The way NXT ought to work

Let me explain why NXT is broken.  It is broken because it does not do what it is meant to do, prepare people for RAW.  NXT is a great stand alone product, but it is not integrated with the WWE enough to really help a sagging flagship of RAW.  I know Hunter has said he wants NXT to be a stand alone thing, but that is foolish.  Why would WWE want NXT to complete with RAW?  And if people were signing with the internet based NXT with no hope of RAW, would they be able to sign the great talent they have now?  Would Kevin Steen want to work with NXT exclusively when he could have stayed with ROH and worked independent events all he wants?  Maybe, but I doubt you would get KENTA and other major stars to come if NXT is a destination not a pit stop. 

So think for a minute name one wrestler who came from NXT to WWE prepared?  Okay maybe Bray Wyatt.  His character puts him in a unique situation.  So I give you one.  Shield came in booked strong, and that helped, but what about now?  Reigns is a flop, Ambrose is too one gear, and Seth Rollins is looking like the best of the bunch.  Adam Rose?  Come on.  Bo Dallas?  He had potential, but there was no connection to Bo-lieve, and it flopped.  Paige?  She was a great NXT champ, and coming into a weak women’s division.  Won the title, and . . . nothing.  She is nothing now.  Fandango?  Please.  They are all awful when they finally show up because there is no real connection between the two. 

Let me use an example.  Last year we had some great match of the year candidates between Caesaro and Sami Zayn.  They had amazing matches, but not a one of them was on RAW.  These were steal Wrestlemania good matches, yet they are not seen by the vast majority wrestling fans.  Then they built up a great story line of Zayn always being the bridesmaid, but never the bride.  Just not quite good enough to win the big one.  It culminated in a crowd pleasing NXT title win.  Yet when he makes his debut on RAW all of that fan momentum and story line will be gone.  It won’t exist.  This is going to frustrate the harcore fan who watches NXT, and make Zayn have to start at the bottom of the WWE with a blank slate.  Does anyone doubt that this guy is a potential star?  At least intercontinental champion material. 

So imagine this.  November 2013 Ceasaro beats Zayn and it plays out as it did.  However, maybe highlights are shown and it is discussed briefly about Ceasaro getting a great match down in NXT.  The NXT guys have some air time somehow so that the show is not an unknown.  Some NXT stars show up in the Royal Rumble.  Maybe even Zayn, who squares off with Ceasaro.  Make Zayn eliminate Ceasaro, and then get eliminated himself.  It plays into the obsession Zayn had, and promotes the upcoming Takeover event maybe even helping gain subscribers to the Network.  Then they have the two out of three fall match classic at Takeover.  Make mention again on air, use it as part of building up Ceasaro to his Andre Battle Royal win at Wrestlemania.  Zayn goes his way, and you continue the close but no cigar angle with Neville, Kidd, and Breeze.  Now have a push on RAW for Ceasaro, who frankly deserves it.  Make him end up with the Intercontinental title.  Have Zayn show up on RAW saying he can beat Ceasaro.  He knows he can.  Maybe have a match on RAW where Zayn comes close, and Caesaro takes a count out.  Give them a PPV match where Caesaro cheats to retain.  It plays into the "can't win the big one" for Zayn.  Then you have Zayn in that great fatal four way in November.  Have Zayn win at the NXT Revolution event in December, but make sure it gets a mention on RAW.  Remember RAW needs to be doing some highlights and talk about NXT including occasional NXT matches.  Have Caesaro mock Zayn in interviews after Zayn drops the title to Owens.  Have Zayn and Ceasaro cross paths again at the Rumble, some RAW run-ins until Caesaro gives a Wrestlemania title match to Zayn.  Have Zayn win the intercontinental title from Caesaro at Wrestlemania.  Then you have brought Zayn in strong, slowly introduced him so that people understand he is not coming in from scratch.  And you have helped the Intercontinental title out by having a champ wear it and defend it for half a year or more, which also makes Caesaro look strong.  Then you have a known high quality match at Wrestlemania that will make the wrestling diehards salivate, a new young star, and Caesaro ready to make a move into the top contenders to start the post Wrestlemania 2015.  It also gives an in for Kidd and Breeze who have beef with Zayn, and hopefully have also been on the highlight reel, and probably have part of the occasional NXT match on RAW.  They would improve the roster.  And I think you might have done a better job getting people to sign up for the network because you are doing more than just shoving the low price down their throat, you are showing them what they are missing with NXT. 

As it stands now, Zayn has to start from the ground floor with a company that shows little patience for developing talent.  Not a good place to go from NXT champ to RAW chump.  But that is way it is set up now.