Triple H to make an important change? - 3 mistakes the WWE CCO needs to avoid at SummerSlam 2024
This past Saturday, WWE's Chief Content Officer Triple H once again oversaw the creative proceedings for the WWE Money in the Bank Premium Live Event. While Triple H has largely been met with plaudits from those both in and out of the industry since taking over the creative, The Game was met with some fair share of criticism after this weekend's show in Toronto.
However, The Game now has the chance to put on a great show during the company's next major premium live event, SummerSlam. It is set to take place on Saturday, August 3rd, live from the home stadium of the Cleveland Browns.
With The Biggest Party of the Summer less than a month away, we're going to take a look at how Triple H can make an important change by avoiding three mistakes at SummerSlam 2024.
#3. A big WWE show needs more action on the card
The Money in the Bank ladder matches are some of the most anticipated contests of the year, with excitement that mirrors that of the Royal Rumble match because it can alter a superstar's career forever. However, except for the two ladder matches on the card, this past Saturday had only three other matches featured.
While these contests showcased big names such as Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Randy Orton, and Seth Rollins, the severe lack of in-ring action compared to the length of the overall show was clear to see.
This weekend's premium live event lasted over three hours. However, there was only just over an hour of in-ring contests. With wrestling being the second W in the company's name, the absence of superstars physically performing in the ring is something that needs to be addressed at SummerSlam.
This is certainly a balancing act that is hard for any promotion to get right. WWE has been smart in recent years to split WrestleMania over two nights rather than having a bloated seven-hour card with too many matches. However, fans still need to see a decent amount of action in the ring with these new shorter-length events.
#2. Fans can see the result from a mile away
A huge part of wrestling fandom is discussing and predicting the match outcomes, with fans' opinions often clashing with one another as they both believe they know how a story should develop.
A qualm that some had with the event this past Saturday is that the results as well as the in-match interferences were far too predictable.
From Drew McIntyre winning the Money in the Bank briefcase to him trying to cash in later in the night only for his rival CM Punk to screw him out of the contest, fans saw how Drew's night was going to go days before the event came on air.
Having a predictable show is not a bad thing, and many were happy to see Cody Rhodes finish his story at WrestleMania in April. However, WWE still needs to provide matches like those but also with surprising moments, rather than giving the fans something they can already see coming.
#1. Returns that make an impact
One of the best parts about WWE and professional wrestling is the unpredictability, most notably through the returns of current superstars who have been absent via injury or for a different reason.
In recent years, the unannounced returns of Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and most recently, Rhea Ripley, have provided fans at home and in the arena with a moment they will never forget.
This past weekend, WWE did have some surprise names make a showing but instead, as they have done many times recently, they chose to announce the return before the show.
With Money in the Bank taking place in Toronto, Canada, the company chose to capitalize on its location by having Hall of Famer and local heroine Trish Stratus as the host of the show.
While fans were certainly happy to see her, her return would have generated a much bigger impact and reaction if she had shown up unannounced.
One person who was intrigued by Stratus' showing was the new Miss Money in the Bank, Tiffany Stratton, who stated in the post-show press conference that she would be interested in facing the WWE Hall of Famer one day.
"Listen, those are two different generations. Trish, Trishy, Trishy Time, she is one of my idols in professional wrestling, and I am ready to get in the ring with the GOAT."
Although it is always great to see legends and other superstars make their returns, their comebacks would certainly be remembered for the better if they were a surprise.