Samoa Joe Praises NXT’s Live Event Title Changes

One big thing: Samoa Joe believes NXT’s decision to change titles at live events was “brilliant”

Former NXT Champion Samoa Joe recently praised the brand’s strategy of changing titles at non-televised events during a Q&A session at Terrificon.

• Joe won his first NXT Championship from Finn Balor at a live event in 2016
• He called the decision “one of the most brilliant things that we did”
• Joe emphasized how this strategy made live events more exciting and interactive for fans

Why it matters

This approach helped NXT:
• Build its brand and imprint
• Increase attendance at live events
• Create a sense of unpredictability and excitement for fans

By the numbers

• Joe won the NXT Championship 3 times
• He was only beaten for the title twice
• Joe was fired twice by WWE in one year before joining AEW in 2022

What they’re saying

Joe on the impact of live event title changes:
“If you knew if you showed up to an NXT live event that a world title could change hands, I mean it just makes that event so much more exciting. So much more fan interactive, so much more better that you know, potentially on one night, any given Sunday, you could see something amazing happen.”

The big picture

NXT’s strategy of changing titles at live events:
• Differentiated it from main roster WWE programming
• Rewarded fans who attended non-televised shows
• Created buzz and word-of-mouth promotion

What’s next

While Joe now competes in AEW, NXT continues to evolve under the leadership of Shawn Michaels, balancing its role as a developmental brand with the need to create compelling content for viewers.

Do you think more wrestling promotions should consider changing titles at non-televised events? Share your thoughts in the comments below.