In the aftermath of Friday night’s deep cuts, it seems big NXT changes are coming. Plus, both WWE & UFC want an Olympic gold medalist, but who?
Big NXT Changes Coming
Friday, August 6th, was a rough day for the brand…and more big NXT changes are coming.
That is the report coming to us from the Wrestling Observer.
The news echoes other recent chatter in the wake of Friday’s stunning releases.
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According to the report, these big NXT changes coming are all driven by…Vince McMahon.
Perhaps the most stunning bit around all of this? It seems that neither Shawn Michaels nor Triple H have been very involved in the decision making process thus far.
Considering that Hunter has been one of the top leaders of the black and gold brand…that might bear watching.
Now, back to those big NXT changes coming…
We reported following the releases that one expectation was that the brand was getting overhaued-new look, new logo, new direction.
Per the Observer, this is likely indeed true.
The goal moving forward appears to be to work with more younger and unproven talent, and to develop them into more “home grown” talents.
This would be a bit of a shift in recent years, to an extent.
NXT has been the WWE developmental territory for a while, born from the ashes of Florida Championship Wrestling.
As the brand exploded in popularity, it was not only the developmental spot for younger signings…but a landing spot for free agents that would get a bit of a WWE tune up prior to the main roster.
The brand saw such Superstars as Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe and Drew McIntyre spend time there.
More recently, we’ve got to look no further than Karrion Kross, who was an established talent prior to joining NXT.
Now, it seems like Vince McMahon wants the brand to be a little less polished, a little more raw and working toward finding the next diamond in the rough.
It’s crazy what they’re thinking of doing to #WWENXT
And apparently Triple H is no longer in charge.
They’ve fired over 100 wrestlers since last year. After all that’s happened, why the hell would anyone want to go there?? pic.twitter.com/Of7MyvNHlr— ?????? (@WrestlingCovers) August 8, 2021
Given this apparent new direction, fans have to wonder at least a couple things.
Considering Triple H may not have had a say…is this Vince being spiteful that NXT has been the most consistently watchable WWE brand for a while?
And, what would this mean for folks who enjoy content that they cannot typically get on Mondays or Fridays? The “main roster” shows are not filled with strong displays of technical wrestling, for example.
It’s a bit of an ironic twist. For a good bit, many within WWE insisted that the three brands were basically on equal footing (fooling no one, but it was said).
Now, it seems like Vince McMahon is out to make sure there is no doubt-NXT should be seen as below the main roster.
Of course, if those in charge of the brand remain in charge…here’s hoping the output from NXT remains as good as ever, in spite of any handcuffs.
WWE & UFC Want Olympic Gold Medalist
The Olympics have come to a close, and we’ve learned that both WWE & UFC want an Olympic gold medalist to join them.
Which one?
Well, there are honestly a few to choose from, given there are several combat sports in the Olympics.
In this case, it would be an American Olympic wrestler who won gold.
There are honestly two (at least) whom should garner attention. In this specific instance, we are looking at Gable Steveson.
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Per multiple outlets, we can expect a bit of a bidding war between WWE & UFC for this Olympic gold medalist.
He is big, athletic and gifted…and he is also just 21 years old. Perhaps he’d be OK in NXT for a little bit?
In any case, Steveson has a lot of options…including the ability to go back to college for another season, should he wish.
With the new Name, Image and Likeness regulations a thing, Steveson won’t be necessarily losing money if he stays an amateur for a bit longer.
While WWE or UFC offer the allure of big paydays, the new NCAA rules allow him to cash in for himself now while still being a Gopher for a bit longer.
Considering Steveson’s ties to WWE, perhaps McMahon hopes for the win. Gable Steveson is friendly with both Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman, among others.
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Oh, and that “other” Olympic gold medalist that both WWE & UFC should have an eye on? That would be self-admitted huge WWE fan Tamyra Mensah-Stock, the first black American woman to win gold in wrestling.
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