AJ Lee came back to WWE during the September 5th edition of SmackDown to an insane pop, since people were obviously happy to see her. However, some people feel returns are becoming more of a crutch and Triple H has been accused of stockpiling pops in general.
While speaking on the Behind the Turnbuckle podcast, Vince Russo called out Triple H’s booking style, saying he is mainly focused on stockpiling pops rather than building long stories.
The former WWE writer explained that if ratings drop to around 1.1 or if networks like Netflix or USA voice concerns, Triple H just brings out another surprise, like a Liv Morgan appearance, to create another pop.
Russo believes this way of stockpiling pops tells fans they don’t need to watch the whole two-hour show. Instead, they can just catch the short highlights on YouTube or social media. He thinks this might give a quick boost, but, in the long run, it turns viewers away from watching the full program.
“See, it’s—I’ve not yet been able to figure this out because he has clearly shown us what his booking style is. And if we look at what’s happening right now, he’s stockpiling the pops—that’s what he’s doing. Every time, if Netflix says something, if USA says something, if that number goes down to a 1.1—oh, who’s next up? Is Liv Morgan ready? That’s what he’s doing: he’s stockpiling the pops. But all that’s doing is telling people, ‘You don’t have to watch this two-hour show. Go watch the minute pop on YouTube.’ So, you know, it’s the card up his sleeve—that’s the card up his sleeve. But like I said, that card is turning people away from watching the product.”
AJ Lee’s return isn’t the only return that happened recently, since Brock Lesnar also came back at the end of SummerSlam this year, which was clearly done to get a big pop.
While the surprise returns create plenty of excitement, Vince Russo doubts that short-term pops can keep WWE’s ratings strong over time. With the company now making big deals with platforms like Netflix, it’s pretty clear WWE needs to find a balance between pops and weekly stories that keep fans watching every show.
What do you think about Vince Russo’s criticism of Triple H’s booking style? Do you enjoy these surprise returns, or do you think WWE needs to focus more on long-term storytelling? Sound off in the comments.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
September 11, 2025 6:58 pm
Discover more from 6up.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
