For those who have hope for WWE’s future because of the
greatness of NXT, let me throw some much needed reality in the mix.
First, WWE is not NXT.
They still push their own homegrown guys more. Even though it is clear that independent
starts are better in the ring, better at engaging the crowd, and better on the
mic (see Daniel Bryan and CM Punk) the main product still pushes Roman Reigns
and Rusev.
Second, WWE still does not tell stories like NXT. While NXT develops characters and gives
motives and has to the point mic time, WWE has scripted garbage. And while NXT prolongs feuds and is unafraid
to let people wrestle other wrestlers while still in a feud with someone else
(see Owens vs. Riley while Zayn is the feud or Nevile vs. four other guys while
Zayn was the feud), WWE feeds us the same thing over and over again. This will be the FOURTH PPV in a row where we
see Cena vs. Rusev. FOUR. That is insane. Two of these matches will have had
stipulations.
Third, there is no real bridge between NXT and WWE. I think I wrote about this earlier. All the great story telling Zayn and Neville
is gone. All the great story and matches
between Zayn and Ceasaro is gone. It is
non-existent. This lack of connection
has hurt the transition of characters like Bo Dallas. And while good wrestlers still get over, it
does make it harder.
Fourth, and this is the most important, all of this should
have been happening 3 to 5 years ago. Zayn
has been great on the independent circuit forever. So has Owens (Steen). Finn Balor and Itami were both great in Japan
and should have been here sooner. You
can make the same argument for CM Punk and Daniel Bryan. These guys were undeniably great and they had
to do crazy things to get over and get known in an independent circuit. They did it.
This takes a toll on their bodies.
We have seen it with CM Punk. He
is fine being done with wrestling because he wore himself out pre-WWE and in
it. We see it now with Daniel
Bryan. His body is broken probably at
least in part due to the wear and tear.
The WWE made them go too long before admitting their potential. So it is also true with Zayn and Owens. Do not expect long run from these guys
because they have many miles already logged.
If WWE was serious about this they would have already had
Bryan and Punk on the top of the card fighting off Zayn and Owens who would be
coming up quick and NXT would not be full of guys we already know, but younger
guys like Chase Owens with other guys who could use development like Jamin
Olevencia or Vordell Walker.
It is good that WWE is finally hiring the obviously great
talent. But they missed their prime or
at least they missed having them for long great runs. The WWE is still failing to get good
independent talent soon enough to use them for decades.
