Source: The Wrestling Observer
There is reportedly a divided reaction backstage between numerous main roster WWE talent and developmental NXT talent regarding the recent appearance by Triple H at the WWE NXT Takeover: London event.
As seen on a recent WWE Monday night RAW broadcast, Triple H was taken out by Roman Reigns and WWE clearly wanted to make it seem like he was out of action with an injury. Reigns followed that up with a promo on SmackDown (which was taped on Tuesday and aired Thursday after the Takeover event) where he said no one had seen Triple H since the RAW beatdown. Of course, Triple H’s appearance at the WWE Takeover: London event belied that statement.
According to sources, several WWE NXT talents were upset with Reigns’ promo on SmackDown, as it made things seem like the main roster doesn’t watch NXT and has no idea what happened there. The argument is that it makes NXT seem second-rate. The consensus was that anyone else who had done such an injury angle would have gotten heat from management if they were publicly acting like they were fine, but that for big stars and the McMahons those rules don’t apply.
From the WWE side, the feeling was that Triple H shouldn’t have been on Takeover since an injury angle and Reigns’ promo had been shot before Takeover but that there was no way he wouldn’t appear to promote the sold-out crowd. The consensus is that Vince McMahon wanted the long-term angle to take precedence and looks at NXT like he does house shows, where what happens isn’t seen by enough people to acknowledge in the main roster angles.
That being said, the fact that they promoted Triple H’s appearance on social media where some angles are promoted didn’t seem to make any sense to many in the company.
