hey scott, longtime fan etc
wanted to know your opinion on the matter of NXT: should the show be aired on US/Canadian TV? should Smackdown rather be used as an introduction platform for the "TV ready" NXT talent? or is the "hidden North American existence" working well as it is atm (since Shield, Big E, Wyatt Family must be considered as succesful debuts)? best wishes
Well really, NXT was supposed to be that show on SyFy, and it got cancelled because that's exactly what the network didn't want. NXT is fine "hidden" like it is, because guys can work out their goofy gimmicks and silly names and then come in fresh when they're ready.
The Shield were so well groomed when they came up I couldn't believe it. Their first night at Survivor Series I admit I said, "Who the hell are these guys? This is lame." But that first attack on Ryback and their subsequent work (in the ring and on the mic)was just so sharp they instantly established themselves as very credible threats. If this is the doing of NXT, then god bless them, and let them keep up the good work regardless of what tv rating they draw.
ReplyDeleteWith talent like Rollins in the ring and Ambrose on the mic and the overall look of Reigns its really a cant miss.
ReplyDeleteThey are going to have every chance to succeed.
They have stalled as of late, but they are still over, just not as quite as last fall.
I really wish we still had viable territories.
ReplyDeleteNot shit like comedy promotions: Chikara (sorry maffew) and just trash like CZW.
To wonder what if some of these guys had real 2-3 year runs in promotions like JCP or Stampede to really hone their craft and then come to the majors.
To the guy who emailed the question in: NXT is aired on Canadian TV each week.
ReplyDeleteI really hope it doesn't become a WWE TV show. By that I mean I don't want to hear an hour of talk about what's going on in WWE and ads for the App or whatever their latest focus is that week. My favorite thing about NXT is they live in their own little world and are almost completely detached from what's going on on Raw and Smackdown. It's a nice breather that I don't want taken away.
ReplyDeleteI think it's best to keep NXT off TV; they can have TV-level experience without worrying about how they come across to an actual TV audience. Less pressure for the young talent possibly getting their green-ness exposed on a national show.
ReplyDeleteI remember about ten years ago they were bringing up OVW guys left and right, and for every Charlie Haas there was a Rodney Mack. Yeesh!
ReplyDeleteIf WWE cancelled Smackdown today, would anyone really miss it?
ReplyDeletePROMOTIONAL CONSIDERATION PAID FOR BY THE FOLLOWING
ReplyDeleteI kinda would just out of habit, but it seems like that show hasn't been relevant since the Punk/Jeff feud. I miss the days when I was looking forward to it more than RAW (2002-2003, 2008-2009).
ReplyDeleteDo people really care about NXT. I get it, but its like rooting for your favorite teams minor league system. Dont want to watch, just need them to do their jobs and produce/refine/develop talent
ReplyDeleteMinor League baseball odds often a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteAt least now the WWE champion is showing up on Smackdown, so they are trying to raise the profile of the show. But when you have guys that have been established as "too good" to work the show (Cena, Punk) then it becomes a show that's easily skipped.
ReplyDeleteIts different with wrestling though, you get to see the characters and guys you recognize from the indies that you can't see anywhere else. Its different than watching a bunch of players playing essentially the same game as the pros.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is, they had that whole wave of Johnny Ace signees that were just atrocious, no uniqueness amongst them (ranging from the early NXT/Nexus guys to some of the more recent holdovers from FCW like Bo Dallas). They're developing them but none of them are learning anything to make them stand out. This new group since HHH and the volleyball guy took over have already shined way more.
ReplyDeleteThe guys that work on it would.
ReplyDeleteYou got your wish, Chikara is dead. I agree that the indie scene isn't strong enough to support all this niche wrestling that appeals to a thin market, they need to have more promotions pushing a variety of wrestlers than one company with a "house style".
ReplyDeleteI see this thing with them as Orton/Triple H's hired guns as a good thing. They stalled for a bit, as you said, but now they're at least a constant fixture in the current main event storyline.
ReplyDeleteIt's never going to happen.
ReplyDeleteIll take your word for it, ive only seen NXT once. My assumption it was just WWE lite but you make a good point about getting to see the Indy guys.
ReplyDeleteI think eliminating the brand extension killed Smackdown as a relevent show to watch. It's turned into a rehash show, which is a damn shame.
ReplyDeleteBring back the brand exclusivity, market Smackdown as the Technical Wrestling show, perhaps bring back a cruiserweight division too.
And above all, stop making around 25% of the show Raw replays.
NXT is the best show the WWE is putting out right now and they've been doing a really god job of building guys up to be ready for the main shows.
ReplyDeleteI reckon there's a face turn for at least one of them before this story is over.
ReplyDeleteIt won't be Ambrose - the man is heel gold. Rollins is good at being a nasty, snide, insult machine, and is also technically superb.
I reckon Ryback will be adopted into the corporate fold and Reigns will turn face.
Reigns has the look of a future face champion much more than the other two and, while he's not as proficient in the ring, he's improving all the time.
I might slot the Sami Zayn/Antonio Cesaro 2/3 falls match as the second best MOTY behind Punk/Lesnar at this point.
ReplyDeleteYea, ive heard good things but haven't seen it. I might have to track it down.
ReplyDeleteI want it to stay "hidden." If the show goes to a National cable network, the show will have to deal with two people that will ruin everything good about NXT. Those people are:
ReplyDeleteVince McMahon
Kevin Dunn
They will feel since its on a cable network that they will need to have increased input on how this show runs, and Dunn is just as senile and pig headed as Vince is. NXT is Hunter's thing, and its run with assistance from film school students. NXT going to a national network with end up like WWEECW, and probably end up being recorded before a Smackdown like it was before to make it have a bigger feel.