WWE Hall Of Famer Claims NXT Is The Best Wrestling Show On TV

WWE NXT sits at the top of the pro wrestling tree according to one veteran.

2023 has been a great year for NXT with the brand’s viewing figures staying strong, and key demo ratings surpassing 2022. The show also enjoyed a notable victory over AEW Dynamite when the brands went head-to-head back in October.

Speaking on a media call ahead of NXT Deadline, Shawn Michaels gave his assessment of the brand’s progress. When asked about the ever-improving demo ratings by John Pollock of POST Wrestling, HBK said NXT is the best two-hour wrestling show available right now.

“My feeling is, a lot of it is the movement of the show. Our show moves very fast. I think that’s something that resonates with that audience. I’ll also say, it’s a variety show, it’s sports entertainment. We have something for everybody. Certainly, for me, is what I believe is resonating with that audience. I

t’s quick moving, it’s going from one scene to another. It’s almost like scrolling on your phone, some of the segments we have. We can go from a Chase U segment to a backstage promo into the ring to a shot that happens from the Performance Center to an off-site with the Family at the restaurant. We have a lot of different atmospheric aspects to the NXT show. That’s why I do say that we’re the best two-hour wrestling television show on TV today because we have so much variety.

That’s something that being in Orlando at the Performance Center allows us that other people don’t have. That’s one of the things that resonates. Also, we have younger writers on our show. The old man is still making the final decisions, but at the same time, we’re always trying to think of stuff that is natural and what is going on today.

Certain emotions are there regardless of age group; anger, jealousy, joy, happiness, being hurt, any emotion you have under the sun doesn’t really have an age group. If you can find yourself tapping into all of those emotions, that’s what sort of attracts the 18 to 34 audience because I think they are a bit more focused on that aspect of television.”

WWE NXT Leaving The USA Network

Fresh off the back of this success, it’s already been announced that WWE NXT will be leaving the USA Network in October 2024. As part of the new five-year deal, NXT will move to the CW Network, while WWE will reportedly net in excess of $30 million.

NXT Deadline is set to take place on December 9th.

H/t to Fightful