We all know that WWE is the flagship brand, the gold standard for which any pro wrestler gauges his success. Paraphrasing the old show biz moniker: if you make it to Raw, you can make it anywhere. With the current NXT acquisitions, it’s no secret that the the WWE is trying to be the only show in town.
Despite NXT being a developmental promotion, in which promising superstars are promoted to the rank and file of WWE’s Raw and Main Event shows, it seems that NXT has become a tour de force in its own right. World-class super stars such as Sami Zayn, formerly El Generico, Adrian Neville, once known as Pac, and current additions such as Kevin Steen and the Japanese legend Kenta have all signed up under the NXT banner. These power plays are an empathic statement on the wrestling world, as well as a resounding claim on the future of the business.
But is NXT just a means of feeding the Raw machine? With current ratings and the recent incredible show cases seen from recent NXT tapings and NXT Takeover series, much can be said in argument about the brand’s purpose. Though the wrestlers are still being cultivated for the main stage, perhaps even stealing the show in certain regards. Matches such as the current upset by the Lucha Dragons against The Ascension, as well as recent showings by Zayn and Neville make a strong argument for NXT being a promotion in its own right.
With the current disappointing ratings garnered by Raw, as well as the sales of the WWE Network, perhaps there is something that can be said about a brand that focuses on the development of new talent. Raw matches have become more stale as of late, showcasing the same ten wrestlers with the same five moves of doom. Having a brand that takes the wild and high-speed lunacy of the independent circuits with the polish and financial backing of a top card promotion, NXT could be the mainstream answer to organisations such as ROH and PWG. With the ever-increasing popularity of wrestling, perhaps NXT can be a catch-all for the different flavors of fans. Instead of using the brand as a springboard to the main event, WWE could set it up as one of two main stages that they hold, serving as many offerings for people of all tastes.
As a parallelism, TNA addresses this issue on the wrestling front, despite the lackluster story line writing. There is a show for all audiences. If you prefer technical wrestling, there are matches where every flavor of head and hammer lock are on display for one’s analysis. If you prefer the high fliers, their X Division numbers some of the most talented luchadors in this business today. If you prefer novelty matches and hardcore wrestling, there is a platform for which to crash as well. What WWE excels in, TNA lacks. Though it continues to be an industry leader in marketing and merchandise, it would behoove WWE to learn a bit of versatility. It’s not like they don’t already have a show that has the potential to address it.
