HHHow Useful?

HHH is one of the most controversial superstars in wrestling history. His in-ring career has been atributed with stealing the spotlight, unnecessarily squashing promising stars, only being in the position he's in because of his family ties. This is a view held by many fans, although I'd argue that he's a skilled worker who's over with the majority of fans and therefore deserves a lead spot. This year, HHH is now in the non-wrestling role of COO (can't they just say chairman?) and it's valid to ask how effective he's been in this role. So let's play the game and find out.

It all started off with The Game usurping Vince Mcmahons position after the latter made some bad decisions. He spent most of the summer acting as a moderater for the John Cena/CM Punk fued, and acting as the special referee in their Summerslam match. Some would say this detracted from the Cena/Punk fued, although the majority of promos worked to showcase Punk's grand, shoot-style mic-work, and the promotion emphasis was kept mainly on Cena/Punk. Due to another Kevin Nash injury, we saw a build to a Night Of Champions match of HHH/Punk, and the COO embroiled in the top storyline. Even though HHH proved he could still go and the match was pretty good, it felt sort of unnecessary for him to be in the main event with Punk and go over. Now we have HHH in the centre of a 'walkout' storyline, in which he's portrayed in a sympathetic face manner, not only is he the main focus of this storyline, but he's been the only face to gain from it so far.

The Hunter detracters would say that this is another case of The Game taking up the spotlight, and that few faces are getting much exposure now that HHH is COO. When 42 year old Paul Levesque is in the major angles, how can the likes of Money in the Bank winner Daniel Bryan or Zack Ryder benefit? Many are saying that this walkout angle could lead HHH wrestling a main event again, so where's Sheamus' spot? People are also saying that this is becoming a repeat of 2003, with HHH in most, if not all main events, making deserving stars job to him (I mean main event guys like Benoit, Goldberg, Booker T, mid-carders are understandable).

You could argue that some are actually benefiting from HHH. An array of heels are getting good coverage due to their involvment in his angles, the likes of Christian, Wade Barrett, Alberto Del Rio, Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger are showcasing their mic-skills and to an extent ring skills through them heading the walkout angle. Miz/R-Truth are 2 of the most talked about and interesting heels today due to their firing angle. Behind the scenes, HHH knows that other faces are needed and has managed to make CM Punk the hottest star in wrestling, partially due to the angle they had. It is thought that faces such as John Cena, Randy Orton, CM Punk and Sheamus are going to get a rub from the walkout angle, possibly siding with Hunter. And whether people like it or not, HHH has decent mic-skills and his overness makes him ideal to be a large part of WWE storylines.

In conclusion, yes Hunter is up to his old tricks of hogging the spotlight in WWE and making himself the centeral focus. But just as was the case from 2000-2005, his abilities and status makes him deserving, sure it's not wise to make him a huge staple In WWE, but let's see where this walkout angle goes, before we make judgements, and if I'm wrong, the smarks get to have the last laugh.