NXT Taping Upcoming Shows In Advance Due To CWC Upgrades

There has been much speculation about the changes heading to NXT, but a new report has suggested that one of the changes may have a very simple explanation.

One of the reported changes is that the black and gold brand will be returning to a taped format at least for a few weeks. Seemingly much to the displeasure of the USA Network.

On the most recent episode of NXT, Samoa Joe and Karrion Kross attempted to destroy each other as well as anything else within arms reach. Including the Capitol Wrestling Center itself. The CWC is part of the WWE Performance Center where wrestlers are trained to compete in a WWE ring.

Writing in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that the return to tape and the destruction of the Capitol Wrestling Center are in fact connected. Meltzer notes that the current set is said to look too dark on television, so is heading for a revamp.

In addition, there is a push to return the show’s concept to its much-lauded 2015 incarnation.

“The angle with Samoa Joe and Karrion Kross tearing up the place was the storyline reason for the refurbishing. The plexiglass may be gone as WWE sent a survey out to fans asking if they like ir or don’t. The belief is that on television, the show looks too dark, so the idea is to make the studio brighter with more lights and more colorful looking. From a creative standpoint, the show is supposed to give the wrestling students and prospects more television time and less time to the experienced veterans and strong workers, which is a seismic shift in the goal of attempting to present the best wrestling show possible to being a developmental television show. That is the doctrine but how it plays out remains to be seen, but they do want the concept to be closer to the 2015 version of NXT.”

All eyes will return to the black and gold brand for NXT TakeOver: 36 on Sunday, August 22nd.

The show is set to be headlined by Samoa Joe taking on NXT Champion Karrion Kross in his first singles match in WWE since 2019.

Also on the card, NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez will meet Dakota Kai, while Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly clash in a ‘2 Out Of 3’ Falls Match. That’s a match that may turn out to be Cole’s last inside an NXT ring. It could be Cole’s last match in a WWE ring too.