Tag: NXT

Wes Lee Off WWE NXT Deadline Card Due To Back Surgery, Will Miss Eight To 12 Months

The injury bug has once again bitten “WWE NXT,” this time taking out NXT North American Number One Contender Wes Lee. Lee announced on last night’s “WWE NXT” that he has an injury that will require treatment and he will be unable to compete for the foreseeable future. It was later announced that he would be out of action for eight to 12 months.

This left NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio without an opponent for the upcoming Deadline PLE on December 9. Mysterio initially gloated about this fact, until his father, WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio interrupted to announce that his ne’er do well son would still be competing at the event in Bridgeport, CT against former IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Dragon Lee.

Dragon Lee and Dominik previously feuded over the title in August, with Mysterio coming out on top. Before that Dragon Lee had been a stalwart of the North American Title division. Dragon Lee last competed at WWE Survivor Series: War Games, where he defended the honor of Carlito in a match against Santos Escobar, in which Escobar was the victor, having seemingly graduated to the main roster after a top-notch showing on the developmental brand.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 12/5/2023

Tonight’s WWE NXT in Orlando, Florida at the Performance Center on the USA Network: 

  • NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov and Baron Corbin face-to-face
  • Iron Survivor Challenge Last Chance qualifier: Kiana James vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Fallon Henley vs. Thea Hail
  • Iron Survivor Challenge Last Chance qualifier: Carmelo Hayes vs. Eddy Thorpe vs. Joe Coffey vs. Tyler Bate
  • Alpha Academy (Otis, Chad Gable, and Maxxine Dupri) vs. Meta-Four (Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, and Lash Legend)
  • Andre Chase to address Chase U in a special assembly

WWE NXT Preview 11/28/2023

Tonight’s WWE NXT in Orlando, Florida at the Performance Center on the USA Network.

  • NXT North American Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Wes Lee vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Bronson Reed vs. Johnny Gargano
  • NXT Tag Team Championship: Tony D’Angelo and Stacks (c) vs. Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo
  • Andre Chase will break his silence
  • Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Bron Breakker vs. Eddy Thorpe
  • Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Kelani Jordan vs. Kiana James

WWE NXT Preview 11/21/2023

Tonight’s episode of WWE NXT in Orlando, Florida at the Performance Center on the USA Network: 

  • Los Lotharios (Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo) vs. Malik Blade and Edris Enofe.
  • Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Josh Briggs vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Blair Davenport vs. Thea Hail with Jacy Jane
  • Eddy Thorpe vs. Charlie Dempsey with Drew Gulak and Myles Borne
  • NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Noam Dar (c) with Oro Mensah, Lash Legend, and Jakara Jackson vs. Chad Gable with Akira Tozawa, Otis, and Maxxine Dupri
  • WWE NXT Women’s Championship: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Xia Li

WWE NXT Preview 11/14/2023

Tonight’s episode of WWE NXT in Orlando, Florida at the Performance Center on the USA Network: 

  • NXT Tag Team Championship: Chase U (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo & Stacks
  • Iron Survivor Challenge qualifier: Roxanne Perez vs. Lash Legend
  • Iron Survivor Challenge qualifier: Trick Williams vs. Joe Coffey
  • NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria has been invited to a Warriors Tea Ceremony by Xia Li
  • Supernova Sessions with guests Alpha Academy
  • Wes Lee vs. Baron Corbin
  • OTM vs. Brawling Brutes

Backstage Report On Major Shift WWE Could Make With NXT Following CW Deal

Earlier this week, it was announced that “WWE NXT” would be moving from the USA Network to broadcast on The CW starting next year, with a major rights fee boost for WWE. The latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter offers up a few more details on the deal, including a report that discussions are being had within the company about making “NXT” a touring show, traveling to arenas across the country to film episodes live. However, nothing is set in stone as of yet.

