2014 was a big year for World Wrestling Entertainment, and although they created some great moments during their pay per views and flagship shows on Cable, the impact they had this year can all be boiled down to one thing, the WWE Network.
Calling the WWE Network revolutionary would be a stretch, but game changing? There is no question. With the Network, WWE now has a way to reach fans in the most immersive way possible, with more control than they have ever had before. As it has done in the past, WWE took an all or nothing approach to the Network, putting the collective eggs of the company in its basket. WWE needed to impress with the Network this year and the area that hinged on that impression was programming.
At first, WWE made a smart move by airing their pay per views both past and future on the Network, which put their price point at a level that would ensure fans who purchased multiple pay per views could potentially save hundreds of dollars per year if they became subscribers. The second idea for hooking viewers came in the form of original programing; shows that you could only find on WWE Network.
WWE lead with two programs they had been working on since the idea for the WWE Network was first conceptualized; The Monday Night War, a documentary style program looking back at the most popular era in wrestling history, and Legends House, a reality show that saw a group of WWE legends living together under one roof. Although both shows have merit and demonstrated the range of programming that WWE intended for its newest venture, it should come as a surprise to absolutely no one that wrestling fans who subscribed to a wrestling network made a wrestling show the most watched programing available, just not the one I think most expected.
NXT is WWE’s developmental territory, the place where wrestlers learn how to become sports entertainers. Regardless of where you have been and how long you had been doing it previously, NXT is the place where talent is shaken up like an Etch-A-Sketch to be made blank once more before being create anew. Former Ring of Honor World Champion Seth Rollins? You are now rage core nobody Seth Rollins. Dirty trucker “Big Rig” Brodie Lee? Replace those bad ass promos for crazy eyes, because now you’re a member of a cult lead by Bray Wyatt. El Generico may have a cult following all other the world, but in NXT, no such man exists, only a super charismatic Canadian who may have been connected to the popular luchadore’s past. Although some see these changes as negatives, they are also a big part of NXT’s charm. It offers fans both old and new something fresh and different.
In 2012, WWE struck a deal with Full Sail University to begin broadcasting an NXT television show from the educational institute. It was a genius move that was extremely beneficial to both parties and gave everyone involved a home base from which to operate. Since that deal was struck, NXT has produced television that was made available internationally and in various online platforms throughout the United States, but with the dawn of the WWE Network, NXT has developed a cult like following that has seemingly come from out of nowhere to become the WWE Network’s number one show. How did this happen?
The answer lies in the symbiotic relationship between the WWE Network and NXT. The WWE Network promoted NXT hard and in return gave it both an incredible opportunity and an unenviable task in 2014: Be the first program to broadcast live from the untested WWE Network. In return, NXT blew audiences away and gave the WWE Universe a reason to subscribe to the Network. At NXT ArRival, everyone involved with the show let everyone know that they were there to get noticed.
Since then, NXT has held three other live specials on the WWE Network, each one more impressive than the last, earning rave reviews from fans and insiders alike. What was it that has made the programming so special this year? Much of it can be attributed to the cast and crew of NXT who demonstrate an obvious hunger to take their skillset and star power to the next level as a finished product, a new masterpiece carefully mapped out and molded in the image of McMahon. There’s also a good chance it has much to do with the fact that while the WWE’s flagship roster caters to a global audience, NXT is more of a niche product. A smaller audience means more risks can be taken, and more opportunities can be given out. This usually harbors a more ambitious and exciting atmosphere, leading to a show full of creativity and passion from both facilitators and fans alike.
NXT is certainly a show worth your time if you happen to subscribe to the WWE Network. You owe it to yourself to at least watch an episode and see if the unique personalities and straight forward storytelling hooks you. If you’re on the fence about the WWE Network, then I suggest that you take advantage of their next free trial and take in an episode. Who knows, you may come to believe NXT programming is worth the $9.99 per month alone. Many have echoed this sentiment online, and it’s an opinion that I happen to agree with.
2014 was undoubtedly a break out year for NXT, but what does 2015 and beyond hold for WWE’s development territory? Of course, no one can predict the future, but there are a few things we can infer from the past 12 months watching the future of WWE.
First, we can expect to see a lot of new faces at Full Sail University. One of the biggest advantages NXT has over the WWE’s flagship roster is the fact that once a performer reaches superstar status, or demonstrates that they just don’t have what it takes to reach that next level, they can, and will be replaced. With only one hour of television time each week, NXT superstars need to maximize their minutes or risk being swept aside. If they do however, they achieve their ultimate goal of getting their own spot on the main roster. At the time of this writing, former NXT Champion Adrien Neville, former NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension, and current NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte have all started appearing on episodes of Monday Night Raw, a sure sign that their time with NXT is coming to an end. This means that new blood will need to take their place, and while guys like Sami Zayn, The Vaudevillians, and Sasha Banks are ready to take more prominent places on TV, there are even more faces waiting in the wings that will likely make an impact by the time 2015 is over.
We haven’t seen much of Dash Wilder or Scott Dawson on NXT TV, but the few times they have appeared have left an impression with me, as have many of the undercard talent that is often used in order to showcase NXT’s top stars. Guys and gals like CJ Parker, Alexis Bliss, or the team of Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake don’t rack up many wins right now, but with new opportunities presenting themselves, these are the men and women to keep an eye one in 2015, and those are just the folks we have seen on NXT programming. WWE has a number of talents who have yet to debut including the former Uhaa Nation and Sami Callihan. By this time next year, I expect Uhaa and the rechristened Solomon Crowe to be the ones we’re talking about with great expectations.
With that in mind, we can also expect to see a number of familiar faces, as NXT has not just become a place for new talent to cut its teeth, but also a home for current WWE main roster talent who need a makeover or a little tune up. At this time last year, Tyson Kidd wasn’t on anybody’s radar within WWE, but since coming to NXT, he has become a top player for the development territory, leading to higher profile matches on WWE’s flagship show. Heading into the new year, Curtis Axel has appeared on NXT demanding for a spot on the roster, stating what we all now know: NXT is the launching pad for WWE, no matter where you’ve been. NXT offers a truly level playing field in WWE, for stars and unknowns alike.
In terms of what to look forward to from the product, if the success of NXT’s live specials in 2014 were any indication, I imagine we’ll continue to see them as a staple special attraction for the WWE Network. It has also been rumored that NXT will be increasing their house show schedules, which will be of great benefit as both a promotional and training tool for the talent. Although many NXT fans would rather watch their favorite up and comers than WWE’s flagship shows RAW and Smackdown, don’t expect to see NXT outgrow its cult status, which will continue to serve it well in 2015. Right now NXT is in a great position, and if it isn’t broke, there is no need to fix it.
It is impossible to see into the future without the help of a crystal ball or a booking sheet, but what we can see is that if 2015 is as good a year for NXT as 2014 was, then the future looks very bright indeed, and as WWE is quite fond of saying, the future is now.
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