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#2 Hot talent warm the bench
WWE's developmental show, NXT, is taking over the company, evident from its outstanding matches, spectacularly built feuds, and a pay-per-view atmosphere that is almost as electric as The Rock. The yellow brand seems to look more like the main roster show than Raw or Smackdown Live. Superstars earn every single title, accolade and praise in the Full Sail Arena, as wrestler’s give it their all to attain it.
Therefore, to ensure the correct handling of their future main eventers, most would expect WWE to follow that picture-perfect NXT blueprint.
However, WWE's NXT call-up system has not been without flaws. Superstars that have been groomed to be main eventers were mishandled such. From a respected wrestling icon thrown into a failing experiment to Superstars not given a chance to break free, most of WWE's 2017 injustices have taken place on Smackdown Live.
When Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Roode and Tye Dillinger had made their main roster debut, fans rejoiced. These were NXT's breakout Superstars who proved that they are capable of main eventing marquee pay-per-views on WWE’s calendar. Instead, WWE had supposedly forgotten about them as soon as they debuted.
WWE booked Nakamura against lukewarm rivals, Roode was inexplicably made a baby face only due to the popularity of his entrance, and for the majority of the year, WWE left Tye Dillinger off the show.
Not only were debuting NXT talent wasted on the ‘B show’, WWE had wasted Superstars that were now ready to climb out of their pit of obscurity. Whether it was the unusual wild-eyed baby face, Harper, a hated monster turned lovable babyface in Rusev or the talented Breezango, WWE never awarded those athletes the push they earned.
These fan favourites could've assisted the blue brand in its toughest periods. But more importantly, it shows that Smackdown Live is not the land of opportunity it marketed itself as in 2017.
