MR. TITO: Analyzing the Triple H vs. The Rock Animosity Within the WWE
Right now, the AEW fanboys and those who actually think that Dave Meltzer has intelligent takes (LOL) are trying to drive a wedge between Triple H, Chief Content Officer of the WWE, and The Rock, who is a WWE Board Member and part-time performer. Because AEW is soooooo bad right now, the only way these miserable AEW marks can feel good is to sow the seeds of WWE’s destruction by stoking flames of possible internal division.
Yet, what they don’t understand is that 2 grown men may have disagreements and then can move on. Why? Because Wrestlemania 41 made a boatload of money and didn’t even need Rock to appear. Then, WWE RAW was superb and got the fans excited about the WWE product all over again.
WWE is able to do this because they have competent leadership, a great talent roster, and the ability to work together as a TEAM. AEW has a dictatorship with Tony Khan and the Young Bucks, along with a leaky locker room that runs crying the Dave Meltzer anytime something goes against the grain. “Wahhhh, CM Punk is a bigger star than everyone! Get him out of here!”
Yes, the Rock appearing on Pat McAfee’s show the day after Wrestlemania was peculiar, but that’s a simple thing called “damage control” for public relations. Admittedly, WWE is recognizing that when Travis Scott hit the ring, everybody was expecting the Rock to appear after him. He didn’t, so hearing the online backlash, the Rock went on a public outlet and basically cleared the air why he wasn’t there. Did the Rock reveal too much? Probably, as the Rock often goes unscripted and just shoots whenever he’s on outlets like this. But the fact is that Wrestlemania 41 was very successful and TKO’s stock price grew $12 per share since the show happened.
But to suggest that Rock and Triple H “have heat” is going overboard on your WWE hatred.
Everyone is trying to point to the late 1990s and incidents surrounding Bret Hart as if Rock and Triple H still have heat to this day.
Many are quoting Bret Hart’s own words about how both Triple H and Shawn Michaels tried to convince WWE management to have Bret to defeat Rocky Maivia for the Intercontinental Title on the March 31st, 1997 edition of Monday Night RAW. First and foremost, think about the 28-year plus grudge one would have to hold here… Secondly, this is what Bret alleges and the facts just aren’t there. For one, Shawn Michaels was NOT around, as he “lost his smile” and was at home during this time just after Wrestlemania 13. Triple H, on the other hand, was by himself and still repairing himself following the previous year’s “Curtain Call” drama. Furthermore, he was not attending Production Meetings as a talent yet as well. HHH has no creative say back then.
And if Rock and Triple H had “so much heat”, then why did they work well together repeatedly during 1998 and 2000? You know, when both men had to TRUST each other with their bodies to survive each match they had, including one being a ladder match at SummerSlam 1998?
And then we’ll get the “Triple H did black face” with the Nation of Domination DX parody. While I’ll agree that this promo pushed boundaries, does that negate the trash talk upon trash talk that the Rock was not only serving Triple H, but his then-girlfriend and future wife Stephanie McMahon? Both the Nation parody and the Rock trash talk, by the way, was agreed upon beforehand by Creative…
Let’s remind everyone about the genesis of some of this “Rock heat with Triple H”, and that is Bret Hart. Guarantee that Bret told Rock about this March 31st “incident” from 1997 where Triple H wanted Bret to win Rock’s Intercontinental Title. Bret is the one who rolled his eyes, on the Wrestlemania 41 stage, after Triple H professionally shook his hand.
Fine, there are some ill feelings about the Montreal Screwjob from Survivor Series 1997, which I remind you, is coming up on 28 years ago… Triple H has gone, on record, as him being the one who told Vince to “just screw him out of the title” in meetings. Furthermore, if you watch Wrestling With Shadows, Triple H just straight up LIES to Bret Hart’s then-wife about knowing of the conspiracy.
OK, I understand those two things…
BUT… The Montreal Screwjob was executed by Vince McMahon, the same man who wanted your brother, Owen Hart, to hand from the ceiling in Kansas City. Yet, you seem to forgive him so easily to repeatedly do business with him.
If Bret and Rock are mad about events from 28 years ago, then both seriously lack maturity particularly versus the man that Triple H has become since.
Everyone can evolve, including Triple H.
HHH literally said in his Hall of Fame speech that he thanks Randy Orton and Batista for teaching him what it meant to “give back” to the wrestling business. It was from there, during 2002-2004, where Triple H’s competitiveness began to ease and he began showing empathy towards others other than himself. The sharp edges would continue to be sanded off over the next decade as his in-ring career was winding down and he had more responsibility managing the careers of others. Then, getting demoted from both creative and talent management during 2019-2020 and then having a major heart attack during 2021 has humbled him. The HHH that has returned to the WWE during 2022 gave them the much needed leader that the company needed, as HHH was experienced and mature enough to handle the job.
