USA Network Executives Reportedly 'Disappointed' With Changes To WWE NXT

Recent releases and a reported change of direction for WWE NXT has been reportedly met with a negative response by high ranking executives at the USA Network.

WWE present NXT every Tuesday on the USA Network, having signed a new, multi-year deal on the partnership earlier this year.

The promotion released a further 12 talent from the black-and-gold brand last Friday, including notable names like former North American Champions Bronson Reed and Leon Ruff, former NXT Tag Team Champion Bobby Fish and Mercedes Martinez.

The new plans for NXT, according to reports, suggest it will revert back to solely being WWE's developmental territory with more focus on younger and larger talent, as opposed to some of the more experienced names from the independent scene that have made NXT their home in recent years.

According to Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Podcast, higher-ranked representatives from the USA Network are concerned about the changes, with the perception being that these moves by WWE will be negative in nature.

One individual is quoted as saying: "Personally I'm disappointed with how this is going."

Zarian notes that, as these USA Network executives are not die-hard wrestling fans, the perception of what WWE is doing means significantly more. With the perception being a negative one, the onus will be on WWE to prove this opinion wrong.