Shawn Michaels has opened up about the improved links between NXT and WWE’s main roster.
In recent years one of the main criticism’s levelled at WWE was a lack of continuity between NXT and the main roster. Superstars that had excelled in NXT losing momentum and getting lost in the shuffle on the main roster became an unwanted regular occurrence for many fans.
The issue really came to a head in the July 2021 when Karrion Kross was promoted to Monday Night Raw. Kross was a two-time NXT Champion and had been a dominant force on the black and gold brand for his entire run. However, upon moving to Raw all of that momentum was quickly lost as his act was changed dramatically, while in the ring he lost a number of matches right out of the gate.
With Triple H now installed as Head of Creative the hope from many is that this problem will be a thing of the past, especially with The Game’s best friend Shawn Michaels heading up NXT.
Speaking in a new interview with The Ringer Wrestling Show, Michaels explained that there is now a greater synergy across WWE, as well as vastly improved morale.
“Absolutely, yeah. We say that’s where the synergy is. There’s certainly, I would say it’s no secret to anybody that there’s a huge uplift in morale, from top to bottom in the WWE, whether it’s Raw, SmackDown, or NXT, everybody’s very excited for the future. Look, I’ll say this, the one thing that was always really positive in NXT and again, the positive about all these other former athletes that come in, they were already excited and focused and ready to go.
Now we’ve just made sure that we’ve topped that off and everybody from top to bottom, roster-wise, is excited about the future. All of us working there are equally as excited because we all know that we’re pulling the rope in the same direction,”
Michaels was also asked about comments in an earlier interview where he said NXT will continue to sign the best talent from around the world. Something which has happened less frequently in recent times. The WWE Hall of Famer admitted there had been a “slowdown” but stated that WWE are determined to sign the best talent available.
“Yeah, I certainly think so, by all means. But I guess, I think with the pandemic and everything else, I think it’s, and this is not to imply that there aren’t any other big stars out there, but I think that we’ve had a slowdown in that respect. There have been so many people that have done that and have already stepped up into the big time, so to speak. But I certainly would never take those things off the table.
The WWE is gonna want talent, the best talent they can find, for many years to come. So absolutely. I just don’t think you ever say no to somebody who’s unbelievably gifted and somebody who’s talented in this line of work. So we’re just looking for people that want that, that are looking to have their WrestleMania moments, who want to have their opportunity to make a run on what we believe is obviously the biggest and greatest sports entertainment brand on the face of god’s green earth, and that’s the WWE,”
It was recently reported that new signees will be given two years to prove that they are “TV ready” before being released.
H/t to Fightful for the transcription.