With a few exceptions, “NXT” has long been taped at either the WWE Performance Center or, before that, Full Sail University. NXT PLEs used to be tied to a main roster PLE, taking place in the same town a night or two before. This has started changing, however, with recent PLEs held on their own weekends.

The Newsletter runs through some of the positive and negative points of making the change from filming at the PC to touring. The increased rights fees would help offset the added costs from touring while also offering a potential ratings boost, as well as events having larger live attendance. On the other hand, moving away from the Performance Center would mean less training time and a lot more travel for the company’s developmental roster.

While it’s still unclear what WWE plans to do with NXT moving forward, the company has notably been featuring more main roster talent on the brand. Becky Lynch recently held the “WWE NXT” Women’s Championship, and the company notoriously loaded up its Tuesday night show with talent when it was revealed that “AEW Dynamite” was going head-to-head with “NXT” for one night only. On top of that, recent weeks have seen “NXT” featuring “Raw” and “SmackDown” stars such as Lynch, Xia Li, Alpha Academy, Shotzi, Tegan Nox, and more.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Announces New Broadcast Home For NXT Brand

With the announcement last month that “WWE SmackDown” would be leaving Fox and heading back to USA in 2024, questions emerged regarding the futures for “WWE Raw” and “WWE NXT” on USA respectively. At least with “NXT,” its future will lie elsewhere, in a move that will also affect another wrestling promotion.

In a press release late Tuesday afternoon, WWE announced they had reached a deal with The CW to broadcast “NXT” starting in September 2024. PWInsider reported earlier in the afternoon that the two sides were in deep negotiations, so much so that an announcement could happen at any time. No financial details were disclosed, though the earlier report suggested that the deal would be “the biggest increase for “WWE NXT” media rights ever.” 

The deal will mark NXT’s move from cable to broadcast TV, and will be a reunion between WWE and The CW, which aired “SmackDown” from 2006 to 2008; “SmackDown” also aired on The CW’s predecessor, UPN, from 1999 to 2006. The news comes on the heels of speculation that The CW was entering a relationship with rival promotion NWA, with both a wrestling and reality show set to air. It’s unclear what effect the WWE/CW deal will have on any potential NWA projects, or if a recent NWA angle said to give The CW pause helped contribute to this move.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 11/7/2023

WWE NXT airs live tonight at 8:00 pm EST on USA Network.

  • Fallout from last month’s two-week Halloween Havoc special
  • Lyra Valkyria to appear in NXT for the first time as NXT Women’s Champion
  • Bron Breakker vs. Von Wagner
  • NXT Heritage Cup Match: Noam Dar (c) vs. Akira Tozawa
  • Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley
  • Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Dijak vs. Tyler Bate

WWE NXT Halloween Havoc Night 2 Preview 10/31/2023

Tonight is WWE NXT Halloween Havoc Night 2 live on USA Network from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

Shotzi and Scarlett hosting.

  • Tables, Ladders and Scares Match: Creed Brothers vs. Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Chelsea Green & Pipa Niven (c) vs. Thea Hail & Jacy Jayne
  • NXT North American Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Nathan Frazer
  • NXT Championship: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament Finals: Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice
  • Bron Breakker vs. Mr. Stone
  • Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley

WWE NXT Halloween Havoc Night 1 Preview 10/24/2023

Tonight is WWE NXT Halloween Havoc Night 1 live on USA Network from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

WWE also announced that Shotzi, Scarlett, and The Boogeyman as guests.

  • Devil’s Playground: Roxanne Perez vs. Kiana James
  • NXT Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria
  • NXT Tag Team Championship: Tony D’Angelo & Stacks (c) vs. Chase U
  • Lights Out Match: Gigi Dolin vs. Blair Davenport
  • NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament Semifinals: Lola Vice vs. Karmen Petrovic
  • NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament Semifinals: Arianna Grace vs. Kelani Jordan
  • Lexis King (Brian Pillman Jr.) makes his in-ring debut