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POST-TAKEOVER: IN YOUR HOUSE PAUL LEVESQUE & SHAWN MICHAELS MEDIA CALL COVERAGE

Paul Levesque spoke with the media after tonight's In Your House Takeover.

Levesque said he thought the show went great tonight.  He praised the Fatal Five Way, the NXT Women's title bout and the return of the Million Dollar title.  He thought Mercedes Martinez and Xia Li worked extremely hard.  He said the opening six man was a great way to open the show.

Shawn Michaels joined Levesque.

Justin Barrasso asked how he gauges the main event when there are so many people involved.  HHH said that he feels people negate Killer Kross' experience and what he brings to the table, but what he brings is awesome.  When you have so many talents who are so good, they are lucky enough to tell them "this is what we are feeling, go do what you do" and that's what they all did.  Shawn said it's like having four sports cars and one monster truck and then they go at it.  Everyone involved is unique and have things they bring to the table.  He's heard it said that Kross doesn't fit the 'NXT mold' but that's what makes it unique and stand out.  Michaels said he always has a long time working with those name and tells them to go dazzle them and they did.

HHH was asked about Xia Li's work tonight.  HHH said when she did her tryout in China, she came to them from a village that didn't know what WWE was.  She had MMA experience and a big personality but had been told it was like Kung Fu Theater.  After several days of working out with them, he knew they had to take her.  It became her dream over the course of the tryout and even told the interviewers that if she took the WWE job and moved to America, her family would have disowned her.  Against everyone's wishes, she came here to pursue her dreams.  Four years ago, they put her in the Mae Young Classic against Mercedes Martinez and it was an emotional night them and she cried.  They had starts and stops with Tian Sha due to COVID and other issues.  Then, finally, she gets to deliver on a spectacular level tonight when people don't truly understand what the pressure is like.

Jim Varsallone asked about the Million Dollar Ladder Match.   Shawn said they were doing Ted DiBiase mentions for several weeks before someone suggested they call DiBiase to see if they could get him involved.  He said they didn't know they were going to have a bout for the Million Dollar Title until a week or so ago and when they found out, they both told stories about the role of DiBiase and the Million Dollar Title had in their growing up as wrestling fans.   He said there were people who walked out and saw the In Your House set and met Todd Pettengill and commented on how special this was.   HHH said that it was interesting to him that when they came into the business, you weren't allowed to really admit you were a fan or admit you watched it or told someone that they were a fan of someone growing up, they were almost an outcast.  Seeing that change and seeing it expressed when you know what they stuff meant to you.  The first time Knight and Grimes saw the Million Dollar Title, they were almost in tears and had to look away.

They were asked about any more potential work for Todd Pettengill working further for the company.  HHH said there's always stuff to do but the tricky balance is nostalgia being nostalgia and there being too much of it.  You do it too many times, it becomes overwhelming and current and then it's not as interesting.  He's open to doing more with Todd and they understand it's a fine balance and they have to figure that out.

On having the five-way bout as the main event, HHH said it all depends on where you are storyline-wise and where you are trying to get.  He prefers the personal one on one bouts that revolve around rivalries and championships between individuals.  When you can build that, it's always the strongest.  If you do multi-man matches like tonight all the time, they don't mean as much but if you do when the timing is right, then it means something and is the most meaningful for the brand.

They were asked about Tian Sha and her involvement with Mercedes Martinez.  HHH said he's a fan of variety and having different characters and scenarios.  You can be as serious of a character as you can be with Johnny Gargano and then he slides into the character where he's part of the Way but you can pull that serious character back out again.  There are parameters and rules to the universe you are in.  There are things that work on Raw and Smackdown that work better than on the other and he feels the same for NXT.  He said Marvel does a great job of keeping everything working within their world even thought there are Gods, aliens and robots.  Shawn said there are some who look and have the ability to be larger than life, like The Undertaker so there was a much bigger production vs. HBK who was music and silly dancing.  Shawn was more about the wrestler while Undertaker was a bigger character.  It all depends on the individual character and persona.  HHH said some people just don't have that theatrical flair while others can make that stuff work.

Jason Powell said that it feels like something has been missing from NXT lately and asked them their thoughts on the state of the brand.  HHH said as a company you are always looking for a spark.  They are coming out of COVID and there's always an ebb and flow.  Talents are working hard and he's happy with the product.  No show goes ten straight years without ebb and flow and there are periods of time where things are "pretty good" and then other times where they are "off the charts."  Some times you are looking for a reboot and some times you are working towards a longer story.  Every day in the business is a work in progress.   Everyone is welcome to have their opinion.  He was happy with where they are and with the talent roster.  Shawn said that when you are held to a standard that is very high and tough, he feels it's a compliment.  He said that he doesn't take disrespect at the comment and said that it's a challenge but it's also a compliment if someone tells you that your stuff wasn't as good as Undertaker or Ric Flair.  They have a good batting average.

They were asked if MSK has come to them about their "DX vibe."  HHH said not really and said that they have done their own thing.  Shawn said that they've let them be them and enjoy themselves and let them be them.  He lets them do what they can and if they pull them back, it's because perhaps there's a worry they are going to get them kicked off the air.  HHH said sometimes you have to push them into a different place and challenge them.  99% of the time when you challenge someone to get out of their box, they like that.

They were asked about the cliffhanger with William Regal and what Regal meant to the brand.   HHH said Regal is an integral part of this from day one.  Then, there are others who came along.  He can't imagine not doing this without William Regal.  Regal just loves it, just like Shawn, Matt Bloo, Sara D'Amoto and HHH are here.  They all love all aspects of the business and want to guide it and enhance the good things they like about it and get rid of the parts they don't like about it.  Regal is one of the biggest recruiting factors they have and has a great eye for new talents.  He's incredible at that and his value in WWE is tough to be measured.  Whether he is an on-camera talent or not, he will be extremely involved.  

HHH closed out thanking fans for their support the last year and a half.  He said everyone in the business did what they did through a lot of incredibly tough circumstances.  They did it because they love performing for fans and to elicit those reactions.  He told people to go and have fun and enjoy it.  Sometimes, they put too much pressure on themselves and sometimes the people do that.  They are creating entertainment and they hope everyone enjoys it and wants to come back and enjoy more.  They are looking forward to coming back.  There were some giddy talents today because it was a packed arena today.  Raw and Smackdown is going back on the road and are thrilled to go back in front of people and entertain fans.  He thanked everyone and thanked Justin for being part on the show.  They want to invite other members of the media as well.

Shawn said that for them it's fun to be in front of the people again.  He feels tonight is a great start.

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