlers would do that.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

I find it amazing how HHH says you dont get pushed because your lazy...and Kevin Nash and Scott Hall got a push how then?...Oh thats right, FRIENDSHIP. Samething goes for X-pac.

 

So as advice for all you future champions out there, kiss ass and suck dick to everyone you meet in wrestling, because you never know who is gonna be sleeping with the bosses daughter and helping you get pushed.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

I can agree with some of what Triple H said, but he's kidding miself if he thinks everyone wants to sit in the back and watch every match that goes on and study tapes in their spare time. I can't think of too many wrestlers that I would want to watch to learn anything, but I could see watching a match to support your fellow performers. Furthermore, if you have a match to prepare for, I think you would rather focus on that than watch everybody else's matches. What wrestlers put on clinics when they get in the ring? There really aren't many of them I can think of right now. Maybe management wants to see wrestlers acting like they are paying attention, but who would you learn from?

[Guest Edwin MacPhisto]

I find it amazing how HHH says you dont get pushed because your lazy...and Kevin Nash and Scott Hall got a push how then?...Oh thats right, FRIENDSHIP. Samething goes for X-pac.

 

So as advice for all you future champions out there, kiss ass and suck dick to everyone you meet in wrestling, because you never know who is gonna be sleeping with the bosses daughter and helping you get pushed.

They got it for ratings. Hall's gone, Nash is essentially gone, and X-Pac is on leave.

 

Ass-kissing will always get you somewhere, but these three sure have gone to shit. The nWo didn't even last 4 months, and it didn't get a single high-profile win. They start a new era every couple of weeks it seems, but I'm hoping the one that sees a 12-minute midcard tag match, an excellent Booker T promo, and sees underused talent like Steven Richards plus new guys like Chris Harvard and Johnny the Bull getting TV time, is the one that sticks.

[Guest jester]

In many ways, this was a great speech.

 

But I don't think many will be thrilled getting it from Triple H.

 

Whether the polticking stories are true or not, I'll bet some people were back there thinking "Yeah, your spot has everything to do with the quality of your matches and your promos, and nothing to do with you and the boss' daughter."

 

Actually, I can't think of many who could give this speech and sound entirely credible. Maybe the Undertaker. Rock is gone too often.

 

jester

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

How can HHH honestly say 'You have to work for it to get to the top' when Brock Lesnar is getting a ME push, John Cena was ME'ing smackdown, and the 4 new guys combined in the last month get more air time than Bob Holly has in the past year.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

But they were let back into wrestling because they had friendships with hhh who was all gun-ho for their return....i think hhh needs to find new friends...halls gone, chyna, nash is out, xpac is probably gonna be fired soon, hbk and him are still at odds....

 

*does cute voice*

will you be triple h's new friend?

*end cute voice*

 

Maybe if HHH gets some new firends he'll be less grumpy and more happy. Maybe all HHH needs is a hug?

[Guest Nezbyte]

Good for Trips. I HOPE he comes back with all that mass down and returns to former glory. I agree that people should bust their asses, ATLEAST for TV.

[Guest Kid Kablam]

I think that HHH of the past could have made that speech. But the fact is that right now, he doesn't have the credibility. He did work through hiis de-push after the MSG incident, but that doesn't change the fact that everyone hates him now.

[Guest Austin3164life]

How can HHH honestly say 'You have to work for it to get to the top' when Brock Lesnar is getting a ME push, John Cena was ME'ing smackdown, and the 4 new guys combined in the last month get more air time than Bob Holly has in the past year.

Then I guess the WWE should give Bob Holly a ME push. No offense, but to me, Holly is a solid midcard man at best. I could never see a man with limited charisma like Bob Holly win the WWE World Title.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

Well I have never seen Holly dog it in the ring and ya'd think that continuing a match with a broken arm shows commitment. I am not saying Bob SHOULD get a ME push, I am just saying under HHH's BS system he should be world frikken champ.

[Guest Smeghead]

I will agree that Triple H is probably not the right person to give that kind of lecture. But every single thing he said was correct. You can argue with who said it, but you can't argue with what was said.

 

And like bob_barron said, after this lecture, we got a good Raw. If that's what it takes for the shows to improve, I say more power to him.

[Guest Some Guy]

This is like the pot calling the kettle black. HHH talks down to the locker room like they are on Tough Enough and that makes him a leader? Where has HHH demostrated his ability to work since his return? His best match was what ***? ANd he did with a guy who had better matches with Rock and Austin and had a the HIAC gimmick to work with. Maybe Hunter should pull the needle out of his ass, deflate, and really start working his ass off in the ring, where it matters. HHH's biceps have yet to sell out a building, his ring work used to. Hmmmmmmm.

[Guest jester]

The other wrestlers were probably also thinking "Gosh, if I work hard enough, maybe I can be part of a major angle ON A SHOW I'M NOT EVEN FRICKIN' SUPPOSED TO BE ON even though I'm injured and haven't been that good lately too!"

 

jester