Andy Wheeler says… Now I don’t want you to think that I believe Khali is the also-ran. He has never had a program against Triple H, which means it’s a fresh match-up. On top of that, his massive size always guarantees that we’re going to get a few nice visuals. Plus, by having him compete for the World Title, he is now a legitimate main event threat instead of the borderline giant jobber he was turning into. Is he going to win the belt? No. Is the match going to be great? No. But on the other hand, is it going to require a lot of time on what could be a stacked show? Nope. Will it make Hunter look like a monster? Yep. Summerslam is already being sold based on HITC and Cena/Batista, and those that aren’t buying it for the steak will get the garnish that is CM Punk going into one of the Big 4 with the gold around his waist. Khali/Hunter? It gives us a world title match that won’t distract from the main events, it gives the crowd a guaranteed pop moment and it helps remind the fans that there’s another major heel roaming around Friday nights. If the WWE were to shoot their load and give us anything else, it would be downright irresponsible. Don’t worry, loyal viewer, you’ll get your money’s worth. Just think of this match as the dinner roll.
As you all undoubtedly know, Triple H was drafted to Smackdown at the end of June. Once there, he did what has become run of the mill over the past few years: he immediately beat the top guy available to him, Edge. Edge had been champion for much of the past two years on Smackdown and is likely the most hated man in wrestling today. WWE had one month of filler before Summerslam, with the Undertaker-Edge blow-off planned. Unless that blow-off required Edge to hold the title, there was no reason to waste Triple H vs. Edge, a fresh match between two complete main eventers, on a B show. The match, as it turns out, provided a nice twist to the Edge and Vickie love story, but failed miserably at making Edge seem on the level of Triple H, long the star of WWE’s A brand, Raw. Edge, through all his shenanigans, was fairly dominated by Triple H and it never felt like Hunter sold enough to make Edge seem a real threat. Just like that Edge is a step below Triple H. Just like that, regardless of what goes on last, Edge’s match is between guys who can’t handle the champion. Now, Undertaker almost has to beat Edge at Hell in a Cell, otherwise how is he a threat to a guy that just easily beat Edge? Another young career set back by the walking ego that is Triple H.
This is far from the first time Triple H has done something like this, nor will it be the last. He spent years making Jericho look like his own personal job boy, demeaning even the fact that he was the first Unified Champion and as over as anyone with the fans. Booker, coming off a career renaissance as King Booker, went to Raw and promptly jobbed his way out of the WWE to, who else, Triple H. When DX reformed, they ran over the entire mid-card at once, not taking the time to make anyone look good. If these guys are so clearly huge leaps below Triple H, why should I care what they do? If you want ratings for a full show, leading to the above line of thought is the knell of death. Don’t think Triple H has to get in the ring to damage a career, though.
CM Punk, when new in WWE, got one match before Triple H decided he couldn’t work and had him shipped off to OVW. God forbid we have someone trained differently on WWE television. Even if Punk didn’t work WWE style, he easily could have learned on the job and still been more effective in the ring than the entire Spirit Squad, Duece and Domino, and many other WWE approved rookie busts.
Now, Punk has, despite a stop and start push, gotten quite over and become a major merchandise mover. This was recognized by Vince personally, as he decided to give Punk the World Title during a youth movement. Surely, Triple H would have nothing to say then, having been proven wrong about Punk’s ability and skill already… but no, Hunter’s response was typical, according to the most recent Wrestling Observer Newsletter: “(he) has joked that they now need to turn Michaels heel so Punk can have someone who can work him through a world title match.â€
Triple H has fast gotten to the point of being unbearable. In the ring, he consistently refuses to sell enough for any but the top guys to make them look remotely credible. Even worse, he acts like he’s consistently having the best matches when every single one of his matches (except perhaps against Vince’s chosen Cena) are designed to get him over at the expense of his opponent. His shadow stretches over the card and he’s become like Poochie was in Itchy and Scratchy – if Poochie isn’t on the screen at all times, everyone should be looking around and asking “Where’s Poochie?†I know Triple H hating has become passé and we’ve come full circle to the point where the ‘net is supposed to love him again, but his presence on the card detracts from everyone he faces getting over and those he doesn’t face who aren’t a part of his clique don’t even get that respect, they merely face his political wrath.
Now he gets to beat the Great Khali with no build, a guy who was on his way to becoming a dominant monster, well away from any who could undercut his push. Of course, his limited skill probably means Triple H will go out and make Khali look great, knowing that he is ultimately no threat to Hunter’s spot. There’s always an element of self-serving egotism in top guys, but Triple H has truly turned it into an art-form… at the detriment of the rest of the product. The one guy who surely doesn’t need to look like a monster does, yet again.
