Kemo
06-12-2024, 07:33 PM
The June 11, edition of WWE NXT certainly had an 'Elite' feel to it as several former AEW wrestlers came together for a backstage segment.
The post-WWE NXT Battleground episode of the gold brand saw an appearance by Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. In a segment with WWE NXT Champion Trick Williams, Rhodes announced that a battle royal will decide Trick's next challenger. Rhodes added that some participants will be from different locker rooms which left the fans believing he was referring to TNA talent.
TNA Wrestling wasn't the only promotion on Rhodes' mind judging by a backstage segment at this week's WWE NXT. Rhodes bumped into Shawn Spears, who said he would be getting his big win next week in the battle royal. Rhodes was confident in Spears' skills but both were interrupted by another AEW alum Ethan Page.
Page questioned why Rhodes is wishing good luck to Spears but not to himself. The three men were interrupted by fellow AEW alum Lexis King, who declared that he will be winning the battle royal. The American Nightmare concluded by saying that "It seems like you guys are in a good place."
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The four men didn't mention AEW but judging by the response of the fans, the crowd knew exactly what was going on here. The fact that WWE is (indirectly) referencing AEW marks a change from the past, which saw very little to no references to their chief competition.
This isn't an entirely new phenomenon in WWE NXT. When Ethan Page made his debut, Vic Joseph asked on commentary "wasn't he in A-E-" before being interrupted by Page's promo. It remains to be seen whether WWE and AEW will officially work together, but between the reference this week and WWE's more open policy, it seems anything is possible in WWE's new era.
The post-WWE NXT Battleground episode of the gold brand saw an appearance by Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. In a segment with WWE NXT Champion Trick Williams, Rhodes announced that a battle royal will decide Trick's next challenger. Rhodes added that some participants will be from different locker rooms which left the fans believing he was referring to TNA talent.
TNA Wrestling wasn't the only promotion on Rhodes' mind judging by a backstage segment at this week's WWE NXT. Rhodes bumped into Shawn Spears, who said he would be getting his big win next week in the battle royal. Rhodes was confident in Spears' skills but both were interrupted by another AEW alum Ethan Page.
Page questioned why Rhodes is wishing good luck to Spears but not to himself. The three men were interrupted by fellow AEW alum Lexis King, who declared that he will be winning the battle royal. The American Nightmare concluded by saying that "It seems like you guys are in a good place."
1800710229769797840
The four men didn't mention AEW but judging by the response of the fans, the crowd knew exactly what was going on here. The fact that WWE is (indirectly) referencing AEW marks a change from the past, which saw very little to no references to their chief competition.
This isn't an entirely new phenomenon in WWE NXT. When Ethan Page made his debut, Vic Joseph asked on commentary "wasn't he in A-E-" before being interrupted by Page's promo. It remains to be seen whether WWE and AEW will officially work together, but between the reference this week and WWE's more open policy, it seems anything is possible in WWE's new era.