Let me take this opportunity to say a few things about NXT. NXT has obviously been a bit of a weapon for the company over the last few years. They have used it to generate hype with smarks. It has been an expected draw for the WWE Network. The brand tours all over the world. They sell merchandise. The WWE even acts at times like people that debut from NXT are established stars. I have said many times how that is not smart business, but the WWE obviously treats NXT as more than just a developmental territory.
In recent months, however, NXT has lost some of its luster. There was a report that viewership was down for NXT on the WWE Network. NXT events aren't always selling out, despite not regularly being held at the large venues the main roster events are held. And it just seems like the brand has lost a lot of its star power. Triple H cannot take top talent from the minor leagues as quickly as he needs to in order to keep NXT as hyped up as it once was. Key injuries there can also cripple it, much like how key injuries hurt the women's division on the main roster. Hideo Itami recently suffered another big injury.
I find it interesting how certain workers are draws for NXT, but then they come to the main roster and they really haven't helped to draw for the main roster. Ratings are still sinking. Raw and Smackdown are not regularly selling out. The WWE still relies on these big part-timers to help draw subscribers to the WWE Network. Goldberg is now added to that rotation. And just going by fan reactions, these NXT stars don't regularly get amazing reactions, unless they are in a smark city, especially PPVs. It just goes to show that the WWE needs to put in better work in these talent. Getting over in a brand that only interests a fraction of your overall audience is not enough to make you a true A+ star.
What will Triple H try to save his pet project? There are a still a number of workers out there that would appeal to the NXT fanbase, but it is also an issue of whether these workers are willing to come to the WWE. The WWE obviously is not going to give them all big contracts. There might be some other promotions out there that can hold onto these great wrestlers by offering them better deals. Will Triple H rely on part-timers to cause buzz for NXT, much like the main roster relies on part-timers? Jushin Thunder Liger worked in NXT before. Details have not been released on how long Mickie James will be working with the WWE. This could just be a one-time deal because NXT women's division lacks credible contenders for Asuka. It certainly is causing some buzz. It might lead to more past female wrestlers getting this type of use. Outside of part-timers, the only other thing I can imagine is sending some main roster talent to NXT. They have done that before. Certain guys being underutilized might do better in NXT. Apollo Crews? Even Sami Zayn looks like he is just floating around. A return to NXT might be an option to him. It would not be a demotion. NXT needs help and he might be able to help them.
Overall, it just seems too problematic to treat NXT like a brand. Not only does the WWE have to deal with various issues trying to get the main roster shows to draw, but those same issues are now being exposed in NXT. Key injuries are making things difficult. There is a lack of star power. There is a reliance on part-timers that could hurt the development of the overall roster. I just think that NXT should not be its own brand. I sometimes see fans having these big discussions on the booking of NXT and things they need to. They talk about what might hurt or help the credibility of certain workers there. Relax! Why put so much thought into the developmental territory? A lot of these workers come to the main roster and lose a lot of the edge they did have in NXT. Even if some of them keep the edge with smark fans, the wider audience is obviously not immediately impressed. The WWE has to put the work in on the main roster. That is where it really counts. These fans getting so worked up about what is going on with the NXT booking sometimes reminds me of parents getting worked up for little kids playing flag football. It's not the NFL. It's not even college football. Just relax! There is no need for smarks to get so worked up about NXT. But because Triple H has done the job he has done with NXT, some fans now take it that seriously.
Back to Mickie James. She is the first credible jobber back since this "new era" philosophy started in both the women's division and the overall company. It is obviously a good choice to bring her in, even if just for one match. She was the most popular credible jobber the diva era ever had. She was the most over diva on the roster at one time, connecting with fans even better than the women pushed as the centerpiece. No one ever even considers whether Mickie James getting in the way of the status quo back then had anything to do with her mistreatment and release. They should. But it is a new era now.
I do not think Mickie James should spend any long time in NXT. There are so many talented women in the indies that would love to be in NXT, and eventually the main roster. What about Taeler Hendrix? What about Santana Garrett? What about Tessa Blanchard? These kind of women have worked for the WWE to some degree in recent years, but how about actually signing them and building them up to be stars for NXT? Don't just use them as jobbers. NXT should not be looking for easy answers in the same way the main roster sometimes seems to do. Stop hunting for workers that are only making a ton of buzz on the indies or these former WWE talent that are liked. Take a chance on these other talent and put that worth into them. And if they can't do that, NXT is definitely not that star factory the WWE might hope it was.
Mickie James should be on the main roster. The depth in both women's divisions on the main roster is not too great. But it shouldn't only be about using her to work with the talent already there. This woman earned the career of a star, but was in the WWE at the wrong time to get what she earned. Even this era has some issues. She would be a great periphery diva, but the periphery is pretty much not an option for female wrestlers these days. I helps to build stars and create entertaining storylines. Sadly, I still don't think Mickie James will get the career she deserves. It isn't even about the WWE trying to screw anyone these days. It is just them focusing too much on pleasing wrestling fans and not enough on working on the wider audience.
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