What have we heard from Bret Hart’s camp for the last 28 years? Never getting over Montreal, Bill Goldberg ended my career, attacks on Vince Russo, and being extremely critical over Triple H, among other bitterness. Bret got over Vince McMahon, the one who executed not just the Montreal Screwjob, but his brother too… But nope, he’ll hold these petty grudges against everybody but Vince McMahon and it only took the recent allegations towards Vince for Bret to be critical of him again. Sorry, but I wouldn’t trust Bret Hart to run the WWE right now like Triple H is. Holding grudges can harm your potential because you refuse to look forward or evolve.
If The Rock thinks like Bret Hart and is extremely bitter about the past, then that’s on the Rock for being equally miserable and thinking one-dimensionally just like Bret.
But he doesn’t… Again, these are just AEW marks trying to stir the pot because their company is struggling and the only way AEW can get close to WWE, as a business, is to bring WWE down rather than AEW increasing.
Let’s assume the Rock still “hates” Triple H. What could he do about it? He’s ONE TKO board vote out of 10 TKO board members. He’d have to round up 5 other board members and that would be a tremendous task. For one, Endeavor’s top management personnel are also on the board and carry the weight of the MAJORITY OWNERSHIP of TKO with Ariel Emanuel and Mark Shapiro. Nick Khan is also on the board to represent WWE. All 3 are firmly behind Triple H.
YES, the Rock has been represented by those above guys for his entertainment matters and has known each man for many years… BUT, these guys know how to separate business from personal stuff.
Let’s say that the Rock is able to get Triple H fired… Let’s make that ridiculous assumption. Who could easily replace him? Not the Rock, who has his schedule packed with movies right now, hence why his WWE involvement was reduced. Not Vince McMahon, who is not only a walking PR and HR disaster, but was out-of-touch anyway. Who else is out there that is insane enough to devote their entire life to running the biggest wrestling company in the world?
But again, this notion that someone cannot evolve over the past 28 years is ridiculous… People are allowed to be immature, overly competitive, and ignorant when they are younger. But how do you act when you’re older? I see Triple H as being stoic, empathetic, and reasonable with age.
Look at CM Punk… Triple H of late 2000s and early 2010s HATED CM Punk and Punk hated right back. CM Punk has a terrible time dealing with AEW’s immaturity and returns to WWE during November 2023. What have we seen since? CM Punk has been a model citizen and we’ve even seen instances of Triple H seeking CM Punk’s ideas for input.
If the Rock has any issues with Triple H, then maybe it’s not Triple H… In addition to possibly being bitter about the past like Bret Hart, there are stories circulating around about how difficult the Rock has been on the set of movies lately. There were multiple TMZ articles that came out describing how Rock is often late to shoots, which would cause entire schedules of shoots for movies to be reworked and would cost the studio additional millions to accommodate. And this isn’t just maybe 15 minutes late, we’re talking “7-8 hours late” which is absurd. Then, the peculiar matter of having bottles of urine all around set, as the Rock opts to piss on the set rather than taking a break and using a restroom like anyone else.
It’s like that aunt, uncle, parent, or sibling who posts political conspiracies all day long, especially as they get older… Wait, you actually believe in those bizarre things on Facebook? Rather than showing maturity and aging with grace as the elders of your family, they are becoming politically militant and believing in complete horsesh** posted online.
Instead, with age, you should age gracefully, especially when put in a position of leadership or when others rely on you for business purposes.
HHH has proved that he has matured… WWE’s culture has greatly improved, talent are happy, and WWE’s business has greatly improved (viewership, attendance, and merchandise all up from 2019). Not only that, HHH is leading a team of WWE executives the right way rather than the toxic culture that Vince McMahon was building.
It’s a FACT that AEW marks and dirt sheet propagandists want Triple H out because he’s helping WWE grow. Hence why we always heard these questions about Wrestlemania 41 hype and now the so-called drama between Rock and HHH. YET, we never see AEW fans or Dave Meltzer hold Tony Khan and the Young Bucks accountable for their own transgressions. Young Bucks internally and externally sabotaged CM Punk through leaking lies to dirt sheets and the state-run media willingly agreed to post said lies. Nobody and I repeat NOBODY will succeed in that toxic AEW culture based on its leadership of Tony and the Bucks.
Instead of trying to drive a wedge between different camps win the WWE, try having AEW grow towards the WWE with success rather than having WWE decline to you. AEW is a disaster because of its leadership with Tony Khan and the Young Bucks, which is a thousand times worse than any issue between Rock and Triple H. FACT!
Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