Backstage Update On WWE's Plans For Diamond Mine
New details on NXT's Diamond Mine stable, which debuted last night.
Diamond Mine was finally revealed to the world on last night's WWE NXT, with weeks of MMA-style vignettes paid off when Malcolm Bivens led a returning Roderick Strong, Tyler Rust, and newcomer Hideki Suzuki out to beat Cruiserweight Champion Kushida down following the night's main event.
Per Fightful Select, the group are a key component of WWE's plans to put increased focus on the cruiserweight division going forward.
The report states that Diamond Mine was several months in the making, with the plans predating Roderick Strong's decision to "quit" NXT on the show's 13 April episode. It was originally set to come together a lot earlier, but was moved off of one show in order for it to "take center stage on an episode of NXT," which it did last night.
As far as those early rumours of potential Tessa Blanchard or Parker Boudreaux involvement go, WWE never had plans to integrate either into Diamond Mine. While other members had been considered, Blanchard and Boudreaux can be put down to fans with overactive imaginations creating speculation.
Diamond Mine joins a growing group of heel factions on NXT, with The Way, Legado del Fantasma, and Hit Row already active amongst others.