Report: WWE Officials "Disappointed" With NXT 2.0
Here's why NXT 2.0's first four months of operation are being considered an internal disappointment.
WWE are reportedly disappointed with NXT 2.0's first four months of operation.
Per WrestleVotes, the brand's myriad new wrestlers not catching on with the audience appears to be key to this, though changes to the format aren't expected anytime soon:-
Internally WWE is said to be disappointed w/ NXT 2.0 in its first 4 months. Source said they thought more fans would gravitate towards the newer stars quicker than they have. Could it just be too much, too fast? Either way I don’t expect any changes to the concept… just yet.
NXT was completely revamped with its 14 September episode. As part of a wider overhaul of WWE's developmental system, NXT 2.0's debut killed the brand's black and gold era did as older, more experienced wrestlers were cycled out in favour of younger, greener performers, with the likes of Von Wagner, Toxic Attraction, Bron Breakker, and countless others becoming fixtures.
Part of a plan to engage with younger viewers and ease the transition of wrestlers from NXT to the main roster, NXT 2.0 wasn't particularly well-received, critically, and hasn't caught on with viewers either. In Q4 2021, the show averaged 622,000 total viewers and 183,000 in the key 18-49 demographic, with its median viewer over the age of 60 on some weeks.
WWE's developmental switch has seen dozens of wrestlers leave the promotion. In addition, the promotion has shed prominent behind-the-scenes figures like William Regal and Brian 'Road Dogg' James, who part of a team assembled by Triple H over the past few years. Triple H's own NXT role remains unclear following his September 2021 hospitalisation due to a "cardiac event."