All NXT Contracts To Be Turned Into WWE Main Roster Deals?

NXT's impending move to the USA Network will see the developmental contracts changed-up.

by Andrew Pollard
Johnny Gargano Takeover Punisher
WWE Network

As part of the WWE’s recently announced decision to soon move NXT to a live two-hour broadcast on the USA Network, now comes word that this is to mean a change in contract for NXT talent.

Via The Wrestling Observer, all NXT developmental deals are due to be changed to main roster contracts once NXT moves to USA on September 18th.

While no specifics are known, the belief is that the top NXT stars will be given new contracts that are in line with main roster WWE talent. As for those NXT names who aren’t quite viewed as top players in the black and gold brand, their deals are expected to be also altered as time goes on.

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Initial NXT contracts are usually worth between $40,000 and $60,000 per year, with that basic deal expected to be raised significantly going forward. This, of course, largely being down to the fact that All Elite Wrestling is now in the market to offer talents a viable alternative to WWE and NXT – not least in how AEW is reportedly offering low six-figure contracts for a schedule that is far less strenuous than that of WWE and NXT.

For those currently in NXT, however, the move to USA Network is going to see them receive a substantial increase in earnings as the once-developmental brand looks to become fully established as a genuine third brand for WWE.

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.