Tag: NXT

Backstage News On WWE Establishing Permanent RAW And SmackDown Rosters, Triple H’s WWE NXT Vision

WWE officials have been discussing a new Draft concept to build permanent RAW and SmackDown rosters, according to Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

It was previously reported that there would be no major changes to the rosters ahead of the SmackDown Fox premiere on October 4, just some minor changes. This new directive was made by Vince McMahon.

Meltzer noted that plans are being kept quiet as USA Network and Fox representatives will be the first ones to know when the new concept is decided on.

There’s no concrete word yet on WWE NXT Superstars being used on RAW to build their names ahead of the NXT USA premiere on September 18, but there have been arguments for and against this idea. Some feel that this will give the NXT talents the exposure they need to help build the USA Network launch, but the other argument is that any kind of “cross-pollination” on RAW would establish the NXT stars as secondary level talents, which they would want to avoid right now.

Bringing the NXT Superstars to RAW ahead of the big premiere could also lead to more interference from the vision that NXT higher-ups have. It was described to the Observer that Triple H’s dream of creating a legitimate third brand of his own just came true, but now he’s faced with the task of “playing defense” to keep Vince and Kevin Dunn’s influence away from NXT.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Enzo Amore And Big Cass Reportedly In Talks For WWE NXT Return

Enzo Amore and Big Cass could be returning to WWE NXT soon.

WWE officials have been in talks with the former tag team about a surprise return to be top stars on the black & yellow brand, according to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

There’s no word yet on if Enzo and Cass have accepted the offer, but they have been in talks. They recently returned to the indie scene together, as nZo and CaZXL. Obvious speculation would have them return on the September 18 NXT USA Network premiere, but the Observer speculated that Vince McMahon could save them for week three, which is head-to-head with the AEW TNT premiere on October 2.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 8/28/19

WWE NXT streaming tonight at 8 ET on WWE Network

WWE .com didn’t have a preview for NXT UK posted at the time of the writing.

Vince McMahon Staying Hands-Off With WWE NXT On The USA Network?, NXT Contracts To Be Changed

It’s believed that WWE NXT Superstars will receive new contracts soon due to the move to the USA Network, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

There’s no word yet on details of the contracts but word is that they will see NXT talents receive pay that is closer to what main roster Superstars are making, at least the top tier talents from what they are making now. This has not been confirmed, but word going around is that all developmental deals will be changed over to main roster deals soon.

WWE will likely raise their offers to potential incoming talents from here on out.

Guggenheim Securities analyst Curry Baker estimates that the NXT – USA Network TV deal will bring $30 million per year for WWE for “one or two years,” based off conversations he’s had with the company.

Regarding potential changes to the NXT process now that the show is moving to the USA Network, word is that the brand will continue on its same path with Triple H in charge, and no Kevin Dunn or Vince McMahon.

It was noted that the WWE Chairman will likely stay hands-off for the most part, at least as long as the NXT ratings are good. Vince doesn’t have much free time as it is these days, and he will be even busier when his XFL football league launches in February 2020. Vince would likely get more involved if AEW ends up winning the Wednesday Night War ratings. A lot to do with NXT’s future is up in the air and open to change at this point, including a possible move out of Full Sail Live, the increased use of major main roster Superstars, and other ideas, suggestions or changes.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 8/21/19

NXT streaming tonight at 8 ET on WWE Network.

Triple H Says WWE NXT Will Only Get Better On USA Network

Below is new video of Triple H talking about WWE NXT moving to the USA Network.

As noted, the brand will premiere on USA on Wednesday, September 18 and will air live each week from 8-10pm ET, at Full Sail Live. WWE is reportedly making around $1 million per episode for NXT on the USA Network. The show will still air on the WWE Network, on Thursdays at 8pm ET, and Takeover specials will remain exclusive to the WWE Network.

Triple H was asked to describe the last 7 years and what it took to get to this point. He talked about how NXT went from needing main roster Superstars to create a show each week, to the brand becoming white hot on its own, selling out arenas and tours across the world. Triple H ended the interview by saying this is just the start for NXT, and the show will only get better with the move to the USA Network.

“Yeah, I mean it’s been a crazy journey, something that I don’t think most people thought would ever happen,” he said. “But this was kind of the vision of it. You know, from starting out with a partnership with Full Sail University and having to bring in main roster stars to get us to be able to have enough people to put the show on each week, to where they got to the point where they didn’t want to see those main roster stars anymore, to where we stopped calling it the main roster because NXT was just becoming white hot when we didn’t even have a distribution home for it. It was seen internationally but here in the US it was just clips.

“We were the first live show on the WWE Network. NXT Arrival was the very first sort of Takeover that we did. … So, the very first live product seen on the WWE Network. A year after that we were selling out, not just Full Sail University, but selling out the Barclays Center for Takeovers. Over that journey, selling out all over the globe, selling out live events all over the globe, Takeover after Takeover after Takeover, and now the opportunity to go on the #1 network in television, the USA Network, our partners, and I couldn’t be happier, I couldn’t be more proud.”

He continued, “I said it in the beginning, this was going to be their brand [the fans], that’s why we hashtag ‘#WeAreNXT’. As good as NXT is now, it’s only going to get better. This is going to expose a new side of NXT that people haven’t been able to see yet. I can tell you this about it – as excited as everybody is about this moment, this is the start. This isn’t the destination, this is the start. This brand is just getting started. So, I look forward to that day, I look forward to going live, and I look forward to showing the world that we are NXT.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Confirms NXT Moving To The USA Network

The announcement didn’t come last night as it was previously reported to be announced, but WWE confirmed today that NXT will begin airing on the USA Network starting on September 18th. In a press release sent to Wrestling Inc., it was noted that WWE and the USA Network reached an agreement “in principle”, and that the show will be live for two hours every week.

