3 things that can improve in WWE NXT 2.0 and 2 things that are working

NXT 2.0 has been around for roughly a month. It has introduced a different format than the previous show. New names and faces have appeared every week. Some have been in matches, while others have been introduced in vignettes or backstage segments.

Things have truly changed in WWE NXT. The beloved former format featured several independent standouts. These indie wrestlers were mixed in with athletes new to the wrestling business.

NXT 2.0 is focusing more on younger stars and male performers that are bigger. Many of the independent stars were around six feet tall and weighed 200 pounds. Right off the bat, new stars like the Creed Brothers, Odyssey Jones, Harland, and Bron Breakker are much bigger.

Now that there is a sample size of NXT 2.0, how has the new version looked? Some things have worked while other things could improve. Here are three things that can improve and two things that are working on the re-brand.

---

#3. NXT 2.0 has featured several quick vignettes that could easily be missed.

Along with matches, interviews, and backstage segments, introductory vignettes are a staple of pro-wrestling. Vignettes often portend the arrival of a new Superstar. It provides a glimpse of what that character will be all about.

WWE used to feature introductory packages to introduce new stars from NXT. Damien Sandow, for instance, was featured in several video segments that got him across as an elitist.

In the past year, WWE simply ran a quick package saying, "Toni Storm is coming to SmackDown." It didn't give much information to fans unfamiliar with her work. Over the summer, Karrion Kross simply showed up for a match like he was already a part of RAW.

Introductory vignettes are certainly useful. NXT 2.0 has gone back to using that trope but has overdone it. In a single week, NXT 2.0 showcased vignettes for Von Wagner, Tony D'Angelo, Andre Chase, and the duo of Brooks and Briggs.

Such segments are quick. If you left the room for even a minute, you might've missed them. WWE should only have two to three vignettes a week. Instead of running them right after a commercial break, they should be aired before or after a match. People will at least get a glimpse of a possible upcoming performer.

The latest episode featured a quick segment hyping Solo Sikoa. He's the younger brother of The Usos. Using vignettes is a good idea to introduce new faces. They just need to air fewer vignettes and position them in better spots.

#2. NXT 2.0 has introduced a variety of characters in the reboot.

One thing that the NXT reboot has done well is introduce a variety of characters. Andre Chase may seem goofy, but he's like a wrestling Tommy Knight. His bits on NXT 2.0 have been funny. The character mixes Drew Gulak with Timothy Thatcher.

Joe Gacy has been given the character of a new-age, woke male. It seemed very awkward at first but, as the weeks have progressed, it has improved. Adding Harland to the angle just gives Gacy's gimmick a new layer.

Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen are two Southern boys who like to drink and fight. The Creed Brothers are reminiscent of amateur wrestlers like Kurt Angle, Chad Gable, and Jack Swagger.

These are just a few examples of the new, character-based template for NXT 2.0. Tony D'Angelo's vignettes made him seem like a modern-day mobster. It was done with subtlety but was easy to read between the lines.

After a few weeks of vignettes, D'Angelo was met with cheers from the fans. Lash Legend has been presented as a gossip purveyor/talk show host. Even Cora Jade rode a skateboard down to the ring for her singles debut on NXT 2.0

Toxic Attraction is like Absolution; three ladies that just want to rule NXT. Looking good while doing it is just part of the job for Gigi Dolin, Jacy Jayne, and Mandy Rose.

One thing that the WWE main roster was lacking was a variety of characters. WWE had the likes of the Tribal Chief, the Fiend, and the delusional Seth Rollins. Outside of those personas, however, most of the performers had little character depth.

Most of the stars on the WWE main roster are good in the ring. What sets them apart, however, is a gimmick or character. NXT 2.0 is making sure that everyone they introduce has a defined direction. Some may not work, but having a variety of new faces on the show has certainly felt fresh.

#2. Some stars that have been fast-tracked in the first weeks of NXT 2.0 haven't seemed ready.

Something NXT and WWE have done before is fast-track certain stars, whether they were ready or not. Names like Nia Jax, Dana Brooke, and Lacey Evans all made it to the main roster before fine-tuning their skills in NXT.

Before her call-up, B-Fab had only wrestled two matches. In those matches, it was apparent that she needed a lot more work in NXT. She looked overmatched against Elektra Lopez, a star with prior wrestling experience.

Dante Chen has been touted as the first-ever WWE Star from Singapore. While that's impressive, his match with Trey Baxter was rather quick. Beating a much more seasoned opponent was impressive. It was likely short to get Chen over while also keeping things simple.

Ivy Nile had a match on the most recent episode of NXT. She defeated Valentina Feroz in what was essentially a squash match. She had impressive moments but also still looked green.

