September 30, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Everything changes next week, Impact moving to AXS
Wrestling changes in just a few days and everyone is pulling out all the stops this week to get a head start.
WWE is loading up Raw on Monday, NXT on Wednesday and even more, Smackdown on Friday. It’ll be a huge week for them but in some ways it’s trying to hot shot three shows in one week, not only that, but a PPV week.
It’s short-term thinking, but there are key reasons for it. NXT moves to two-hours and goes head-to-head with AEW (and WWE’s own Total Divas). NXT is there more to make sure AEW isn’t successful. But the FOX debut, which the network has done a great job pushing, is really the most important thing.
The idea is to give a facelift to a somewhat stale product, with new sets for Raw and Smackdown, new announcing teams and in a few weeks, new separate rosters.
The idea is that NXT on television will make their stars bigger, will lead to more touring and bigger crowds. In theory.
Current subscribers click here to continue reading.
Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.