Pull Up the Roots
Veteran
A person who's being training to wrestle finally making an in-ring debut is weird now? There's nit-picking and then there's whatever the hell is going on these days.
The Rise and Fall of NXT
- Thread starter Breh Obama
- Start date
SpacelySprockets
Veteran
I have always shat on the previous NXT dating back to when they were having Bianca get put on the backburner for a Shayna Baszler reign of terror. I have always thought that signing mid 30s indy stars and pushing them to the forefront for the sake of smark clout while their actual developmental talent was stuck doing leg and chest day at the PC and working as extras/security guards in contract signing segments was not conducive to building stars for the FUTURE(emphasis on future).
That poaching the indies biggest stars shyt was never going to last in the long run especially with AEW's arrival who ultimately outdid them at their own game and they stopped being the go-to destination for those guys. The writing was on the wall to change their approach.
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richaveli83
Veteran
Moving to USA and going two hours every week.
MenacingMonk
Tranquilo
NXT from 2015-2019ish was the best, consistent thing going under the E umbrella.
I'd say it should be split into 4 eras:
The Beginning - Moving from FCW to NXT.
The Rise/Black and Gold - I'd say KO arriving kicked it off.
Black & Gold USA - when they went to cable tv.
2.0
I'd argue that the second era started with Sami chasing Neville for the NXT title. Semantics maybe, but I think the change happened a little before KO showed up. I think it only matters to me because I still vividly remember that Sami/Neville title match when he said fukk it right before the finish, and that was the show KO had his first match in. Even when it was happening, it felt like a change in NXT storytelling.
Big E and the I Need 5 era was the FCW-NXT switch.
Sami/Cesaro and Ohno/Regal were that second era, on into Sami/Neville,
Black and Gold was defined by DIY/FTR and the UE
And now we're in 2.0
In a way, it's eras of performers. And how sad is it about to be that pretty much everyone from those two standout eras in the middle will prolly be in Jacksonville in the next few years, save for the only one of those people who should actually be there. AEW don't need KO, they don't need Sami, they don't need KOR or Roderick... But I will be goddamned if AEW wouldn't immediately be a better promotion with Cesaro on their roster. Bryan is GOAT-tier and CM Punk's name exists outside of wrestling, but... Claudio both as a worker and just as a goddamned freak of nature worthy of learning from would be a godsend there.
And if good ol' Rey-Gun left with him to go train the women they got over there, that could possibly shorten the time needed before Jade is as big a star as she probably should become.
(I don't want to leave the women out, but their eras are a bit murkier. They always leave one person behind the usher in the new group, so there's bleedover. I guess the first era was the 4 Horsewomen, the second was the joshi era (Asuka-Kairi-Io), the third was the Hosses (Rhea-Bianca-Raquel) and 2.0 is... seeming concerningly like they put Russo in charge of the women now.)
NXT 2.0 is going to continue to get clowned as long as it's on USA and cable television. It needs to go to the network where talent will be able to develop and get better without the criticism of being on mainstream television.
Is WWE willing to lose that source of income by making that move is the million dollar question. If they aren't, then they better hope that USA Network doesn't make the decision for them.
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The demos are doing what a rerun on USA would do Tuesday at 8 now, I think they got 6-9 months to keep the deal.
Reality Check
Keepin' it 100
shyt, 6 months is pretty generous. With way things are going, if they can't pick up after the holidays, they might force WWE's hand by February.
VegetasHairline
Veteran
Green Ranger
I Am Legend
Wasn't they high on the Mei Ying gimmick too gave her gimmick to Boa and repackage herThey were high on Hit Row as well and look what happened
They grow hot and cold with talent on a daily basis and we've seen it many times before.
CBoz
We Are NXT!
Yeah that was a trio thing even tho Xia Li was the only one doing matches then she gets called up and it basically fell apart. Now we are here with Boa inheriting the spirit of Mei Ying and Karen Q is taking naps around the PC.
SpacelySprockets
Veteran
Norrin Radd
To me, my board!
NXT is finally great again
CBoz
We Are NXT!
I have a feeling her gimmick is going to be AwkwafinaNXT is finally great again
Looks like a character select screen where you got to cop the dlc to unlock the fighters
