WWE’s developmental brand is preparing to hit the road more frequently in 2026. According to a report from Wrestlevotes Radio on Fightful Select, NXT is actively considering increasing its schedule of televised shows held outside of Florida. While the WWE Performance Center in Orlando will remain the brand’s home base, the new initiative aims to give the roster more experience in front of different crowds and in larger venues.
“The emphasis is to get more reps on the road for a lot of their talent on the show,” the report noted. This strategy aligns with the terms of NXT’s broadcast deal with the CW Network, which reportedly includes provisions for an extended road schedule. Bryan Alvarez has reported that taking the show on the road has been in the planning stages for a long time as a way to grow the brand’s footprint.
Shawn Michaels, the Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative, has been a vocal proponent of this shift. Speaking a few months ago, Michaels emphasized the importance of talent performing in environments that differ from the controlled setting of the Performance Center.
“We always talk about this: there’s TV, there’s live events, there’s PLEs. They’re all kind of different. And all those performances have to be different,” Michaels said. “And this feel [of the shows is different], and so many things that we say that they haven’t had the opportunity to really experience, because we’re in the Performance Center on a regular basis. And that audience is an audience that is sort of there playing their part on television and doing their role, which they do in a great way more often than not.”
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful clarified that there are no plans to abandon the Performance Center entirely. The venue allows for cost-effective production and consistent training access. However, mixing in road shows provides a crucial developmental step for stars preparing for the main roster. Currently, StubHub lists NXT live events in Florida, Tennessee, and Washington state, with a notable televised event scheduled for February 24 at the Center Stage Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
As NXT continues its tenure on the CW Network, the ability to draw live crowds in different markets will be a key metric of success. This hybrid model of utilizing the Performance Center while touring for special episodes mirrors the strategy used during the brand’s “black and gold” era, which successfully established NXT as a touring entity before the pandemic.
