Triple H balks at ‘fantasy narrative that fans have made over time’ on WWE PLE match placement
Paul “Triple H” Levesque isn’t thrilled about how fans are questioning where matches are placed on WWE premium live events.
In a surprise press conference held after WWE SummerSlam Saturday, Levesque was asked about his decision to place WWE Women’s Champion Liv Morgan vs. IYO SKY in the opening spot and after putting the effort of the two over (“I wanted to start out with a bang. Why would I not put them in that spot?”), he then aired some grievances.
“People that aren’t in our business look at spots and make these incredible claims about where the positioning should be like it’s an insulting thing. Brock Lesnar and Hell in a Cell with Oba Femi closed those show. How many times has Brock opened the show and been first out the shute? Are you saying he should be insulted he wasn’t the last…there’s only one last match on the card.
“I say this all the time: it’s like a concert. It doesn’t meant we always get it right but you open with something big, take them through a ride through the thing…there moments like you’re putting things in places for a specific reason. This narrative of being insulted by placement…I don’t see it. It’s this fantasy narrative that fans have made over time, which is wonderful in and of itself, but I don’t know if the talent thinks that way.
“I put Liv and IYO in that spot because I knew they would crush it in that spot. You could make an argument they stole the night. Message delivered by them.”
In the portion of the post-show out with the fans, WWE Champion CM Punk was asked about if he was upset about his match not going last:
“Of course I had feelings about that. I’m not one of these guys that has it in their contract that I have to end the show. It ain’t for me to decide. I’m too old for that. I’m just gonna lace my boots up and beat somebody’s a$$. Whether I’m first, whether I’m before intermission, whether I’m in a popcorn match, CM Punk is always the main event,” he said.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.