Because of the positive feedback from these events, the argument being made is that NXT is now better than mainstream WWE programming, and why wouldn’t it be better? It’s a weekly one hour show, its focus is wrestling not ‘entertainment’, it doesn’t feel like it’s in the same format every week, matches are given adequate time and everything has a purpose. There isn’t blatant advertising on NXT for commercial sponsorships and they have a commentary team who is hungry for success and actually call what they see rather than telling you drink something which will turn your tongue green.
This week on IWC radio we had a great conversation about WWE in comparison to NXT and when we went through all the different elements, it’s frightening how much WWE is trying to become something bigger than what they actually are. They are a WRESTLING company. Yes they ‘Entertain’ but we prefer it when they do it through WRESTLING. I don’t want to know how to download the WWE app or know why it makes more sense for me to pay $9.99 instead of buying a PPV. I don’t want someone holding up cards like I’m a nursery child trying to lean the bloody alphabet telling me how stupid I might be because I don’t choose to purchase their products the way they want me too.
I’m fed up of WWE constantly trying to own everything that they can’t. We’re not the WWE universe, I’m a bloody FAN. WWE so desperately would love to be on the same level as NFL but you don’t hear them call their fans the NFL Universe!
I don’t want to call them Divas, I want to call them Women! I don’t want to pigeon hole them as WWE Entertainers, they’re WRESTLERS. I completely understand that making WWE a PG rated show allows for greater sponsorship revenue and to a certain extent you can have a great product within that environment, NXT is proof of that. However, I do have a problem when talent is so restricted that they cannot be themselves.
