10 Bold Predictions For Wrestling In 2023
6. The People Turn On Triple H
This is probably too difficult to pin down.
A lot of people never got on board with "Triple H's WWE" to begin with; to them, it was always Vince McMahon's WWE minus much of the terrible comedy with longer matches in its place. A lot of people will like WWE irrespective of what they do, and vice versa. Such is the nature of the tribalist fan.
If there is such a thing as a "narrative" here - i.e. a consensus strong enough to become the prevailing take - it's about to change. The consensus - and ratings and ticket sales substantiate the conversation - is that Triple H's WWE is a hit.
The matches are better, the wrestlers say wrestling now, he's brought back some of your favourites and restored justice on their behalf, he's getting rid of gimmick PPVs: he's Papa H! Saviour of the Fed! Which didn't need saving, when Vince was in charge, but there's an agenda to spread, so...
Already, the buzz is fading. Matt Riddle is a dumbass d*ckhead all over again, Austin Theory just got buried deeper into the core of the earth than any previous briefcase holder, and the Women's WarGames match has been booked horrendously. The irony of course is that Triple H is doing that which Tony Khan was accused. Bringing in too many names for cheap pops with no substantive long-term plan: it's only bad when AEW do it. Don't know, man. Sounds like Triple H could use some help!
Triple H peaked as a booker in 2019, which makes sense, since he's trying to make 2019 happen again - just like Bill Watts tried to make the mid-'80s happen again in 1992, and just like Vince Russo tried to make 1999 happen a decade after the fact. Fans in 2023 will realise that they're not really interested - if, gauging by those frighteningly quiet Raw crowds, it isn't happening already.
It will be reflected in the discourse in any event. The schmoozing stops by this time next year.