Category: NXT

Shawn Michaels promoted to WWE Vice President of Talent Development Creative

Shawn Michaels has been given a promotion in WWE.

Following his retirement in 2010 after losing to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26, “HBK” took time away from wrestling to be with his family and do other things while occasionally making appearances on WWE television.

Michaels started helping at the Performance Center in late 2016 before becoming a trainer for the finishing class alongside Terry Taylor the following year. In 2018, he started working as a writer and producer for the NXT brand alongside Triple H, who oversaw the creative of the brand.

Michaels stepped up in September 2021 when his good friend was sidelined due to health issues and started running the day-to-day operations of NXT and being in charge of creative.

As previously reported, WWE announced that NXT UK will be rebranded as NXT Europe starting in 2023. NXT UK will go on hiatus before the relaunch. NXT UK will be part of the premium live event, Worlds Collide, with NXT next month. 

Brandon Thurston of WrestleNomics pointed out that Michaels has been given a new title of WWE Vice President of Talent Development Creative.

Source: WrestlingNews.co

WWE NXT ‘Heatwave’ Preview

WWE NXT 2.0 presents its special “Heatwave” episode tonight at 8/7C on USA Network.

  • Bron Breakker vs. JD McDonagh for the NXT Championship
  • Mandy Rose vs. Zoey Stark for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Roxanne Perez vs. Cora Jade
  • Giovanni Vinci vs. Carmelo Hayes for the NXT North American Championship
  • Santos Escobar vs. Tony D’Angelo in a Street Fight

WWE NXT Preview 8/9/22

Tonight on WWE NXT 2.0 at 8 pm ET on USA Network:

WWE NXT Preview 7/26/22

Tonight on WWE NXT 2.0 at 8 pm ET on USA Network:

WWE NXT Preview 7/19/2022

Tonight on WWE NXT 2.0 at 8 pm ET on USA Network:

The 20 participants being promoted for the battle royal are Alba Fyre, Amari Miller, Arianna Grace, Cora Jade, Elektra Lopez, Fallon Henley, Indi Hartwell, Ivy Nile, Katana Chance, Kayden Carter, Kiana James, Lash Legend, Nikkita Lyons, Sarray, Sloane Jacobs, Tatum Paxley, Tiffany Stratton, Valentina Feroz, Wendy Choo, and Yulisa Leon.

The Rock’s Daughter, Ava Raine, Debuts Nickname In First WWE NXT Promo At NXT House Show

WWE NXT held another live event last night in Orlando, Florida, headlined by Bron Breakker successfully defending his NXT Championship against Tony D’Angelo. Elsewhere on the card, the leader of Toxic Attraction, Mandy Rose, defeated Ivy Nile to retain her NXT Women’s Title, and The Creed Brothers defeated Joe Gacy and a member of the DYAD to retain their Tag Team Titles.

But one of the biggest stories coming out of the show isn’t about the in-ring action at all. Fresh WWE NXT talent Ava Raine, the real-life daughter of The Rock that signed with WWE in February 2020, cut her first promo at last night’s event. She was presented as a heel to the audience as she talked down to Cora Jade and the rest of the NXT women’s locker room.

Raine also revealed what her nickname will be going forward and it’s possibly a nod to a recent horror film. Raine, a fan of cinema influenced by the supernatural, apparent by the many references to “The Craft” (1996) on her social media, was referring to herself as “The Final Girl” during her in-ring promo. The film, “The Final Girls” was a horror/comedy film released in 2015 that first debuted at the SXSW Film Festival before receiving a wider release in the United States later that Fall. The premise of the movie sees the protagonist, Max, along with her group of friends, getting trapped inside a B-horror film where they must use the tropes they’ve learned from watching horror movies to survive. There’s no certainty this film influenced the new description Raine is giving herself in NXT, but the connection is possible.

“The Final Girl” is also a common trope in horror cinema as a whole. She is recognized as the last girl or woman surviving in the film as the story becomes centrally focused on her.

As seen in the photos below, Raine was trending after she dropped the promo last night, signifying that we might be approaching a televised debut for the 20-year-old. She has been teasing her debut for several weeks until last night when she finally revealed her persona to a live crowd.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT “The Great American Bash” Preview 7/5/2022

WWE presents a special The Great American Bash episode of “NXT” tonight, with four title matches on the card.

The following line-up is announced for tonight:

  • NXT Championship Match: Cameron Grimes vs. Bron Breakker (c)
  • NXT North American Championship Match: Grayson Waller vs. Carmelo Hayes (c)
  • NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Cora Jade & Roxanne Perez vs. Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne (c)
  • NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Roderick Strong & Damon Kemp vs. The Creed Brothers (c)
  • Tiffany Stratton vs. Wendy Choo
  • Trick Williams vs. Wes Lee

NXT’s Io Shirai Will Become A Free Agent Next Month Unless She Signs A New Deal

Io Shirai appears to be on a similar path to Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano.

NXT has undergone quite the transformation over the course of the past 12 months. Many of those who were a part of the black and gold brand have been called up, released, or allowed their contracts to expire and moved on. A handful remain, most of whom don’t appear on NXT TV all that often. Io Shirai falls into that final category, but could be an ex-WWE Superstar before long.

That’s according to The Wrestling Observer which has revealed Shirai’s NXT deal expires in August, and she is yet to sign a new contract with the company. What’s more, reports suggest it seems unlikely Shirai will be signing a new contract and will instead return to Japan. Apparently, the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion has been telling people close to her that she wants to be closer to her family once her time with WWE is done.

Shirai may well follow in the footsteps of Kairi Sane. However, where Sane worked the remainder of her WWE contract as an ambassador for the company in Japan, Shirai won’t have to do that since her deal will have come to an end, making her a free agent. She’ll be free to return to Stardom, or compete for whatever wrestling promotion she likes, whether it be inside or outside of Japan.

Shirai hasn’t been entirely absent from NXT since its revamp. She has actually featured quite prominently, most recently competing for the Women’s Title at Stand and Deliver over WrestleMania weekend. She has also held the Tag Titles with Zoey Stark since the 2.0 rebrand. Many fans would have hoped Shirai would get a run on the main roster, but unless she re-signs within the next month, that isn’t going to happen.

Shirai will be the latest in a run of NXT Superstars to reject a new deal should she let her contract expire and leave WWE next month. Johnny Gargano, Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, and Candice LeRae have all opted to do the same thing. Cole and O’Reilly have since shown up in and signed with AEW, while Gargano and LeRae’s next moves are currently unknown as they welcomed their first baby together only a few months ago.

Source: TheSportster

WWE NXT Preview 6/21/22

Tonight on WWE NXT 2.0 at 8 pm ET on USA Network:

WWE NXT Preview 6/14/22

The following is set for tonight on WWE NXT 2.0 at 8/7 C on USA!