This week NXT aired on Tuesday night, and the show is once again airing on Tuesday night next week. NXT drew 849,000 viewers this week, and WrestleVotes recently reported that the idea of moving the show to a different night is being discussed.
Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that when it comes to AEW, Vince McMahon and USA Network have the same mentality in the sense that neither party wants another wrestling company to be doing well.
WWE’s partnership with USA Network is worth $265 million a year, whereas TNT’s deal with AEW is worth $40 million. Meltzer noted that Vince isn’t in this fight alone, as USA Network doesn’t want WWE’s competition to get stronger.
It’s being said that from day one everyone knew that if they put NXT on a different night instead of Wednesday the show would have drawn significantly more. AEW originally wanted to air on Tuesday night, but it was TNT’s decision to put them on Wednesday nights.
The only reason NXT went to USA Network was to make sure that AEW went out of business, not to build the brand. However, that plan failed, and things changed when WarnerMedia extended their deal with AEW.
A few months ago there was a meeting where the idea of moving NXT to a different day was discussed, but at the meeting the idea was shot down. AEW has beaten NXT in viewership for the vast majority of the Wednesday Night Wars, but it’s being said that Vince doesn’t want the perception that WWE ran away from the fight.
WWE officials will be looking at the numbers and making a decision in regards to NXT in the future.
