Talking Point: Should NXT Become The Third Brand?


Let’s face it, NXT is continuously excellent. The TV show has great PPV quality matches, the recent Pete Dunne Vs Ricochet Vs Adam Cole as an example, but when these super matches are not taking place, the matches they present make great sense and develop storylines and character development really well. Then we come to the TakeOvers, it goes without saying that now, I look more forward to TakeOver more than any “main roster” PPV, including WrestleMania, so much so that despite being a wrestling fan since 1988, and from that time wanting to attend a WrestleMania, now, I would much rather go to any TakeOver.

With that said, the view is still that NXT is a proving or developmental ground, where potential “superstars” prove they can (for talented independents) wrestle the WWE way, and for brand new wrestlers it is vital experience. So they are waiting for that promotion to the land of milk and honey, the main roster.

However, I have seen opinions that NXT should become a stand alone brand. The current roster is strong and it could provide some much needed life into the current format, of course there are potential cons to this, but handled right it could be amazing. I will go through, from my point of view, some pros and cons of this. Let’s start negatively, cons.

If NXT became a stand alone brand, where talent stayed and became available in the annual post WrestleMania draft, replacing promotion, it could ruin everything I like about it. The current TV is really good, a lot of this is down to time, an hour or so to fill means they don’t have to pad it out with pointless segments that don’t go anywhere, and they don’t need to have long rambling promos from “authority” figures, everything that happens makes sense, becoming a brand in itself opens it up to a longer TV show, which with WWE’s track record, doesn’t bode well. On the same token, TakeOver quality could be affected, somebody in charge of the WWE PPV system has decided the way forward is to make them really long, and packed with so many matches, that for the last two years now, I am actually wrestled out after WrestleMania. Currently, the NXT formula of less is more works, the matches are the highlight rather than the spectacle. That is of course, assuming TakeOver would be saved at all, or would they simply interject NXT talent on to the flooded WWE PPV calendar.

The other main issue I see is if you change the current format, would up and coming wrestlers or proven independent pros, have that opportunity. Prior to NXT, WWE had become stale, and it was struggling to build stars, now with NXT, with people such as Samoa Joe, for example, the traditionally insular WWE fans (of which I am one) are already invested in these people and in theory they don’t need hype to be successful. The best reaction I can think of right now is when people lost their shit for Big Cass and Enzo when they debuted on  April 4th 2016 episode of Raw, can anyone honestly say these two average (and average is being nice) wrestlers would have gotten any reaction without NXT? I really don’t think so.

I have to question the effect on any division which doesn’t include solo huge men, using WWE Women’s wrestling as an example. In my opinion, it was Triple H and NXT writing who dragged the WWE kicking and screaming all the way out of the dregs of the Attitude Era and Divas, into what we have today. I am not discounting the talented women, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, Bayley etc who were given the ball and they didn’t just run with it, they took that fucker home and kept it, however without NXT to prove this, without having a show which they could take risks on, with no real effect to ratings, seeing as it is currently Network exclusive, would Vince have been brave enough to even try it? I doubt it. Not that I think Women’s wrestling will go backward, but other divisions constantly shine on NXT, tag team being the best example, whereas in the big leagues so to speak, they are kind of forgotten about.

Finally, and perhaps selfishly, would NXT, in becoming its own brand, lose its Network only TV programme, and become, an admittedly more profitable, mainstream TV show. I think if this became a reality, that this would be almost set in stone.

Pros. The first glaringly obvious one is once promoted, more often than not, the red-hot NXT star is soon lost in the shuffle and just going through the motions. We have Tyler Breeze, The Ascension, Bobby Roode, Bayley, The Iiconics, Apollo Crews and more all languishing at the bottom of the card. Then we have over, but not with Vince crowd, Finn Bálor and Asuka (I will never forgive what they have done to Asuka) being the best examples of this. It makes me genuinely worry what will happen to Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano, Tomasso Ciampa and the rest when they get called up. If NXT remained its own brand these people could remain on fire, we could still get five star matches that we want instead of them (probably) being jobbed out to Big Show for another face/heel turn. Just think on where Asuka would be if they actually used all that momentum she had in NXT, I really do think she could be up with AJ Styles level popularity if the push was that good.

Although I used it as a con, a longer TV show could be good, if they stuck to the current formula. That way, they could still bring on up and comers and break in independent vets, and still have the same level of programming they produce now. They could still take those risks which have been so successful, and honestly changed the face of WWE, which, in Vince’s opinion, is the face of wrestling. Ask him, he will agree.

The re-emergence of tag team wrestling. It doesn’t seem to matter how good a match The New Day and Usos put on, or how good The Bar are, they are never taken seriously. Bumped down to pre-shows, not given airtime, or destroyed by Braun Strowman and a fucking ten year old. It just seems that tag teams are not in the booker's mind. Just ask SAnitY. On NXT tag teams are, more often than not, the best match on the card, given proper match time, proper promotion, and not being destroyed by the newest monster. They smash the ball out of the park every time. I have just watched War Raiders Vs The Undisputed Era, and it was better than the whole of the last main PPV I watched. Even the screwy finish didn’t matter, it was great.

Well, I think if you have made it this far through my sloppy excuse for writing, I'll leave it at this. I don’t think NXT should change, and that is purely selfish reasons. I love it just the way it is. I do worry what will happen to Gargano and the rest, however, because I love it. If you think differently, leave a comment even if you just want to call me a prick. Cheers.

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