Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will be a taped show, filmed last week from the Capitol Wrestling Center at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.

• Johnny Gargano and LA Knight to collide on NXT
• Tommaso Ciampa looks to get even with Ridge Holland
• Kyle O’Reilly looks to humble Duke Hudson in the ring
• NXT UK Champion Ilja Dragunov rolls back into NXT
• Ikemen Jiro accepts Roderick Strong’s open challenge

WWE has unveiled its most recent batch of Performance Center recruits — including Rikishi’s son Joseph Fatu!

WWE has officially revealed its six most recent developmental recruits, and it’s certainly an interesting bunch of prospects!

Here’s who’s been signed, and what you need to know about them

• Joseph Fatu is the son of WWE Hall Of Fame Rikishi, his brothers are current WWE Superstars Jimmy and Jey Uso
• Ben Buchanan is a former amateur wrestler whose father Bull Buchanon is a former WWE Tag Team Champion
• Bobby Steveson is a former University Of Minnesota wrestler whose brother Gable just won an Olympic gold medal
• Brady Booker is a 21-year-old former college linebacker
• Joshua Dawkins is a 23-year-old hopeful who was trained by WWE Hall Of Famer D-Von Dudley
• Jessica Woynilko is a 21-year-old gymnast/bodybuilder/CrossFit queen who was trained by the legendary Greg Gagne

This is the first batch of recruits to be signed since it was revealed that WWE was changing its recruitment strategy by hiring younger, physically imposing hopefuls and fewer experienced independent wrestlers.

As we previously reported, WWE’s president Nick Khan recently confirmed that revamp of WWE’s developmental system was imminent.

“We’re doing a complete revamp on NXT, led by Triple H, who is really one of the architects of the original NXT,” Khan said during a recent interview with BT Sport’s Ariel Helwani. “In terms of an NXT rebrand, look for it. In the next couple of weeks, it’s going to have a whole new look, a whole new feel, and we believe because a lot of the ‘Indie wrestlers,’ if you will, have come through our system and are in our system with SmackDown and Raw, we don’t want to just keep doing that same thing,” he continued. “We want to look elsewhere for great young talent.”

Most of the new recruits have very little — if any — experience on the independent scene, and they’re all impressive physical specimens, which lends credence to recent reports that the company is no longer interested in shorter talent. By signing youngsters with little-to-no experience, WWE will be able to claim full credit for the end results.

Source: The Sportster

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode on the USA Network will feature fallout from Sunday’s Takeover 36 event. The episode was taped on Monday night from the Capitol Wrestling Center in Orlando.

• Hit Row and Legado del Fantasma prepare for Six-Man Tag Team clash
• Carmelo Hayes and Odyssey Jones meet in NXT Breakout Tournament Final
• Ridge Holland set to throw down with Timothy Thatcher
• Ridge Holland vs. Timothy Thatcher
• Kay Lee Ray vs. Valentina Feroz
• Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter vs. Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne
• Appearances by new NXT Champion Samoa Joe, Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis, Johnny Gargano, The Diamond Mine, NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez, Franky Monet, LA Knight, Tommaso Ciampa, NXT General Manager William Regal, and others

WWE President and Chief Revenue Officer Nick Khan says NXT is undergoing a revamp with production changes expected in the coming weeks.

Khan spoke with Ariel Helwani of BT Sport about the new vision for NXT as they want to change how talent will be developed.

“We are doing a complete revamp on NXT, led by Triple H, who is really one of the architects of the original NXT,” Khan revealed. “What we found — it’s part of why we did the tryout yesterday — what we want to make sure is easy for folks who want to be WWE Superstars, is figuring out how to become WWE Superstars.”

“In terms of an NXT re-brand, look for it in the next couple of weeks. It’s going to have a whole new look, it’s going to have a whole new feel — and we believe — because of a lot of the indie wrestlers, if you will, have come through our system and are in our system with SmackDown and RAW now. We don’t want to just keep doing that same thing, we want to look elsewhere for great, young talent.”

Khan was then asked what he meant by a new look and feel for NXT.

“The look of the show, the production of the show, everything is going to change in the next few weeks,” Khan confirmed.

In this interview, Khan also clarified his “We’re open for business” comment about the possibility of WWE being sold, and also this year’s WWE releases. You can check out the full interview in the video below.

Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to BT Sport 

NXT is returning to taping shows in advance starting after next week’s TakeOver 36 event, according to Bryan Alvarez.

Shows will be taped on Monday, August 23, and Tuesday, August 24.

The Wrestling Observer Live host tweeted, “It appears NXT is returning to taping shows in advance starting next Monday and Tuesday nights.”

He later added, “NXT taping schedule may be temporary, but for sure they’re taping several episodes after Takeover.”

There is a behind-the-scenes power struggle with the WWE NXT brand. Triple H wasn’t even aware of the recent NXT cuts until John Laurinaitis started making the release phone calls to the various talents.

https://twitter.com/bryanalvarez/status/1427041026070380545

https://twitter.com/bryanalvarez/status/1427045498364469249

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tonight’s WWE NXT episode will air live on the USA Network after two weeks of taped shows airing on Syfy due to coverage of the Tokyo Olympics on USA.

NXT will feature more build for the upcoming Takeover 36.

* Sarray vs. Ember Moon

* Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly meet for a “Face to Face” segment mediated by NXT General Manager William Regal

* NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez addresses Dakota Kai and their Takeover 36 match

* NXT UK Superstar Ilja Dragunov appears