Why Blake Monroe, Ricky Saints & Ethan Page Have Spent So Long In WWE NXT

While WWE NXT is utilised as a developmental brand within the company before wrestlers make their way to the main roster, not every talent on Tuesday nights needs to gain TV experience before heading to Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown.

This applies to several of the top stars in WWE NXT, including the likes of NXT Champion Joe Hendry, Ricky Saints, Blake Monroe, and Ethan Page. The latter three have spent at least several months in NXT despite already having substantial live TV wrestling experience from their stints in All Elite Wrestling, with Ethan Page having been a part of NXT since May 2024, Ricky Saints since February 2025, and Blake Monroe since June 2025.

The reason for the likes of Page, Monroe, and Saints being utilised on NXT partly comes down to ratings. Fightful Select has reported that both The CW and WWE see it as a way to attract new viewers to NXT, while their television experience is also considered "valuable for the NXT process."

Upon his WWE debut in February 2025, it was noted to Fightful that Ricky Saints was booked on NXT as WrestleMania 41 plans had already been solidified. There was surprise amongst many within NXT that he was still a part of the brand one year on.

New WWE signings debuting on NXT is not always the case, and Fightful added that it is decided on a case-by-case basis. Notable signings from AEW who debuted on the main roster instead of NXT include Penta, Rey Fenix, and Royce Keys.