'WWE Behind the Curtain': Biggest Takeaways from ESPN Documentary

For non-wrestling fans, ESPN's WWE: Behind the Curtain documentary was a potential entry point into the circus that is the squared circle, a means to help understand this crazy business. For those who already regularly digest WWE's product, though, the biggest takeaways center on Xavier Woods, Adam Rose and Corey Graves.

The one-hour E:60 special showed who these men are when the cameras are off and how WWE brass view them.

While getting to be a fly on the wall for NXT meetings, fans could see just how much their perceptions of Woods, Graves and Rose differ from those of the people making decisions behind the scenes. Graves was apparently poised for big things, Rose won over more people on ESPN than he ever has on Raw and Woods has a powerful man in his corner.

Triple H is High on Xavier Woods

It's no wonder The New Day has received such a big push of late. Triple H has been pulling for Woods since he was in NXT.

The agile, energetic wrestler is not on many fans' list of favorites. He has struggled to make much of an impact since joining the main roster. He will certainly get plenty of opportunities, though. 

That's the benefit of having a high-ranking official in your fan club.

The E:60 film showed The Game at a meeting telling those present that Woods is a "priority project." Triple H said that other than height, "he's got everything."

That comes as a surprise to those underwhelmed by his ring work and moderately impressed with his interview skills. 

Real-Life Personality is a Big Factor

Add being a good guy to the list of skills that can help one make it at WWE. While fans know that charisma, physical gifts and speaking ability are all part of the equation, it was surprising to see how much a prospect's personality came up.

WWE officials talked about how nice Rose was. Folks called Woods a good person. Sometimes it sounded like they were trying to set up their friends with someone, not looking for the next great wrestler.

What these guys were like off screen seemed to play a role in whether Triple H and Company viewed them as top prospects.

It makes sense. Someone prone to backstage drama and who has an overflowing ego is going to be hard to work with. As much as WWE Superstars come off as superheroes, they are also employees, albeit independent contractors. 

And it's far better to work with quality people than the opposite.

Adam Rose's Real Story is Better than His Scripted One 

Ray Leppan peeled away his current party-animal character and stopped playing Leo Kruger to walk us through a few steps in his life.

It's hard to not have newfound respect for him after seeing how hard he has worked. He had been churning away at WWE developmental, because, in his words, he was "preparing a future" for his family. Fans saw him without his costume and his put-on voice and watched him feed his young son through a stomach tube.

Thanks to this backstory, Leppan/Kruger/Rose was more compelling than he ever has been in the ring.

As WrestlingInc pointed out on Twitter, this glimpse of him will change how the audience views him going forward:

In addition, Rose showed himself to be one hell of an actor. He slipped from one character to the next during his interviews, his voice morphing, his posture shifting.

No subject of WWE: Behind the Curtain is going to benefit as much as him. This documentary allowed him to connect with the crowd in a way he had been trying to do with gimmicks for so long.

Corey Graves Was Set For Big Things Before Injury

Concussions cut Graves' career down at the knees. He is now doing commentary for the company, as the ESPN film details.

Before that, though, officials were big believers in him.

Dusty Rhodes said he thought Graves would be "the next big thing." Other folks said he had a movie-star aura. Triple H revealed that Graves was going to be called up to the main roster and made it seem as if WWE had plans aplenty for him.

Fate had other ideas for Graves, but one has to wonder what would have been in store for him had brain injuries not slowed him down.

Triple H is Really Hands-On

Triple H's fingerprints are all over NXT. It was clear beforehand that the developmental brand was his baby, but the ESPN special showed him to be highly detail-oriented.

Credit: WWE.com

He instructed Bray Wyatt on just how far from his face to hold his lamp. He worked on exactly where wrestlers should stand and what angle the spotlight should hit Rose, and he was the one to break the news to Graves that his in-ring career was over.

After Woods' debut on Raw, The Game was there to congratulate him, but also to offer a critique. "Slow it down," Triple H told him, "Let 'em digest."

This kind of passion, this clear love for crafting wrestling, is further proof that he would thrive as Vince McMahon's eventual replacement.