10 Major Problems Facing WWE In 2017

9. NXT's Lack Of Spark

NXT’s TakeOver events are still among that year’s most enjoyable WWE shows. While the main roster pay-per-views are often marred by suspect booking, TakeOver is a wrestling-centric island away from Raw and SmackDowns sports entertainment trappings. The shows regularly provide some of the best matches of the year, as has been the case since their inception, and there’s no reason to assume this will cease in 2017.

Despite all this, NXT unquestionably lost some of its special appeal this year. The brand felt cool, original, and unique in 2014 and 2015. It was a breath of fresh air for dedicated fans burned by the main roster’s drudgery, and following WWE’s future stars through various stages of their development was immensely rewarding. Sadly, NXT has become the norm: it’s part of the routine, the buzz isn’t what it used to be, and there’s nothing “must see” about the weekly TV show these days.

That’s not to say NXT isn’t good anymore, because it clearly is. The Wednesday night show is still enjoyable, and the most watchable hour of weekly television in WWE’s current schedule, but the hype has slowly simmered away. TakeOver’s quality endures, and perhaps this was inevitable, but NXT doesn't capture the imagination like it did a year ago.