Triple H Comments on WWE Performance Center; Facility Details Revealed

Herald Sun spoke with WWE executive Paul Levesque, also known as Triple H on television, about the WWE Performance Center and the development of the company’s future stars. In the piece, the outlet revealed many details about the facility, and the 13-time heavyweight champion shared his own thoughts.

In the piece, the former champion notes the thought process behind the facility.

“The design of this place comes from a thought: if I wanted to be a superstar today, what would I need to get there?” he says. “This is about making the next generation of superstars bulletproof — giving them what they need to get here, the tools to make it, everything they must have in order to be as successful as they can be.”

He also shared how some of the talent get noticed.

“Some people come to us, some send us tapes, we hold open castings and do auditions,” he says. “We make connections with Olympic athletes, rugby and football players. Some of these people are among the best athletes in the world who just missed out on performing at the highest level in their sport. For them, the WWE is an amazing chance at a new career.”

Most detailed about the piece are the descriptions from the author about the WWE Performance Center. Among the highlights are the rings that are set up, but with specialities attached to some of them.

“Five are standard issue, used for daily drills and practising how to look like you’re injuring someone without doing them bodily harm. The sixth is the “dress rehearsal” ring, complete with miniature entrance ramp, cameras and lighting.

Before they get anywhere near a TV broadcast, talent can stage and record matches then watch them back with their trainers to hone their skills.

The last ring is Levesque’s favourite — instead of the usual plywood base, it has a super-soft foam core for practising insane aerial moves.

We watch as one performer leaps from the top turnbuckle, twists midair three times and crashes down on to a prone opponent. His colleague atop the adjacent turnbuckle is told to close his eyes, stretch out his arms and perform 12 squats before he jumps — all the better to learn in order to improve his balance.”

He notes the top floor is meant for talent relaxation and review.

“The top floor is the “talent retreat”, where athletes can pop a sports drink, cook a protein-balanced meal or review their performance metrics on computers linked to the facility’s central hard drive.”

But giving it the identity is the WWE name.

“Then there are the unmistakably WWE touches. Pinned to the notice board is a guide on how to “pitch your character” (12-point font, dot points) as well as a decree banning the use of baby oil at events (slicked muscles don’t look good on HDTV).

The ceilings are covered with steel mesh links — pieces of the infamous “Hell in a Cell” where some of wrestling’s most brutal matches occurred.

Portraits of legendary performers line the walls for inspiration, while the ring bell from the first WrestleMania event is mounted above a doorway. TV screens play classic matches on a loop and rare memorabilia is displayed behind glass, fuelling a young athlete’s hunger for success.”

The entire read can be found here.

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