Will NXT ruin the indy promotions or will the indy ruin NXT?

[whoopin' ass]

I don't think that anyone will argue that NXT is the wwe's attempt at an indy promotion. Smaller venue, longer matches, more action/less talk - it is an indy show with better production values. As well, wwe is grabbing all the good talent that isn't tied down to a contract elsewhere while bringing in older talent like Tommy Dreamer and Rhyno who currently are an active part of the indy circuit. A lot of people would look at this and feel that this is bad for the actual indy promotions just like WWF going national was bad for the territories since who can compete at the same level as wwe? Even though there are indy promotions nation wide, wwe has the power to pick and choose the best talent no matter where they are and that could damage these promotions. On the surface, it looks bad for these companies however a couple interesting things happened recently that question that assumption.

Recently the Young Bucks turned down a wwe offer to stay on the indy circuit. AJ Styles has been doing that for a while now and has nothing but good things to say about it. It allows them a freedom that working for wwe wouldn't. Samoa Joe just debuted in NXT. It is clear that they are going to ignore his TNA history and just use ROH when necessary to advance feuds but consider this - Joe is a 9 time champ from TNA but none of that will matter or ever be recognised. His work for the past number of years doesn't count for anything anymore. And he is a rare exception in that he gets to keep his name - most guys don't. Going to NXT in many ways means cutting off your past work as it doesn't matter in wwe. After building yourself up for 10 years, would you want to just drop all that and start over? As well, Joe mentioned pro wrestling in his promo but we know once you hit the main roster, you are not a pro wrestler but a sports entertainer. There as been a lot of talk already about how NXT really is a different style than Raw. Does that appeal to a lot of the guys on the indys? Could we see more and more talent turning down NXT because they look at what happens when these people go to the main roster? There are far more Adam Rose and Bo Dallas stories than there are Seth Rollins. I am wondering if once the shine wears of, more talent is going to want to stay on the indy circuit since it allows them more freedom compared to going to NXT where even if you have a good gimmick and are successful, you may get nowhere on the main roster. Will NXT turn into a wwe factory, a place where people who want to work just for wwe go to be trained and hopefully make it big because few on the indy circuit want to go there? Thoughts?

 

[scomvp316]

As long as VKM is calling the shots any Indy Talent going to NXT will have to face the fact that WWE could care less what you have done in the past. WWE has always acted like what you did before you got here means shit to us

I have been saying for a few years now that I would want 1 or maybe 2 major business people to buy up the Indies and create a NWA like ORG. TNA doesn't count unless they were to get a new owner. Thats the only way a company like ROH can make serious strides to possibly compete with WWE no sooner than 10 years from now. If this was to happen you could see much more Non-WWE shows on TV especially if SBC was the production company. The perfect ideal for this to happen is a major Production Company carrying the shows. I also think this concept would give more International Talent more NA airtime. Also they could create a online network that would differ from WWE Network. So it can be done you just need 1 or a few business minds to come together!

 

[Mustang Sally]

Could we see more and more talent turning down NXT because they look at what happens when these people go to the main roster?

I used to know a guy named Mark Thomas from Ansonia, Connecticut. Mark was young, good-looking and had an amazing physique. He worked for local indy promotions and then got a call from WWF. He worked a few TV matches and house shows, did nothing but job.....and when Stamford has nothing else for him, he went back to indies. When I asked if it was worth leaving the indies for a short visit to the big time, he told me it was beneficial in every way. Mark said he knew he could always go back to the indies; in fact, once he did, they introduced him before each match as "having come direct from WWF" and that he was more in demand than ever.

I doubt there's an indy wrestler out there who wouldn't grab their chance at the brass ring if WWE came calling.

Further, I don't believe NXT will ruin indy promotions. It's an entirely different market, and for indy guys and gals who might never have gotten a shot at the big time had NXT not existed as a way station, NXT is a great opportunity.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I have been saying for a few years now that I would want 1 or maybe 2 major business people to buy up the Indies and create a NWA like ORG.

Like who? It's not just a matter of pumping money into something, it's about having people in place who know what they're doing. Just because someone is successful in the business world, depending on what business he/she is involved with, doesn't mean they can just step into a professional wrestling company and know what they're doing. Even if someone has the money and has the people in place to ultimately run the day to day operations, there's the possibility that THE boss, who may have no real idea as to what he/she is doing, suddenly believes he/she actually does and starts making decisions that turn out to be disastrous.

WCW was a rarity in that Ted Turner funneled money into the company while letting others handle the actual running of the company. It wasn't wrestling guys running WCW for the first several years, it was ultimately corporate executives who knew jack nothin' about the wrestling industry. Anyone who has the sort of money, dedication to getting things organized and is able to get things up and running will almost certainly do what any organization looking to get ahead and achieve true national prominence has tried: copy WWE as much as they can because they think that'll lead them to where they want to be. The result of that won't be some sort of mega indy promotion that ultimately tries to look indy while having scaled up production values and it won't be long before critics start calling it "WWE Lite" just as they've done with TNA the past 10 years.

