World Wrestling Entertainment’s Chief Content Officer, Paul Levesque, widely known as Triple H, has clarified that while WWE is not a legitimate sport, the physicality involved is indeed authentic.
In the initial part of the interview, the conversation revolved around the current mainstream status of professional wrestling, which has evolved significantly compared to previous years.
Triple H remarked that there is no longer a necessity to pretend that WWE is a real sport, as it is now broadly acknowledged as an art form, akin to the profession of a musician.
During his discussion on WWE Radio’s Busted Open, he stated, “There was a time when our predecessors literally fought tooth and nail in bars, clubs, and on the streets to demonstrate that this was real, believing that this struggle was a mark of legitimacy for our craft.
“As time has progressed, the legitimacy of our work is simply defined by what we do. It is incredibly challenging, physically demanding, and all-encompassing. It is an art form that consumes your life… we invest our hearts, souls, bodies, and physical well-being into it.
“Now, we no longer need to convince people of its authenticity. We must simply showcase what it is and convey, from a storytelling perspective, ideally from an in-ring narrative and physical standpoint.
“We do not need to feign being a real sport. We are a show, a film, a television series centered around a sport. However, the physicality is genuine. The emotions are authentic. What people put into it are real, maybe more so than any other sport or business I’ve ever seen.”
Triple H demonstrated his lack of pretense regarding WWE as a legitimate sport by disclosing that Brock Lesnar is mentoring Oba Femi behind the scenes.
This revelation is particularly noteworthy as Lesnar and Femi are set to compete against each other this Saturday (August 1) during the first night of WWE SummerSlam in a Hell in a Cell match.
Lesnar’s name surfaced when Triple H discussed how today’s leading wrestlers contribute significantly to the development of younger talents, imparting essential knowledge necessary for success in the wrestling industry, beyond merely executing moves in the ring.
“We are fortunate to have a generation that includes Cody [Rhodes], [CM] Punk, Roman [Reigns], Seth [Rollins], and many others. And then there’s Brock, right?
“He might suplex me for saying this, but Brock is actively involved with Oba Femi. He recognizes something unique in him and says, ‘Alright kid, come with me, and I will teach you. Here are all the things you need to learn.’
“He invites him to his room in the afternoons, where they spend hours discussing these topics. It is this level of engagement that elevates the next generation, and I am eager to witness it.
“For every star currently at the top, there is someone beneath them. An Oba, a Trick [Williams], a Carmello [Hayes], a Je’Von [Evans], and many others who are absorbing this knowledge. I believe this will enable the next generation to flourish,” he said.
Triple H revealed details about Brock’s mentorship of Oba Femi just before their Hell in a Cell match at SummerSlam on August 1.
Triple H reveals WWE not real sport, says Brook Lesnar mentoring Oba Femi