“The move to USA Network provides an opportunity to deepen our relationship with NBCUniversal and further build the NXT brand,” said WWE CEO Vince McMahon. “Over the long term, our goal is to develop a following that can be monetized to the same level as our flagship programs, Raw and SmackDown.”

WWE also confirmed that the show will take place each week from Full Sail University.

Below is the full press release:

NXT® MOVES TO USA NETWORKNEW YORK and STAMFORD, Conn., August 20, 2019 –WWE® (NYSE: WWE) and USA Network today announced an agreement in principle to air WWE’s weekly Wednesday night show, NXT, live on USA Network at 8/7c starting September 18.

Following NXT’s growth in popularity, the new two-hour weekly show will expand its reach on USA Network, the leader in cable entertainment, while staying in its Wednesday night timeslot that it has held since 2015.

“The move to USA Network provides an opportunity to deepen our relationship with NBCUniversal and further build the NXTbrand,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO. “Over the long term our goal is to develop a following that can be monetized to the same level as our flagship programs, Raw®and SmackDown®.”

“USA Network and WWE have one of the longest and most successful partnerships in television history,” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks – USA and SYFY. “As the #1 cable entertainment network, we’re excited to add NXT to our weekly lineup alongside powerhouse flagship Raw, and to bring a new generation of Superstars to a wide audience.”

NXT launched in 2010 and has risen to become WWE’s third global brand alongside Raw and SmackDown, hosting nearly 200 live events around the world each year. Airing on Wednesday nights at 8 pm, NXT has been WWE Network’s #1 weekly series.

NXT offers a unique blend of authentic in-ring action with exciting and entertaining storylines that feature WWE’s hottest up-and-coming Superstars including Adam Cole™, Velveteen Dream™, Shayna Baszler™, Johnny Gargano®, Matt Riddle™, Bianca Belair™, Io Shirai™, Candice LeRae™, Tommaso Ciampa™, Kyle O’Reilly™ and Bobby Fish™. The brand’s diverse roster consists of elite athletes from the NFL, collegiate and amateur sports, MMA and international sports such as rugby, kushti and kabaddi. It is also the birthplace to 80 percent of the current Raw and SmackDownrosters including Becky Lynch®, Seth Rollins®, Roman Reigns®, Charlotte Flair®, Bayley®, Sasha Banks®, Alexa Bliss®, Bray Wyatt® and Baron Corbin®.

The series will continue to emanate from Full Sail University in Orlando as part of WWE’s production partnership with the preeminent entertainment, media, arts and technology institution.

NXT will be available on demand on the WWE Network every Thursday beginning at 8/7C. The current format of NXT has been airing on Wednesday nights on the WWE Network since 2015.

WWE NXT To USA Network Announcement Reportedly Coming Tonight

WWE NXT’s new home is looking more and more like the USA Network, after initial reports had FS1 as the new landing spot for the brand. The plan is to make it a two-hour, live show that would fill in the 8 pm ET – 10 pm ET time slot on Wednesday, much like the upcoming AEW weekly show that starts on October 2.

The USA Network got much more involved in negotiations over the last several weeks and the feeling for some within WWE was it is a “done deal.”

Yesterday, the @WrestleVotes Twitter account said WWE would be making an official announcement on Monday about NXT – USA.

On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, it was also confirmed that would be the case, and it would happen during RAW. Dave Meltzer reported, Triple H was talking to people and dropping hints, while saying, “I want to tell you, but I can’t tell you. But watch TV on Monday.” Meltzer also said it would be the USA Network, and not FS1 as the new destination, which makes sense if the announcement comes during RAW (also on USA).

As noted previously, the plan still sounds like NXT wants to get a jump on the new competition before AEW goes live on TNT on October 2 with NXT episodes starting a few week prior.

In regards to Vince McMahon, Meltzer noted it’s likely he’ll still be very much involved since it’s on the USA Network and because this is a “war,” as opposed to just putting NXT on the station to give it more attention.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

UPDATE:

WWE NXT is set to premiere on the USA network on Wednesday, September 18, according to a new report from Dave Meltzer of F4Wonline.com.

Austin Theory And Santana Garrett Report For Duty At WWE Performance Center

WWE announced the latest batch of Performance Center trainees on Wednesday, which includes EVOLVE wrestler Austin Theory and Women of Wrestling star Santana Garrett.

As you may recall … Theory made his WWE Network debut on the recent EVOLVE 10th Anniversary Celebration and Garrett was a competitor in the first Mae Young Classic tournament.

The additional new signees, announced by WWE.com, are as follows:

  • Tehuti Miles: U.S. Army vet and Division I football player
  • EJ Nduka: Former professional football player who played in the CFL, IFL and AFL
  • Aleksandar Jaksic: Trained by Santino Marella and Alex Wright
  • Briana Brandy: Aspiring hip hop artist who has years of ninjutso/extreme CrossFit experience
  • Rita Reis: Jiu-Jitsu world champ and multi-time medalist in Jiu-Jitsu and judo.
  • Marcos Gomes: 260-pound trainer in Jiu Jitsu, boxing and Muay Thai
  • Catalina Garcia aka Chilean wrestler “La Diva del Ring”

CLICK HERE for photos and more information on each new signee.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE NXT Preview 8/14/19

NXT streaming tonight at 8 ET on WWE Network.

* NXT Breakout Tournament Finals: Jordan Myles vs. Cameron Grimes

* “Reimagined” Breezango take on The Forgotten Sons

* Catch all the fallout from TakeOver: Toronto