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WWE is nearing the beginning of its massive new money deal with FOX, which will see SmackDown Live officially move to FOX Sports on Friday, October 4th.
In recent weeks, reports have surfaced claiming WWE is in talks to move NXT over to FS1 once the new FOX TV deal kicks in, which would be a big step up for the show currently being hosted each week by WWE Network on Wednesday nights.
Following news of the latest rumors surrounding the fate of NXT, here is everything you need to know about the show possibly landing a new home.
#5 Triple H has addressed the latest NXT rumors
During a media conference call which took place before NXT Takeover: Toronto over the weekend, Triple H addressed rumors of NXT moving to FS1, and WWE possibly having two NXT programs.
"When you say [the potential of] two NXT shows, it's funny because in, my mind, I immediately went, 'Well, there are two NXT shows, there's NXT: UK and NXT," said Triple H, h/t to ComicBook.com for the transcription.
"But there's always a changing landscape, there's always - the internal discussion here of where content goes is a constant," Hunter said.
"We look at this kind of wheel of options of distribution that we have across all platforms, whether that be television or platforms like that, being a part of that world, or whether it be Facebook or something like that, or USA, or FOX. Then there's our digital presence which, as you know, a billion social media followers, #1 channel on YouTube for sports, I think #2 overall right now in the world for anything on YouTube. So digital and where you put things out in that matter [is important to us], and then our VOD/our network/our direct to consumer."
#4 NXT could compete head-to-head with AEW
If the rumors of NXT moving to FS1 are indeed true, it looks like version 2.0 of the Monday night wars could be taking place, this time on Wednesday nights.
Talks began back at the end of June or early July for NXT to move to a new timeslot, which would be Wednesday nights, live on FS1. The show would also move to two hours and would run from 8pm-10pm EST.
Earlier this year, All Elite Wrestling officially announced its new TV show will kick off on October 2nd, and will air live every Wednesday night from 8pm-10pm EST.
AEW has already announced the first set of TV tapings will take place in Washington, D.C., with subsequent TV tapings planned for Boston and Philadelphia.
Most recently, AEW announced that former WWE stars Shawn Spears and Jon Moxley, known in WWE as Tye Dillinger and Dean Ambrose, will face-off at October 9th TV tapings taking place in October.
With AEW landing former talents such as Dean Ambrose, Shawn Spears and Chris Jericho, it looks like WWE might be trying to counter-program AEW with its hottest brand at the moment, NXT.
#3 Vince McMahon and other WWE execs could play a larger role in NXT
The NXT brand is the brainchild of Triple H, and the weekly shows are headed up by The Game and his team of producers at the Performance Center in Orlando, which include Jeremy Borash and WWE Hall of Famer, Shawn Michaels.
Vince McMahon is not hands on with WWE, having little to do with the day-to-day operations of the brand, leaving the bulk of the work to his son-in-law Triple H.
However, should NXT eventually make the move to FS1, it appears inevitable that Vince McMahon and other top WWE officials will have to get more hands on as it pertains to the running of NXT.
A Twitter user recently asked Dave Meltzer, "so is Vince and Kevin going to get involved with NXT if and when it goes to FS1 and run 2 hours?"
Meltzer answered by confirming, "they'd have to," meaning Vince McMahon's role with NXT would have to expand.
Fans might be shaking their heads at the news of Vince McMahon becoming more hands on with NXT, however, because Vince is the CEO of WWE and the show will be making the leap to television, so the Chairman of WWE would likely have to deal with network executives, FOX Sports brass and more.
#2 Main roster talent will likely be featured on NXT TV
The WWE brand split has been a fleeting concept since its inception years ago, with talents making appearances on both RAW and SmackDown Live despite separate rosters having been drafted for each main roster brand.
Most recently, WWE enacted the Wildcard Rule, a way of combatting sluggish ratings by having select stars, such as AJ Styles, Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, The New Day, and more, appearing on both Raw and SmackDown Live on weekly basis.
NXT has always maintained its own roster, and despite a few occasions in which main roster stars have made special guest appearances, or talents have gone back to NXT, the Wednesday night brand has always showcased its own, unique roster.
That could change when NXT moves to FS1, as WWE will likely be looking to get as many eyes on the product when it airs on a bigger platform, and the appearance of main roster stars might be a key tactic employed by WWE.
While it seems unlikely that main roster stars will become a permanent fixture of NXT on FS1, it does seem likely that WWE will try and stack the NXT deck with main roster stars at least for the opening weeks of the brand on its new television home.
#1 NXT might be leaving its home at Full Sail University
Since its inception as a televised brand, NXT has made its home at Full Sail University, taping its weekly show at the school in Winter Park, FL.
In addition to the weekly TV shows, Full Sail has also played host to numerous NXT TakeOver events, but with the Yellow And Black Brand possibly moving to FS1, it remains to be seen whether or not WWE will be moving the brand out of Full Sail.
Should NXT air live if and when it moves to FS1, the show would have to change its taping schedule completely, no longer blocking off a set of days to tape weeks worth of NXT TV shows.
Instead, NXT would have to find an arena to tape out of every Wednesday night, from 8pm-10pm EST, and it remains to be seen whether or not that will be possible on a consistent basis at Full Sail University.
WWE has several possibilities when it comes to airing NXT each week on FS1, as the show could air as a taped program similar to the way it currently airs, but with Vince McMahon likely wanting to create strong competition with AEW, it would be in WWE's best interests to air NXT live every Wednesday night.
Are you looking forward to NXT possibly airing on FS1? Let us know in the comment section!
