Booker T Believes NXT’s CW Network Move Will Lead to ‘Sink or Swim’ Situation

WWE is growing rapidly, particularly with NXT’s move to the CW Network later this year. The show will kick off this new chapter by filming its first two episodes on the road. Booker T believes this transition will create a ‘sink or swim’ situation for the brand, testing how well it adapts to its new platform.

Shawn Michaels announced that WWE NXT will celebrate its new partnership with the CW Network by hitting the road. The debut event is scheduled for October 1st at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois.

Afterwards, NXT will travel to St. Louis for show on October 8th. CM Punk is expected to be part of the NXT launch event in Chicago, while Randy Orton will be featured in St. Louis.

With NXT moving to the CW Network, which has a broader reach across the USA, there’s a great opportunity to boost its viewership and attract more fans. However, this increased exposure comes with higher expectations.

While speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T stated that the added visibility will bring more scrutiny and criticism. He emphasized that the wrestlers will face a “sink or swim” situation, as they’ll need to perform exceptionally well to stand out. Booker T believes that under this pressure, only the best performers will rise to the top.

“It’s gonna [bring] a whole lot more criticism if you’re not out there really, really performing at a certain level with Twitter and all that stuff now. You’re gonna be put out there and exposed to a lot more fans [and] it’s gonna be a sink or swim situation. For me, there again, cream rises to the top.”

WWE also has an ambitious viewership goal for NXT’s debut on the CW Network. Therefore, we will have to wait and see whether NXT moving to the CW Network next month will bring about a ton of changes, ultimately for the brand’s benefit.

Do you believe NXT’s move to the CW Network will end up becoming a major challenge for the talent? Sound off in the comments section below!