As far as the NWA goes, the problem wasn't just that the WWF was on the rise but that the territory system was dying. With the wider availability of cable television and satellite syndication, the days of the territory system were numbered with or without the rise of the WWF. Cable television and syndication meant that programming was no longer restricted due to geographic location and that was what kept the territory system running. Circa 1984, for instance, someone could be living in Seattle, Washington and have the potential of being able to watch WCCW instead of Pacific Northwest Wrestling as was always the case before. The NWA is still around but 99% of is comprised of small, regional indy companies that are almost certainly never gonna grow into anything else.

One thing WWE has going for it is brand recognition. In America, even people who don't watch wrestling, never have watched wrestling and never will watch wrestling knows about WWE. It's been around for decades and has thrived into a huge, multi billion dollar entity while its contemporaries not only went under, but most of them became owned properties of WWE. Even if someone did manage to buy up all the various indy companies and get them organized, it'd still take years for the brand to be built and its reputation to be established even if this modern age.

Just pumping oodles of money into something doesn't mean it'll pay off when it's all said and done, all you have to know there's truth in that is to look at TNA.

 

[Messiah]

It's not bad for anyone, it helps WWE by having good talent that could potentially be big stars in the future, and the indy's will always have new wrestlers coming in.. WWE can scoop all he good indy talent and the indy's will continue to have people that want to be pro wrestlers.. I don't see how it's hurting anybody, it just makes more room for guys on the indy's to make a name for themself.

 

[Navi]

WCW was a rarity in that Ted Turner funneled money into the company while letting others handle the actual running of the company.

And that is exactly with the Carter's should have done with TNA. Fund it and find someone with the experience to establish and grow the company. Dixie Carter should never have been in charge, she knew nothing and as a result TNA which was a promising alternative to the WWE is in danger of going away.

TNA had the talent, the TV deal and the fanbase, all they needed was proper guidance and the knowledge that the bills would be paid at the end of the month. If they had done this, TNA would have eventually become self sufficient. They would have been able to pay their bills, pay the talent, put on a good product, which for a while was better than what the WWE was putting out there. The Carter's could still have used it as a tax write off and Dixie be the figurehead, without actually using any of her power.

They would never have become as big as the WWE, but they could have a least become a thorn in the side of Vince McMahon, which many haven't been able to do. Now if the rumours are true and DA has cancelled them, it looks like TNA will just fade away.

On topic while NXT is still known as the WWE's development project, it is getting rave reviews, putting on great shows and starting to tour. Plus you have the added advantage of one day being called up to the main roster. Vince McMahon isn't going to be around forever, and while I don't wish the man poor health, when it's time for him to retire, HHH will be the one taking over. I think then we'll see a complete turnaround. So if you're a young indy talent that the WWE is interested in, then why not go to NXT and try it out.

No one from NXT is guaranteed to make the main roster, it's pretty stacked as it is. Having it on your resume isn't always a bad thing either, as most companies welcome ex WWE employees and promote them as such. Unlike the WWE who want most past accomplishments swept under the rug. Which if you think about it is kind of stupid. Wrestling fans know about TNA and we know who wrestled there, so the WWE pretending that they don't exist means they're acting like 3 year olds.

 

[OYDK]

Neither. The people who watch ROH, Chikara, CZW, Dragon Gate, etc. are a niche group who watch a lot of indie wrestling. Take myself for example. I watch NXT, but I also watch some of the promotions listed above. It's not one or the other for me, and I'm sure the majority of "hardcore fans" are the same way. There will always be a demand for alternative products in the wrestling industry.

Than you have the Mexican and Asian indie promotions such as NJPW, WWA, Lucha Libre, AJPW, etc. which cater to the home fanbase. Those fans are never going to abandon those promotions, some are akin to WWE in those parts. Point being, it would be almost impossible for WWE to single-handedly destroy indie wrestling throughout the world unless they DECIDED to and indie promotions don't have the material to destroy NXT. Even if WWE did decide to target the indies for some reason, it would take a ridiculous amount of time and money. Don't worry indie wrestling is very safe at this point in time.

 

[Navi]

Neither. The people who watch ROH, Chikara, CZW, Dragon Gate, etc. are a niche group who watch a lot of indie wrestling. Take myself for example. I watch NXT, but I also watch some of the promotions listed above. It's not one or the other for me, and I'm sure the majority of "hardcore fans" are the same way. There will always be a demand for alternative products in the wrestling industry.

