Does NXT Target Smarks?

[michael]

The sentiment seems to be that it does, and I can see why.

But it's when I watch RAW and Smackdown that I feel like a jaded or cynical 'smark.' When I watch NXT, I actually feel like a 'mark.'

And that's what I want.

Is that what it means to truly target a 'smark?'

[Mozenrath]

I guess it depends on how you look at it, but yeah, I think it benefits from having so much less baggage when it comes to getting into the product.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I mean, I feel like the premise is sort of off to begin with. Almost every fan is smartened up. In the age of we're in with social media, everyone has access to a ton of news, even if it's just seeing something as you scroll through your feed. But in terms of who each brand targets, it's weird. NXT definitely has a more niche audience but I think a lot of that just comes from it being more limited in scope and having stars that fans have followed since they debuted on the independent scene. But in terms of who the storytelling is targeting, RAW has a lot more insider based storylines. The story of the last three years has been Brock's contract disputes and not appearing on the show. They've talked about guys hurting ratings, contracts expiring, the sport being fake, etc. NXT is just very basic storytelling in a kayfabe world. I think people overthink things. They see New Japan and NXT and think it's not as global as the big WWE brands because of what they are. But they're doing well because of what they are. Yes, RAW draws more viewers but it could be doing more if it was booked more coherently. I don't think "smarks" want what people think smark driven shows. We just want good wrestling and fun stories.

[RedSmile]

It targets wrestling fans. It's really that simple.

[Sicho100]

No. Its booking is just classic pro wrestling booking to get wrestlers and programs over, and then getting the audience to pay to see big matches based on those wrestlers and programs. The fact that it is only *available* to smarks (because it is on the WWE Network, something that only diehards subscribe to) is independent from it *targeting* smarks.

The main roster, on the other hand, is booked for smarks. I always find it laughable when people try to say that NXT is booked to only appeal to diehards, whereas the main roster is booked to appeal to the general public. One show is filled with meaningless spotfest matches that don't even pretend to include any psychology (and, as mentioned above, is so reliant on stories from dirt sheets that WCW circa 2000 thinks they are going overboard); the other largely relies on simple jobber squash matches to let the stars shine. Which one of those is supposed to be amenable to non-wrestling fans?

[adamclark52]

Short answer: yes

Long answer: hell yes

[111111]

Yes its basically mid 2000s ROH done in the impact zone with wwe money.

[thirteen3]

So in the kayfabe of NXT, whenever they show angles form the Performance Center, are they implying that everything they do is fake?

[Prince Petty]

I guess so, because NXT openly acknowledges the fact that it's developmental, and encourages experimentation from its wrestlers. And the fans who go to the shows embrace that. I've never seen anyone get over as quickly as nearly any act in NXT gets over.

Look at someone like Bugenhagen, who went from 'who?' to 'we f***ing love this guy!' in the time it took to go from the curtain to the ring. It seems like a really positive, encouraging place to be.

But the booking itself is targeted at all wrestling fans. They run fairly traditional stories that could work in any era, and they tend not to let the smarky 'we know these guys are friends in real life' stuff colour their choices.

[Tiger Millionaire]

It benefits from having a small arena full of hardcore fans. It's why certain act can get over, and then die a death on the main roster.

[sportatorium]

NXT tried to give people story arcs with a beginning, middle & end so they can get over. Combine that with “training” to be on WWE TV. They don’t need the endless nonsense to fill 5 hours of live TV every week.

[TGM]

May 11, 2019 0:42:35 GMT -5 adamclark52 said:

Short answer: yes

Long answer: hell yes

Give us the long answer.

[BatPunk]

I think NXT is a platform to bring back fans that they have lost to the indies and njpw, by running it just like an independent wrestling company using the best indie wrestlers they can buy.

Give the fans you’ve lost something familiar they like, then try to sell them back Your flagship.

[Natural Born Farmer]

May 11, 2019 12:12:53 GMT -5 BatPunk said:

I think NXT is a platform to bring back fans that they have lost to the indies and njpw, by running it just like an independent wrestling company using the best indie wrestlers they can buy.

Give the fans you’ve lost something familiar they like, then try to sell them back Your flagship.

This is very true. Unfortunately, the payoff for success is a trip to the main roster.

[eJm]

I’ve said this before but I’m pretty sure the main objective of NXT is to give people exclusive wrestling content outside of the main PPVs and also an opportunity to see new stars before they rise to the main roster.

One of the main reasons they lose money on the Performance Centre is if they, say, get a new Stone Cold Steve Austin, the money they draw would essentially pay for all the training, the paid travel and everything else along with giving the company a tidy profit.

So they want to make people invested in these newer talents and transition that to the main roster without the baggage of having to try and figure out how to build someone from the ground up in a few weeks, test that on house shows, all that usual stuff because

And in that case, sure, it might go for the smarks but on the flip side, most of WWE’s viewing audience at this point has a network subscription (comparing numbers) so in theory, this should be a runaway hit making system that makes sense. If anything, some of what NXT does in terms of character work is comparable to some of the stuff they did in the Rock n’ Wrestling era with established stars coming from other territories and given only minor tweaks because they want those people in those places to watch or come to shows.

[Cronant]

Its a polished Indy promotion