WWE NXT TV taping report
October 23, 2014
Full Sail University
By Josh Parry, PWTorch correspondent

There was quite a bit of negative sentiment towards Seth Rollins's involvement at NXT on Thursday night. After plugging his meet and greet session all month on social media, Rollins did not appear as advertised before the event.

Every taping features a 4:00 p.m. meet and greet, which is usually only attended by 50 or so people, since doors don't open for the main show until around 6:00 p.m. There normally isn't a large group of people gathered outside the venue until about 4:30-5:00 p.m., but there were at least 100 people there by 3:30 for the meet and greet with Seth. Instead, the Lucha Dragons came to the booth.

Many people left the line, and broke off to eat before the show, while some stayed and formed a line for the show's GA seating. There probably wouldn't have been as much bitterness over the replacement if it were anybody else, but the Lucha Dragons signed at last month's tapings as well.

As far as Seth's in-ring appearance is concerned, the expectations weren't too high, since most main roster stars only come for a promo (Bray Wyatt, Batista, John Cena, etc.), so while there was a little bit of negativity towards Rollins coming out in a suit, I think most people were okay with his segment with The Vaudevillains, and the crowd reactions were generally very positive. There was still some physicality involved with the Curb Stomps, and if they're planing some big spots for Hell in a Cell this Sunday, I have no qualms with them having kept Rollins out of competition for the evening.

***

Second Report by PWTorch reader Derek (@bucsfan1185)

This past Thursday I attended my first and likely last NXT taping at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Fla. due to WWE's handling of an advertised Seth Rollins autograph signing.

I had attended a small NXT show prior to this and after seeing how hard everyone worked in the ring I was looking forward to the show. One of the things I was looking forward to the most was the advertised Meet & Greet with Seth Rollins. This was to begin at 4:00 p.m. and since it was my first time driving to Full Sail, I arrived well before, at 3:15. This put me about 30-40th in line. Sometime around 3:40, we saw Seth Rollins arrive to the building. This perked everyone up, as most of them had come to see him and had shirts, signs, memorabilia, and other items with Rollins's face or catchphrases on.

By the time 4:00 p.m. came, the line was well over 100 people. Fashionably late I assumed. Then 4:30. Finally, at 4:50 the line, now about 150-200 people began to move and we had ourselves a Meet & Greet! However, soon after this, I began seeing people exit the line completely. I soon found out why when I reached the Meet & Greet area and Seth Rollins was nowhere to be found. Instead, Sin Cara & Kalisto were signing autographs.

I decided to make the best of it and attempt to get a photo with them. When I approached the table I was told by NXT staff that there was no time for pictures. I said hello, was given an autograph, and quickly sent along my way. Credit to Sin Cara & Kalisto for being cool in that situation.

Since there was no one from NXT staff organizing a line to get in the show, I then joined the cluster of people stuffed around the entrance barricades. Once the show began, everything changed. The wrestling was incredible and I could tell that everyone was feeding off of the energy of the crowd and really working hard for us. Literally everyone. I couldn't have been more impressed with the in ring action.

At the end of the night, Seth Rollins DID make an appearance in the ring, but that Meet & Greet never happened. On the way out, I decided to ask an NXT staff member what happened. The answer I received made me wish I had never asked the question. "Things change," he said. "...Awesome," I replied.

I'm well aware that things do change. I was less upset that the Meet & Greet with Seth Rollins never occurred and much more upset with the way that it was handled by NXT staff. No announcement at the time they found out, no announcement ever about anything. It just felt like they didn't even care about their fans at all or they would have just been honest with us. I even reached out to Seth Rollins on Twitter, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. However, I haven't received a reply.

I can't say I'll go to another NXT show again, but I hope if "things change" again for the fans next time, NXT will communicate that to those Men/Women/Children who are patiently waiting in line.

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