Triple H Talks NXT Takeover II, WWE Performance Center and Monday Night War

As NXT Takeover II approaches, Triple H sounded giddy and proud, an executive, parent and fan all in one.

At a conference call on Wednesday, the COO discussed the upcoming live event, the WWE Performance Center and a few of his memories of the Monday Night War. Bleacher Report had the opportunity to participate in the call, hearing the thrill in his voice.

Under his stewardship, NXT has become one of the best elements of today's WWE. It not only serves as a launching pad for future stars, but is in itself a highly entertaining subset of the WWE machine.

For the third time this year, NXT is showcasing itself in a live event. The matches scheduled for it as are follows: 

• Adrian Neville vs. Tyler Breeze vs. Sami Zayn vs. Tyson Kidd (NXT Championship)
• Bayley vs. Charlotte (NXT Women's Championship)
• The Ascension vs. Sin Cara and Kalisto (Tag Team Championship)
• Enzo Amore vs. Sylvester Lefort (Hair-vs.-Hair)
• Mojo Rawley vs. Bull Dempsey

NXT Takeover: Fatal 4-Way airs on the WWE Network on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

There are reasons aplenty to get excited about Neville, Bayley and everyone one else once more competing, as Triple H puts it, "without a net." Beyond that, though, the upward trajectory of the WWE developmental system is making it easy to get pumped about the future.

Taking Over

An extra buzz surrounds the NXT live special. Fans know to expect tremendous action after seeing the stars of hit all the high notes at NXT Arrival and the first Takeover.

Triple H recognizes and appreciates the growth NXT has experienced in that span.

"Takeover has become its own pay-per-view, for a lack of a better term," he said. In his mind, each show has become bigger and better.

As NXT becomes closer to what he first visualized it could be, he can point to its success, its taut storytelling and consistently thrilling in-ring action as reasons for it to keep growing. Triple H said of the booming developmental system, "This is what I pitched to Vince. This is what we need."

The COO also noted the increasing crossover between NXT and the main roster, saying that WWE uses all of its "platforms to promote each other. That's our secret sauce in a way." 

That was clearly the case when Kidd, Zayn, Breeze and Neville took their act on Monday's Raw.

The four men battling for the NXT title not only got an opportunity to promote Takeover but also showcase themselves to a new audience. Neville had the Baltimore Arena filled with oohs. 

For Triple H, watching them was "like watching your kid playing baseball," and he was "beaming" afterward.

The Ascension got their own chance to impress outside of NXT, battling Los Matadores on Tuesday's Main Event.

Zayn, Neville and Breeze are three of the top prospects down at Full Sail University. Of the talented trio, Triple H said that even if they don't make a full-time move to the main roster right away, "they belong there now."

But even with as much experience as they have had internationally and at NXT, Triple H said that each of them understood after debuting on Raw that WWE's big stage "is a different game." The learning process never ends. 

Neither does the evolution of NXT.

A Growing Brand

As fans can relive via the Monday Night War series on the WWE Network, the pro wrestling landscape was far more competitive in the late '90s. 

With WCW's success, WWE had to fight for the audience's attention. That meant the roster was continually striving to grab hold of the audience.

Mick Foley was one of many men trying to prove that he was worthy of the main event. Triple H reflected back on his work against the Hall of Famer, saying that no one was as instrumental to his success as him.

Foley, who he described as a "human muppet" melded with a maniacal, hardcore brawler, was a key component to WWE's success during the Monday Night War as well. He had plenty of competition for the top spot he coveted.

Credit: WWE.com

Triple H talked about The Rock trying to top Steve Austin and his trying to top both of them. "We all just wanted to be the best," Triple H said.

They pushed each other just as WCW pushed them, something that the COO believes is happening with NXT.

Triple H said that he is "hesitant to call it 'developmental' anymore." To him, it's both a feeder system and its own viable entity, much like college football is to the NFL. He also compared NXT to ECW, which isn't surprising considering how vocal and engaged both fanbases are.

If NXT is now at ECW's level in terms of quality, Triple H says the next goal is for it to be as good as WWE was at its apex. The company has the talent to achieve that.

When Zayn, Neville and Breeze finished their match on Monday's Raw, Triple H said that the boys in the locker room were happy for them. They may be soon pushing WWE's veterans, reigniting their competitive fire.

It's certainly going to get tougher down at NXT. WWE signed Kenta, Prince Devitt and Kevin Steen, three of the world's best performers. Triple H reminded other prospects in Florida that they will need to step up their game with those wrestlers' arrivals.

As Triple H puts it, "These guys are ready to rock."

Next Up to the Plate

Kenta will be debuting at NXT Takeover II. He won't be wrestling just yet but will be making his presence known.

He's a thrilling get for WWE, a hypnotizing athlete who left Japan for a chance to climb the ladder here. NXT is increasingly becoming international, something that is all part of the plan.

Triple H said he and WWE are committed to recruiting the brightest global stars. He said that his job is "finding the best athletes in the world. I don't care where they come from."

Devitt (who worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling) and Steen (a Canadian who made his name at Ring of Honor) are proof of that philosophy at work. 

As for when they will join Kenta in debuting, Triple H says that "there's a plan in place" for their arrivals at NXT. The company wants to "do it in the biggest way possible."

The goal, Triple H notes, is to maximize their success and stardom.

The Game also said that WWE now has a "loose working relationship" with the NFL regarding acquiring talent through them. Baron Corbin and Rawley have already made the transition from the gridiron to the wrestling ring. It appears that more former NFLers will eventually be on their way.

Once they do, the fight to be noticed and climb the NXT ranks is going to be tough.

NXT continues to become more refined, more competitive, its reach ever expanding. Fans will get a taste of the top talent that the WWE's newest brand has to offer at Takeover II.

Before long, it will be Steen, Devitt and others in that same spot, bearing the heat of the spotlight.