Than you have the Mexican and Asian indie promotions such as NJPW, WWA, Lucha Libre, AJPW, etc. which cater to the home fanbase. Those fans are never going to abandon those promotions, some are akin to WWE in those parts. Point being, it would be almost impossible for WWE to single-handedly destroy indie wrestling throughout the world unless they DECIDED to and indie promotions don't have the material to destroy NXT. Even if WWE did decide to target the indies for some reason, it would take a ridiculous amount of time and money. Don't worry indie wrestling is very safe at this point in time.

I hear what you're saying, but some wrestlers like a Kevin Owens or a Prince Devitt coming into the WWE will bring their fans with them. It doesn't mean that the same fans will stop watching ROH, now they'll just watch both. Where they might never have considered watching NXT before.

The more eyes you have on the product is better for everyone. And I don't think the WWE is out to destroy the indies, they are trying to make another brand in NXT and it's only natural they want the best. If the best are coming from the indies, then so be it.

 

[scomvp316]

I know for a fact Jerry Bruckheimer is a huge wrestling fan. Just a few years ago he almost bought the NHL

I don't think just throwing cash into any business is successful

If a major production company could get some backing with the right build up or a 2 Hour doc about the history of each promotion it could work

It would be what we call a soft merger. You agree to do business with one another but run the promotions separate

Just a thought. Doesn't mean it will happen but for the Indies to be financial secure long term it would be in their best interest to have partnerships with one another

 

[BillAlfonsos_Whistle]

I don't think NXT will effect the Indies any differently than WWE does. It is still essentially the same thing. I don't think HHH is interested in mining the talent from other promotions unless they are top notch full vets with huge histories (Rhyno, Bubba, Joe)

I think the mentality of ideally starting with a blank canvas for guys getting trained in both in-ring and mic work is still in effect. From all accounts it is pretty hard to break bad habits formed from years and years of experience in other promotions. The WWE has such a specified way they want their product to look and feel. I think the "freshness and greenness" of someone who is just starting in pro wrestling is still their top objective.

 

[FromGlasgow]

WWE killed most of the indies years ago, There used to be so many companies I followed and ordered videos of like Stampede, Mid South, AWA, UWF, WCW, USWA, GWF, SMW, ECW just to name a few off the top of my head which are all long gone.
Main ones you have now is TNA which looks to be on its way out and ROH with its peadophile owner. Hopefully TNA isn't finished and Jarrett's new company does well but I think it will take a lot for it to go back to the proper indy wrestling days again.

 

[whoopin' ass]

I used to know a guy named Mark Thomas from Ansonia, Connecticut. Mark was young, good-looking and had an amazing physique. He worked for local indy promotions and then got a call from WWF. He worked a few TV matches and house shows, did nothing but job.....and when Stamford has nothing else for him, he went back to indies. When I asked if it was worth leaving the indies for a short visit to the big time, he told me it was beneficial in every way. Mark said he knew he could always go back to the indies; in fact, once he did, they introduced him before each match as "having come direct from WWF" and that he was more in demand than ever.

I don't doubt that there are benefits but at the same time, how long does the "from the wwf" last? It is one thing when you are Daniel Bryan who was known before going to NXT but would EC3 or Bram have enough of a following that people would come to an event just because they were in the wwe? As well, what's the point then of training outside of wwe? They are more likely to use someone they trained than someone who they feel they need to retrain. Just looks at Roman Reigns - he may come from a wrestling family but he is a wwe product- trained and pushed. Chris Hero was a known wrester and was let go when he didn't fall in line. It seem with NXT that if HHH likes you, you can be different but other you need to be just like everyone else where as on the indy circuit, being different gets you noticed.

 

[Honkey_Kong]

NXT will never replace the indy scene. It's just a farm club for the main WWE roster. The talent there is only there so they can learn the WWE playbook and to keep them busy until there is a main roster opening.

And I really don't think it has an indy-feel with the style of wrestling. On the contrary, it's very much WWE's style. The fact of the matter is the WWE isn't putting too much effort on scripting the promos and theatrics of NXT so that forces them to focus more on the wrestling and that's what you see.

But as for the indy promotions out there, it looks like Jeff Jarrett is forming partnerships with them. It looks like GFW will be the next incarnation of the NWA. Hopefully, he could get the funding needed to get both high production value AND to lock talent on to long-term contracts. From the looks of it, he's got a buzz going and he was able to get enough money involved that they could hold "press conferences" about the launch.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Neither. No one is getting ruined. While the two are not mutually exclusive the overlap is minimal. The Indys will lose some talent prematurely and some dollars due to the poached stars and similar programming. On the other hand WWE may be forced to have higher turnover unless they can further expand (which is doubtful) giving the Indys more former superstars available.

No one is getting ruined unless NXT starts running shows in close proximity and time with Indy promotions. This doesn't really benefit WWE. NXT's main purpose is too get certain fans to the network, if they can get them to the gate it is a bonus but in no way should they be a major reason they get people to stop watching the Indys.