According to a new report, some within NXT have suggested that working on the brand is no longer fun.
On December 2nd NXT announcer and WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix announced that she would be leaving the brand. At the time the former Women’s Champion cited wanting to spend more time with her family as the reason for her departure.
Her exit comes a matter of weeks after NXT trainer Scott Garland, also known as Scotty 2 Hotty revealed that he had asked for his release.
Speaking on a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez has suggested that there might be more to Phoenix’ departure than first meets the eye. Alvarez speculated that the announcer might not be the last person to leave, as he had been told by some within the brand that working there is no longer fun.
“It’s not like she couldn’t do the main roster feud with Miz & Maryse and also do NXT commentary,” said Alvarez. “She has just decided she is done with NXT. Whatever that means, she says it’s due to family, but this also, again might not be the last person. Because no matter what you guys think about me or anyone else saying that it sucks — it does. There are people there who have told me that it’s just not fun anymore.”
With regard to Phoenix leaving NXT it has been suggested that she may be about to get involved in her husband Edge’s burgeoning rivalry with The Miz and Maryse.
Perhaps interestingly, speaking in July, Phoenix revealed that she’s medically cleared to wrestle and there had been “little conversations” about her returning to action.
In a statement posted on social media, Phoenix said that she was proud of NXT, adding that she’ll always be part of the brand. She went on to thank many of the people she has worked alongside during her stint with the brand including Mauro Ranallo, Triple H and Shawn Michaels.
Beth Phoenix will make her final appearance on NXT 2.0 at WarGames on December 5th.