Why WWE Isn’t Pulling Its Punches Promoting NXT
While casual fans only know about the major WWE events such as SummerSlam, WrestleMania, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series, the folks who follow the sport are aware that a lot of the time, the real action happens in the WWE’s offshoots. This includes RAW and SmackDown, and of course, NXT.
NXT has been getting a lot of press lately because it will be relaunched on The CW Network in October, with a five-year deal. It’s the latest move in the WWE fully reclaiming its place as a mainstream form of entertainment. It comes at a good time in terms of publicity, too. The WWE is likely hoping that the positive press surrounding the new NXT will drown out the hubbub around Netflix’s Vince McMahon documentary series.
Even though McMahon is no longer officially involved with WWE, the excitement over NXT’s relaunch will help to repair some of the reputational damage that recent events have caused. This article will give a brief history of NXT and then explain two of the biggest reasons why WWE isn’t pulling its punches promoting NXT.
History of NXT
This October, when NXT premiers on The CW, it will be the latest in a series of moves and changes for the brand. It was originally shown on Syfy in 2010 and was a blend of matches and reality television. It was a way for fans to be introduced to new talent from the WWE’s latest acquisition, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW).
After the initial season, the show moved to the internet, until 2012. After a few seasons as a webcast, it moved to the WWE’s subscription service, the WWE Network. By 2019, NXT had gained enough popularity to be moved back to television and aired on USA until 2021. Then it was rebranded as NXT 2.0 and it was so popular that a companion show, NXT Level Up, was launched in 2022.
This decade of bouncing from network to network shows two things. First, that WWE has always had confidence in NXT as a product, and second, that it wasn’t easy to find the perfect format and station to air it. With this new move to The CW, it looks like that might all be settled.
Betting on NXT
One of the reasons why WWE is promoting NXT so hard is because betting on professional wrestling is becoming more popular. This is thanks to the WWE’s work with gambling regulators across the United States. One of the major steps they’ve taken is setting up systems to further protect outcomes of matches before they happen. This removes the major block – the fact that match outcomes are scripted.
Not every sportsbook has odds on WWE, and many fans don’t even realize that they can bet on professional wrestling. Betting on professional wrestling is legal even though the outcome of each fight is predetermined. As long as the fans don’t know, it’s as if they were actually unscripted. The number of twists, turns and elaborate plots make it just as hard to guess who’s going to win any match as any regular sports event.
A great way to find sportsbooks with WWE odds is by using a guide. For example, www.gambleontario.ca provides a list of all legal betting apps in the province, along with detailed reviews highlighting the pros and cons of each platform. This can help bettors decide where to sign up and place their bets.
New Talent, New Fans
NXT is where the next generation of WWE talent is being trained and developed. It’s a smaller market that helps wrestlers with big dreams develop the skills, charisma and media savvy needed to make their dreams come true. The series also gives writers the chance to work through new storylines and flex their creativity without having to risk the reputations or egos of the biggest WWE stars.
Over the years, the talent sharing between NXT, RAW and the WWE’s Main Event mid-card program has brought a lot of NXT talent in front of the wider WWE audiences. NXT has also become famous for showcasing women’s wrestling more than the other brands in the franchise.
With the new talent, creative storytelling and more women’s wrestling, NXT is able to attract new fans to professional wrestling. The classic demographics of the WWE have already been tapped, so the best way for professional wrestling to grow is to attract new viewers who may never have considered watching the sport.