Triple H Would Have Loved To Fight Shinsuke Nakamura
"I think he's one of the best, period."
As part of the conference call announcing the forthcoming NXT Collector's Edition of WWE 2K17, Triple H talked up Shinsuke Nakamura, who was sat alongside him. Clearly, he's a fan of the unique athlete:
"I've watched a lot of guys over the years. And there are certain talent that you're just drawn to and I think fans are just drawn to. That's charisma. That's X factor. That's all those things.Shinsuke brings something to the table that I haven't seen in a long time. And he brings exactly that. He brings a level of charisma, a level of showmanship that you don't see with a lot of times with guys that have an aggressive style like he does, the striking that he does and the skillset that he does."
The NXt boss also revealed that he's had intentions to sign Nakamura up for a while, precisely because of his value as a performer:
"He's amazing athlete. Again, I think he's somebody I've had my eye on for a long time of being part of WWE as a whole just because I think he is that different level of performer. You know, he's one of those guys that... it's harder to explain I think what he is because, when you start to begin to say it, it just doesn't do it justice. So, you kind of just have to say, when you're explaining Shinsuke Nakamura, you just kind of have to say, "You've just got to see him. You've just got to watch him because it's awesome.""
Inevitably, the conversation turned towards the fantasy possibility of Triple H and Nakamura facing each other across the ring: could the boss imagine it and what would he expect from the bout?
"If I step back into my career, Shinsuke would be a guy that I would love to be in there with and love to compete against with because... I think he's one of the best in the world, especially right now. And I think he's one of the best, period."So, I would love to have gotten in there with him. I'm imagining, though, I have not had an opportunity to experience one of his kicks. But, I'm imagining that he... it looks like he kicks hard enough that I probably will feel them in the video game, when the character kicks my character. I might feel them myself."
Triple H was also asked about his dream matches, given the scope in WWE 2K17 to play any match you like. Inevitably, because he knows the strength of his brand (and when to put someone over), some NXT names came up..
"What my dream match right now... hard to say. You know, there's a lot of guys that, if I looked at the current crop of talent in the WWE that I would have loved to have gotten in there, and that's from, you know, Finn Balor to Sami Zayn to Kevin Owens to Neville... I think, if I had to pick a guy right now for me - and I'm not saying it because he's sitting next to me - but there's an intrigue factor to Nakamura that, if I was to be able to, say, you know, go back in time and wanted to do it at the peak of my career and he was at the peak of his... I know I would thoroughly enjoy that... Harley Race would be another guy for me."
Nakamura on the other hand picked out Andre The Giant, because he's clearly a mad man.
WWE 2K17 hits stores on October 11th.