Kemo
06-09-2023, 07:35 AM
WWE’s developmental brand NXT has undergone changes in recent years from what it was originally designed to be.
In 2012, NXT replaced FCW as the developmental brand of the company, where they built the Performance Center and taped TV out of Full Sail University, with Seth Rollins serving as the inaugural champion.
After being a one-hour program on the WWE Network for a few years, it took off in 2014 behind stars such as Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Neville, Bobby Roode, Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Shinsuke Nakamura, Big E, Drew McIntyre, Adam Cole, and others. They became a touring brand.
Things went downhill once the COVID-19 pandemic hit after going head-to-head with AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights, resulting in the show being moved to Tuesday nights. Later, the brand was rebranded as NXT 2.0 before it went back to the black and gold brand.
While speaking at the J.P. Morgan 51st Annual Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference in Boston last month (transcribed by Hollywood Reporter), WWE CEO Nick Khan mentioned they see the potential of NXT being a third brand, something they’ve been trying to elevate by having main roster stars including Rollins to feud with Bron Breakker.
“We think NXT has the viability to be its own standalone brand instead of just being a developmental system – a third brand, if you will, where you can see cross-over from our superstars on Raw and SmackDown to NXT while our young talent develops there. Once we get all of that situated, then we will look at other nights of the week to develop new content as well.”
In 2012, NXT replaced FCW as the developmental brand of the company, where they built the Performance Center and taped TV out of Full Sail University, with Seth Rollins serving as the inaugural champion.
After being a one-hour program on the WWE Network for a few years, it took off in 2014 behind stars such as Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Neville, Bobby Roode, Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Shinsuke Nakamura, Big E, Drew McIntyre, Adam Cole, and others. They became a touring brand.
Things went downhill once the COVID-19 pandemic hit after going head-to-head with AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights, resulting in the show being moved to Tuesday nights. Later, the brand was rebranded as NXT 2.0 before it went back to the black and gold brand.
While speaking at the J.P. Morgan 51st Annual Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference in Boston last month (transcribed by Hollywood Reporter), WWE CEO Nick Khan mentioned they see the potential of NXT being a third brand, something they’ve been trying to elevate by having main roster stars including Rollins to feud with Bron Breakker.
“We think NXT has the viability to be its own standalone brand instead of just being a developmental system – a third brand, if you will, where you can see cross-over from our superstars on Raw and SmackDown to NXT while our young talent develops there. Once we get all of that situated, then we will look at other nights of the week to develop new content as well.”