Shawn Michaels Doesn’t Want WWE NXT Traveling Too Much

WWE NXT is gearing up for a major milestone as the brand prepares for its premiere on the CW Network, live from Chicago on October 1st. Following the big night in Chicago, NXT will head to St. Louis before returning to its home base in Orlando, where the brand regularly operates. With NXT’s evolution and growing popularity, many fans are wondering if the brand will start hitting the road more often.

Appearing on The Ringer Wrestling Show, Shawn Michaels, who oversees NXT, addressed the topic of taking NXT on the road. While he acknowledges the potential for more frequent touring, Michaels stressed the importance of maintaining NXT’s intimate atmosphere, which has become a defining feature of the brand.

“I sort of look at NXT as the NCAA to the NFL. If Raw and SmackDown are the NFL, NXT is the NCAA. The NCAA is a brand. They still put 100,000 people in a stadium every Saturday afternoon,” Michaels explained. “There is an opportunity for NXT to go out on a more regular basis, but I personally would like to keep that special. I never want to venture too far from our home here in Florida.”

Michaels emphasized that what sets NXT apart is its unique environment in Orlando, which allows the brand to offer something different from other wrestling programs. The intimate setting of the Performance Center gives NXT a distinct vibe that larger arenas can’t always replicate.

“We have an environment unlike any other. It is intimate, and we’re able to do things here that other wrestling programs and brands can’t do. That affords us the luxury of having some of those options that we have in Orlando that you wouldn’t have at various arenas across the nation,” Michaels added.

While growth and expansion are always on the horizon, Michaels remains adamant that NXT’s home will always be in Florida. “This is our home and this is where NXT was built and should continue to build,” he said, making it clear that while there may be room for NXT to go on the road more often, its heart will always remain in Orlando.

As NXT begins this new era on the CW Network, fans can look forward to seeing how the brand continues to evolve while staying true to its roots.