When WWE NXT began to get noticed, the WWE knew they had gold on their hands. The company knew that they basically had a brand in NXT and could almost separate it from the WWE in some ways. As a completely different product compared to WWE, it still has the marketing and great production behind it. WWE does both better than any other pro-wrestling company in the world. While Lucha Underground clearly has a good understanding of how to do things, it seems WWE has always been consistent with what they do and innovating when they had to.
WWE realized after the success of their original NXT Takeover special that they could do more and actually have a great deal of success with them. WWE NXT is the No. 1 most watched product on the WWE Network, and even the replays are watched heavily. WWE clearly does not want to end the NXT specials, as they are wildly popular. However, WWE sort of shocked fans when they changed the upcoming Takeover event to WWE NXT Takeover: The End.
Some rightly assumed that WWE did this because it was the end of the Samoa Joe and Finn Balor rivalry. However, others thought that the company was cancelling the Takeover specials altogether, especially when Ticketmaster pulled the NXT: Brooklyn show. Never fret, however, as the company will not be ending the NXT Takeover specials.
According to The Wrestling Observer , Ticketmaster will be adding the NXT: Brooklynshow back. They will include new event details, and even a new logo. It is likely that the old material was up on Ticketmaster and were removed everywhere possible because WWE will be adding new material closer to the show. Keep in mind, NXT: Brooklynwill be airing on August 20, right before WWE SummerSlamthe night after. Since we’re at the beginning of June now, WWE will clearly add tickets back before too long.
They don’t want to do it too early, however, as WWE will be going into their upcoming Takeover special next week. So, the theory is that WWE and Triple H will end up announcing the new name and debut the logo most likely in July. WWE tends to give people over a month to buy the tickets for the NXT specials. Last year, the Brooklyn show sold out very quick. So, there is a theory that they might have some early pre-sales which would result in WWE debuting everything earlier.
The rumor is that WWE will debut a new name for their Takeover events. The idea behind the name “takeover” was that the young developmental stars would take the WWE Network for themselves just for one night. The original game plan was that the special would test the WWE Network before WrestleMania 30 took place. WWE wanted everything to be perfect before WrestleMania , so Triple H was given the green light to have the NXT developmental stars take over the network for a night so that the company could test everything.
Due to the wild success of the first, the company continued to deliver them. Each one always topped the last. This gave WWE the idea that NXT was a brand and the stars were no longer developmental whatsoever. The company would treat the stars as equals to the main roster — up to a point. This led to the addition of major names from outside the company wanting in. The likes of Finn Balor, Hideo Itami, Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe and others were all major names outside the WWE who had a ton of success.
To leave all of that for the WWE meant that they could not be treated as lesser than stars. They weren’t and that attracted others to the WWE like Eric Young, Asuka, Shinsuke Nakamura, Austin Aries, and even the great Jushin “Thunder” Liger. Now that WWE NXT is equal to WWE’s main brands, they aren’t taking over the WWE Network anymore as they ARE the network. That said, WWE will likely drop the “takeover” part of the name and come up with another name for the upcoming NXT specials.
[Image via WWE]