Last week, there was enough professional wrestling action to be happy about. From AEW’s Forbidden Door to WWE NXT Heatwave, fans enjoyed the ride enjoying every event. Though under low expectations, NXT’s PLE shocked the fans with several high talking points from the PLE.
It was held as part of Money in the Bank weekend on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada. The 2024 event aired via WWE’s live-streaming platforms, a departure from the previous two years’ television specials. This was NXT’s first live-streaming event to be hosted in Canada since NXT TakeOver: Toronto in 2019.
The five-match NXT Heatwave event included every championship from the brand up for grabs. Within the women’s category, there was also a preshow tag team match. Looking more closely at who was involved in these bouts, it’s remarkable how inexperienced a lot of the performers were. A number of the men and women occupying key positions have competed for fewer than three years. Given the experience most of these talents had, it is commendable to deliver such a solid show.
All of these performers are receiving high appreciation, particularly Kelani Jordan and Sol Ruca, who engaged in a nearly 12-minute title bout that had the potential to steal the event. The WWE Performance Centre is crucial to the development of future wrestling stars, even as the stars themselves receive a lot of attention because of their exciting performances.
Sol and Kelani were allowed enough time to have an 11:36 match with positions they might take advantage of. Following the match, both of them received appreciation for their performance, and people were curious to see what they would do next. While it was thrilling to see them perform so well together, it is important to mention how the Performance Centre has paved the way for their success on the show.
Performance Centre has revolutionised WWE since its formation
A few years ago, opinions began to circulate that learning wrestling on the PC wasn’t a smart idea. As Tay Melo left the centre and joined All Elite Wrestling, this concept grew. Though it began as an intriguing conversation, the subject grew into yet another online AEW vs. WWE argument. Due to shifts in creative power, the PC has undergone multiple alterations since then, but the most recent version is producing some excellent talent for the future of wrestling.
The original idea for NXT was to give well-known figures from the indie scene a chance to compete in the WWE. Hardcore fans enjoyed some great matches as a result, but WWE didn’t always select performers that would fit their long-term business plan. The Performance Centre mixes athletes, the majority of whom were signed through WWE’s NIL programme, with agents, coaches, and veterans to help them create matches that are well-suited to their skill level.
All things considered, the Performance Centre is doing a fantastic job of shaping professional wrestling and sports entertainment for the future.
Despite breaking several records, fans rank NXT Heatwave above Money in the Bank
Last weekend saw some high-profile WWE action as Money in the Bank and NXT Heatwave took over the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada. While Money in the Bank had bigger names and huge rivalries, Shawn Michael’s NXT stole the show. The most shocking moment for the fans was Drew McIntyre winning the Money in the Bank and losing it in under an hour.
Fans were not happy with the outcome as they wanted the company to award the briefcase to someone more deserving. Filled with several botches, the overall show was conducted poorly according to several fans from the WWE Universe. On the other hand, NXT Heatwave presented huge shocks and kept up the fans with the excitement.
However, on the brighter side of things, Money in the Bank was profitable for the company. WWE said in a press statement that WWE Money in the Bank 2024 surpassed recent blockbuster triumphs in the Great White North, such as WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 and WWE SummerSlam 2019, to become the highest-grossing WWE arena event in Canada in company’s history.
WWE Money in the Bank 2024 was the most watched instalment of the event in its 15-year existence in terms of viewership. The record-breaking event saw a 46% increase in viewership from the previous year’s event. Socially, the event set new records as John Cena’s retirement segment garnered over 65 million views on social media.
As for NXT, a new chapter begins with a lot of excitement and thrill for the fans. With the new NXT Champion being crowned in Ethan Page and several show-stealing matches on one single show, fans loved the way The Heartbreak Kid conducted the whole event. Another strong point from the event came as Joe Hendry was presented on the screen at the end of the event. Only time will tell how these storylines will further work out.