AJ Lee came back to WWE during the September 5th edition of SmackDown to an insane pop, since people were obviously happy to see her. However, some people feel returns are becoming more of a crutch and Triple H has been accused of stockpiling pops in general.
While speaking on the Behind the Turnbuckle podcast, Vince Russo called out Triple Hs booking style, saying he is mainly focused on stockpiling pops rather than building long stories.
The former WWE writer explained that if ratings drop to around 1.1 or if networks like Netflix or USA voice concerns, Triple H just brings out another surprise, like a Liv Morgan appearance, to create another pop.
Russo believes this way of stockpiling pops tells fans they dont need to watch the whole two-hour show. Instead, they can just catch the short highlights on YouTube or social media. He thinks this might give a quick boost, but, in the long run, it turns viewers away from watching the full program.
AJ Lees return isnt the only return that happened recently, since Brock Lesnar also came back at the end of SummerSlam this year, which was clearly done to get a big pop.
While the surprise returns create plenty of excitement, Vince Russo doubts that short-term pops can keep WWEs ratings strong over time. With the company now making big deals with platforms like Netflix, its pretty clear WWE needs to find a balance between pops and weekly stories that keep fans watching every show.
What do you think about Vince Russos criticism of Triple Hs booking style? Do you enjoy these surprise returns, or do you think WWE needs to focus more on long-term storytelling? Sound off in the comments.
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