In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer shares more details about those recent cuts in NXT. As we previously reported, there are plans to take the Tuesday night show down a different route, but a behind-the-scenes "power struggle" is also thought to be taking place. Why? Well, people are concerned about what happens to them when Vince McMahon steps down and Triple H takes over.
Hunter and Shawn Michaels actually weren't consulted over those NXT releases, with Vince, Bruce Prichard, and John Laurinaitis making the final decisions on who would be fired.
Whether the current WWE Chairman has subordinates in his ear encouraging him to go around Triple H is hard to say, but it sounds like his "untouchable" status in the company has taken a hit after NXT (badly) lost the war to AEW. Those who believe he'll replace them if and when he takes over from his father-in-law have obviously been using that as ammunition against him in the weeks that followed.
The NXT releases last Friday have been described as a power grab by some, and while Meltzer never directly states this, it feels a lot like there are those in WWE looking to usurp Triple H's control of the brand. Interestingly, it sounds like The Game is also being blamed for stocking up on too much talent who would never really make an impact on the main roster just to keep them from AEW.
Ultimately, it sounds like there are a lot of clashes backstage right now, and this could very much be a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. That's actually gone some way in creating a toxic environment with the attitude being that NXT is there to beat the "independents" out of talents, while the main roster should beat the NXT out of them...something that's seen most stars from that brand fail on RAW and SmackDown (showing there's a real divide in terms of how they should be booked).
It feels like WWE is in trouble, and it's no wonder what we're seeing on TV is such a mess.