WWE’s NXT will air on Wednesday instead of its usual night next week, a scheduling shift forced by the CW network’s coverage of the midterm elections. The change places NXT in direct competition with AEW’s Blood & Guts special, and WWE has responded by stacking the card with major appearances, according to a report from F4W Online.
The Wednesday edition of NXT is set to feature both John Cena and Cody Rhodes, two of WWE’s most prominent main roster stars, appearing on the developmental brand’s broadcast. The show will also host the finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, the annual tournament named in honor of Dusty Rhodes that has become a staple of NXT’s calendar.
The timing of the Cena and Cody Rhodes appearances alongside the tournament finals suggests WWE is positioning the Wednesday broadcast as a counter-programming effort against AEW’s Blood & Guts, a gimmick event that has historically drawn significant attention on its own. By placing two of its biggest attractions on the same night as a rival promotion’s marquee show, WWE appears intent on pulling viewer attention toward NXT rather than ceding the night to AEW.
Dusty Rhodes, Cody Rhodes’ late father, remains a significant figure in NXT’s identity, with the tournament bearing his name serving as a recurring showcase for tag team talent on the brand. The finals landing on this particular Wednesday broadcast adds an extra layer of stakes to an already loaded card, giving the show multiple selling points beyond the standard weekly format.
The scheduling conflict comes amid a broader period of notable activity across the industry. AEW’s Tony Khan has reportedly addressed a meeting involving SkyDance publicly, according to PW Torch’s Wade Keller Hotline, though specific details of that meeting were not outlined in the available reporting. Separately, reports this week have also indicated that WWE executive Bruce Prichard is expected to step back from his role as Executive Director of Creative Writing and Talent next year, with multiple outlets including eWrestlingNews, 411Mania and SEScoops covering developments and potential context behind that anticipated departure.
No further details on match structure, participants in the Dusty Rhodes Classic finals, or the specific nature of the Cena and Cody Rhodes appearances were included in the available reporting. WWE has not issued an official statement beyond confirming the night change and the announced appearances.
