WWE continues to bring some elements back from the old NXT to the new version of the developmental brand.
Last year, WWE made changes to the production and look of NXT in addition to going away from using smaller and older wrestlers in favor of taller and younger athletes. This was part of the NXT 2.0 rebranding after years of WWE scouting independent wrestlers who could go in the ring in addition to signing some athletes.
On the October 4th edition of NXT, the company showed off a new stage and returned to the black and gold colors fans are used to seeing with the brand. More focus has been put on the in-ring action instead of promo segments like in NXT 2.0, although there is still a lot of character development happening.
F4Wonline’s Bryan Alvarez reported via his Twitter Super Follows that WWE is scouting independent talent again, and WWE’s Gabe Sapolsky was at the DEFY show this past weekend.
Gabe Sapolsky was at DEFY this past weekend.
— Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsCo) November 2, 2022
— Gabe Sapolsky (@BookItGabe) October 29, 2022
Yep he was! Here’s a pic of me and my friends meeting him at the show. He did a space on Monday and put over the Defy show & the Defyance fanbase. Said the building and atmosphere reminded him of Elks Lodge that ECW used to run back in the day. pic.twitter.com/sxueZBlvji
— Future Joey (@JoeyJohnela) November 2, 2022
https://twitter.com/nilesmania/status/1587873504577429504
As previously reported, WWE released five NXT stars on Tuesday, including Bodhi Hayward.