Random Acts of Wrestling: WWE NXT’s Time Is Now

After Wednesday’s latest NXT Takeover special on the Network, it has become more than apparent that it is past time for NXT to become its own brand within WWE….not a developmental system.

At one time, it made sense to have NXT be a developmental and training league where new, relatively unknown wrestlers could come to hone their craft and learn the “WWE Way” of doing things. But, NXT has progressed beyond that due to the signing of well known, well-heeled talent.  Also, when you look at the main roster programming side by side with NXT, it appears to be two totally separately run companies with distinct and completely opposite ways of doing business.

NXT is the best thing WWE has produced in a long time. It is old school professional wrestling with incredible talent, logical storylines, great character development, and just enough of the sports entertainment aspect to balance everything out.  Unstoppable was an amazing show that showed just how much NXT can offer as a stand-alone brand.

Internationally Known Talent

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NXT has moved from signing and spotlighting relatively unknown talent to bringing in wrestlers who are known nationally for their work in other promotions and known internationally for their work in Europe and Japan. Prince Devitt.  Kenta.  Pac.  Samoa Joe.  El Generico.  Kevin Steen.  Yes, the names have changed, for the most part, but these are the same men who have been traveling the globe for years and years honing their craft and gathering an avid following of fans.

NXT has seemed to cut back on featuring and grooming homegrown talent and are going the route that Vince McMahon employed thirty years ago when he raided the territories to build up the 1980s juggernaut that was the Golden Age of the WWF. Only now, Triple H and company at NXT are scouting today’s territories, otherwise known as professional wrestling’s indy circuit, for already established talent.

In a conference call earlier this week with various media outlets, Triple H said that it was his plan all along to make NXT a stand-alone brand. He also mentioned that many of the NXT wrestlers are more than ready for the main roster, but there are no open spots for them at this time (well, there would be if Vince wasn’t so focused on repeating the same matches with the same handful of talent week after week after week after week).  Factoring in those bits of information, and the fact that it doesn’t look like Vince is going to make room for any new people on the main roster any time soon, it only makes sense to turn NXT into its own brand with talent that is already known the world over.

Immense Popularity

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With NXT recently venturing out of Florida to the delight of crowds in Philly, New York, California, and Ohio, they have proven that they are an incredibly popular commodity that can stand on its own. Exposure on the Network, along with word of mouth and the ever popular internet, have cemented NXT as a must see live show.

There’s no doubt that if NXT began a regular touring schedule around the US and especially in Europe and Japan, the popularity and success of the brand would only grow. NXT talent was included on the main roster’s European tour in April, and Balor and Steen will be going to Japan with the main roster in July.

The familiarity of the brand is growing week by week, and it’s not going to slow down any time soon.

Superior Product

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The shows that NXT put on week to week on the Network, not to mention the quarterly live specials, are far and away better than what the main roster delivers on a weekly basis. This can be chalked up to any number of factors:

  • Less repetitiveness on the shows
  • Lack of endless recaps of previous shows
  • Lack of endless pointless promos
  • Better talent (or wrestlers that are given the time and support to do what they do best instead of doing what entertains the boss)
  • Fresh and edgy content
  • More freedom for wrestlers and commentators to showcase their talent

In my mind, though, this is an organization run by a wrestler for wrestling fans. Say what you will about Triple H, but he has managed to create an atmosphere where both fan and talent morale stays high.  The fact that Vince doesn’t touch NXT comes across loud and clear, and he seems more than content to stick with his sports entertainment mindset while leaving the actual professional wrestling to his son-in-law.

The men’s matches are superior.  The women in NXT put the main roster Divas to shame.  It’s just a better all around show every week.

Fans Are Actually Excited About NXT

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In the WWE, it has been a long time since the main product has garnered any real excitement.   Raw has lost its “Must See TV” edge, and SmackDown has just become a Thursday night repeat of Monday’s show.  Monthly PPVs (sometimes PPVs every other week), make it difficult to develop any real storylines that the fans can get invested in, and the lack of character development on the main roster leaves a lot of really talented men and women relying on exposure alone to get over with the fans.

NXT, as a promotion, garners excitement wherever it goes. The fans are invested and can’t wait to see what happens next.  Once again, that can be completely due to the freedom the men and women are given, but the simple fact can’t be denied.

NXT and its talent are way more over than the main roster….at least for wrestling fans. Sports entertainment fans?  Who knows….

In Closing…

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There are really no drawbacks for WWE as far as making NXT a stand-alone brand. Promoting the NXT talent on the main WWE weekly programming is a win-win situation for both brands.  It brings more eyes to Raw and SmackDown, and in turn, it brings more eyes to the Network.

These men and women in NXT have worked long and hard, all over the world, to make it to the point they are at today. They shouldn’t be stuck in a developmental league waiting until the day that John Cena is in a wheelchair and Vince is finally declared legally senile before making it up to the supposed “Big Leagues”.

NXT proved Wednesday night that they are already in a league of their own, and it would benefit everyone to give them the chance to grow and shine as their own entity.

What do you think? Comment below with your thoughts, opinions, feedback and anything else that was raised.

You can find me on Twitter @AbbeyBrooke2121 and at abbeyarthur.wordpress.com. Until next time….