WWE Telling NXT Stars To Be More Physical?
This edict might be a response to AEW aggression.
Bryan Alvarez claimed on Wrestling Observer Live that WWE officials have been telling NXT stars to "lay it in" as of late.
This edict has been passed down to everyone on the brand, and might have something to do with emerging competition from AEW. Fans of that company will know that All Elite like physicality on Dynamite, and they're giving talent total freedom to express themselves during matches.
Alvarez did also say though that WWE were asking for more aggression before Dynamite really started and offered competition to NXT on Wednesday nights. It seems the company are keen to present a much more intense style of ring work on NXT than they do on either Raw or SmackDown.
That's a good thing, because it helps NXT stand out from the WWE crowd and gives it more credibility against AEW's rugged style.
Most would probably have put NXT's aggression down to the fact that wrestlers want to impress management and work their way up the WWE ladder. There's probably some merit to that, but it's also a company directive.
This may explain why there are so many injuries blighting the NXT roster.