WWE NXT shines with booking a diverse set of stars

Internet discourse on professional wrestling can be difficult to observe as several grifters promote bad takes simply to get a few dollars per month, and others show disgusting biases targeted specific segments of people. However, wading through the muck, there are conversations happening that are worth having by those that long professional wrestling. One such conversation involves the use of people of color and women within WWE’s weekly television. When breaking down how diverse groups are represented on Monday Night Raw or SmackDown, it is hard to not see the success happening on WWE NXT and wonder why the two bigger shows can’t do the same.

At the surface level, a concern about the utilization of Black male talent on WWE PPVs lead to a larger conversation around the use of people of color across the product. For example, men of Asian descent are leveraged even less on the product and it’s a topic that should be discussed. This discussion isn’t an attempt to call anyone behind the scenes “racist” or any other term that is thrown around too often. Instead, it’s meant to highlight the fact that some individuals within particular groups are booked in telling ways compared to others. For many, there’s a glass ceiling that can’t be cracked.

As the discussion raged and hot takes were made, several pointed out that WWE NXT is a bastion of representation for people of color and women. This is exceptionally true. Trick Williams is a two-time champion. Je’Von Evans, Wes Lee, and Oba Femi are highlighted each week. Roxanne Perez has dominated as women’s champion and is currently in an angle involving Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer, two women of diverse backgrounds. Beyond that, the upper echelon of the women’s division includes names like Sol Ruca, Kelani Jordan, Lola, Vice, Jaida Parker, and several others. Each week, nearly every segment on WWE NXT features a woman or a person of a diverse background in some sort. In every aspects of this growing conversation, WWE NXT should be seen as a shining example of why diversity is important within a wrestling product.

So why does Monday Night Raw and SmackDown struggle in these areas? Fans will say that men like Carmelo Hayes and The Street Profits were just in major title matches – again this true. Nia Jax is in full control of the women’s division on SmackDown. Yet another fact. There are successes to point to on both shows, but that doesn’t negate the challenges that are also present. These challenges are tied directly to the booking of SmackDown and Raw compared to what’s happening in WWE NXT.

SmackDown and Raw are devoid of midcard stories for the women’s division. There are champions, and then everyone else might get featured in a multi-woman segment in hopes that everyone gets over at once. On the latest episode of Raw, there was one women’s match, the ten-woman tag. People immediately compared this to the Divas segments of years ago which must be addressed quickly or the comparisons and criticisms will continue.

Then look at WWE NXT where there are several important stories going on. Perez, Giulia, Vaquer, and Cora Jade are at the top. Jordan is dealing with the Fatal Influence. Jaida Parker and Lola Vice are battling. Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend are challenging for the women’s tag team titles. There are several stories happening on television each week that feature the women’s division outside of a championship. This is how promotions create and elevate new stars to face off against the big names on the roster. This is what fans want to see happening consistently for women and people of color on the roster.

Triple H continues to get a lot of praise for what he’s done as the head of creative within WWE. He’s done a lot of great things, but fans are right to point out the challenges that persist with the booking of women and people of color. The promotion doesn’t have to look far for inspiration, as WWE NXT remains a shining example of the benefits that come with booking a diverse group of stars.