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WrestleMania season is upon us, and after the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, the Road to WrestleMania is about to get crystal clear for the WWE fans.
WrestleMania events are known to run on for longer periods than other wrestling events and host several title and non-title matches which are always a treat for the WWE Universe.
While we’ve always seen Superstars of RAW and SmackDown compete for the titles that exist on the two brands at the PPV, WWE should try to incorporate the NXT brand into WrestleMania 36.
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After the success of then NXT Champions Roderick Strong and Shayna Baszler at Survivor Series, coupled with Adam Cole’s win over brand-mate Pete Dunne, proved that NXT Champions are as good as any other Champions in WWE.
With that in mind, we will take a look at the 5 reasons why NXT Superstars should defend their titles at WrestleMania 36. But before heading into that part, gear up by listenting to Kurt Angle's prediction regarding WrestleMania main event!
#5 NXT isn’t just the developmental brand anymore
Let’s begin with the most obvious reason. For years, NXT had been referred to as the “developmental brand” and the “third brand” of WWE. Superstars would begin their career in WWE with NXT and look forward to the day they’d be called up to the “main roster.”
We watched NXT give us some of the best Superstars in the form of Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, and Sasha Banks to name a few.
However, we never saw any Superstar express interest in going back to NXT after reaching RAW or SmackDown, and they believed they were on a higher platform.
Over the past year or so, the image of NXT has changed drastically as the brand has continued to dish out some of the best stories and matches in the company. Superstars like Johnny Gargano, Shayna Baszler, Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, and Rhea Ripley have made NXT a must-watch show over the past year.
With that in mind, NXT participated in Survivor Series for the first time in 2019 and managed to win more matches than RAW or SmackDown, proving that the talent in NXT is as good, if not better, as compared to its RAW or SmackDown counterpart.
Apart from that, the return of Finn Balor to NXT has opened the doors to many other Superstars who could make the move from RAW or SmackDown to NXT and break the norm. A new television deal last year has allowed NXT to become one of the biggest wrestling shows on TV, making things even better for Triple H and his crew.
#4 Fans will get even more out of WrestleMania weekend
WrestleMania Weekend is arguably the most exciting time for wrestling fans around the globe. Not only does WWE host many different events and shows during the weekend, but other companies also try to cash in on the hype and the interest of the fans with their products.
Over the past several years, we’ve seen NXT TakeOver shows take place a day before WrestleMania to allow NXT Superstars to prove their mettle just hours before The Grandest Stage of Them All is set.
This year, NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay is set to take place on April 4, just a day prior to WrestleMania 36. While we will see at least half of the NXT Championships on the line at the event, WWE may go all in and make all the Champions defend their titles.
If the winners of the matches have to go on and defend their title the next night at WrestleMania, things will get even more entertaining and the excitement of who will be defending their title against the challenger will increase the overall hype around WrestleMania weekend.
Fans will get much more to look forward to, while the suspense and intensity will keep the temperatures high all weekend!
#3 It’ll help NXT get more reach
Last year’s Survivor Series helped NXT Superstars get a huge boost in their career. Not only did the pay-per-view establish that, but it also helped NXT itself get a lot more viewers in the build-up to the PPV and after it.
Since moving to the USA Network, the return of Finn Balor to the brand coupled with the success of NXT TakeOver: WarGames with the inclusion of Kevin Owens in one match, and the success at Survivor Series has literally catapulted the brand.
WWE is trying to make NXT come at par with RAW and SmackDown and give a tough time to the ratings of competitors. Keeping that in mind, having NXT Champions defend their titles at WrestleMania will help the Superstars get a lot more attention, and increase the ratings of the NXT shows before and after the event.
Fans were already hoping to see a lot of male and female Superstars from the Black & Gold brand participate in the Royal Rumble matches from now on, and they will certainly get interested if NXT Superstars face RAW or SmackDown Superstars for their titles at WrestleMania.
#2 Dream matches on the right stage
Dream matches are one of the biggest entertainment factors in sports entertainment, and fans wait for years, even decades, to watch two or more of their favorite Superstars collide in the ring.
WrestleMania events have usually been the best place to host dream matches, and for years we’ve seen several top Superstars build-up to the event to face an opponent they have never faced before in the company.
Fans have recently been looking forward to NXT Superstars clashing with stars of other brands, especially after the build-up for Survivor Series went great. Braun Strowman vs. WALTER, Matt Riddle vs. Brock Lesnar, and Shayna Baszler vs. Becky Lynch are a few of the cross-brand matches fans are interested in watching.
Ronda Rousey has recently expressed her desire to challenge Rhea Ripley for the NXT Championship and picked The Nightmare as the woman Charlotte Flair should go after to cash in her Royal Rumble opportunity.
If WWE allows NXT title matches at WrestleMania, we could get massive bookings such as Rhea Ripley or Io Shirai vs. Charlotte Flair for the NXT Championship, Adam Cole vs. Kevin Owens for the NXT Championship, and Undisputed ERA vs. The Revival for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
With endless possibilities, such dream matches can help motivate current Superstars and elevate their status on all three brands.
#1 It’s a massive opportunity to build future stars
WrestleMania is not only a place where veterans prove their worth to the wrestling industry, but it’s also a place where future stars are built. The Royal Rumble that precedes the event is a place where several Superstars have managed to earn the opportunity to go on to headline WrestleMania.
Currently, it seems like Drew McIntyre will be the man who will be cashing in the most out of WrestleMania 36, and WWE could use the stage to start developing future NXT megastars too.
WWE could use the NXT TakeOver: Tampa Bay to host a couple of No.1 contender matches for the NXT titles. They could include a Superstar from RAW or SmackDown to each one of them.
If a Superstar from RAW or SmackDown goes on to win the title at WrestleMania, they could trade that Superstar to NXT in return for the Champion who they defeated.
This could allow Superstars like Adam Cole, Keith Lee, and The Undisputed ERA a great path to reach another brand while giving up their titles. It would also allow established stars such as Kevin Owens and Cesaro to return to NXT as top Superstars if they compete and win a title.
