KEY POINTS

  • Vince McMahon reportedly floated ideas that will help NXT 2.0 compete in the 18-34 demographic
  • The changes seem to be in response to AEW capturing more of the said demographic
  • NXT 2.0 had a successful debut last week, and the company hopes to continue the trend

Vince McMahon, the WWE chairman and CEO, has some ideas towards an edgier and bolder NXT 2.0, according to Fightful Select.

Ringside News’ H Jenkins cited a report from Fightful Select in which McMahon pushed for ideas that will help the new-look NXT 2.0 brand hit their target demographic.

“NXT 2.0 [is] targeting more of a P18-34 demographic, including everything from in-ring work and aggression to harsher language and the like,” said Fightful Select.

“Another point that we haven’t verified was more [leniency] on female character gear, though it wasn’t specified what exactly that means. 'Keep up with current affairs with promos and character verbiage' was another point said to be brought up,” according to the report.

The new ideas stated in the report seem to be a reaction to the reports that WWE is slowly losing ground to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in the 18-34 age demographic, a key demographic for the Stamford-based promotion.

Harsher language could see NXT superstars like Tommaso Ciampa, LA Knight and Raquel Gonzales swear more on-air, an occurrence that has rarely happened since WWE made a push for a more PG13 product across the board.

However, they have been experimenting with an edgier product for quite some time now as some superstars on the main roster have been given the green light to use explicit language in some promos, like in Roman Reigns and John Cena's buildup to their SummerSlam match.

Ringside News also reported that the USA Network is in support of these changes and whichever else that WWE thinks would help increase ratings.

In the past, midcard superstars have reportedly seen their pushes stagnate due to backstage disputes about their character between them, the creative team and McMahon himself.

To their credit, NXT 2.0 had a great debut last week, capped off by the highly-entertaining wedding angle of Dexter Lumis and Indi Hartwell.

Many fans were happy with how the whole angle was produced and completed as there was visible character development among all those involved in the storyline.

WWE rarely plays catch-up, but the new ideas being floated from McMahon himself are a sign that he finally recognizes what they may be doing wrong and is looking to regain those fans very soon.

More details regarding these changes are expected to come out in the coming days.

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