Dave Meltzer hit back at Paul “Triple H” Levesque after Triple H told Stephen A. Smith that some WWE fans take the product “too seriously” and should remember it’s meant to entertain. Meltzer said the remark makes him look “desperate” and challenged the idea o
Paul “Triple H” Levesque didn’t just pitch WWE as entertainment on a major TV stage — he also questioned the way fans show up for it.
During an interview with Stephen A. Smith (via Fightful Select). Triple H said people can “lose perspective” when watching WWE and claimed that “sometimes people take it too seriously.” His point was that WWE is supposed to be a break from the wider world. with the product designed so fans can “turn off for a couple of hours. ” tune in. and “have a good time.” He added that “we’re just fun. ” and that fans should come experience WWE live.
But Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer took exception to Triple H’s framing.
Meltzer fired back at the idea that fans take WWE “too seriously. ” saying Triple H “should never talk like that.” In Meltzer’s view. it “comes across desperate.” He argued that the message essentially tells fans to stop having opinions about the product — even as the company asks them to invest heavily to attend.
“You’re saying quit having an opinion on our product,” Meltzer said. “You want people to spend hundreds of dollars on tickets but also say don’t take it seriously.” He continued: “If they didn’t take it seriously, they sure aren’t spending that kind of money on tickets.”
The timing isn’t lost on WWE followers. Triple H’s comments arrived with Night of Champions approaching and with SummerSlam set to be WWE’s second biggest PLE of the year.
There’s a tension at the center of the back-and-forth. Triple H insisted WWE is made to entertain. and Meltzer doesn’t dispute that wrestling is entertainment — but he pushed back on the suggestion that passion should be dialed down. WWE fans. by reputation and by behavior. often live inside the storylines. and they’re drawn to the drama. debate. and the decisions that come with the product.
In the space between “we’re just fun” and Meltzer’s “desperate. ” the message fans heard from WWE’s COO met a harsher rebuttal from one of wrestling’s best-known critics. For now. the disagreement is straightforward: is the expectation that viewers should enjoy without caring too much — or that fans are exactly who make the show matter?.
WWE Triple H Paul Levesque Dave Meltzer Stephen A. Smith Night of Champions SummerSlam Wrestling Observer
Triple H talking about “fun” like it’s a theme park. Wrestling fans care for a reason.
So Dave Meltzer is mad because Triple H said fans shouldn’t take it too serious? Idk, I feel like both sides are weird. If you’re spending money on tickets you kinda *should* expect it to be good though.
Wait Meltzer said “desperate” but isn’t Meltzer like… always desperate too? Like he’s literally making a whole job out of opinions. Also SummerSlam is gonna be a mess anyway, so who cares what they say.
This is probably PR spin. Triple H wants people to chill but WWE also charges ridiculous prices like they’re collecting rent. I don’t even think fans are taking it “too serious,” I think the writers just keep breaking kayfabe and then act shocked fans have reactions. Meltzer saying he “should never talk like that” is funny cause it’s literally his whole thing to talk about it all the time.