WWE SummerSlam 2011: Is Triple H's Involvement Hurting Punk-Cena II?

Four short weeks ago, John Cena vs. CM Punk at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view had the wrestling industry buzzing. There was an excitement in the air that had been missing from the WWE product for years. Fans who had not consistently watched Raw and SmackDown in a number of years expressed interest in the CM Punk angle and were legitimately excited to see how it would play out.

Money in the Bank was one of the company's most widely and critically acclaimed events in history, due largely in part to the "Match of the Year Candidate" that was Cena-Punk and a conclusion to the match that many considered satisfying. The lasting images of Punk blowing Vince McMahon a kiss before rushing though the Chicago crowd and celebrating his WWE title win with the people was exactly what fans wanted. The uncertainty surrounding the new champion's contract status hooked the audience and captured their attention.

Unfortunately, those fans who invested themselves emotionally in the story would be disappointed the following night.

The July 18 edition of Raw has been, for the most part, widely considered a disappointment. CM Punk was not mentioned by name, a tournament was held to declare a new and, according to many, bogus WWE Champion, and Cena was heavily hyped and featured—a trend many had hoped would change with the edgier and fresh new direction the company had begun to take.

In fact, the only change of direction the company took on July 18 was the implementation of Triple H as WWE's new on-air figurehead, taking over the role McMahon had filled since January of 1998. Many looked at it, and continue to look at it, as a good thing for the WWE product.

McMahon was old, boring and stale. Triple H is young, hip and cool. Despite their differences in age and understanding of current popular culture, however, Triple H's authority figure character has faltered in the same ways McMahon's did over the course of the last decade.

In the past, McMahon has been accused of putting his own character and family on television at the expense of a talented and deep roster. How many times since 2000 have Vince, Shane, Stephanie and Linda McMahon been featured on Raw or SmackDown while highly talented performers such as Chavo Guerrero, Test, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn, Raven and Stevie Richards were left to waste away on B- and C-level television shows such as Sunday Night Heat, Jakked and Velocity?

There is no denying that, for the most part, the McMahon family was an integral and entertaining piece of the company's television product during its hottest, most popular and most financially successful period. But how many superstars had their potential go unnoticed and how many stoylines started hot but soon became watered down by McMahon involvement?

July 25th was Triple H's first Raw as the on-air "head honcho." True to the precedent McMahon had set at the height of his character's on-screen life, "The Game" wasted no time in hogging airtime.

In one segment, he exposed R-Truth's character and poked fun at it, despite Ron Killings' pitch-perfect portrayal of a creatively flawed persona. He also, inexplicably, awarded Cena a WWE Championship match despite the former titleholder doing nothing to deserve it.

These two poor booking decisions could be written off as poor judgment calls, mere rocky road in the development of a character the creative team had not quite had a clear grasp on. What happened the next week, though, may have set the tone for what fans can come to expect from Triple H: COO.

By the time August 1 rolled around, CM Punk had become the hottest wrestler in the business. He was arguably the most popular star in the company, with crowd reaction rivaling that of John Cena's or Randy Orton's.

While the blasting-off point that would lead to Punk becoming the industry's hottest commodity and mainstream media's most sought-after sports entertainer was his epic shoot promo and "Austin-esque" interaction with Mr. McMahon, Punk and Cena no longer need the outside involvement of an authority figure to fuel their program. The existence of two WWE Championships alone is the perfect emphasis for the rivalry.

That's why the exchange between Punk and Triple H on the August 1 edition of Raw smacked of the new COO booking himself in the hottest angle the business has seen in years. Whether or not it is a backstage power play or a carefully crafted piece of a larger puzzle is irrelevant.

By being interjected into the Punk-Cena undisputed WWE Championship storyline, Triple H automatically takes some of the spotlight off of Cena and Punk and puts it on himself.

At this point you, the reader, may be asking yourself how Triple H's involvement is any different than McMahon's. McMahon's name and his character were used solely to establish CM Punk as the anti-establishment rebel WITH a cause. Not once during his involvement in the program did McMahon attempt to put himself over at the expense of the men involved in the Money in the Bank main event. He did not toss around any witty or sarcastic comebacks. He was a boss who showed weakness and was desperate to keep the title with his company's name on it in his possession.

In contrast, two weeks into his run as the COO of WWE, Triple H has exchanged insults with the outspoken Punk. In the final segment of the August 1 Raw, he made both WWE Champions look like arguing, petulant children.

That is no way to build to the sequel of what many consider the best match of the year thus far, nor will it create the buzz and anticipation surrounding the SummerSlam encounter that the Money in the Bank match enjoyed.

Triple H may very well pay dividends to WWE in his on-air role in the future. He is a highly entertaining performer, one of the greatest the industry has ever seen. A sure-fire Hall of Famer, this writer has little doubt that his behind-the-scenes running of the company upon McMahon's retirement will result in a fresher and more enjoyable show.

Until then, he must learn the same lesson it took McMahon many years to figure out. He must learn that, as an on-air character who no longer contributes to the in-ring product, he must fill his role without overshadowing the talent and putting himself over at their expense.

The CM Punk-John Cena angle has undoubtedly been hurt in the two weeks Triple H has served in his new role. The damage, however, is not catastrophic.

Cena and Punk will likely have another classic match at SummerSlam, with a wild crowd and anticipation at a fever pitch. Two true professionals will stand on a pressure-filled stage in the entertainment capitol of the world and ply their trade like only they can. It would be in the best interest of the company, of CM Punk and John Cena, for the creative team and Hunter himself, to keep his involvement in the match at a minimum.

This article was written prior to the August 8 edition of Monday Night Raw, making the concluding paragraph irrelevant. Triple H will now serve as the guest referee in the John Cena and CM Punk Undisputed WWE Championship match. Having read this article, if you, the reader, cannot figure this writer's opinion on the latest developments surrounding the main event of SummerSlam, I can only question if you fully understood anything you have previously read.