After WWE’s NXT Takeover 2 took place LIVE on the WWE Network this past Thursday Night, a lot of attention was given to NXT itself. Many “hardcore” fans have been talking up NXT for months, but after NXT became the #2 Most Social Show in all of primetime on Thursday, it was clear that NXT was becoming a major fixture in WWE. So why are we not seeing more of the NXT stars on RAW and SmackDown ? It seems like WWE feels the same way, and will be giving us just that.
The original concept was to keep NXT as it’s own show for developmental talent. Once someone from NXT was of use for a main roster story, WWE would bring them up. However, it seems that WWE is now big on the concept that NXT will be similar to an ECW or WCW. Meaning, WWE wants to make NXT its own brand. In order to do this and do it well, WWE has to make the stars much more popular. How do you drive people to NXT if there is no one they want to pay $9.99 a month to see?
That is why WWE is set to bring several NXT stars to the main roster for upcoming RAW and SmackDown shows. They are scheduled for this week and for the next several weeks as well. The idea is to do something similar to what happened on RAW last week, where they perform in random matches for the WWE Universe.
Another rumored idea is that WWE will put the NXT stars in storylines in an effort to cross-promote. Triple H basically gave away that there is such a plan in place.
“I think we’re open to doing that [cross-promoting NXT] in a lot of different ways. Just the fact that we – to your point – took a segment of our biggest flagship show on one of our biggest nights, it was our season premiere, so to speak and taking that opportunity to give NXT and to give those talents a platform to show what they do, to allow people to see the brand…maybe they haven’t seen NXT before or seen those talents before…and use that as a way to promote the special, to promote Takeover, to promote the Network, to promote everything is a great opportunity.”
The RAW tag team match featuring Tyler Breeze, Tyson Kidd, Adrian Neville, and Sami Zayn got a lot of people talking. WWE has already introduced these four to the main roster fans who didn’t know them. So it only makes sense to see what others could possibly do.
An idea a while back was to bring Zayn, Neville, and Charlotte to the main roster for some storyline, but it was never fully developed. All three were at the RAW where it was supposed to happen, though the concept was scrapped by that afternoon. The Ascension, along with Charlotte, may be seen on the main roster relatively quick. WWE also wants to see what they have in some other stars too, but for now the top names will most likely be seen on WWE TV a lot more.
If WWE plans to put them on RAW and SmackDown for the next number of weeks, eventually a storyline has to come out of it. It wouldn’t make sense for them to just be there taking the spotlight away from other Superstars for a match once a night. Eventually something has to happen.
A lot of fan speculation has suggested that Triple H would lead a NXT Takeover against the main roster talent, while Vince McMahon would lead the main roster. Two problems with this is that Vince’s character is said to be retired. While Triple H makes the most sense to see leading the NXT stars, Trips also controls the main roster too. If we’re talking TV wise, of course. So the idea wouldn’t work without Vince, as you could not separate Triple H and Stephanie McMahon for this where each could lead a team.
If the NXT stars were to take over, it would have to be in a similar way The Shield did, who, coincidentally, came out of NXT.
That being said, it could not be done in the same way as The Shield, as people wouldn’t care for it. So a good way would be just to bring them in like they did with WCW, where matches are given to them and eventually storylines would come out of it. Main roster talent could “invade” the NXT arena too, giving people who aren’t hardcore fans a reason to watch it.
Whatever the WWE does is up in the air and could always change. However, we do know we are going to see more of NXT on RAW and SmackDown at the very least, That is something a lot of WWE fans can be happy to see.
[IMG Credits: wrestling.pt, WWE.com]