Triple H, Daniel Bryan and the art of control

Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H

This week in Chicago WWE played, in the opinion of many, a dirty trick. Dave Meltzer was apparently given false information affirming Punk’s return to his hometown. And so, Dave Meltzer gave out the statement. Raw featured many mentions of the man who since the past one month was the man-who-must-not-be-named. It was inevitable.

Triple H in some ways controls the management of this product but he can’t control everything that the crowd lets out. But in Chicago, even if the crowd was incessantly vocal, they were still handled well by the WWE. There is nothing better for a heel character on screen than a barrage of boos and Triple H took all the animosity in stride.

And so the first hour passed, then came the second hour and towards the dying moments of the show, the crowd anticipated Punk, the fever had sunk rapidly and hopes were already diminishing but in all its wicked ways, the WWE pulled off a night in Chicago. And the biggest winner the feud between Triple H and Daniel Bryan. Triple H and Stephanie played their heel characters well amidst a sea of boos. They went on and on and on. And Triple H always sort of delivers some little quip or the other whenever the crowd asserts itself in the most spectacular way.

Remember during the ‘Championship Ascention Ceremony’ on Raw between Orton and Cena and a host of other legendary pasta nd present superstars? The crowd went berserk on chanting ‘Yes’ and ‘Daniel Bryan’ and Triple H was silenced and sort of ‘buried’ by the audience in attendance. The moment they stopped he said, “That’s quite a family for one building Daniel. Most of them look exactly like you.”

Such impromptu stuff does well for his heel character. And so on Monday when the crowd started chanting and expletive pretty fervently Triple H was like, “ They’re saying it’s your turn.” Suffice to say, Triple H’s heel character has gained a lot of heat following this move by WWE to indirectly advertise Punk. Triple H shone in that segment with Daniel Bryan and his role played the most relevant part to make this feud convincing.

The main event, though, still looks bleak. Batista is turning heel and that’s a great development. Better than the clear heel, Randy Orton. But two heels can’t carry a main event if there is a shower of boos. Somebody needs to evoke good cheers.

Anyway, moving forward the Bryan-Triple H rivalry was the main outcome of the past Raw. And it was given major importance than the title match. The only challenge herein lies is how the WWE handles this momentum. The crowd played a heavy role in making this momentum happen. The WWE needs to play the crowd well into making this match feel relevant. They need to play all their tricks to get the audience to make their voices heard every moment Triple H is out there.

Bryan is no Stone Cold and Triple H is no Vince McMahon. They bring something new to the table at a time when wrestling’s secrets are unraveled by the second. Triple H in popular opinion of smarks is a bury machine. Daniel Bryan is the underdog who has to claw for everything he has ever earned. He is not as badass as Austin, he inhabits the true qualities of an underdog which the WWE tries to build for its other superstars.

And every great hero needs a great villain. This story is turning out to be exactly that way.