10 Biggest Ways WWE Changed In AEW's First Full Year
6. Keeping NXT Stars In NXT
While Finn Bálor and others came over to NXT, there was another trend starting to emerge. WWE stopped regularly moving NXT stars to Raw or SmackDown in what had been previously considered promotions or labeled call-ups. Every once in a while a star would move, but for the most part, NXT's stars stayed put.
Prior to AEW and NXT being live on the USA Network, the goal for many NXT talents was to make it to Raw or SmackDown. After the transition and some real competition was put in place, the goal became to build NXT, boost ratings, and be considered the best brand in WWE. In fact, NXT was widely regarded by a large portion of the WWE Universe as having accomplished that goal.
Talents like Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa said they didn't want to leave and other performers who weren't in NXT looked to the brand as a way to reinvent themselves. In many ways, NXT became a destination instead of starting point.