WWE: NXT invading Survivor Series 2019 is a smart call

This just in, as revealed at Crown Jewel, WWE Survivor Series will continue the brand war between Raw and SmackDown, but this time, with NXT in the mix.

Ever since WWE renewed their long dormant brand split back in 2016, it has become an annual tradition for Raw and SmackDown to go head to head for the sake of brand supremacy. This led to champion vs. champion matches between every champion of each brand (last year’s Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. WWE Champion Daniel Bryan being a notable example) as well as traditional five on five tag team matches (men and women versions) with each team representing their respective brands.

This year, WWE has plans to shake things up a bit with a new twist on the old routine. This year, during their Crown Jewel PPV, a video packaging aired revealing that NXT is set to take over WWE’s premiere Big Four Pay-Per-View and for the first time ever will have its presence known. It is rare for NXT to ever play a big part in a main roster PPV, but now that NXT is part of that main roster, it not only makes sense for them to be involved, it is a damn smart move.

Ever since its 2012 rebranding, NXT has been a developmental program where rookie Superstars go to hone their skills before graduating to the big leagues and where indie darlings go to learn the WWE style of in-ring wrestling. Within seven years, NXT has become a global phenomenon to the point that now it has its own TV deal, airing on the USA Network every Wednesday night at 8 ‘o clock sharp.

Of course, beforehand, it was merely a WWE Network exclusive program. With only subscribers been afforded the luxury of catching action from the black and gold brand, the idea of NXT is still a foreign, unknown commodity to a lot of people around the world. Bringing NXT to Survivor Series should be the perfect means to introduce audiences to the product.

Since the move to USA Network, WWE have been taking active steps to make NXT into a household name now that it’s available in household televisions across the globe. Just over a month into the show’s existence on television, we have seen Finn Balor make the jump to the brand with a heel turn, as well as the returns of fan favorites Asuka and Kairi Sane to defend their Women’s Tag Team Championships.

Still, so far at least, these efforts have not produced the best results, with their most recent episode garnering a measly 580,000 viewers overall, ranking 32nd in its 18-49 demographic. Granted, the episode faced competition from both The World Series and, of course, All Elite Wrestling, but it’s still a number that pales in comparison to their brand partners Raw and SmackDown, even when the latter does have competition in the form of, say, football.

To get audiences to understand why NXT is must see TV that should be viewed on the same level as Raw and SmackDown, WWE has to make its key audiences aware that NXT actually exists. A few appearances on Raw and SmackDown, then a stunning showcase at the PPV should do the trick.