10 Things That Should Be On WWE's Summer To-Do List
A hectic time of year, but will WWE make the most of it?
WWE have had a middling 2017 thus far.
The year's two biggest shows (Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 33) saw their greatest highs tempered by a myriad of lows, the latest financial results revealed falling profits despite increased Network subscriptions, and while fans have been treated to great matches this year, they've also had to endure the House Of Horrors and other such nonsense.
Now deeply entrenched in their annual post-Mania lull, WWE are approaching summer with plenty of obstacles to overcome. For a start, Raw's ratings hit a six-month low this week, and Braun Strowman's injury has forced a major rewrite in the show's main event scene. This is just the beginning of it, however, and the coming months will surely bring plenty of new challenges.
While there are lots of great things happening in WWE at the moment, there is still much work to be done to build enthusiasm for the product.
Last summer saw the reintroduction of the brand split, and while WWE probably won't pull such a cataclysmic move this year, there are plenty of things they can do to heat their brands up ahead of SummerSlam on August 20th...
10. Making Some Overdue Call-Ups
NXT is currently undergoing a serious resurgence, and is fast approaching the level of quality that saw it becoming WWE’s most enjoyable weekly show in 2015. The likes of Aleister Black, Drew McIntyre, and Roderick Strong have emerged as major players, carrying NXT back towards its old level, but a big problem remains: roster bloat.
There’s barely enough room for performers like Kassius Ohno to be featured even on a fortnightly basis, and it’s about to get worse. The Performance Center is set to see a huge influx in talent though the women’s tournament, and if free agents like Adam Cole sign as expected, NXT’s recruitment team could be set for a busy summer.
The deck needs to be cleared, and the best way to do this would be by moving some of NXT’s more tenured wrestlers to the main roster. There’s no real need for the likes of Asuka, Hideo Itami, and DIY to be at the Performance Center anymore: they’ve progressed as much as they’re going to, and have earned the opportunity to flourish on a bigger stage.
Doing so would give NXT’s rising stars room to breathe, and the chance to ascend to the departing wrestlers’ level.