The NXT Discussion Thread

[Guest]

13 minutes ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

What's happened? Just, seriously, what's happened?

Honeymoon's over, the pitching arm isn't so fresh anymore, and it's the most creatively demanding part of the year. 

 

They'll get it back.

Probably.

Edited April 9, 2025 by Duke

[d-d-d-dAz]

22 minutes ago, Duke said:

Honeymoon's over, the pitching arm isn't so fresh anymore, and it's the most creatively demanding part of the year. 

 

They'll get it back.

Probably.

I don't know on either point.

If they were telling normal stories badly I'd agree it's a creative stagnation; but the fact they've walked themselves into all these multi man matches makes me think there's something more structural going on.

The most depressing view I've seen is that it's deliberate because the people who actually watch shows hasn't changed in years (and will watch regardless) and the current casual audience just wants social content and big entrances; so chuck as many big names on the show as you can and hey presto.

I'm more inclined to believe that Triple H enjoys being popular with the boys and hasn't reconciled himself with having to say no occasionally. Or maybe there's something to the idea they're just saving the bigger stuff for the first two day Summerslam as they were worried about sales.

Dunno.

Either way, it's such a messy, busy, unsatisfying Wrestlemania build.

Edited April 9, 2025 by d-d-d-dAz
Don't know my Manias from my Summerslams

[Hannibal Scorch]

@d-d-d-dAz someone told me last week the build has been deliberately bad for Wrestlemania to lower expectations so it will over deliver on the nights, and he was being serious.

Edited April 9, 2025 by Hannibal Scorch

[BomberPat]

I wonder how much the mess of multi-man matches has been because, under Triple H, PPVs have got a lot shorter, but there's still more pressure to get as many people on the card for 'Mania as possible. Maybe even contractual obligations for certain people to get Wrestlemania bonuses.

[Supremo]

1 hour ago, d-d-d-dAz said:

What's happened? Just, seriously, what's happened?

Previously fumbled men are no longer being fumbled.

[Hannibal Scorch]

57 minutes ago, BomberPat said:

I wonder how much the mess of multi-man matches has been because, under Triple H, PPVs have got a lot shorter, but there's still more pressure to get as many people on the card for 'Mania as possible. Maybe even contractual obligations for certain people to get Wrestlemania bonuses.

I didn’t think that was a thing? I thought PPV bonuses were cancelled when the WWE Network launched because I remember wrestlers being really vocal about it.

[air_raid]

16 hours ago, Hannibal Scorch said:

I didn’t think that was a thing? I thought PPV bonuses were cancelled when the WWE Network launched because I remember wrestlers being really vocal about it.

Can't imagine PPV bonuses still being a thing when the "World Heavyweight Champion" hasn't worked one since November.

[BomberPat]

The board died when I tried to reply to this earlier....

PPV bonuses didn't die with the Network, so much as became worthless, and that's why people were pissed off about them - when you've negotiated a contract based on a presumption of getting a certain percentage every month, and then the company that hired you introduces something that by design stops people buying their PPVs so you make a lot less of that money, you can see why people would be furious about it. Same goes for royalties from DVD sales - the Network killed that as a meaningful percentage, even before WWE stopped producing them altogether.

That said, there used to be a Wrestlemania bonus distinct from the PPV bonus. I did some digging and found a Meltzer quote where he said he felt that didn't exist any more outside of maybe a few top guys, and nor does the bonus they used to get for working the Saudi shows. So I'm prepared to admit I was wrong on this one, though I suppose there are still perks for talent working 'Mania in terms of in-person merch sales and so on.

[RIDDUM_N_STYLE]

Stand and Deliver delivered, excellent evening’s viewing with some great matches

The biggest surprises of the night being 

Spoiler

Hank and Tank ending Fraxiom’s tremendous tag title reign and Stacks turning heel on Tony D in the six man

The 3 women’s matches between the pre show and main card delivered, particularly the ladder match and the triple threat main was a superb breakout for Je’Von Evans

Shawn’s kids have laid the marker for the weekend, let’s see how the roster responds 

[RedTwoster]

18 hours ago, RIDDUM_N_STYLE said:

The 3 women’s matches between the pre show and main card delivered, particularly the ladder match and the triple threat main was a superb breakout for Je’Von Evans

Evans is very impressive. It’s remarkable and rather scary that he’s this good at the age of just 20. People rightly talk up Oba Femi and Trick Williams as the future of WWE, but Evans has enormous potential.

[DavidB6937]

That Hank and Tank match might end up being my favourite of the weekend. I love tag wrestling when it's done right. Such a shame it rarely translates to the main roster.

[Kamran]

On 4/19/2025 at 11:27 PM, RIDDUM_N_STYLE said:

Stand and Deliver delivered, excellent evening’s viewing with some great matches

The biggest surprises of the night being 

  Reveal hidden contents

Hank and Tank ending Fraxiom’s tremendous tag title reign and Stacks turning heel on Tony D in the six man

The 3 women’s matches between the pre show and main card delivered, particularly the ladder match and the triple threat main was a superb breakout for Je’Von Evans

Shawn’s kids have laid the marker for the weekend, let’s see how the roster responds 

I thought I'd try this yesterday as I felt a little let down with Night 1. Glad I did, I enjoyed it (not Booker T on commentary though) 

On 4/20/2025 at 6:14 PM, RedTwoster said:

Evans is very impressive. It’s remarkable and rather scary that he’s this good at the age of just 20. People rightly talk up Oba Femi and Trick Williams as the future of WWE, but Evans has enormous potential.

That triple-threat main event was excellent, all 3 looked great, Evans is so impressive, I can't believe he's only 20. I can't wait to see Femi head to the main roster, him and breaker have to be future Mania main eventers,

On 4/20/2025 at 6:18 PM, DavidB6937 said:

That Hank and Tank match might end up being my favourite of the weekend. I love tag wrestling when it's done right. Such a shame it rarely translates to the main roster.

I wasn't really into this at the start, but they got me hooked, and I really enjoyed those final moments.

Edited April 21, 2025 by Kamran

[Arch Stanton]

Two weeks in a row Penn & Teller have shown up on NXT and each time I've mistaken Penn for Joseph Park and have been left disappointed.

[air_raid]

56 minutes ago, Arch Stanton said:

 Penn & Teller 

This further underlines what a gaffe the random Travis Scott shite has been. THERE’S who should have made Cody’s reign disappear.

[Devon Malcolm]

Lovely match between Vaquer and Perez, loads of good technical stuff. Shame the crowd was fucking comatose for it, they're usually somewhat awake on NXT.