WWE minor-league promotion currently runs its weekly show Wednesdays on WWE Network
WWE’s “NXT” series is getting a new home. The pro-wrestling promotion’s minor-league brand is jumping from streaming platform WWE Network to USA Network starting Sept. 18 at 8/7c.
“NXT” currently runs on Wednesdays and will continue to do so when it shifts to the cable channel. And that means yes, it will be going up against All Elite Wrestling’s upcoming series on TNT, which is set for that same time slot on the same evening.
The untitled AEW series will begin airing its weekly two-hour show on Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 8/7c to 10/9c.
“The move to USA Network provides an opportunity to deepen our relationship with NBCUniversal and further build the NXT brand,” said Vince McMahon, WWE chairman & CEO. “Over the long term our goal is to develop a following that can be monetized to the same level as our flagship programs, ‘Raw’ and ‘SmackDown.’”
“USA Network and WWE have one of the longest and most successful partnerships in television history,” said Chris McCumber, president of USA and SYFY. “As the #1 cable entertainment network, we’re excited to add ‘NXT’ to our weekly lineup alongside powerhouse flagship ‘Raw,’ and to bring a new generation of Superstars to a wide audience.”
“NXT” launched in 2010 with its primary purpose being to serve as a platform for talent to get exposure in front of a televised audience and ultimately (hopefully) make their way onto the bigger WWE brands “Raw” and “SmackDown.” According to WWE, 80% of its current main-roster talent came through NXT.
Current NXT Superstars include Adam Cole, Velveteen Dream, Shayna Baszler, Johnny Gargano, Matt Riddle, Bianca Belair, Io Shirai, Candice LeRae, Tommaso Ciampa, Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish.
The minor-league promotion’s jump to cable comes ahead of Fox’s October debut of “WWE’s SmackDown Live,” which previously aired on USA and, as TheWrap exclusively reported, was acquired by the broadcast network in May 2018 to launch in the 2019-2020 season.
“Raw” will continue to air on USA, which is also the home to much of WWE’s reality and ancillary programming.
These days, WWE Superstars don’t just make their TV money through in-ring performances on “Raw,” “SmackDown Live” and WWE Network pay-per-views — there’s an entire universe of opportunity for popular pro wrestlers to earn big bucks on the small screen.
In our gallery are 11 WWE wrestlers with their own television shows. We’ve included a few select series from recent years to help paint a picture of the non-canvas landscape. A few: “Straight Up Steve Austin,” “Fight Like a Girl” and “The Big Show Show” have yet to premiere.
For the purposes of this story, we only counted the three people who appeared in all 111 episodes of “Total Divas” — Nikki Bella, Brie Bella and Natalya — as it being *their* show, but we included the names of everyone who showed up in seven or more episodes of that one.
Also Read: WWE’s ‘Raw Reunion’ Is Highest-Rated Episode Since 2018 Superstar Shakeup
Wrestler(s): “Stone Cold” Steve Austin Show(s): “Straight Up Steve Austin,” “Broken Skull Challenge,” “Redneck Island” Network(s): USA, CMT, Country Music Television
Also Read: WWE’s Mandy Rose Is Building a Brand, and Being ‘God’s Greatest Creation’ Is Just the Start
Wrestler(s): Nikki Bella, Brie Bella Show(s): “Total Bellas,” “Total Divas” Network(s): E!
Also Read: WWE United States Champion AJ Styles Says Finn Balor ‘Will Always Have an Invitation’ to The Club
Wrestler(s): The Miz, Maryse Show(s): “Miz & Mrs” Network(s): USA
Also Read: The Miz Has Some Potentially Great News for Fellow WWE ‘Raw’ Superstar Baron Corbin
Wrestler(s): Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Show(s): “Ballers” Network(s): HBO
Also Read: WWE Champion Kofi Kingston on Wrestling in Sneakers, and if You Should Eat Those Pancakes
Wrestler(s): John Cena Show(s): “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”; “American Grit” Network(s): Fox; Nickelodeon
Also Read: WWE’s Sonya Deville Knows She and Mandy Rose Will Break Up – But Hopefully Not ‘Anytime Soon’
Wrestler(s): The Big Show Show(s): “The Big Show Show” Network(s): Netflix
Also Read: Seth Rollins Says It Was ‘a Little Presumptuous’ for Dean Ambrose to ‘Talk Down’ About WWE (Audio)
Wrestler(s): Christian Show(s): “Knight Fight” Network(s): History
Also Read: How ‘Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase Convinced Shawn Michaels to Take Non-Christian Acting Roles
Wrestler(s): Stephanie McMahon, various female WWE Superstars Show(s): “Fight Like a Girl” Network(s): Quibi
Also Read: ‘The Wrestlers’ Host Damian Abraham Would ‘Absolutely’ Like to Do an AEW Episode in Season 2
Wrestler(s): Brie Bellas, Nikki Bella, Natalya, Naomi, Eva Marie, Paige, Cameron, Alicia Fox, Lana, Maryse, Renee Young, Rosa Mendes, Summer Rae, Nia Jax, Jo Jo, Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Mandy Rose, Emma, various others Show(s): “Total Divas”
Also Read: Jon Moxley – Formerly Dean Ambrose – Says ‘WWE’s Creative Process Sucks’ and Vince McMahon ‘Is the Problem’ (Audio)
Network(s): E!
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s new USA Network series premieres on Aug. 12
These days, WWE Superstars don’t just make their TV money through in-ring performances on “Raw,” “SmackDown Live” and WWE Network pay-per-views — there’s an entire universe of opportunity for popular pro wrestlers to earn big bucks on the small screen.
In our gallery are 11 WWE wrestlers with their own television shows. We’ve included a few select series from recent years to help paint a picture of the non-canvas landscape. A few: “Straight Up Steve Austin,” “Fight Like a Girl” and “The Big Show Show” have yet to premiere.
For the purposes of this story, we only counted the three people who appeared in all 111 episodes of “Total Divas” — Nikki Bella, Brie Bella and Natalya — as it being *their* show, but we included the names of everyone who showed up in seven or more episodes of that one.
Also Read: WWE’s ‘Raw Reunion’ Is Highest-Rated Episode Since 2018 Superstar Shakeup