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USA Network wasn't even the first choice for NXT since WWE wanted FOX to bite on a third hour of programming and dangled both NXT and 205 Live in front of them.
Instead they only got NXT because FOX kept refusing but FOX was still interested in a third hour and as a studio show which is how WWE Backstage was born.
The fact it took WWE soo long to make an official announcement should have been a big clue they were scrambling back to USA Network and the deal was being made in reaction to AEW's official announcement. AEW made their official announcement in May while WWE didn't make their NXT announcement until August.
The October start date for AEW had a lot more to do with that being the start of the early Fall Sweep season and less about anything WWE-related. Both FOX and TNT wanted to have a few weeks of SD and Dynamite in the books in order to strengthen the appeal of their networks for new advertisers and/or get better deals with existing ones.
Considering SyFy hasn't aired any episode of NXT since back in the very early days, that should have been a clue WWE doesn't want to give AEW any unopposed days even if it means reairing taped NXT content.
WWE being able to sell more of their taped programming to networks is mainly due to how cheap that stuff is compared to regular tv programming. Its also part of the reason why they have been struggling to find a buyer for their live PPV stuff since nobody wants to pay the company their high asking price compared to other live sports content like UFC that generate much better buy numbers.
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