The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that expected raises for NXT talent have not come in yet, although the new TV deal with USA has already started. There are wrestlers who know that the company received a $30 million annual deal from USA and the NXT talent have been told they are a third brand. However, most of the talent is earning less than $100,000 per year, except for a few.
They are also required to do a full rehearsal every Tuesday night at Full Sail for Wednesday TV. The rehearsal is mandatory, even for those with experience on television. They are committed to Full Sail through the end of the year. The deal came through at the last minute, which left no time for them to book small arenas. There are some who believe that things will change in 2020, depending on the ratings.
It’s also believed that the matches are coming across better on TV than they are at the taping, as during the commercial breaks, there is far less action. Finally, the new changes means there is less fan interaction with talent. The fans that had been attending had been diehard fans because they knew the talent personally and wanted to help them.
They would spend time with the talent at the food trucks and they’d all go out to the Ale House after. There were no food trucks at the first taping (although the talent had WWE catering) and no one went to the Ale House. The talent used to park in the Full Sail parking lot and hang out with fans, going in through the front entrance and leaving through the front door. Now they park in the back and so there is no chance for interaction.
