NXT: Tyler Breeze’s return shouldn’t be seen as a demotion
On the May 24, 2019 episode of NXT, Velveteen Dream stood in the ring to cut a promo. Clutching his North American Championship, the world along with Dream wondered, who exactly could step up to face him at the upcoming TakeOver XXV?
The answer came in the form of some familiar words, “Look everyone, it’s TYLER!”
Yes, Tyler Breeze has returned to NXT to challenge Velveteen Dream and so a dream match was born.
It could be easy to see Breeze’s return to NXT as a demotion. As a “so long and thanks for all the selfies” from the ranks of Raw and Smackdown Live. There were definitely people reacting that way when the news of Tyler’s return first broke during this set of NXT tapings.
This isn’t a demotion, though. So long as Breeze is getting paid the same salary as he was on the main roster, this is actually a very good thing. Breeze was one of the foundational talents in NXT’s early days on the WWE Network. He participated in the incredible main event at NXT’s Fatal 4-Way show and was the talent NXT picked for a one-off match against the legendary Jushin Thunder Liger at Brooklyn I.
NXT is the environment Breeze flourished in for a number of reasons. First of all, NXT’s booking had a confidence in him that neither Raw or Smackdown never showcased. Secondly, NXT has understood his character in a way the main roster was never willing to. Third, of course, is the embrace of the NXT fans who welcomed Tyler back excitedly both this time and previously when he returned to face Ricochet last December.
The truth is that for a very long time NXT has served as far more than simply WWE’s “developmental” show. Triple H, the man running the show, has long said that NXT is actually WWE’s third brand and he treats it that way even if there are others above him who still resist that idea.
During a conference call prior to last year’s TakeOver: WarGames, Triple H even had this to say:
"We are also at the point where you can see some talent that have been on Raw and SmackDown for periods of time, who have had some success or haven’t for whatever reason, who aren’t being utilized, go back to NXT. A talent who doesn’t get a lot of exposure on SmackDown and moves to Raw, it could be a game-changer for them, and all of a sudden they can do something different. I do think it (NXT) is a third brand."
He’s entirely right. We even had an example of that as far back as TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way. When Tyson Kidd was sent to NXT for a few months he rebuilt his character and seemed to become incredibly revitalized. When he returned to the main roster as part of a tag team with Cesaro they had a run as Tag Team Champions and an incredible feud with New Day before Kidd’s unfortunate retirement.
Honestly, I hope this isn’t a “rebuilding” for Breeze before sending him back to Raw or Smackdown. NXT is where the Tyler Breeze character was created and perfected before being sent to a new creative team who clearly just didn’t understand it. Also, as shown on the Breaking Ground series, Breeze is an enthusiastic and capable teacher for wrestlers who are still developing their skills and persona, having him there in a coaching capacity is a boon for NXT as well.
In general, though, the point is that being assigned to NXT is not a punishment or a sign of failure. Routinely their TakeOver events are praised as better than what WWE proper is putting on. Their weekly TV show often manages to do more in an hour than many episodes of Raw do with three.
The only way you can consider NXT to be “just developmental” is if you acknowledge NXT is where talents are actually allowed to fully develop characters.
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In NXT, Bayley was allowed to be a hugger while also being a formidable champion. Velveteen Dream isn’t presented as a “gay panic” villain. Asuka was clearly understood as a force of nature even if she rarely said a word in English. Ethan Carter III existed. Bo Dallas was a legitimately hateable heel. SaNiTy weren’t shoved to the background as corporate flunkies and Nikki Cross was promoted as a breakout star.
And Tyler Breeze is exactly what he claims to be in his theme song: “part man, but all model” and maybe the next NXT North American Champion.