Triple H held his pre-WWE NXT Takeover: XXV conference call today in advance of Saturday’s event. Adam Hopkins opened the call by introducing Triple H who said that NXT 25 is an exciting event in his eyes and it is hard to believe that NXT is already at its 25th Takeover event and hopes to make the show more memorable than others in the past, noting that they have always worked to have great shows and thinks that they will again this Saturday. HHH said that he is happy to be in WWE’s backyard for the event and thinks it will be a spectacular show before running down the matches for the card and opening the line to questions.

The first caller asked how it feels to have the show not being on the same weekend of a major WWE event. HHH said that it is a little quieter for him, since he only has to concern himself with the show, plus it is right down the street for him. HHH said that for the talent, there is no difference and they are all young and hungry, wanting to prove something to the world. HHH then mentioned Tyler Breeze being back in NXT and said that Breeze is trying to re-establish himself. The same caller asked about Breeze’s decision to return and if he is a regular. HHH said that Breeze is back in NXT right now and he is thrilled to have him back, noting that Breeze is one of the best talents out there. HHH said that Breeze and Dream have all the markings of being the sleeper match that could steal the show on Saturday and said that they have the opportunity to tell a very unique story.

The next caller asked about what the biggest lessons HHH learned from the first show to the 25th. HHH said that the biggest learning curve was making the brand have its own identity and making it a standalone brand, stating that it was about learning who the players were and what their journeys were, noting that they all have different stories. HHH then talked about the differences between all of the people that have come in since the first show, noting that some have been lifetime fans, while others were folks that chose wrestling after doing something else and that it is great to see those people grow and come to love the business and that to him, he has learned from all of their perspectives and where the wrestlers have come from and that it has been inspiring and meaningful for him, noting that he loves going to the WWE Performance Center because it gives him a shot of adrenaline and is awe-inspiring. The same caller asked about the Tag Title Ladder Match and why the War Raiders vacated the titles, rather than putting a new team over. HHH said that it is always a mix as to how you do it and said that since they are on the main roster now, you have to decide whether you are going to do a match where the fans have a good idea as to what the finish will be, since they’re now on the main roster, but with a ladder match, with all of the talent, he believes no one will complain and all of the teams are worthy to win.

The next caller brought up how HHH said that he wants to have a six month plan for talents, which has yet to happen, and questioned why that is. HHH said that necessity takes precedence and that if the main roster needs talent, then that can throw his plans out the window and said that when that happens and the talents get called up, he’s excited for them, but he would like to have a plan, however sometimes that does not happen. HHH compared it to the baseball scene where talents get called up due to need and circumstances. The same caller asked about taking jabs at All Elite Wrestling and them coming back during their recent event and asked if they are good for business and will NXT do the same. HHH said that at the Hall of Fame, Billy Gunn being there was the elephant in the room and D-Generation X does that kind of thing and that is all it was. HHH said that for him, he does not really think about All Elite Wrestling as he just wants to put out the best NXT product that he can and is focused on this Saturday for NXT Takeover: XXV, putting on a good show and growing the brand.

The next caller asked about Tyler Breeze coming in and if that could open the door for other guys like Harper to come in or if that would be too many main roster guys. HHH said that he goes by feel and by what’s enough, what’s too much and said that you have to feel it out so that you are not overdoing it and that if you do that, you make the brand something that it is not. The same caller asked that going forward, is there a feel as to how long he wants people in NXT and whether guys could be there for their careers now. HHH said that they are all options as the brand moves forward and that as they grow, there will be the opportunity for talents to have good, lucrative careers without ever going to the main roster and feels that is a very real possibility going forward and that moving around will add longevity to everyone.

The next caller asked about why they chose Bridgeport as the location. HHH said that they were originally scheduled to go to San Jose, as he has mentioned in the past, but then the show in Saudi Arabia came up, so they had to move the location and said that the dominoes fell so they then had to change and said that he was wanted to do something in Connecticut with the brand for a while, so it made sense when the building was available and that the timing was right, so they took it. The same caller asked who was on the pre-show panel, to which HHH noted that they are still working through that and fans should take a wait and see approach.

The next caller asked about the WWE 24/7 Title or the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles being defended in NXT. HHH said that the possibility is there for both titles, noting that Sasha and Bayley made an appearance and said that it is something that he would love, but it ultimately comes down to scheduling. The same caller asked if NXT could be used on a Network like FOX. HHH said that they are looking at everything and that there is interest in NXT, but it is also valuable to them on the Network and they will discuss all means.

The next caller asked about the talent creating their own content on social media. HHH said that he thinks it is great when the talent steps out and creates their brand and enhances it, noting that they encourage it and work with people at the Performance Center on how to do it. HHH said that they have a large team in place to keep track of it all as he himself can’t keep up with it all, but noted that they have a team that keeps up with everything, bringing up Drake Maverick making the Wanted posters on his own and said that they thought it was such a great idea from Drake that they incorporated it in to the show. The same caller asked how he handles things, such as an MMA company like UFC coming to Matt Riddle and asking him to return for a fight. HHH said that they would talk to Matt and take it from there and that nothing is set in stone. HHH said that talents get offers to do things all the time and said that they have a movie star in India on their roster who gets parts, goes back, returns and continues his training. HHH said that he loves Riddle and that if an offer came in, Riddle may not want it because he is having the time of his life in the wrestling business and may not want a return to MMA.

The next caller asked about the plethora of writers on the main roster and what is the process for a Takeover event. HHH said that it is a different brand and feel as RAW and SmackDown Live are long television shows, while Takeovers are more simple as it is wrestling matches and that they have already built to it, as it is the culmination of what has already happened on television, noting that there is a team with him, Shawn and many others. The same caller asked about the next Takeover announcement. HHH said that he is hoping that he can put out something soon and that they are trying to finalize things, as dominoes move and change things and that’s what happened for this event.

The next caller asked about them possibly bringing a different Takeover to San Jose at a later date. HHH said that there are plans, as they want to run there again due to the building having meaning to them as their first big show’s home, but as to when, he can’t guess, only that he can say that it is on their radar. The same caller asked if there are any challenges with running an event like this without the main roster also running an event. HHH said that the level of attention of having the main roster there adds to the buzz for them, but that NXT has built its own reputation, so he believes that fans are aware of that and are excited to come, noting that yes, there are challenges, but it’s definitely doable and Bridgeport will light this weekend. HHH said that he thinks the brand is strong enough to stand on its own and that is what they will do this weekend.