WWE is reportedly set to debut a brand-new show with a rather unique concept.
Before the December 15th edition of Friday Night SmackDown, several matches were taped seemingly for a new show called WWE Speed. According to reports from those in attendance, the show saw NXT Superstar Axiom take on Cedric Alexander and Nathan Frazier face Bronson Reed in matches fought under very specific time restraints.
What is WWE Speed?
Before the debut matches, the ring apron and posts were all adorned in the new Speed logo, while the video wall showed a five-minute countdown clock during the matches.
Both Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick were on commentary and according to the reports, the winner of the matches got one point, the loser gets deducted a point and a draw results in zero points or deductions.
This isn’t the first time the company has launched a concept-specific show. In 2016 205 Live was created and focused on the Cruiserweight division, with wrestlers billed at 205 pounds or less.
The show was created following the success of the Cruiserweight Classic tournament, and it was intended to serve as a showcase for the division. The show had a specific look and featured its own roster along with the Cruiserweight Champion. However, in 2021, the show’s format changed to lift the weight limit, and it began to feature wrestlers from NXT and NXT UK as well.
The show’s final episode aired on February 11, 2022, and it was replaced with NXT Level Up, which features matches between WWE’s developmental talent, to showcase their skills and prepare them for future success in the company.
There is no official word from the company about the new show, so stay tuned to Inside The Ropes for more updates.