Why nxt is the best (wrestling-related) thing in the world
In 2010, WWE premiered a new show called NXT. The idea was a fake reality show where “rookies” (wrestlers from their developmental brand Florida Championship Wrestling) being coached by their pros (WWE Superstars and Divas), with the winner earning a spot on the main roster and a title match. It was terrible. More of the focus was put on the challenges to win immunity points, like obstacle courses and trash talking challenges, as opposed to actual wrestling matches. Along with that, some of the rookie-pro pairings were absolute jokes. In Season 1, Daniel Bryan, a ten year veteran, was coached by The Miz, someone who had been wrestling for half as long as Bryan. Season 2 saw Kaval, a male superstar, being coached by Layla and Michele McCool, two Divas, and Season 3 (a terrible Divas season) had Kaitlyn being coached by Vickie Guerrero, a non-wrestler. After fifth season (which I’m fairly certain never actually ended) the show was restructured as a regular wrestling show, with championships and a full roster, and dropping the rookie/pro pairings and challenges. It replaced FCW as WWE’s developmental territory. It’s incredible. The matches are awesome, the characters and comedy acts are fantastic, they have an outstanding women’s division, and everything on the show is just great. The brand has also created some WWE’s top stars today, including Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Bray Wyatt
Unlike Raw and Smackdown which is filmed from a different location every week, every show is taped at Full Sail University in Orange County, Florida. The crowd is very small, usual only recording a little over 400 people, which I like as it gives the show a nice Indy show feel to it. The crowd is always amazing, as they provide some of the best crowd chants in wrestling today. Some of the best include counting down how long it takes Baron Corbin to beat an opponent (usually about 20 seconds), and the “Breeze is Gorgeous” chant for Tyler Breeze.
The roster on the show is phenominal, especially considering all the independent talent WWE has signed over the last few years. This past year alone, the company signed international superstars Kenta (now Hideo Itami) and Prince Devitt (now Finn Balor), and Ring Of Honor star Kevin Steen (now Kevin Owens). All three of these men are incredible wrestlers and will hopefully make a huge impact, alongside fellow indy veterans Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn.
Something that NXT has been able to do that Raw and Smackdown haven’t over the past few years has been to create great characters that also develop. The Wyatt Family, Emma, and Adam Rose are all characters who were mainstays of NXT before coming to the main roster. Right now, Tyler Breeze has been playing the character of a self-obsessed male model. When he started, his gimmick was he didn’t like to get hit in the face, he took selfies during matches, and that was it. Fast forward a year, he has several nicknames he makes up for himself, has his own entrance music that he sings, and has shown some incredible wrestling skills.
Alongside him are other great characters Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady. Initially, they were heels who talked a big game that neither really had. However, the two had pure charisma, and became two of the most popular guys in NXT. Amore’s completely nonsensical promos are incredible, as he never misses a beat while talking, and there “SAWFT” chant has become one of the most popular in NXT.
Another thing NXT does is take lower level talents from Raw and Smackdown and make them a big deal. Before NXT, Cesaro was floundering in midcard obscurity, but when he came down to the “lower” brand, he shined. His matches with Sami Zayn were praised by critics, and he was one of the top contenders to the NXT title for a while. Another great (and better) example of NXT making people better is Tyson Kidd. Before NXT, Kidd, while an incredibly talented wrestler, had no character whatsoever and completely lacked charisma. Now, he turned heel, talks about facts and cats, and is desperately trying to climb out of his wife Natalya’s shadow. For the past few months, he has been a top contender for the NXT Championship. He was a nothing who became a big deal down in NXT.
Lastly, the women’s division in NXT is so far ahead of the main roster Divas in terms of talent. On Raw, you’ll probably see a two minute match full of slapping and hair pulling. On NXT, you’ll get a seven or minute match where the women do actual moves and actually look like confident wrestlers. Main roster Divas Paige and Emma had some incredible matches against each other, and others on the show like Charlotte, Natalya, and Bayley. With Charlotte and Bayley currently running the division, it appears to be in good hands
When I say that NXT is the best wrestling show in the world, I’m not exaggerating. I honestly think that. If you have the WWE Network (for $9.99 a month) and aren’t watching NXT every Thursday, than you’re missing out big time. It has some great wrestling, great characters, an incredible women’s division. It’s some of the best wrestling in the world. So go ahead and check it out and see the next generation of WWE Superstars and Divas, you, won’t regret it.
