Last week, “WWE NXT” brought in 674,000 viewers for its final episode of January, making it the highest number that the developmental brand has drawn since October. This past Tuesday, WWE looked to capitalize on that momentum after many “NXT” stars appeared at the Royal Rumble last weekend, but despite two title defences being advertised and a ladder match to crown a new NXT Champion taking place, the show’s viewership failed to increase.

According to Wrestlenomics and Programming Insider, “NXT” averaged 629,000 viewers and posted a 0.08 in the key 18-49 demographic. When comparing both categories to the previous week, total viewership declined by 7%, while the 18-49 demo stayed even at 0.08. Although “NXT” didn’t pull in the viewers they hoped for, the brand did face stiff competition on Tuesday, with CBS’ coverage of the NBA regular season drawing a 0.34 in the 18-49 demo, while the NHL loaded seven games on the night ahead of its players heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

Despite “NXT” staying above the 600,000 viewer mark since the beginning of the new year, the show’s total viewership has decreased by 18% since February 2025. However, “NXT’s” totals in the 18-49 demo have been more alarming, with the program being down in the category by 56% since this time last year. As “NXT” continues to elevate younger talent with some of its previous stars heading to the main roster, it remains to be seen if the younger demographic of wrestling fans will follow, as WWE will be looking to improve its performance in the 18-49 demo sooner rather than later. Additionally, WWE usually relies on WrestleMania season to increase viewership for “WWE Raw” and “WWE SmackDown,” but time will tell if “NXT” will also see the same results for its programming.

Many today agree that championships are oversaturated in the pro wrestling industry. Between WWE and AEW alone, there are over 20 different recognized championship belts. Jim Ross wants that number to be shaved down, especially when it comes to the world titles in WWE.

“I don’t know why they need two champions,” Ross expressed during an episode of his “Grilling JR” podcast. “That doesn’t – the two champions doesn’t work with me.” Ross admitted that there might be reasons for having two world championships, he personally doesn’t think it’s necessary to have two top positions.

Historically, WWE only had one world title throughout the “Golden Era,” “New Generation Era,” and the “Attitude Era,” until the 2001 WCW Invasion angle, where the WCW World Heavyweight Championship was introduced. The belt would eventually simply become the World Heavyweight Championship, and was originally defended on “WWE Raw” after the first brand split. Originally, the brands acted individually, and stars rarely – if ever – jumped between “Raw” and “SmackDown,” as the brands often competed with one another, especially at Survivor Series.

This isn’t the case anymore, with looser distinctions between brands. At the same time, though, each brand’s world champion typically remains on their designated show. In the past, Ross has been a proponent of the brand split, expressing that he believed it always brought stability to WWE, but criticized when the lines began to become muddier.

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The aforementioned incredibly important match in WWE history saw 2021 Royal Rumble-winner Belair take on Sasha Banks in the main event of night one. It was the first time two Black women fought in the main event of WrestleMania, or any other WWE pay-per-view, and only the second time in history women would take the marquee ‘Mania spot in WWE history.

The feud going into the match was hot, with Banks reminding Belair that the “EST” couldn’t exist without the road she, the “BEST” had paved. Despite that, both women were clearly very emotional, due to the history they were making, before locking up to start the match.

The women were evenly matched, though Banks, in storyline, may not have been fully prepared for the sheer strength of her opponent. Belair pressed Banks over head head, marched up the stairs, and dumped her in the ring at one point in the opening minutes of the bout. The women went back-and-forth, and sequences continued to come down to Belair’s strength and power, only to be met with Banks’ experience, or vice versa. 

With the women on the ropes, Banks attempted a double stomp to Belair, who countered, and made it to the top to hit the 450 Splash. Banks somehow kicked out, which proved to be a bad idea, as Belair nailed her with her braid, before finally getting her up for the KOD to win the historic match and become new SmackDown Women’s Champion. While it’s not shown in the Netflix broadcast, various clips on social media at the time showed Banks on the outside, smiling toward her challenging, seemingly knowing just what they both had accomplished that night.

There seems to be a shroud of mystery after “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles lost to GUNTHER at last Saturday’s Royal Rumble. After putting all his chips in, Styles betted his 28-year career on last weekend’s match and came out retired. Even though he took his gloves off, similar to when a wrestler takes their boots off to indicate their in-ring career has come to an end, he instead put them back on. 

In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, pro wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer shared his belief that it’s possible we haven’t seen the last of Styles yet, but he wrote that he was “skeptical” that Styles will join All Elite Wrestling. Meltzer clarified that while Styles did mention that his last in-ring match was at the Rumble, there seems to be some belief that might only be the case in WWE, but that he could decide to wrestle elsewhere. In his report, the journalist mentioned that the second-ever Bullet Club leader was presented multiple opportunities to join AEW since its inception in 2019, but the former two-time WWE Champion refused, showing no interest in leaving WWE.  

This past week, Styles made his first post-retirement appearance in an interview with Stephanie McMahon on her “What’s Your Story” podcast, where he teased the idea of having another match, while also advising fans not to hold their breath: “I don’t know… Never say never, right? That’s the saying. I think everybody’s allowed at least once come out of retirement. You know? I’m not saying that I’ll do it anytime soon. I’m just saying.”

After the Royal Rumble, WWE’s CCO Triple H indicated that was Styles’ last match, yet mentioned he could continue to work for the company. Time will tell what the “Phenomenal One” has up his sleeves, or in this case, his gloves.

“Imagine if Roman says, ‘I want to choose Drew. Drew holds the championship that I held for 1400 days and why I’m the third greatest on the list,’ blah, blah, blah. ‘I have every reason in the world to choose Drew McIntyre, but I won’t because I hate you,'” Ray suggested. “So now you put over Drew and you talk about how the hatred for Punk is so great that you don’t want your old championship back.”

In the wake of Reigns choosing Punk, signs are pointing to McIntyre potentially defending his Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania, especially given that “The Scottish Warrior” not only dethroned “The American Nightmare,” but also eliminated him from the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble. Despite this, Ray still can’t seem to overlook the statements made by Punk and Reigns.

“I can’t tell you why they went out of their way, and for lack of a better word, do you think they buried Drew McIntyre last night? I used the word ‘buried’ [but that sounds too strong]. I’m hoping Drew has some kind of a comeback to this,” Ray said. “I’m hoping Drew can stick it to Punk and to Roman, because after last night’s promo, I know two things for sure: I really want to see Roman versus Punk, and I really could care less about Drew McIntyre’s WrestleMania match.”

The formal process to determine McIntyre’s WrestleMania opponent may begin on tonight’s edition of “WWE SmackDown” with the qualifying matches for the Men’s Elimination Chamber. So far, Randy Orton, Solo Sikoa, and Aleister Black have been announced as qualifier participants, though WWE has yet to confirm if the winner of the Men’s Elimination Chamber will indeed go on to challenge McIntyre.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.