10 Major Challenges Facing WWE In 2018
3. Saturation Point
NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia hasn't (as of time of writing) sold out the Wells Fargo Center despite the spectacular buzz emerging from November's fabulous WarGames event - a show that also failed to fill to capacity despite the return of the beloved eponymous stipulation.
The recent policy of running the same venue four nights in a row may have tested audience patience as well as bank balances, but a bigger problem may be lurking beneath the surface in terms of just how loyal fans are now willing to be to the NXT brand and their favourite performers on the show.
An unspoken joy of the 2014-2015 golden era of the brand was buried within the optimism for each beloved character's future on the main roster. Considered a given that the prodigious crew would be given free reign to ape their Full Sail runs in front of massive audiences worldwide, there was a renewed freedom in falling for a new favourite.
That vigour has been repeatedly squashed by WWE's woeful record transitioning talents following their graduation. Furthermore, the increased need for talent has shortened stints on the show. Why invest too heavily in Adam Cole or Velveteen Dream when their time on the show is so short-lived and Raw and SmackDown remain the brutal proving grounds anyway?