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Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, WWE’s Chief Content Officer, was the very first to extend his congratulations to Ilja Dragunov for taking home WWE United States Championship, the vanquisher’s remarkable return to TV after a year of no-show. This victory can be interpreted as a significant elevation in the wrestler’s career in the company’s main roster. Nevertheless, the title change sparked a lively discussion among all the wrestling community about WWE’s current creative direction and roster management rights.
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In a social media post, Triple H stated the tremendous importance of Dragunov’s return to the ring, saying, ‘Out for over a year. Come back with such a statement…and the US title. Congrats, @UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR.’ The image that accompanied the text shows a Dragunov who appears very determined and is standing with the championship, which indicates that a new chapter is being opened for the character who is sometimes called ‘The Mad Dragon.’
It was a split opinion, however, The announcement was, on one hand, applauded by many but, on the other hand, a very vocal part of the audience saw it as a nice chance to voice their dissatisfaction with Levesque’s booking scheme. One user directly compared Dragunov’s situation with that of other stars who had been around longer, ‘Orton’s been out for a year and a half, came back against doctor’s advice, is more popular than you were ever, where are his titles?’ This viewpoint reflects the already ongoing discourse that the company is being shortsighted with its talent and is, in fact, wasting the veterans in the process.
One who shared the same view as the critic above pointed out that another user’s argument was quite weak and added that it was a sign of a certain agenda. He/she/they rephrased Triple H’s post to say: ‘Because HHH is determined to push inferior talent while burying superior talent (McIntyre, Reigns, Orton) because HHH is trying to protect his legacy.’ The implication is that Levesque’s decisions are, to some degree, self-serving.
The storyline did not, however, play out in such a way that the critics were completely silent. One had a more uplifting perspective and the respondent said, ‘I don’t like HHH as a booker, but I never got why people say “Triple H is trying to protect his legacy”… His legacy is already established and written in stone. Plus, he is far better than Mcintyre, Reigns, & Orton.’ This line of reasoning demonstrates that the assessment of wrestling talent is highly subjective and not every decision made by the promoter will inevitably be favored by the entire fan base.
The discussion progressed to the main event and into very particular complaints about the roster. Another spectator was not happy with the positioning of other wrestlers and vented his discontent in the following manner, ‘Drago can be the new champion but poor Carmelo Hayes is just being wasted.’ This observation indicates that it is very difficult to be just with the entire roster; regions like that managing one talent, even, that in the background perception another one is being pushed down, even if they are from the same racial group.
Despite the negative reviews, a large majority of the response was quite the opposite and surprisingly for Dragunov personally. The new champion’s followers praised his ability to be intense and his in-ring technicality. ‘Dragunov is so wonderful! I am the happiest person because he is back!’ was the shout of one fan who definitely in a way and has not only drawn the support of the fans who back him but also the general reaction to his return. Another said, ‘He’s a monster. Let him become a top champion soon with his fantastic killer wrestling moves,’ indicating that the strong belief in his ability to reach the top of the card is already at the highest level.
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The WWE’s mixed response to Dragunov’s win has, rather, accurately described the modern wrestling fan experience. The situation involves and impacts the entire spectrum of associated issues from which one might select their viewpoint. The entire scenario regarding the wrestlers’ professional growth may be articulated in this manner: For every fan who is thrilled to see a new face wearing the title, there is one more who is where the ‘old favorites’ are and is calling out, ‘Why not me?’ Triple H’s creative leadership is still at the forefront of this eternal discussion, indicating that in pro wrestling any decision is always and forever influenced by many factors. Therefore, as for Dragunov, while the WWE universe keeps its eyes peeled, the question remains whether this push is going to manifest or it will become just another point of contention in the ongoing debate about the company’s future. This ongoing creative process, much like the release of a celebrated album such as Jhene Aiko’s ‘Trip’, marks a significant milestone in an artist’s career. The announcement of WWE WrestlePalooza was another major move by the company’s leadership. Furthermore, Triple H also recently celebrated Vikingo as the AAA Mega Champion.
