@Seth sometimes I wonder why people fanboyed over Triple H practically killing the Indie Scene
Like if it's because you are too lazy to search for obscure companies to see new talent, just say it
Except people deluded themselves into thinking that there will always be more new wrestlers even tho the profession has been declining for a while
I disagree over this. When Triple H decided to shape up NXT into a third brand rather than developmental it wasn't easy. For starters, NXT was treated as a gate to WWE's main roster. You'd sign people like Balor, Joe, Nakamura, Zayn, Owen and etc... Have them in NXT for a year max and push them into the main roster.
Gradually NXT started picking up the pace and both Triple H and fans realized that you don't have to force feed indie breakout stars to Vince who will most likely bury them but give them a place to be and elevate themselves.
Right now AEW is sitting at 800k to 1m viewers but there were times which I refer to as golden age of Black and Gold where AEW would struggle to overcome NXT in the ratings because NXT was just that good.
If you read interviews from people who basically form the main even scene for AEW, they fucking love Triple H, man took care of them and didn't allow vince to get them buried. There are instances where NXT stars were willing to take paycuts so they can stay in NXT instead of going to become jobbers in the main roster.
So Triple H didn't kill the Indie scene, he actually helped them gain more exposure from a regular fanbase. You could often read online during that era that fans who bought tickets for Takeover and main even PPV had more fun and experience during Takeovers.
Also Triple H didn't sign the biggest Indie stars back then so the notion of him killing the Indie scene is wrong as hell.
NXT UK, Cruiserweight Classic and etc... It's all Triple H and people loved and still love him to this day for it.
I personally think if Triple H wasn't married to Stephanie which makes him son in law to Vince, he would leave WWE after coming back from hospital and help start with AEW.
Triple H loves professional wrestling, something Vince didn't do for years or even decades now.