Being a third brand that is considered by some a developmental brand, NXT has often cycled guys in and then out to Raw or SmackDown.
Though that's changed in recent years with the likes of Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, and Adam Cole having lengthy runs on the brand, it seems as if new change is on the way as WWE is reportedly changing its hiring practices in terms of the kind of talent they are looking for.
One man who has been there for multiple iterations of NXT is Samoa Joe, who is back on the brand for his second stint.
Speaking about the changes and philosophy in NXT on Busted Open Radio, Samoa Joe said, "That evolution is going to continue. NXT has always been at the impetuous for experiment and change and doing things differently in WWE. A lot of that change has reverberated down to the SmackDown and Raw brand. I don't think it's going to be anything different in the future. It's always going to be in a state of chaotic flux and the state of change just by the nature of what it is. We're finding brand new talent and introducing these people to the world. In able to do that, you have to be able to keep mixing up the pot. It makes a lot of fans a little uneasy at times, but at the same time, it's exciting to get in on the ground floor and see somebody become a star in front of your eyes. That's happened so many times in NXT. I've been witness to it and it's been a wonderful thing. It's a major appeal to the WWE Universe. They get to be here and see somebody like Finn Balor, Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Charlotte happen. They are so popular now because they grew up with them in NXT."
Joe returned to NXT in June as William Regal's assistant. He has since become an in-ring competitor again and will have his first match since February 2020 on Sunday at NXT TakeOver when he faces Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship.
You can view the current lineup for NXT TakeOver 36 by clicking here.
If you use any of the quotes above, please credit the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.
