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WWE NXT: Three changes that could help the brand

By Raphael Garcia

AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 09: Paul Michael Levesque aka 'Triple H' attends Featured Session: The Women’s Evolution in WWE and Beyond during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Austin Convention Center on March 9, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Samantha Burkardt/Getty Images for SXSW)
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 09: Paul Michael Levesque aka 'Triple H' attends Featured Session: The Women’s Evolution in WWE and Beyond during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Austin Convention Center on March 9, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Samantha Burkardt/Getty Images for SXSW) /
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WWE NXT is headed for some changes. Understandably, many fans are concerned about what those changes could bring. For the longest time, WWE NXT has been the most enjoyable brand that the WWE has offered wrestling fans. But if the rumored changes are truly coming to fruition, this product may never be the same. Still, here are examples of changes that WWE NXT could benefit from if implemented correctly in the future.

Inclusion of talent from the main roster

The WWE has an expansive roster. Look up and down the WWE roster list and it’s hard to deny that this may be the most talented group of professionals signed to any organization. Unfortunately, the promotion doesn’t utilize them as such. Every Monday and Friday there are names on both SmackDown and Raw that are stuck in catering, rarely seeing any television time. Imagine if some of those individuals were brought to NXT for special occasions and feature matches.

Remember when Cesaro and Tyson Kidd were on NXT, putting on some excellent matches when they weren’t in central storylines on the main roster. The women’s division had similar occurrences in the likes of Natalya and Mickie James. Every wrestler doesn’t need an extended return run like Finn Balor, but NXT could be used as an opportunity to get individuals on television and get the younger names within NXT a chance to work with them to build up their stature.

Improved character building

Character building is a big part of professional wrestling. There are times when NXT does an exceptional job getting viewers invested in characters. But this is more the exception than the rule. Look at Cameron Grimes for example. His current character was built through comedy vignettes that continued as a butler to LA Knight. The video segments for the return of Xia Li also helped boost interest in that character before she went on a winning streak.

As NXT looks to focus on new, younger talent there will be a need to build their characters both inside and outside the ring. WWE has the resources available to create character-developing content that helps drive interest in wrestling personas. Look at recent snippets by Buddy Murphy and Ruby Soho after being released from the WWE. Wrestlers don’t have to wait to be released to create content like that. The relaunched NXT should begin testing out new ways to build characters into interesting personalities.

Test out new ideas in wrestling

At the highest levels of professional wrestling, innovation doesn’t occur as much as one would think. There’s a tendency to use the same individuals, minds, and formulas from one promotion to the next. While it’s a long shot to expect new ideas out of the WWE, it would be enticing to see the company use NXT as a testing ground for innovation. New types of characters, voices on commentary, production settings, etc. Again, WWE has all the resources a wrestling promotion would ever want. Utilizing them for something different would be something worth watching in the industry.

WWE NXT is headed to a place that has fans wary for the third brand in WWE. If it’s truly just a developmental arm of the WWE, perhaps there’s an opportunity to do things a bit differently for the benefit of all parties involved.

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