Rumors of NXT moving to USA Network has led to speculation of Vince McMahon becoming much more... [+]
After months of speculation, WWE has officially announced NXT will move to the USA Network as part of the wrestling promotion's suddenly blossoming partnership with its longtime television partner. NXT will air on USA beginning Wednesday, September 18 from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (8/7 central) in order to get the jump on AEW's forthcoming TNT premiere two weeks later on October 2.
WWE is expected to make a minimum of $50 million per year in television rights, and WWE's stock has responded positively to the news with highs of $73.87 (up $1.84) on Tuesday.
Vince McMahon confirmed the move in a Tuesday morning press release:
"The move to USA Network provides an opportunity to deepen our relationship with NBCUniversal and further build the NXTbrand," said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO.
"Over the long term our goal is to develop a following that can be monetized to the same level as our flagship programs, Raw®and SmackDown®.
Beginning with AEW's TNT premiere on October 2, NXT's September move to Wednesday nights will soon create the mouthwatering scenario of two billionaire-backed, nationally televised wrestling shows going head-to-head in prime time.
In addition to NXT beginning September 18, the USA Network also airs WWE-related shows Miz and Mrs., Straight Up Steve Austin and WWE Raw. SmackDown Live, which currently airs on the USA Network, will move to Fox beginning October 4.
NXT's move to USA will surely bring about already-overdone talking points of Vince McMahon getting his hands on the developmental product—a formality with NXT moving to weekly television and an idea that has struck fear into the monolithic hearts of wrestling fans and media alike.
NXT currently airs on the WWE Network where it operates as a much hipper and more critically acclaimed showcase of indy wrestling veterans and up-and-comers within the WWE Performance Center under the watchful eye of Paul "Triple H" Levesque. As a loss leader designed to develop the WWE Superstars of tomorrow, Triple H has complete autonomy over NXT. As a result, NXT's striking differences to WWE's much-maligned main roster product are often a point of praise.
But NXT as a television product on a major cable network—where the stakes are much higher with television ratings as an added barometer—changes everything.
Now airing as a weekly television show, NXT is one step closer to Vince McMahon's jurisdiction. The last thing the WWE Chairman wants is to be upstaged by AEW in any form or fashion. The thought of head-to-head competition alone might be enough to thrust McMahon into the gorilla position at Full Sail University.
Though Vince McMahon's potentially adverse affect on AEW will be the prevailing fear throughout the Internet Wrestling Community, NXT's move to USA could be a move for better and for worse. Any ill-advised changes made by Vince McMahon may not only manifest themselves in lackluster ratings, they'll also create more momentum for AEW. This double-whammy dynamic could result in McMahon being less stubborn about maintaining control and more open to course correction in his approach should it begin to get away from him. Perhaps a struggling Vince McMahon-led NXT could open McMahon's eyes to WWE's continued shortcomings on the main roster, but now we're getting ahead of ourselves.
McMahon has already set a precedent for stepping aside in these situations, which is exactly what he did while at the helm of 205 Live. Early last year, McMahon ceded control to Triple H amid low viewership and poor reviews for the cruiserweight showcase, though this is apples to oranges as 205 Live airs on the WWE Network and NXT is now expected to become WWE's third-biggest television priority.
In addition to running WWE's day-to-day operations, Vince McMahon potentially influencing NXT would also mean the 73-year-old Chairman would have his hands in Raw, SmackDown Live, NXT and the XFL as the notoriously overworked McMahon has managed to somehow become even more busy.
Whispers of Triple H being frustrated in Vince McMahon's WWE are nothing new. The possibility of McMahon overtaking (and potentially corrupting) Triple H's baby could lead to even more tension between the collaborative father and son-in-law. And as WWE continues its counter-programming efforts opposite AEW, the next great wrestling world might be an ongoing power struggle in Stamford.
