WWE and The CW are using former AEW talent on NXT as a way to attract new viewers to the brand, according to FightfulSelect.com.
Fightful reports that the extended NXT tenures of former AEW performers Ethan Page, Ricky Saints, and Blake Monroe are partly driven by a ratings strategy between WWE and The CW. Their television experience from their time in AEW is also considered valuable for the NXT process, according to the report.
Page has been part of NXT since May 2024, Saints since February 2025, and Monroe since June 2025. All three had live television experience before joining WWE, having been regular fixtures on AEW programming prior to their departures from the company.
Fightful also noted that when Saints debuted in WWE in February 2025, he was placed on NXT because WrestleMania 41 plans had already been solidified at that point. There was surprise among many within NXT that he remained on the brand a year later.
The report adds that debuting new signings on NXT rather than the main roster is not a universal policy and is decided on a case-by-case basis. Several high-profile former AEW signings bypassed NXT entirely and debuted directly on the main roster. Penta, Rey Fenix, and Royce Keys are among those who went straight to Raw or SmackDown rather than spending time in NXT.
NXT Champion Joe Hendry is also among the top stars currently featured on the brand. Hendry’s situation differs from that of former AEW performers in that his rise through NXT has been built on strong crowd reactions and a grassroots following developed during his time on the brand.
