NXT Roster

[Heros Welcome]

I figured this could spark a good discussion, and instead of harping on the name of the show itself, lets dive a little deeper.

With ECW coming to an end, how do you see the NXT Roster shaping up? Do you think its going to just be the same exact show as ECW but with 3 different letters? Or do you expect this to really be a pure breeding ground for young talent from FCW?

The way I'd like to see it is to have young talent from FCW come in, as well as bring in the youth that can really use the time on the brand to reconnect with the audience and further develop character, names like Evan Bourne and Jack Swagger since they are just dying on the red brand. Maybe even the Hart Dynasty, even though I would rather see them go to RAW and be utilized with Bret. All while keeping a few of ECW talents they have now like, Croft, Baretta, Tatsu, and Ryder.

Then you also introduce names to the fans like Danielson, Low Ki, Justin Angel, Brett Dibiase and Joe Henning. You bring in these names, maybe work a tournament for a NXT Champion, since I would expect Christian to leave since hes the present, take the ECW title to Smackdown and would love if he worked an angle with Edge post Mania where it would be a unification type match between both titles.

NXT Roster
Jack Swagger
Evan Bourne
Zack Ryder
Caylen Croft
Trent Baretta
Yoshi Tatsu
Bryan Danielson
Low Ki
Justin Angel
Joe Henning
Brett Dibiase

Keep the same announce team, as well as Tiffany as GM, or maybe even make Abraham the GM.

Whats everyone else think?

[Anybody Thrilla]

I think Jack Swagger would benefit more from a move to Smackdown than to NXT.

[Heros Welcome]

I wouldn't mind a move to SD for Jack at all. When I thought of him as a name for NXT I pictured it as him feeling as though he let himself down by not fulfilling his unbeaten streak promise and that people think that he is nothing but a joke so he goes to NXT to prove that he is the next coming of a great superstar then moves back to either RAW or SD and becomes a more prominent factor in the Main Event scene.

[Loose Cannon]

I think a 3rd brand is stupid to begin with, but I understand that it gives guys that get lost in the shuffle a home and hopefully a decent paycheck. I never watched ECW though because it just felt like Shotgun Saturday Night/Sunday Night Hear/WCW Saturday Night to me.

[Jordan]

I agree with the main post 100%

[Anybody Thrilla]

Shotgun Saturday Night, Sunday Night Heat, and WCW Saturday Night were all great shows.

[Loose Cannon]

:nono:

they're all just there for filler and like I said, to give the guys that have nothing to do, a job. they bring in that extra revenue for the company, but are hardly shows that are put in place to advance any major storylines. That's why I never watched. I wasn't missing anything if I didn't watch. But in saying that, it's not like one has to keep up with Raw every week in hopes of not missing anything.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I keep forgetting that you don't like actual WRESTLING. My bad.

[Xero]

:nono:

they're all just there for filler and like I said, to give the guys that have nothing to do, a job. they bring in that extra revenue for the company, but are hardly shows that are put in place to advance any major storylines. That's why I never watched. I wasn't missing anything if I didn't watch. But in saying that, it's not like one has to keep up with Raw every week in hopes of not missing anything.

Well, it's also there to expose new talent to the mass audience without throwing them right onto the main show. With a roster the size of WWE's, this can be crucial.

It also allows upcoming talents to build up a history within the company. Morrison and Punk are perfect examples of this. Them being ECW champions gave them more credibility when they moved up than they would have had otherwise.

[HeartBreakMan2k]

Shotgun Saturday Night was awesome.

[Loose Cannon]

I keep forgetting that you don't like actual WRESTLING. My bad.

sure I do, just not the 25 minute high flying/technical matches most people on here do. come on, I grew up on WWF Superstars and Wrestling Challenge

also, one reason I loved the attitude era

[Anybody Thrilla]

Remember when Marlena flashed The Sultan? How about when The Undertaker tombstoned Triple H as the top of an escalator, and the unconcious Triple H rode it all the way to the bottom?

