Andre Chase Says NXT Knew the Crowd Was Behind Him During Chase U Run But Chose Not to Capitalize

Andre Chase is opening up about the rise and fall of Chase U — and he’s not shy about where he thinks things went wrong.

Chase built one of NXT’s most organically beloved acts in recent memory with the formation of Chase U, a collegiate-themed faction that connected with fans in a big way. Despite that grassroots momentum, the group was abruptly disbanded in 2024. Chase has now addressed the situation directly, stating that NXT was fully aware of how enthusiastically the crowd was responding to him — they simply chose not to act on it. In his own words, they “heard the crowd going crazy” for him, but “they just didn’t want it.”

A reboot of the Chase U concept was attempted in 2025, built around a storyline where Chase was struggling emotionally before new students Kale Dixon and Uriah Connors came into the picture to reinvigorate him. That effort, however, also ultimately failed to gain traction.

The comments are a candid look at the frustration that can come with being over with a live audience but not receiving the creative investment to match. Chase U represented a rare case in modern wrestling where a mid-card concept generated genuine, loud crowd support — the kind that typically signals a character ready for a bigger spotlight. That it was shut down once and couldn’t be revived a second time makes Chase’s remarks all the more pointed.

Where Chase goes from here in NXT remains to be seen, but his willingness to speak candidly about his creative situation suggests he’s done waiting quietly for things to change.