Triple H: Obviously we counter-program, but we don’t counter-book

Did WWE move NXT to USA Network to screw AEW, or did AEW screw first by putting Dynamite on Wednesday? Was making NXT’s July 1 & 8 episodes Great American Bash-themed in response to AEW’s already announced Fyter Fest two-parter on those nights petty or fair game?

Fans have debating those points for a while. The answer Triple H gave when Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso asked him about the decision to bring back Great American Bash probably won’t settle things. But it makes sense, and sounds honest to me. Not that wrestling promoters are ever going to 100% shoot straight, but...

Here’s what Haitch said:

“It absolutely is part of healthy competition. Anyone that thinks it isn’t, to a degree, is being naive to the situation. You saw that back in the day when Clash of Champions was counter-programming [to WWE’s WrestleMania IV in 1988]. At the same point, it can’t drive your booking decisions.

“Obviously there are counter-programming decisions, but I can tell you exactly how this came about. Almost all of these storylines were headed where they are now. There was a gap, timing wise, between In Your House and what will become the SummerSlam TakeOver, and you need a halfway point and a build. This is that halfway point. So it doesn’t change our decision-making process. I don’t counter-book, I book what’s right for NXT.”

He also defends last week’s Io Shirai vs. Sasha Banks dream match main event as something they were building to but couldn’t promote any earlier because of Banks’ storylines on other shows, which also tracks.

But that’s just my take. Give us yours in the comments below. And check out Barrasso’s entire chat with The Game here.