[Anybody Thrilla]

sure I do, just not the 25 minute high flying/technical matches most people on here do. come on, I grew up on WWF Superstars and Wrestling Challenge

also, one reason I loved the attitude era

Did you ever see John Morrison vs. Evan Bourne on ECW last year?

[Loose Cannon]

Well, it's also there to expose new talent to the mass audience without throwing them right onto the main show. With a roster the size of WWE's, this can be crucial.

It also allows upcoming talents to build up a history within the company. Morrison and Punk are perfect examples of this. Them being ECW champions gave them more credibility when they moved up than they would have had otherwise.

true, can't argue that. but I can say for every CM Punk and John Morrison, there's a Elijah Burke and DJ Gabriel

[Loose Cannon]

Did you ever see John Morrison vs. Evan Bourne on ECW last year?

no, but I promise you it would bore me. Was the ECW Title on the line at least? If not, then it would definately bore me. From day one of me watching wrestling, I've just never been into watching these long wrestling matches without any kind of story/gimmick/feud behind it.

I'm all for Bret/HBK WM 12, but that's because we're talking to top two wrestlers in the WWF at the time and it was for the Title.

But give me a 25 miniute match of the 3rd rate show between two mid card guys and I'm turning it off in a second.

I don't want to ruin the thread with my wrestling likes though, so that's all I'll say on that

[Anybody Thrilla]

Sucks to be you.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>They seem to be hyping NXT to be all new guys.....so in some ways I feel that if anybody from ECW remains on NXT, that might be pretty much declaring them "not ready" to go to Raw or SD.

So instead, I think all of the ECW guys will be bumped to the main roster, divided equally. Some guys from Raw, SD, and ECW will be cut in the process (main roster cuts have been rumored for some time now but only Eric Escobar has gotten future endeavored to this point, gotta think more are coming).

Then, NXT will essentially be FCW. Hell, maybe for NXT tapings they'll use the same venue FCW is taped in. Basically, it gets the standard TV audience "used" to these guys, because most people don't watch FCW.

And every year, maybe Raw and SD each get to draft some guys from NXT...actually functioning like a legit draft. Since NXT will only be running for about a month before the draft likely happens, I'd say probably only do one draft pick each show for guys who immediately impress (Bryan Danielson and Kaval, I'm looking at YOU!)</font>

[Xero]

true, can't argue that. but I can say for every CM Punk and John Morrison, there's a Elijah Burke and DJ Gabriel

Would you rather those guys come right onto RAW or SD and be featured in a higher profile than they should be?

[Loose Cannon]

I'll say this, if WWE gave them a month's worth of vigenntes (sp) and then brought them in, they yes, I'd say throw them on Raw/Smackdown.

But the problem is that's a rarity these days and I wish it wasn't because that's the easiest way to get the new guys over with the crowd imo. or at least it makes the crowd understand what the wrestler is about before he debuts.

Now, take the vignettes out of the picture. I liked how the WWE threw John Cena in. I think he had a match with Jericho, right? That's another way to get the new guy exposure. Throw him in with an establishes star to get the rub.

But if the WWE is just going to throw the wrestler to the wolves without any sort of steam behind him, then yea, a show like NXT would be best for him.

[Xero]

But when they come in on the main shows they'd get lost in the shuffle. On a show like NXT that doesn't happen as badly because it's not dominated by the main event.

[Loose Cannon]

and that's golden question: would you rather be a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond.

it's really all about the push you're going to get. If you're going to come in with some kind of a rub (Dibiase, Rhodes) you can come in on the bigger show. If you're coming in without any push/ rub, you're probably going to flop on Raw

[St. Jimmy]

What the hell are you people talking about?

