NXT: Vince McMahon and Bruce Prichard set to produce rebranded show

On Wednesday there was a collective groan heard across the wrestling space coming from fans of WWE NXT. News broke via Wrestling Observer revealed that Vince McMahon and Bruce Prichard are set to produce the revamped version of NXT. The overall perception of WWE’s product isn’t in the best place today and many see this as a step in the wrong direction.

According to the news from Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer, WWE NXT is heading in a direction that is going to completely change the show. The conversation mentioned that the weekly show will “be like the old NXT,” with McMahon and Pritchard running things. Bryan Rose of Wrestling Observer offered additional insight.

“Additionally, Dave Meltzer reports that McMahon and Prichard will be behind the big decisions, not the little ones, and will be behind marketing, promotion, and direction,” Rose wrote. “Their role in booking may only be regarding those at the top.”

That’s going to have quite the impact on the morale of fans that continued to support WWE NXT, even after they lost the “Wednesday Night War.” Each week, the brand is home to much of the best content that WWE puts together. The quality of matches, character development, angles and even the commentary easily rivals anything that is seen on Monday or Friday. NXT’s move to the USA Network in 2019 created concern that the show would become more like Monday Night Raw and SmackDown. This should be seen as the final step and confirmation of that transition.

NXT’s roster has a wealth of talent that doesn’t fit the mold of what WWE often looks to promote or sees as valuable. Individuals like Tommaso Ciampa, Kyle O’Reilly, and Pete Dunne aren’t the “big meaty men,” that get top billing within the promotion. Individuals like Duke Hudson better fit into that conversation. Not even size can always save a wrestler, just look at how Walter was presented in his moment on the main roster.

Another great aspect of NXT is the level of diversity and inclusion seen within that promotion. Many of its champions and big names are people of color. Hit Row, Samoa Joe, Kushida, Io Shirai, Raquel Gonzalez, and MSK stand at the top of the promotion with fans who share their demographic cheering them on. Does this change mean that people that represent those minority spaces will not get the same type of billing as in the past? That’s a real question that fans of the brand have and the pending answer can turn them away from the product.

Change can be a positive step in the right direction. Expect when that comes to professional wrestling where old voices of men like McMahon and Prichard continue to give fans more of what isn’t working.