Wild and Young: The oral history of WWE NXT
Intro (Opening thoughts about NXT in general)
AJ LEE (SEASON 3 ROOKIE): It was this giant opportunity for us. We were down in [Florida Championship Wrestling] for years and waiting for that break. We were kind of iffy about it because you don’t want to have to continue to prove yourself. You want to just make it on the road and you’re there. The idea of fighting and clawing and scratching in Developmental for years and then continuing to have to do that and fight and scratch and compete was not the easiest thing in the world.
About the NXT Challenges
AJ: It was hilarious. I think the guys had this cool stuff that we really wanted to be a part of, and then our first thing was a dance contest. But no matter how ridiculous they were, they made you realize that you’d do anything, and there was nothing you could not handle, so it was the best learning experience.
About Development
AJ: Any time I can be myself and not try to be anything that I’m not, people will gravitate toward that because it’s real, and that’s a recipe for success. At the time there was a standard for women and beauty in general, and I think I came out in Chucks and was told not to do it again. And then, the second episode of the show, the people who told me not to were busy working on SmackDown and didn’t get a chance to see what I was wearing, so I ran out with my Chucks on, and it went from there where people were on board with it.
Watch: Meet NXT Rookie Diva A.J. | AJ’s “Rookie Diva Confessional” | Chickbusters vs. Pin-Up Strong
Thoughts on NXT Redemption
AJ: That was actually where Daniel Bryan and I started dating.
AJ: I liked Matt Striker getting kidnapped. I thought that was pretty great.
AJ: It was fun to try stuff out. It really was just a learning experience, trying and failing on a smaller scale so you know what works on a bigger scale.
Legacy (‘I still have flashbacks’)
AJ: That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I hope people realize how lucky they are that they don’t have to have chocolate-eating contests and gift-unwrapping contests and dance contests their first day on television [laughs]. We didn’t sleep. Just busy every day, working and training in locker-rooms that were basically large closets.
AJ: It was a trying experience. I have flashbacks. But you’re so much stronger in the long run for it.
(These are AJ’s responses to a much larger and comprehensive history article about NXT on on WWE.Com right now featuring many more WWE Superstars and Divas responses. You view that in full by clicking
HERE.)
Related Links:World Wrestling Entertainment > Splashes