WWE Rumor Roundup - Undertaker's possible return despite retirement, Faction teased to return after 3-year absence and more - 21st June 2020

#2. NXT's new possible strategy to counter AEW

The Wednesday Night Wars, thus far, has seen AEW come out on top in the battle for ratings superiority on a majority of occasions. WWE, however, could be making major changes to how WWE NXT is portrayed to gain some ground on AEW.

Dave Meltzer noted in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that this week's episode of NXT felt like RAW or SmackDown show. The shorter matches, a weird vomiting angle, and cars of babyfaces getting vandalized are usually what fans witness on RAW and SmackDown.

Meltzer noted that the apparent shift in TV content could be NXT copying the main roster, with the idea that it could give them a bump in the ratings, and potentially beat AEW in the process.

Meltzer explained the following in the Newsletter:

NXT felt like this week's Raw or Smackdown, with the vomiting angle, shorter matches, and vandalizing babyfaces cars. It's either the people in NXT copying main roster thinking that's the change needed, or more likely, the overseer believing these changes are necessary to bring up numbers and beat AEW.

For a while it felt like NXT was on its own path and not really being reactive to AEW except on rare times. Since Mania it was built on Charlotte Flair from the main roster and NXT's overall numbers declined less than the other shows, but that wasn't the case in18-49 which dropped badly, so the gains were over 50. So now it looks like a change in the pacing and nature of the show. They are doing a quick build to a NXT vs. North American title winner take all match on 7/8 to go against the main event of Fyter Fest, which was very clearly totally reactive.

WWE NXT did its own thing for a long time, but that could change as we know it. WWE has already shown signs of adopting a new strategy inspired by main roster programming, but will it help WWE trump AEW in the TV ratings war?