It's great that she can do squats with someone like Feroz on her shoulders. Doing that to someone like Raquel Gonzalez, Franky Monet, or Indi Hartwell would be much harder. Nile has potential, but it doesn't need to be rushed.

Since NXT 2.0 has tried to feature so many stars, it has led to more matches than usual. Before the re-brand, a usual episode of NXT featured five or six matches. It gave the wrestlers a good amount of time to work and tell a story in the ring.

With the alteration of the brand, there have been no less than six matches an episode. The latest episode had nine matches in total during the two hours. One, of course, was the cash-in from Carmelo Hayes.

The point is that, by trying to introduce too many new stars, the quality of the bouts has decreased. It has felt like developmental, but newer stars need more time to improve. That, unfortunately, means lower quality matches.

Fans of NXT are used to great in-ring action. Since the brand will focus more on newer stars, the caliber of matches will be below what it was before the reboot. If four or five ready stars were chosen, it would be easier to stem the tide regarding the change of match quality.

#1. The new faces in NXT 2.0 have been mixed in well with established stars.

In NXT 2.0, it's easy to see that there's heavy emphasis on new stars. The likes of Tommaso Ciampa, Pete Dunne, and Kyle O'Reilly are still featured. It seems, however, that there is at least an equal amount of former NXT stars mixed in with the recruits.

So far, the bookers have done well mixing in those new faces with the established stars of NXT. Von Wagner took part in the NXT Championship match on the first episode of the reboot. He has since been paired with Kyle O'Reilly against Ridge Holland and Pete Dunne.

Bron Breakker has been pushed heavily from the onset of the reboot. He has proven that he can hang with the veterans, so it hasn't been a problem. If he looked unready, he would hopefully not have been thrust into the spotlight.

The former NCAA football fullback has done a good job alongside Tommaso Ciampa, and he'll be the first challenger for Ciampa at Halloween Havoc. Will that end with a title swap for the young star? It certainly could if management is looking to transition most of the titles to the new breed.

Ivy Nile won the Titan Games and is a physical specimen for her size. She's a bit smaller than a good portion of the women in WWE. Since she is new to wrestling, it took some time for her to learn the craft.

While Nile did make her debut recently, she still looked a little raw. For that reason, it was a good idea to be a part of a faction with Malcolm Bivens and Roderick Strong. Bivens is great on the mic and Roddy is a safe, trusted veteran of the ring.

Had the reboot featured only one or two of the stalwarts of NXT, it would have likely upset fans. A lot of the stars in NXT are beloved due to the time and effort they've put into the storytelling. Not every new star is ready for the big stage, but the current reboot has done well with mixing new stars with veterans.

#1. NXT 2.0 should cut down on introducing so many new performers all at once.

While it's good to see new faces in NXT, the reboot has forced too many new names into the picture. They already have a great roster with stars including Ciampa, O'Reilly, Dunne, Cameron Grimes, MSK, Grizzled Young Veterans, LA Knight, and Dexter Lumis.

That's not even considering the women of NXT. Raquel Gonzalez, Io Shirai, Franky Monet, Zoey Stark, Indi Hartwell, and Ember Moon are all talented veterans of the brand.

It's already a tough job of fitting those names into the two hours of NXT. The reboot has tried too hard to introduce too many new faces. In about a month, there have been around 15 new stars in the reboot.

Stars like Wagner, Breakker, Nile, the Creed Brothers, and Tony D'Angelo have been pushed. Alongside those performers, we've met Dante Chen, Lash Legend, Xyon Quinn, Trick Williams, Harland, and Brooks Jensen.

These are just 11 names we've encountered in the NXT reboot. Performers including Grayson Waller, Joe Gacy, Cora Jade, Gigi Dolin, Jacy Jayne, Odyssey Jones, and Josh Briggs appeared briefly before the reboot. During the latest episode, there was a vignette for another new star, Solo Sikoa.

If the people behind the reboot want fans to get behind the newer stars, the focus should be put around only five or six at a time. With so many new people to encounter, it's hard to invest in someone when they only show up once a month.

A few stars should get focus for about a month and then show up now and then. That will allow fans a chance to see if they like the star or not.

That's why some stars are featured now and then on RAW or SmackDown. The top stars and Champions get most of the spotlight, but the rest are worked in and out of the lineup.

On the main roster, stars usually debut after a big event. Since so many new names have been introduced right away, it has muddled the field a bit. Chen's debut and Legend's appearances could have been held off.

It's great to see new faces on any brand in WWE. With so many so fast, however, it's been hard to keep track of everyone.