Triple H Details How WWE Pulled Off Wrestlepalooza in Record Time to Counter AEW

In what is WWE's PLE debut on ESPN, Triple H weighs in on the issues they faced to put together Wrestlepalooza in Indianapolis on short notice.

Triple H Details How WWE Pulled Off Wrestlepalooza in Record Time to Counter AEW

Triple H and Wrestlepalooza (via WWE)

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In the late 1990s, professional wrestling was defined by the legendary Monday Night Wars between WWE’s Raw and WCW’s Nitro. The battle for TV ratings began in 1995 and lasted until 2001, when WCW was bought by Vince McMahon and shut down. For nearly 20 years after that, the Stamford-based company had no real competition until AEW came along in 2019.

Since its launch, AEW has positioned itself as a true rival to WWE under Triple H, even airing shows head-to-head. For the unversed, AEW Dynamite debuted on TNT in October 2019, going up against NXT on the USA Network. Dynamite consistently outdrew NXT in the ratings until NXT shifted to Tuesday nights in April 2021. 

However, when the two clashed again in October 2023, NXT came out on top with a stacked card featuring current stars and returning legends. But with Tony Khan’s promotion growing, WWE is taking the rivalry a step further. Instead of just countering AEW with NXT shows and special events, the company has pitted its main roster at PLE Wrestlepalooza to counter All Out on September 20. 

The event will also mark the start of WWE’s new $1.6 billion PLE deal with ESPN, following Clash in Paris, which was the final event under the company’s previous partnership with Peacock. Interestingly, the move to counter AEW was a last-minute decision. 

Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Triple H revealed that the event was put together in record time. He also discussed the choice of Indianapolis as the host city, calling it a long-time WWE hotbed with the right infrastructure and venues to handle major shows.

Indy is an interesting choice. I think a lot of people think that. It is a wonderful place to host massive events. You and this region, and everybody here, are very adept at Super Bowl, large-scale events, and the Indy 500. It’s an easy hub for people to come in from around the country, and the hospitality you put out is second to none.

Triple H via The Pat McAfee Show

The WWE CCO went on to reveal that Wrestlepalooza came together at the very last minute and explained how the company managed to turn the idea into reality.

There was a lot of thought, but it was in a brief period of time. We were sort of under the gun. As soon as we heard Indy was on the table and they had a date open, we were in…. That was a no-brainer for us. The whole thing came together very quickly. ESPN asked for the date. They wanted a mega-event, we said yes. We just had to pick a name and go. It’s a wonderful place for us.

Triple H via The Pat McAfee Show

The WWE will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m. ET with a stacked card. The show will feature a blockbuster clash with John Cena taking on a returning Brock Lesnar.

Also on the lineup, Cody Rhodes is expected to defend his WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre, while fans will witness the long-awaited in-ring return of AJ Lee, teaming up with CM Punk in a mixed tag team match against Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. 

In addition, Stephanie Vaquer will face Iyo Sky for the vacant Women’s World Championship. Indianapolis, which hosted the Royal Rumble earlier this year, is also in strong consideration to host future marquee events like WrestleMania and SummerSlam.

Triple H responds to critics who believe WWE: Unreal unravelled the business way too much

For decades, WWE has thrived on kayfabe, which is the art of blurring fiction and reality. Fans once believed Kane to be The Undertaker’s real-life brother and that every rivalry spilled over into real life. In truth, wrestling has always been part athleticism, part theater, with larger-than-life characters playing their roles to perfection.

But Netflix’s WWE: Unreal cracked the door wide open. The five-part docuseries took fans where they have rarely been allowed to go, with stars like Cody Rhodes, The Rock, John Cena, and Triple H guiding the way. 

Triple H and WWE Unreal
Triple H and WWE Unreal (via WWE)

From the high-pressure chaos of the gorilla position to creative meetings where storylines are shaped, the series stripped back layers of mystery that WWE spent decades protecting. Some critics worry this kind of transparency spoils the magic. It is safe to say that the WWE CCO sees it differently. In the same interview with Pat McAfee, the WWE Hall of Famer weighed in on the docuseries. 

The internet is all complaining that we’re lifting the curtain and showing you stuff, meanwhile, they’re doing a podcast where all they’re doing is talking about the behind-the-scenes sh*t that’s going on. I don’t understand that logic.

Triple H via The Pat McAfee Show

Hunter then weighed upon the fact that social media has made everything accessible, and even the best-kept secrets eventually get out before their fruition. 

The world knows, an eight-year-old kid lifts up his phone, Google’s stuff, and knows all the behind-the-scenes stuff right there. We’re still not showing you how the trick is done, we’re still not showing you how the guy levitates….what that show does is show you the heart, soul, and passion that everybody puts into that product to make it great for fans.

Triple H via The Pat McAfee Show

What Triple H implied makes perfect sense. After all, most fans already know that wrestling was choreographed entertainment and that storylines were predetermined. Kayfabe has been an open secret for a long time, so pulling back the curtain doesn’t truly change much. 

What WWE: Unreal offers instead is the chance to witness the sheer complexity, planning, and passion that goes into creating the spectacle. That’s the real magic the docuseries set out to showcase.

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