10 Ways WWE Are Misreading What Their Fans Want From The Product
9. NXT's Lost Buzz
NXT may have peaked with Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn. A near flawless match, the developmental brand's buzz has never been higher than it was during those 20 minutes in Dallas last April, and while NXT still delivers in the ring, its hype levels aren't even a fraction of what they once were.
The weekly show has been great for several months, and the TakeOvers remain excellent, but you need only look at the crowds to see the difference. Once home to WWE's hottest atmosphere, Full Sail University is close to silent most weeks, and there are still plenty of tickets left for 19 August's TakeOver: Brooklyn III - an event that would've quickly sold out if it were held 18 months ago.
The difference is in the talent. WWE have effectively replaced 'young and hungry' (Sami Zayn, et al) with 'old and comfortable (Bobby Roode), and the brand's buzz has dipped accordingly. Guys like Aleister Black are helping get things back on track, but for all Roode's positive traits as a worker, no 40-year-old should ever be a developmental champion.
NXT's joy came from following the next generation of up-and-comers on their journey to stardom, and it's no coincidence that the brand's buzz has nosedived since it started moving from that blueprint.