It’s no secret that despite extending the show into the next hour to get those first quarter ratings, NXT has been losing the ratings war with AEW’s Dynamite. It’s also no secret that it’s WWE’s best broadcast despite being a developmental brand.
So, what does that mean?
Well, in short, McMahon put his best against AEW and its losing and the culprit is the Full Sail University venue. Or, rather, the lack of a larger venue.
By WWE’s own admission, this is a marathon, not a sprint
It’s with that in mind reports say that over the next five months, NXT is going to be moving to larger venues of 5000 seats instead of their current 1500. It’s a move meant to make it look more “professional” and less grungy and Indie-ish. They want to make it more of a spectacle like Raw, Smackdown, and AEW’s Dynamite to excite fans at home.
There are some benefits
By adding more visuals and a larger crowd, it’d draw in more television viewers. In doing so, it’d appeal more to the casual wrestling fan than not. I can attest that during the 1980s, the WWE was more fun to watch than the NWA because it was more colorful. It drew me in as a kid, but as I grew to understand the process, I also appreciated what the NWA (later WCW) offered.
It’s a great move to be more in line with their other shows, but that flies in the face of what makes NXT great.
Let the backlash begin
NXT fans love it because it’s grittier and less flashy than the other WWE programs. It’s closer, more intimate, and the people at Full Sail University have grown attached to it being a weekly event they can go to.
Of course, they’re not happy with the news.
Many have expressed their thoughts on social media, and they understand the reasoning behind the shift. Their point is simply that Full Sail University if NXT’s home. The thoughts expressed by many are that the Takeovers should be in larger arenas, along with some of the shows, but a majority of the weekly programming should remain at Full Sail.
It’s a difficult line to walk, but if the fans are sharing their thoughts and most seem to agree thus far, maybe that’s the way to go with it?
Of course, it’ll depend on Vince McMahon listening to the fans, and we all know how well he does that.
