In a conference call yesterday to promote tonight’s WWE NXT Takeover: Respect live special on the WWE Network, Triple H was asked about any potential relationship with EVOLVE Wrestling if there was some truth to the rumors that Gabe Sapolsky would be joining WWE NXT as a booker.

Triple H seemed bemused by the Sapolsky reports but noted that as far as EVOLVE Wrestling, he looks at it as a feeder system to WWE NXT and said that he loves what Gabe does and thinks that they are one of the sounder promotions as to how they handle their talent, how they tell their stories and how they handle their in-ring product and sees them as a feeder system and supports them, noting that a lot of WWE talent have come through there over the years and they’ve learned a lot from there and everybody speaks highly of EVOLVE and highly of Gabe Sapolsky in that process and that is important to him. Triple H noted that if he had somebody that he didn’t have room for at the WWE Performance Center and wanted to give them some further training out there before he had space for them at the WWE Performance Center, then he would send them to EVOLVE as he thinks that they are a very important cog in the business and said that he knows it is a struggle to keep things rolling and keep things alive if you’re a small promotion and some of the other promotions are making that more difficult at times for the small promotions, so he will support them in any way that he can and if he can help them out and promote their events, he thinks that having that healthy independent undercurrent to the business is vitally important and doesn’t want to see that go away.

In response to Triple H’s comments, WWNLive.com’s Sal Hamaoui issued the following statement, “The WWN Family is something we’ve been building for years and it is very flattering to get this kind of recognition. We are proud to have so many talents like Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose, Neville, Kalisto and Luke Harper, among others, on the WWE roster. We look forward to seeing how even more former WWN talents progress in NXT. Having an industry leader like Triple H say those things about EVOLVE helps push us forward as we get ready for our next WWNLive.com live iPPVs on October 18th and 19th in New York. Thank you.”

Gabe Sapolsky also issued a statement in regards to Triple H’s comments which reads, “First, everyone in the WWN Family wants to thank Triple H for his comments. We are humbled and appreciative. This support is unprecedented. We are proud to be part of the independent undercurrent and will enthusiastically continue to promote and present today’s new stars. It continues on October 17th in Queens, NY and October 18th in Long Island, NY with two EVOLVE live iPPVs at WWNLive.com. These shows are especially interesting after Triple H’s comments because we feature several new and rising talents to go along with our regular, standout stars. It is obvious that the progressive NXT brand is offering more opportunities and exposure to independent wrestlers than anytime in history. Who will make the most of these opportunities? Who is next? We might very well find out at EVOLVE 49 and EVOLVE 50 this month. Join us either in person or on live iPPV and show your support for the next superstar. You, the people who support us and the wrestlers with ticket and iPPV buys, make it all possible. Thank you.”