WWE planning significant change to upcoming shows; major rumor killer - Reports

WWE SmackDown is in week two of its USA Network era. NXT is set to launch on CW Network on October 1, while RAW is preparing for its game-changing shift to Netflix next year. These major happenings for the company will see plans change as officials go back and forth, as revealed by sources with new details and a big rumor killer.

NXT will air live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago for the CW premiere on October 1. The following week, it will air from The Factory at The District near St. Louis. There has been talk of more NXT TV tapings on the road now that the show is airing on CW, but nothing has been confirmed past the first two weeks, and a return to the Performance Center was expected.

Sources have now indicated that the November 5 edition of NXT may take place outside of Orlando. Fightful adds that a NXT taping initially scheduled for November 5 at the Performance Center has been canceled. As of this writing, a new city and venue have not been announced, nor have makeup date details.

Backstage sources mentioned various factors in this potential decision, including the possibility of a double taping on October 29 at the Performance Center due to the crews traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel on Saturday, November 2, and the Saudi RAW taping expected for Sunday, November 3, to air on November 4. It's important to note that Tuesday, November 4, is also Election Day in the United States.

WWE has a crew scheduled to be in Nottingham, England, on November 5 for a non-televised live event. This is part of the four-date post-Crown Jewel UK tour that begins Sunday, November 3, in Dublin. Matches may also be taped at NXT Halloween Havoc in Hershey, PA, on Sunday, October 27.

WWE premiered NXT Level Up on February 18, 2022. The one-hour show airs Friday at 10 PM ET on Peacock and the WWE Network. It originally debuted as a 205 Live replacement but has aired for 136 episodes. It was reported this week that Level Up is being canceled because WWE's Hulu contract expires next week.

The report added that NXT will no longer film its secondary show, which offers a broadcast platform for up-and-coming Superstars. However, this new update from Fightful states that no NXT sources were able to corroborate the report on plans to pull Level Up from the air.

Sources also noted that officials have "stacked matches" set to air on future Level Up episodes. One backstage worker said it would be a mistake to discontinue Level Up because it does allow talents to have some TV experience before they debut on the main NXT show, an essential step in the process for officials such as Triple H and William Regal as they are high up on talents being ready for TV.

WWE NXT lineup for the final USA Network episode

The new era of WWE NXT will begin on Tuesday, October 1, as the show moves to the CW Network. Next week's show will be the final airing on the USA Network.

NXT boss Shawn Michaels and his team have confirmed a title match for Tuesday. Below is the updated lineup:

1. Press conference for the NXT CW premiere
2. The Grayson Waller Effect with A-Town Down Under and NXT Tag Team Champions The Super Sonic Duo
3. Ridge Holland vs. Riley Osborne
4. Women's North American Championship Match: Kelani Jordan (c) vs. Wren Sinclair

Several NXT Superstars are advertised for next week's Press Conference, which is touted as a special event. Ethan Page, Roxanne Perez, Trick Williams, Giulia, Zachary Wentz, and Wes Lee are set to appear.