The Truth Behind Seth Rollins' WWE NXT Return

Why Seth Rollins is heading back to NXT to face Bron Breakker.

by Andrew Pollard
Bron Breakker Seth Rollins
WWE

With this week's NXT broadcast seeing Bron Breakker lay down the challenge to World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, there now comes an update on why exactly Rollins is returning to the company's developmental arm.

Speaking on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio (via WrestlingNews.co), Dave Meltzer noted how the Visionary appearing on NXT programming is part of an active strategy from Nick Khan to present NXT as being a third brand rather than a developmental brand.

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As Meltzer detailed:

"I mean, the deal is that this is a Nick Khan thing, you know, bring... like, they had Dana Brooke, which is no big deal, but still. [Baron] Corbin. Bring more main roster stars to NXT every week, boost the ratings and try to boost the price for a renewal from USA Network because the ratings are higher. So, that's the strategy that they're going with. That's why you're going to be seeing more main rosters stars, and [Nick Khan] said it a couple of weeks ago that the plan is to put more main roster stars on NXT and make it a third brand and not a developmental brand. Which is funny, because [Triple H] wanted [NXT] to be a third brand and they nixed him and made it a developmental brand. But that's not a surprise. Things, like they say in WWE, if there's a new rule and it's stupid, don't worry, because it's all going to change."

As alluded to by the Observer founder there, Dana Brooke and Baron Corbin are two of the main roster stars who have recently landed back in NXT, along with Mustafa Ali. And by the sounds of it, Brooke, Corbin, Ali and now Seth Rollins won't be the last main roster names to appear for NXT... well, until WWE inevitably changes their approach once again in a few months time.

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In terms of what the aforementioned talent are doing, Brooke was this week involved in the match to crown a new #1 contender for Tiffany Stratton's NXT Women's Title; Corbin is going after NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes; and Ali seems destined to eventually challenge Wes Lee for the North American Championship.

Of course, as for Seth Rollins, he's been called out to defend his World Heavyweight Title against Bron Breakker, which is a match that could and should be a whole lot of fun.

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Senior Writer
Senior Writer

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.