Former WWE Star Taz: NXT Needs To Be ‘On The USA Network’


Former WWE star Taz (or “Tazz” as he was known while under contract with the company) believes that WWE’s NXT developmental brand belongs with its big brother and sister – Raw and Smackdown – in a regular time slot on the USA Network.

The outspoken former ECW champion recently spoke with Sports Illustrated to promote his The Taz Show radio program, which airs daily on CBS Radio, to describe exactly how he would like to see WWE’s brand extension attempt. In Taz’s own words, his move would be considered “a layup” for the No. 1 wrestling company in the world.

“It’s a layup for me,” said the always outspoken Taz. “They’re doing a brand split… I know how they book and I know what works… The brand split works.”

And no. The wrestler formerly known as “The Human Suplex Machine” has not been dropped on his head one too many times.

“I think [WWE should] do NXT from 8 p.m. [E.S.T.] to 9 p.m. on The USA Network,” said Taz, noting the former champion’s firm belief that WWE’s developmental show would serve as a “perfect lead in to Raw” without taking away from WWE’s flagship program.

Taz noted that he feels that Raw has become stale over the years since its decision to switch to a three-hour format back in 2012. Tagging in NXT for the first hour, he asserted, could help WWE on quite a few different levels.

Taz’s points, as he expanded upon during the S.I. piece, are as follows:

RAW IS TOO LONG

“It’s tough for creative [and] tough for the announcers,” said Taz. “A three hour wrestling show is a lot for wrestling fans to watch.”

WWE Network Presentation
The WWE Network, which launched in 2014, has proven to be a huge success for WWE over the long term. Given the popularity of programs such as NXT on this network, many (such as former WWE star Taz) have begun to wonder if the brand could be an asset in a regular time slot on the USA Network. [Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images]

The former extreme grappler is a firm believer that part of the issue with wrestling’s seemingly diminishing popularity has to do with over-exposure. In fact, since WWE announced for the first time in 2012 that its flagship program would add a third hour each week — starting at 8 p.m. E.S.T. instead of one hour later — opinions have varied greatly.

https://twitter.com/nerdmantra/status/735482264751079424

One cannot contest, however, that Raw‘s ratings have fallen dramatically over the years, as the former No. 1 cable TV program has fallen to just inside the Top 10, per Nielsen.

NXT NEEDS BETTER AWARENESS BY WWE FANS

Since the NXT television program is right now exclusively available to subscribers of the WWE Network, which is limited to just over a million subscribers, there remains a large segment of WWE’s casual fan base that are unfamiliar with many of the wrestlers signed to WWE’s developmental system.

“[My] NXT idea brings more awareness to another brand,” said Taz, noting that the idea would not require WWE to scale back on its planned five hours of live television on USA, between Raw and Smackdown.

NXT‘s ROSTER COULD BE DRAFTED

Potential breakout NXT stars such as Finn Balor, Austin Aries, Samoa Joe, Bayley, and Shinsuke Nakamura would, according to Taz, be given an on-screen reason to be eligible to be drafted to either Raw or Smackdown.

KEEPING RAW and SMACKDOWN‘S PRESENTATION BALANCED

In order for WWE’s 2016 brand extension to do as it is designed, both programs need to be presented as theoretical equals. This, Taz believes, can be achieved by giving both of the shows’ talent rosters an equal amount of on-air time.

“Stephanie and Shane have a kind of sibling rivalry, so Stephanie [could] run Smackdown and Shane… Raw” noted Taz, elaborating on this point, “Stephanie [would] ask, ‘Why do you get three hours on your brand and I only get two on mine?’ Then Vince can come out and settle the argument between his kids by making it plain and simple. ‘Raw and Smackdown will both be two hours.”

Shane McMahon
Could the reintroduction of Shane McMahon to the WWE landscape have set into motion a chain of events that could lead to NXT on WWE television? [Photo by Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images]
Ultimately, however, the 29-year wrestling veteran feels that the key to WWE’s success will have to be remaining focused on keeping Raw, Smackdown, and NXT as separate entities on television as long as possible.

“We did this brand split when I worked for WWE and, in order to make it work, you have to keep it clean. You can’t have talent bleeding over to the other brand,” said Taz. “You need separate house shows, separate announce teams, separate writing teams.”

With, of course, one small caveat.

“Unless you’re doing a massive event,” smiled Taz at the prospect of WrestleMania someday becoming more of a showcase of WWE’s two major rosters butting heads. “Only then can worlds collide.”

[Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images]

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