Triple H: WWE NXT's Hiring Process Philosophy Hasn't Shifted
Rumours have persisted over a change in strategy for NXT
Aug 20, 2021
Triple H has dismissed suggestions that WWE has changed their policy when it comes to hiring new, developmental talent, amid reports of a shift in focus for NXT.
Reports have circulated throughout August that WWE would be pushing NXT back towards being more geared towards developing performers for the main roster, as opposed to being an established brand in its own right, after a host of talent were released from their contracts at the start of the month.
With speculation indicating that WWE is now looking for 'younger, bigger' stars that are capable of main-eventing WrestleMania, WWE NXT boss Triple H has denied the notion that there has been a shift in perspective for NXT, indicating that this has always been the goal.
Speaking during a media call, Triple H said: "It’s a funny thing, people talk about the shifting if what it is. It never really shifted. So if you go back and look at the hiring process, not the hiring process of a television show, the hiring process of who we’re looking to train and make WWE Superstars. Long term. If you go back and look at it, it hasn’t shifted. It’s been the same process.
"I don’t negate anybody from a standpoint of ‘I wrestled some independent stuff. ”Well all right, you’re out!’ That’s not a factor to me, but it’s also not the factor that makes me go ‘okay, you’re in.’
"When they get in here today, if somebody goes in and hits the ropes perfectly every time, has every roll perfect, does all the stuff, (makes) it look easy because they’ve been training, that’s not really showing me anything. You should be able to, if you’ve been training, if you’ve been working indies you should be able to do all of that.
"To me, what is the potential long-term? What is that potential? And are they willing to do the work to live up to that potential.
"Vince used to always say ‘we’re a variety show. We are. In some manner, you need a little bit of everything. That’s the key to all of this. But people hear one statement and then make one (assumption). ‘Now it’s that. No, now it’s this.’ It always has been.
"You’ll hear Vince say it a lot. It’ll sound wrong to a lot of people, but it’s right. We’re not looking for professional wrestlers, we’re looking for superstars. We’re looking for somebody that can break through that. The rest of it takes care of itself."
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