NXT Stars Should Have Prime Spots on WWE PPV

WWE's Royal Rumble is coming up on Sunday, January 25, and it promises to be a big night for the company.  The winner of the Rumble, of course, goes on to compete for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 31, the industry's top event of the year.

And while many fans are likely speculating on who will go over, thus affecting the immediate future of WWE, others are thinking more long term.  That long-term plan lies in the future of the roster, and that future is in NXT, whose Superstars should have prime spots on WWE pay-per-views.

From the moment that the WWE Network went live, fans have been drawn to NXT.

WWE's developmental territory in Florida has featured some of the best talents in the world, showcasing them in some exciting events.  The company that began as nothing more than the proving ground for WWE has grown into something much more; it has essentially become the third brand.

NXT is basically a stand-alone entity now.  The bulk of the credit for that goes not to WWE Creative but to a roster that has been expertly assembled by Triple H.  And it's time for that roster to shine on WWE's main stage.

credit: wwe.com

There is no question that Kevin Owens, Adrian Neville, Finn Balor, Hideo Itami and Sami Zayn all have great futures in WWE.  Each man has already established himself in the business and is making an impact in NXT.  But for any fan who is following the Florida-based promotion, the truth is that the future is now.

Fans not familiar with NXT need to know who these stars are.  Waiting for the John Cena era to eventually end is not good enough.  Getting the NXT talents some exposure would ensure that they are absorbed into the fans' consciousness and provide a better opportunity for them to be seen in NXT.  

After all, why wouldn't fans want to see these guys in their weekly exploits on NXT? Piquing their interest now would be the best way to make that happen.

And the most feasible way to set the wheels in motion is to get the NXT stars on pay-per-view right now. The possibility of seeing at least one NXT match during WWE events is an intriguing one.  And while some would argue that the spot would be taking away from other main roster talents, the truth is that the company's future must begin immediately.

credit: wwe.com

The aforementioned Cena has been WWE's top star for over 10 years.  But one day his reign will wind down, and rather than wait another five years to prepare, WWE needs to begin looking to its bench.  

CM Punk is gone, Daniel Bryan is just now returning from injury, and Chris Jericho is less than part time. Brock Lesnar may not last much longer, and Randy Orton is not exactly a fresh face.  WWE's biggest future prospects right now are the former Shield members. Dean Ambrose continues to be featured in spots that some argue are doing a disservice to his character, and Roman Reigns can't seem to get himself right on the mic.

The best of the three seems to be Seth Rollins, and there is no guarantee that his Money in the Bank briefcase will indeed lead him to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.  

While all three Superstars are still considered to be works in progress, the fact is that WWE needs more on the front burner.  That could come from NXT, whose stars would definitely provide more intrigue and more action with every appearance.

But those appearances cannot come from weekly TV.

The answer is not to oversaturate the main roster with NXT talent.  Many casual fans may not even know who they're watching in the ring, and to force-feed them new faces could backfire in the long run. But to feature one NXT match per month on regular WWE events would whet fans' appetites and cause them to want more.

The move would also help motivate the rest of the Raw and SmackDown locker rooms to step up in their matches.  Even though the respect level among McMahon's talent is probably high, no one wants to get shown up in the ring, and no one wants to follow a five-star match.  The NXT stars are fully capable of providing that match every time they step through the ropes.

WWE's future may lie in Florida, but the plain truth is that future is now.  The company should capitalize on the talent that it has, but it also needs to utilize Superstars who are anxious to prove what they can do. There can be no bigger stage than pay-per-view to do that and no better way for WWE to begin sowing the seeds for its next generation of main event stars.