5 Things NXT did better than RAW and SmackDown this year

#4 Rotation of talent

Pete Dunne - still appearing on NXT

I’ve spoken a lot in recent weeks about the need to keep stars and talent fresh.

Look no further than the most talked about, innovative and captivating characters in WWE right now – The Fiend, Bray Wyatt. What accounts for his success and prominence? There are many factors, not least his own ability and charisma.

One would have to admit, though, that what does help in keeping The Fiend so fascinating is the fact that we don’t see him every week. Sometimes several episodes of WWE’s weekly products can go by without a sinister visit from Bray Wyatt’s alter ego.

To an extent, this is what NXT has done well over the last year – and since their formation. You don’t necessarily see your favourite stars wrestling every single week. More often than not, you might get a backstage segment here, a promo there and then a match thrown in every few episodes – the perfect mix. As purely one example, take former NXT UK Champion, Pete Dunne.

He’s extremely popular, but he’s kept fresh for WWE audiences by only appearing on a semi-regular basis. And it is the same for the entire NXT roster.

Where RAW and SmackDown may be suffering from saturation of one or two stars, NXT has the balance right.