Shawn Michaels has hinted that fans can expect to see more main roster stars appear on WWE NXT’s highly anticipated CW Network premiere episodes in October.
During a conversation with WGN Radio, Michaels, who oversees NXT, teased the involvement of top WWE talent in the upcoming episodes. He confirmed that the premiere episode, set for Tuesday, October 2, will take place live from the All State Arena in Chicago and will feature WWE Raw star and hometown favorite CM Punk. The following week’s episode on October 9, live from St. Louis, will see SmackDown’s Randy Orton making an appearance.
Michaels expressed excitement over Punk’s participation, sharing that Punk reached out to him after the announcement to confirm his interest in being part of the show. Michaels hinted at the possibility of more main roster stars joining the episodes, though he didn’t provide specific details.
“We’re going to stack this card, obviously, to make it unbelievably exciting. Clearly, you can’t come to Chicago without having its favorite son, its hometown guy, CM Punk,” Michaels said. “So Punk is going to be there, and I have no doubt, nothing is confirmed at this time, but I have no doubt we will have other main roster Raw and Smackdown stars blessing our presence there.”
Both CM Punk and Randy Orton are set to compete in major matches at WWE Bash In Berlin on August 31. Punk will face Drew McIntyre in Strap Match, while Orton will challenge GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Championship.
As the anticipation builds, fans are eager to see what other surprises Michaels and WWE have in store for NXT’s new era on the CW Network.
What are your thoughts on WWE NXT featuring main roster stars like CM Punk and Randy Orton for its premiere on the CW Network? How do you think their presence will impact the NXT brand and its visibility? Share your predictions on how this strategy might influence the NXT viewer experience and overall show quality.