[Xero]

and that's golden question: would you rather be a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond.

it's really all about the push you're going to get. If you're going to come in with some kind of a rub (Dibiase, Rhodes) you can come in on the bigger show. If you're coming in without any push/ rub, you're probably going to flop on Raw

And without a show like ECW (NXT) some talents who NEVER would have gotten a chance get a chance to shine and possibly make it to the next level.

I'm not saying a whole BRAND is necessary, but shows like this with the size of WWE's roster really are.

That said, SuperStars could easily fill this void.

[Loose Cannon]

yea, that's what I've been saying. just look at my first post in this thread. If you like watching the up and comers, it's the show for you.

[Xero]

Fair enough.

[St. Jimmy]

What the hell are you people talking about?

[Xero]

The ECW brand is being folded and NXT (standing for "Next Generation") is going up in its place.

[thedamndest]

Changing the name itself doesn't make sense to me. They have an established brand in ECW. Why go to something else that is a complete unknown? They could bring guys from FCW on to ECW and they could stop putting the ECW title on PPV. That sounds like what could happen and I doubt the NXT name will outdraw the ECW name.

[St. Jimmy]

The ECW brand is being folded and NXT (standing for "Next Generation") is going up in its place.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/319047856_dbf1ef3e92.jpg

[Juan]

ok Jimmy, we get it.

[St. Jimmy]

ok Jimmy, we get it.

tl;dr.

[Xero]

ok jmy we gtit

[thedamndest]

Sometimes I get the feeling St. Jimmy is nearly illiterate.

[St. Jimmy]

Sometimes I get the feeling St. Jimmy is nearly illiterate.

Just nearly.

[VSG]

As long as it doesnt get turned into a sci-fi/reality show!

Btw who here will definitely tune into the last episode of ECW, if only for sentiments, but hoping Vinnie Mac lets its go out with a bang?

[Xero]

I almost see a sort of "NXT Invasion" with a bunch of FCW guys coming up and taking over.

[Jordan]

Well if any of you have watched FCW's TV show online or wherever, if that was basically what NXT is, then hell yes!

I think that the main NXT guys should be Bryan Danielson, Kaval, Yoshi Tatsu, Justin Angle, and Joe Henning. I would watch every episode.

[Nicky Fives]

Nothing will change until the draft after Wrestlemania..... they might then send some of the younger guys and older guys (mostly to job) from Raw & Smackdown (Jack Swagger, Evan Bourne, etc.) to NXT

[screech]

I agree with the main post 100%

:y:

[screech]

I like the idea of having veterans on the show along with new talent no one really knows.

One, people are more likely to tune in if they know at least a few people on the show. And two, it will give the new talent a chance to learn from the older guys.

[screech]

I also feel like this will bring some legitimacy to the draft, because RAW and SD! could use that to pull the top talent from NXT. Wishful thinking? Probably, but it would be a good use of the show. Guys could compete to "move up" instead of for a belt.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'm not entirely sure I would make NXT a brand, per se. I'd like to see it as just a bonus weekly show which features RAW talent, SmackDown! talent and maybe even some exclusive NXT talent -- until they get signed by either RAW or SmackDown! -- as long as they fit the following prerequisits:

1) They are under 30 years of age.

OR

2) They are in their rookie year with the WWE.

Obviously not every single talent that fits this profile will appear on NXT every week, but it does give them a larger talent pool to put on the NXT section of the WWE website, for example -- including some bigger stars like Randy Orton and Sheamus. The possible pool for talent currently on the WWE roster would include:

