WWE starts 2016 with a renewed sense of optimism, having established Roman Reigns as an over champion, and with the always hot Royal Rumble to WrestleMania season getting underway. However, short term gains can't cover up longer term problems. The company is still afflicted by a range of dilemmas and obstacles, in addition to facing new problems that are undoubtedly going to arise in 2016. Will Vince McMahon and co be up to the task of overcoming the major issues that face pro wrestling? Or, like in 2015, will more malaise and decline set in? This feature will analyse the big problems for WWE...
11. A Faltering NXT Product
NXT is going to be a victim of its own success, and that will become more apparent as 2016 progresses. The biggest issue is the fact that all of NXT's best wrestlers (Finn Balor, Bayley) are going to be moved up to Raw soon. You can't just replace talent like that, and it is going to be painfully obvious that the heart and soul of NXT is gone. But it isn't just that. NXT is also likely to falter due to the old ECW problem, in which what was once "cool", ends up becoming contrived. WWE are wanting to take NXT on tour and make it a bigger operation, which in turn risks cannibalising the boutique status which made the brand so cult. There's really no getting around this problem, WWE have to chase the money, but the commercial growth is likely to lead to critical decline.
