PWInsider.com is reporting word that WWE NXT will be dropped from SyFy’s schedule once SmackDown! moves to the network next season.
Specifics on when WWE’s Tuesday show will be removed from the lineup are unclear (the first ‘season’ of NXT is scheduled to end long before October), but all reports indicate that the show will not continue once the more successful WWE franchise moves to the cable network.
When news broke that WWE SmackDown! was moving to SyFy next season, it seemed intuitive that NXT would be affected in some way. It now appears that NXT, simply put, will be no longer.
A replacement for the weekly ECW show, which was experiencing a significant ratings struggle on Tuesday, WWE launched NXT several weeks ago. After demonstrating an initial–albeit fairly minor–spike from ECW’s average in its final weeks, the show’s ratings quickly deteriorated.
Notable is the fact that WWE had almost “given up” on trying to turn the show’s ratings around. A few weeks ago, the company advertised an appearance from top Superstar John Cena, only to remove the confirmation moments before the show aired. The company also featured none of the eight “pros” on this past week’s telecast, which hit a series-low in adults 18-49.
A drastic decision on the future of NXT became plausible after that series-low rating, as a 0.3 would not be considered acceptable for a show that already limits its potential for advertising dollars by virtue of involving pro wrestling.