In case you've been living under a rock, WWE is on fire. The Sports Entertainment juggernaut has been on essentially a consistent incline ever since Vince McMahon first stepped down from the company in 2022. The promotion is making more money than ever, the viewership demographics are skewing younger, and the live event and merchandise businesses are on fire.
While this mostly applies to Monday Night RAW, SmackDown, and Premium Live Events, the NXT brand is also doing quite well. The show led by Shawn Michaels has been doing some of their strongest numbers in years recently and interest seems to be higher than it has been in a long time.
For proof of NXT's recent successes, the brand has managed to defeat All Elite Wrestling's primary program Dynamite in viewership for two weeks in a row. Last week saw NXT dominated the challenger brand in every metric outside of live attendance.
With this kind of momentum behind NXT, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and company officials surely want to keep it going. As a result, there are a handful of big things Michaels and the company could do to make sure NXT defeats Dynamite in the ratings yet again. Below are four things WWE can do to make sure NXT beats AEW Dynamite in the ratings this week.
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#4. Joe Hendry could return to NXT
Do you believe in Joe Hendry? It appears the WWE Universe does, as the TNA Wrestling star is making headlines and breaking records despite not even being part of the Sports Entertainment juggernaut.
Hendry made his WWE debut last week representing TNA Wrestling in a Battle Royal on NXT. Despite being eliminated in record time, Joe's appearance was a hit and it is one of the most viewed social videos the company has had over the past few years.
If Shawn Michaels wants to keep up NXT's momentum, they should negotiate Joe Hendry to appear again and this time promote his arrival ahead of time. Given that Joe and Shawn had a backstage confrontation following Hendry's elimination last week, it seems as if there is more in store for Joe on the brand.
#3. The WWE and TNA relationship can continue beyond Hendry
Joe Hendry isn't the only TNA Wrestling performer to appear on WWE programming. In fact, he wasn't the only TNA star to be in the Battle Royal last week, as Frankie Kazarian was also involved in the match and lasted far longer.
Beyond that, Jordynne Grace had several high-profile appearances, including an NXT Women's Championship match at Battleground. While she lost, WWE fans quickly became familiar with the powerhouse.
Grace, Hendry, Kazarian, and even Ash By Elegance have all appeared on NXT recently. If the relationship between the two companies continues this week, the intrigue may be enough to help Shawn Michaels get another ratings win. Perhaps an invasion could take place which could then lead to a supershow of some kind.
#2. Cody Rhodes could have an advertised appearance again
Cody Rhodes appeared on NXT just a few weeks ago. His arrival was only advertised for a few days and his role was relatively minor. Rhodes announced a big-time Battle Royal and then interacted with a few notable WWE NXT stars such as Trick Williams and Jacy Jayne.
The Undisputed WWE Champion's appearance was the first of a two-week streak where NXT defeated AEW Dynamite in the ratings. It is clear that The American Nightmare is a needle mover.
As a result, Shawn Michaels and NXT may promote another Cody Rhodes appearance on the white and gold brand. This time they may even promote a match, as Cody hasn't competed on an NXT show in over a decade. A bout with the world champion would be a big deal.
#1. The Wyatt Sicks could invade NXT
WWE Monday Night RAW last week featured one of the most intense and exciting segments in the show's history. The Wyatt Six, a stable led by Uncle Howdy, debuted. Not only did the group debut, but they decimated numerous people.
The stable consists of Uncle Howdy himself, Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan. They left several names battered and bloodied and this includes Chad Gable, who many feared was badly hurt. Their arrival was chaos, but WWE fans are hooked already.
Shawn Michaels can see the hype behind the group and the intrigue fans have regarding their debut and subsequent future. As a result, Michaels may arrange to have the faction invade NXT this week. If The Wyatt Sicks reveal their plans to do so on RAW, many fans may tune in to check out what chaos goes down.