If you choose to go check it out, here are some great matches to watch:
Sami Zayn vs Cesaro-2 out of 3 Falls
Paige vs Emma-Women’s Championship-NXT Arrival
Charlotte vs Natalya-Women’s Championship-NXT Takeover
Sami Zayn vs Tyler Breeze-NXT Takeover
Adrian Neville vs Sami Zayn vs Tyler Breeze vs Tyson Kidd-NXT Championship-NXT Takeover: Fatal 4-Way
Unlike Raw and Smackdown which is filmed from a different location every week, every show is taped at Full Sail University in Orange County, Florida. The crowd is very small, usual only recording a little over 400 people, which I like as it gives the show a nice Indy show feel to it. The crowd is always amazing, as they provide some of the best crowd chants in wrestling today. Some of the best include counting down how long it takes Baron Corbin to beat an opponent (usually about 20 seconds), and the “Breeze is Gorgeous” chant for Tyler Breeze.
The roster on the show is phenominal, especially considering all the independent talent WWE has signed over the last few years. This past year alone, the company signed international superstars Kenta (now Hideo Itami) and Prince Devitt (now Finn Balor), and Ring Of Honor star Kevin Steen (now Kevin Owens). All three of these men are incredible wrestlers and will hopefully make a huge impact, alongside fellow indy veterans Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn.
Something that NXT has been able to do that Raw and Smackdown haven’t over the past few years has been to create great characters that also develop. The Wyatt Family, Emma, and Adam Rose are all characters who were mainstays of NXT before coming to the main roster. Right now, Tyler Breeze has been playing the character of a self-obsessed male model. When he started, his gimmick was he didn’t like to get hit in the face, he took selfies during matches, and that was it. Fast forward a year, he has several nicknames he makes up for himself, has his own entrance music that he sings, and has shown some incredible wrestling skills.
Alongside him are other great characters Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady. Initially, they were heels who talked a big game that neither really had. However, the two had pure charisma, and became two of the most popular guys in NXT. Amore’s completely nonsensical promos are incredible, as he never misses a beat while talking, and there “SAWFT” chant has become one of the most popular in NXT.
Another thing NXT does is take lower level talents from Raw and Smackdown and make them a big deal. Before NXT, Cesaro was floundering in midcard obscurity, but when he came down to the “lower” brand, he shined. His matches with Sami Zayn were praised by critics, and he was one of the top contenders to the NXT title for a while. Another great (and better) example of NXT making people better is Tyson Kidd. Before NXT, Kidd, while an incredibly talented wrestler, had no character whatsoever and completely lacked charisma. Now, he turned heel, talks about facts and cats, and is desperately trying to climb out of his wife Natalya’s shadow. For the past few months, he has been a top contender for the NXT Championship. He was a nothing who became a big deal down in NXT.
Lastly, the women’s division in NXT is so far ahead of the main roster Divas in terms of talent. On Raw, you’ll probably see a two minute match full of slapping and hair pulling. On NXT, you’ll get a seven or minute match where the women do actual moves and actually look like confident wrestlers. Main roster Divas Paige and Emma had some incredible matches against each other, and others on the show like Charlotte, Natalya, and Bayley. With Charlotte and Bayley currently running the division, it appears to be in good hands
When I say that NXT is the best wrestling show in the world, I’m not exaggerating. I honestly think that. If you have the WWE Network (for $9.99 a month) and aren’t watching NXT every Thursday, than you’re missing out big time. It has some great wrestling, great characters, an incredible women’s division. It’s some of the best wrestling in the world. So go ahead and check it out and see the next generation of WWE Superstars and Divas, you, won’t regret it.
If you choose to go check it out, here are some great matches to watch:
Sami Zayn vs Cesaro-2 out of 3 Falls
Paige vs Emma-Women’s Championship-NXT Arrival
Charlotte vs Natalya-Women’s Championship-NXT Takeover
Sami Zayn vs Tyler Breeze-NXT Takeover
Adrian Neville vs Sami Zayn vs Tyler Breeze vs Tyson Kidd-NXT Championship-NXT Takeover: Fatal 4-Way