Seriously, what could go wrong? The question wasn't hypothetical so much as it was realistically pessimistic.
The manner in which WWE has scythed through almost every "can't miss" NXT prospect over the last few years has been so depressing that it's actually butchered the enjoyment of the otherwise-excellent weekly broadcast. NXT's 2014-15 golden era wasn't just fantastic at surface level; it was augmented by an overarching feeling of hope for just about every performer on the show. Yes, there had to be television time for a Baron Corbin or a Nia Jax, but dark-days-WWE dorks like those two were merely rule-proving exceptions, surely never destined to take up masses of time on Monday Nights.
Beyond that blandness, NXT was the breeding ground for the elite - a place that WWE presumably hoped would render the independent scene OBSOLETE, just as it had Impact Wrestling years earlier.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