Alicia Fox (23)
Beth Phoenix (29)
Brie Bella (26)
Caylen Croft (29, rookie year)
Chris Masters (27)
Cody Rhodes (24)
David Hart Smith (23)
Dolph Ziggler (29)
Drew McIntyre (24)
Evan Bourne (26)
Eve Torres (25)
Hornswoggle (23)
Jack Swagger (27)
Jillian Hall (29)
Jimmy Wang Yang (28)
JTG (25)
Katie Lea Burchill (29)
Kelly Kelly (23)
Kofi Kingston (28)
Luke Gallows (26)
Maria (27)
Maryse (27)
Natalya (27)
Nikki Bella (26)
Primo (27)
Randy Orton (29)
Serena (23)
Shad Gaspard (29)
Sheamus (32, but within his rookie year)
The Miz (29)
Ted DiBiase (27)
Trent Barreta (22, rookie year)
Tyler Reks (31, but within his rookie year)
Tyson Kidd (29)
Vance Archer (32, but within his rookie year)
Yoshi Tatsu (32, but within his rookie year)
Zack Ryder (24)

Now, that is a 37 person roster, which is huge, but they would just be the guys allowed to compete on NXT. The show wouldn't feature every single talent, and some are too big to really appear on the show, anyway -- although having Orton and Sheamus on there for the first show could be a great way to kick it off. Orton is set to turn 30 very soon, though, so then he would be cut-off from the show.

As for the current ECW talent that don't make the age/experience cut (Christian, Ezekiel Jackson, Goldust, Shelton Benjamin, The Hurricane, Vladimir Kozlov and William Regal), you can just divide them up between the RAW and SmackDown! rosters. Other guys like Zack Ryder and Yoshi Tatsu could also be assigned a brand, but compete mainly on NXT. Or maybe just occasionally on the show.

This also allows guys like Jack Swagger, Evan Bourne and Dolph Ziggler to do something without losing their spots on the main roster. And, of course, you can debut guys like Bryan Danielson and Kaval on NXT for their rookie years, and have them get snatched up by either RAW or SmackDown! very quickly.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I made up a huge post about this, but then I deleted it because even I realise how stupid this NXT idea is if used entirely for new guys. If the WWE wants this concept to be worth a shit, they need to have some top guys involved.

One shocker I would pull, if I was the WWE, would be to send CM Punk there. I know that might sound ridiculous given how hot he has been, but that is part of the reason I'd send him there. Have him talk about how he is the choice of the "new generation," and start spreading his message to the young guys on NXT, only to have Bryan Danielson step-up to knock him one. That would be a feud that I think people would want to see. With Punk, you'd take the Straight-Edge Society to NXT. If Joey Mercury is meant to be part of that, then re-debut him on NXT.

Rey Mysterio vs. Kaval is a feud that has been thrown around in the rumours a bit. If the WWE decides to go that route, then it would be easier to do it with Kaval on the same show as Rey. It'd also fit their "next generation" thing if Kaval went to NXT.

Some other bigger stars that could be part of NXT:

* Carlito
* Evan Bourne
* Dolph Ziggler
* Jack Swagger
* John Morrison
* MVP
* Rey Mysterio

Carlito is doing nothing on RAW, nor is Jack Swagger. John Morrison could go to sort of keep him labelled as a "rising star." Rey Mysterio is meant to be feuding with CM Punk later in the year, so them being on the same show would help that out. MVP is getting time with this US Title program, but it feels like he's treading water a bit. The WWE have also apparently lost interest in Dolph Ziggler. Keep Zack Ryder on the show, and have Curt Hawkins return to feud with him.

Faces:
Bryan Danielson
Curt Hawkins
Evan Bourne
John Morrison
MVP
Rey Mysterio

Heels:
Carlito
CM Punk
Dolph Ziggler
Jack Swagger
Joey Mercury
Luke Gallows
Zack Ryder

You'd keep Tiffany as the General Manager, Savannah as ring announcer, and Rosa Mendes and Serena would be there doing their valet thing. Use NXT to launch the next generation of main event stars. When there is the desire to use Jack Swagger or Dolph Ziggler as a main player, move them over to RAW or SmackDown!. Replace them with some FCW guys that are really ready. Keep the credibility of the show above mid-card, so that people actually watch. That way, when you do use the show to introduce us to a completely new face, they don't feel like a nobody because they are in there with a somebody.