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Earlier this week, a huge rumour emerged when both F4WOnline.com and PWInsider.com reported that WWE has been ramping up talks with USA Network about moving NXT to the current home of Raw and SmackDown Live.
Previous reports indicated that the frontrunner to land NXT would be FS1, considering WWE is about to embark on its big-money deal with FOX when SmackDown Live moves to FOX Sports in October. But, it appears more likely now that USA Network might be landing the Wednesday night brand.
With regards to USA Network, PWInsider reports "there are some within WWE who believe the USA is a done deal and it's just a matter of time before the deal is announced." However, the report adds there are also some people in WWE who have shot down the idea that an NXT/USA deal is close to being done, meaning it remains unknown if or when fans can expect an official announcement from WWE.
Considering the above, let's look at 3 things WWE needs to do with NXT should it move to USA Network, and 2 things WWE should not do with the brand.
#5 WWE should air the show live
WWE NXT is no stranger to USA Network, as a special episode of the show was actually broadcast on the network during a December 2017 "WWE Week" slate of programming.
The show was able to draw solid viewership number, taking in a little over 800,000 viewers for the special episode.
What makes the number even more impressive is that the show was a taped episode of NXT, meaning spoilers were available ahead of the airing on USA Network, which could have potentially warded off a percentage of viewers from tuning in.
If and when NXT does make the move to USA Network, WWE should do its best to air the show live. This is especially considering that the show will be going up against All Elite Wrestling on TNT, which will air live on a weekly basis beginning on October 2nd.
#4 Move the weekly tapings out of Full Sail University
Since its televised inception, NXT has made its TV taping home at Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL, with the show emanating on a weekly basis in front of the rabid, die-hard NXT fans in the Orlando area.
While the NXT fanbase in Winter Park is a loyal one, it would be wise of WWE to move NXT out of Full Sail University on a regular basis if the show does, in fact, move to USA Network.
The NXT fans at Full Sail are a phenomenal crowd, but much like Impact Wrestling when it was taped on a weekly basis from the Impact Zone at Universal Studios in Orlando, after a certain amount of time the crowd reactions to the product become wrote, with much of the same fanbase appearing at each taping.
Should WWE move NXT to USA Network, it would benefit the show greatly to be taped from various locations, possibly returning to Full Sail for special, sporadic tapings, or events like NXT Takeover.
With NXT taping TV from different cities, the taping format opens the product up to the rest of the country and allows for a varied and fresh fan response to the weekly shows.
#3 NXT should air head-to-head against All Elite Wrestling
Competition can oftentimes breed excellence, as evidenced by the Monday Night Wars from the late 1990s, which is still regarded today as one of the golden ages of professional wrestling.
During the classic Monday Night Wars between WCW and WWE, fans watched as two companies battled back and forth for Monday night supremacy and overall rating domination.
Should WWE move NXT to the USA Network, it would be in the best interest of both WWE and AEW to have the shows compete directly against one another. Modern-day competition between AEW and WWE might not be as cutthroat as it was during the 1990s, and it's doubtful we will see either company stoop to low tactics such as spoiling the other company's taped results on live television.
Consequently, with Triple H helming NXT and Tony Kahn helming AEW, it appears more likely that competition between the two companies will come more in the form of each brand doing its best to create the best possible product, as opposed to playing dirty against one another.
So here's to hoping WWE programs NXT directly against AEW if the show moves to USA Network, allowing both brands to put forth the best possible wrestling show.
#2 NXT should not feature too many WWE main roster stars
Prior to reports of WWE possibly moving NXT to USA Network, FS1 was the frontrunner to land the Wednesday night brand when WWE SmackDown Live makes its move to FOX Sports in October.
When reports surfaced claiming NXT might soon be moving to television, it was also noted that WWE would likely look to stack NXT broadcasts with WWE main roster talents in order to give the NXT product a more mainstream boost.
While it might make sense, and certainly offer an entertaining product if WWE main roster stars do feature on NXT TV, the appearances should be seldom, and should not be the central focus of NXT each week.
One of the main reasons why NXT has been such a hit with fans is because it is different from WWE main roster TV. So, filling NXT each week with main roster stars would only serve to strip NXT of the qualities which make the product unique from Raw and SmackDown Live.
One idea could see WWE setting up some type of rule which allows for an NXT title defence on main roster PPV's, in order to boost the visibility of the NXT stars, but as for the NXT TV brand itself, WWE main roster star appearances should be kept to a minimum.
#1 Vince McMahon should have limited input on the NXT product
Along with the idea of main roster WWE stars appearing on NXT each week should the show move to either USA Network of FS1, Dave Meltzer noted on Twitter that Vince McMahon would likely have to get more involved in the NXT brand should the show move to TV.
Being the CEO of WWE, Vince McMahon clearly would have to get a bit more involved with the NXT product should the show move to USA Network, as Vince would have to deal with network executives, etc, but Vince's involvement in the NXT product should end at that.
As of this writing, Triple H has assembled a fantastic group of talents down in Orlando who help him with NXT, and the group includes regarded talents such as WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels and former Impact Wrestling personality Jeremy Borash.
Should USA Network acquire WWE NXT, Vince McMahon should stay out of the day-to-day creative running of the product, and leave that aspect of NXT to the current team helmed by Triple H. The Game knows the NXT product inside and out, and should lead the charge in bringing the brand to a wider television audience.
How do you feel about NXT possibly moving to USA Network? Let us know in the comment section!
