The Future Of SmackDown And POSSIBLE Future of NXT

[Jack-Hammer]

According to the WON, Fox held some sort of "summit" yesterday in which they spoke with affiliates regarding the upcoming fall schedule and WWE was one of the topics mentioned.

SmackDown will air 51 weeks out of the year and will be preempted one week for the World Series, with the possibility of SmackDown airing on FS1 during that week. Fox will also air a one-hour launch show in late September to build to the live Friday night debut on October 4 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The idea is that the one-hour special will introduce WWE and the Superstars to the Fox audience. Fox reportedly wants everyone to promote WWE as a legitimate sport, not that the outcomes of the matches are real, but that the WWE product is a choreographed sports presentation. SmackDown will be part of the Fox sports block that runs Thursday through Sunday in the fall, along with the NFL and College Football. It's also believed that the 20th anniversary episode of SmackDown will be used as the debut episode on Fox when it airs on October 4; WWE will start promoting the episode beginning about the middle of next month and it was specifically mentioned during the summit that a lot of surprises would be on the show.

Regarding FS1, it's also been confirmed that the 1 hour weekly studio show will air on Tuesdays and will be hosted by Renee Young. Fox is also in talks to bring NXT to television and there's been speculation that, if successful, NXT will also air on FS1 and that it MIGHT go head to head with AEW's show on TNT but there's been no solid confirmation on that.

WWE and Fox are planning a major promotion that will see WWE Superstars take a moving truck to big, middle and even some of the smaller markets to promote the network change. A digital primer is also being planned, which will allow viewers to get a behind-the-scenes look at the WWE product. This primer will teach viewers some of the insider terms.

The notion of NXT coming to television makes me a little nervous because I just have this God awful notion of Vince stepping in and putting his fingerprints all over it. NXT has consistently been the best thing in WWE for years now due, in my opinion, in no small part to the fact that Vince has nothing whatsoever to do with the booking.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Not a fan of NXT leaving the Network. But you know the saying, "Money Talks" so take that as you may.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Why do people insist on changing NXT? It's been the best wrestling in the world for 5 years. Let it be.

[Stone Cold Tea]

Who is the last top guy to come out of NxT

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Who is the last top guy to come out of NxT

How many full-time top guys are in WWE? Just Reigns and Rollins?

[Stone Cold Tea]

How many full-time top guys are in WWE? Just Reigns and Rollins?

So The Shield were the last top guys to come out if NXT? Aa far as I am aware its Kevin Owen's but I could be wrong.

[Storm Trooper]

So The Shield were the last top guys to come out if NXT? Aa far as I am aware its Kevin Owen's but I could be wrong.

Did we forget about this guy? He did win the Universal Championship too. Hell he did it with 1 arm.





Also here's some more top Superstars to come out of NXT:






Last I checked those 2 just main evented WrestleMania.

[Stone Cold Tea]

Did we forget about this guy? He did win the Universal Championship too. Hell he did it with 1 arm.





Also here's some more top Superstars to come out of NXT:






Last I checked those 2 just main evented WrestleMania.

Thanks for the pictures. Finn Balor isn't a top guy. He's a main event experiment tossed aside. Also, he legitimately hurt his arm, it wasn't part of the story of the match.

It's good that 3 of the 4 top stars created from NXT since 2012 are female. It's not good that it has only produce 3 or 4 main event quality players.

[Psykohurricane]

For those guys to have a easier transition to the main roster, you need to reach the common wrestling fans which they aren't right now with it Being on the network. So having it on FS1 would be great for the NXT brand as it get them more exposure that they don't get on the network. You could keep it on the network for replays later on the week especially for international fans that don't get FS1 but if they got a shot in reaching a bigger audience and actually be able to turn somewhat of a profit for this brand, they would be dumb not to take it.

['Ravishing' Ned Flanders]

For those guys to have a easier transition to the main roster, you need to reach the common wrestling fans which they aren't right now with it Being on the network. So having it on FS1 would be great for the NXT brand as it get them more exposure that they don't get on the network. You could keep it on the network for replays later on the week especially for international fans that don't get FS1 but if they got a shot in reaching a bigger audience and actually be able to turn somewhat of a profit for this brand, they would be dumb not to take it.

The fact NXT is on the Network is really the only thing going for it.

On the Network they (and correct me if i'm wrong) don't have to answer to sponsors or anything like that which lets the performers do what they do best. If it's put on TV then that changes and NxT as a whole changes gor the worse.

If you want these guys to have a better shot on the main roster then 2 things needs to happen.

1) they need to be given a sustainable gimmick

2) they actually need to be introduced properly instead of shoved out to the ring with a shit gimmick