If WWE put plants in the NXT audience, could they effectively control the fan narrative for the entire WWE?

[Nark Order]

Let me explain what I mean. Lately we've seen a big influx of NXT stars being called up to WWE and for the most part, it couldn't really go much better. The NXT people are coming into the main shows with already established characters, established/proven entrances, storylines, and fan chants. The NXT crowds are a huge part of NXT as they kind of establish the fan narrative for many of the characters. Much of what the fans do in NXT carries over to when they go onto the main roster. The NXT fans at Full Sail actually are a huge part of how talent is portrayed to the rest of the audience. If they bury somebody, it's usually curtains for them unless they reinvent themselves. If they put somebody over big, much of the regular audience follows suit.

My question. If WWE planted their NXT audience with hired chant mercenaries, is it possible that they could help control the overall fan narrative for the entire WWE? To me, it really does seem like if they put a sizable amount of plants in the NXT audience, they could decide who gets over to an extent and they could help establish specific chants for whomever they please. The NXT audience doesn't seem very big at full sail either, do it doesn't seem like it would be difficult to pull off.

CONSPIRACY. Could this happen? What if it did?

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

No they'd be drowned out by the real NXT fans and heckled.

[Nark Order]

I don't think so, STD. Much of the environment there is pretty interactive and the fans are kind if just waiting to participate. If people went out of their way to start certain chants, I'm willing to bet many of the fans would follow.

And the NXT fans wouldn't know who were plants

[Fignuts]

Tyler Breeze, The Vaudvillains, and The Acension might disagree with you on all that.

[Nark Order]

Tyler Breeze, The Vaudvillains, and The Acension might disagree with you on all that.

There are some outliers for sure but it could be argued that they got called up right before NXT exploded

[Funky Fly is back]

I'd like to see Umaga in the crowd but I suppose it will never happen

[Lock Jaw]

I don't think they really need plants, because the NXT fans are already super into everything/everybody.

[Fignuts]

There are some outliers for sure but it could be argued that they got called up right before NXT exploded

I dunno, I still think you are overestimating how popular NXT is with the main audience.

The success of people like Zayn, Owens and Balor has more to do with how they were booked, rather than what they did in NXT. Hell, a lot of people even question Balor's placement in the main event.

It is definitely growing in popularity, and it could very well reach tje point where every fan follows it, but I don't think its there yet.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

The NXT fans even like Go Away Jose and he's shit.

[Fignuts]

For a guy who is only a couple years into the biz, Jose is pretty good.

[Nark Order]

I dunno, I still think you are overestimating how popular NXT is with the main audience.

The success of people like Zayn, Owens and Balor has more to do with how they were booked, rather than what they did in NXT. Hell, a lot of people even question Balor's placement in the main event.

It is definitely growing in popularity, and it could very well reach tje point where every fan follows it, but I don't think its there yet.

Yeah, you might be right. I think it's on the cusp of going fucking bananas popular but the fact remains that NXT is behind a paywall. It just does seem like NXT gives a lot of people a huge leg up when they come into the company. When Enzo and Cass came in, my mind was pretty blown. Everybody knew their music, their catches phrases, their signature moves, etc.

Feel like it could be moving into some weird place where NXT will be responsible for how narratives are set in fans minds before they get to the main dance

[Fignuts]

Enzo and Cass debuted on the raw after mania, which is always a major smark crowd. Plus, their whole gimmick and their talents are just made for a mainstrem audience.

[ClockShot]

I honestly think they "pipe in" chants through the PA system at the shows.

I got that impression when I was at Smackdown a couple weeks ago. Mohegan Sun got a tiny arena, and I'm pretty sure that the people behind me couldn't scream that loud when chants got started. Good example was the "Heath's a Woman" chant at the show. Nobody was saying that.

So, to answer the question. Plants aren't necessary.

[Lock Jaw]

Enzo and Cass debuted on the raw after mania, which is always a major smark crowd. Plus, their whole gimmick and their talents are just made for a mainstrem audience.

Yeah..... debuting NXT rasslers in front of crowds who are more likely to know them is good in helping to establish the rasslers for those fans who have never seen them before.....

Debuting Enzo & Cass on RAW after Mania vs. debuting Tyler Breeze on some random Smackdown.

[slik]

I don't think a lot of the 'general public' wrestling fans watch NXT or the Network in general. NXT crowds are almost entirely hardcore wrestling fans, which there are quite a few of us out there.

Going back to your original question, I don't think so.

[Bad News Gertner]

NXT crowds are giant douchebags who cares more about getting themselves over than the action in the ring. It would make watching NXT tolerable again.

[Bad News Gertner]

Also, 90% of WWE fans don't watch or know the NXT wrestlers.

[Mr. USA #1]

Not true. I don't watch NXT but I know who Samsung Joe is.

[Nark Order]

NXT crowds are giant douchebags who cares more about getting themselves over than the action in the ring. It would make watching NXT tolerable again.

I actually agree about nxt fans. Most the time it seems like they care more about screen time than watching a show

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

False. They are all for getting the best reactions for the wrestlers to make them seem like a big deal. WWE fans want to seem like they are cool and hip and usually go along with what the fans of NXT do. Sometimes they don't.

[Lock Jaw]

They do annoying stuff like sing for Bayley, the whole YAH thing they did for Ascension, a bunch of other stuff I can't think of right now but was definitely way annoying......

[Emperor Smeat]

It could work but at the same time feels like too much effort for something Vince barely cares about based on past stories and reports. Until Triple H took over, Vince barely invested in developmental and only cared if he could get at least 1-2 potential stars from it.

If anything, WWE should consider NXT itself as "canon" to RAW/Smackdown so when call ups happen, WWE isn't wasting time repeating stuff already established or developed a while ago. For example, Bayley's character on RAW is basically where she was prior to her rise in NXT and not taking advantage of how much its grown since then. Same for American Alphas being treated as Smackdown's top tag team because WWE says so instead of their NXT backstory being the basis.

[slik]

Can we all agree in this thread the following fans should be banned:

1) Frank the Clown

2) Sign Guy

3) Brock Lesnar Guy

4) Izzy and her parents (sorry kid, not personal)

5) Frank the Clown again just to be safe

[Bad News Gertner]

False. They are all for getting the best reactions for the wrestlers to make them seem like a big deal. WWE fans want to seem like they are cool and hip and usually go along with what the fans of NXT do. Sometimes they don't.

[#1-norm-fan]

On one hand I agree than NXT fans for the most part are douchebags trying to get themselves over. They sound like annoying drunks a lot of the time.

On the other hand, I'd take that over the dead silence that happens most of the time on the main roster.

[Bad News Gertner]

Lol oh I'd rather have dead silence

[Mr. Nerfect]

Tyler Breeze, The Vaudvillains, and The Acension might disagree with you on all that.

Emma and Adam Rose would also like to take the stand.

[Nark Order]

Again though. I feel like NXT before Brooklyn and NXT after Brooklyn are pretty different. I see what you're all saying though.

[Bad News Gertner]

Apollo Crews, American Alpha come out to crickets.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, I don't really think so. In fact, I'm also burnt out on NXT. I'm going to cheer Nakamura and Joe when they make their way up, but that's because I know who they were beforehand.