SmackDown’s first episode at the WWE Performance Center weeks ago was noteworthy for a number of reasons, with Triple H’s involvement being a highlight among many.
Joining Michael Cole on commentary, Triple H’s work as an announcer (and as a cameraman for a very brief moment) on the March 13 episode of SmackDown was praised by many, noting the fun energy he brought to the table. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Triple H spoke about being on commentary and wanting to set the template of what the show was going to be.
“It’s one of the beautiful things about what we do is fan interaction. We were one of the first, I believe, entertainment events that encouraged that, encouraged to bring signs and boo and cheer during the performance or allow the athletes to do what they do. Having that interaction, having that unique [situation], not having the crowd there, knowing that we needed to reset and try to set the template for what we were going to do that night, so that’s how I opened the show,” Triple H said.
Originally, Triple H wasn’t planned to be on commentary throughout the show, but after the massive fan reaction, he stuck around after that first segment. Although Triple H had other responsibilities that night, he was asked to return to the commentary table.
“Jumping onto commentary, knowing that I’m not very good at commentary, I was just trying to do the best I could and be entertaining and sort of understanding that everyone is in the same moat. Everyone is nervous or concerned, not sure of what’s going on. You don’t want to hit them with stuff that is too heavy. You just want to have fun. By the time the first segment’s done, my phone was blowing up and I’m trying to produce a show with limited staff and talent trying to do their best to perform in front of nobody and that’s very unique. By the time we were done with that first segment, my phone was blowing up with, ‘Oh my god, you have to keep doing this. It’s very entertaining.’ I left commentary to do something else and everybody was like, ‘You got to go back out there.’ I got to produce this show, but they were like, ‘I know, but you got to go back out there,’” Triple H said.
Triple H would go to credit Cole for his work on commentary and said the both of them had a ton of fun being in this unique situation, something he believes could be seen on television.
“We had a blast. It was really fun and I often feel like, if you’re out there and we’re having fun, chances are, it’s going to come through on camera and right now, having fun is something that everybody needs,” Triple H said.
The full interview can be seen at this link. If you use any of the quotes above, please credit Fightful for the transcription.
