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NXT (WWE brand)

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This article is about the brand. For the TV show, see WWE NXT.

NXT
Logo for the brand and the NXT television program
Product typeProfessional wrestling
Sports entertainment
OwnerWWE
Produced byPaul "Triple H" Levesque
CountryUnited States
IntroducedFebruary 23, 2010
Related brandsRaw
SmackDown
205 Live
ECW
NXT UK
Tagline8 NXT Rookies. 8 WWE Pros. 1 Dream.[1]
(2010–2012)
General Manager:
William Regal
(July 31, 2014 – present)

WWE NXT, often referred to simply as NXT, is a brand of the U.S. based professional wrestling promotion WWE.

While its primary purpose is to serve as a farm system for WWE's main roster (the Raw and SmackDown brands), NXT has come to be viewed by wrestling pundits and fans as its own distinct entity, becoming a brand in its own right.[2] Originally holding its shows primarily in the Orlando, Florida area, NXT expanded its reach as time has gone on, having embarked on national and international tours, being praised for its high quality of wrestling[3][4] and captivating storylines.[5][6]

History

Main article: WWE brand extension

Beginnings

NXT was formed in 2010 following the dissolution of the ECW brand. Initially, the "NXT" trademark was disputed between WWE and Scotland's Scottish Wrestling Alliance (SWA), whose developmental division was also called "NXT".[7] WWE worked with SWA to secure the NXT trademark for their new series with SWA's developmental branch being renamed "SWA: Source."[8] In February 2010, WWE debuted the NXT television program, the program featured rookies from WWE's Tampa, Florida-based developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) competing to become members of WWE's main roster. In June 2012, WWE ceased operating FCW, instead running all of its developmental events and operations at Full Sail University under the WWE NXT banner.[9]

On February 27, 2014, NXT held its first live two hour special event called NXT Arrival, which was also the first live in-ring program broadcast on the WWE Network.[10][11][12] Eventually, WWE scheduled more live two-hour special events, which have since become a regular fixture on WWE Network.[13]

Expansion

In 2015, NXT promoted its first live events outside of Florida with an event that was held in March in Columbus, Ohio.[14] In August of that year, NXT held their first TakeOver show outside of Full Sail with NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York and in December, held their first international TakeOver event with NXT TakeOver: London. By 2016, NXT was running approximately 200 shows per year between the United States and overseas.[15]

Controversies

In late February and March 2015, several former NXT trainees previously working within WWE developmental system alleged misconduct by head trainer Bill DeMott, with Judas Devlin and Brandon Traven publicizing complaints which they claimed they had submitted to WWE management about DeMott back in March 2013 when they were still employed with WWE.[16][17] Meanwhile, other ex trainees like Briley Pierce, Derrick Bateman and independent wrestler Terra Calaway also made allegations in 2015,[16][17][18][19] while previous allegations made in 2013 by Chad Baxter and Chase Donovan were also noted.[20] They accused DeMott of making trainees perform dangerous drills,[16] physically assaulting and bullying trainees,[16][17] using homophobic and racial slurs amongst other derogatory terms[17][20] and condoning sexual harassment.[18] WWE released statements regarding some of the claims that came to light in 2013 and 2015 saying that investigations were done and no wrongdoing was found.[16][20] On March 6, 2015, DeMott denied the allegations, but resigned from WWE "to avoid any embarrassment or damage" to the company.[18]

Championships and accomplishments

Current championships

NXT
Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days held Location Notes
NXT Championship Tommaso Ciampa 1 July 18, 2018 2331 Winter Park, Florida Defeated Aleister Black on NXT
Aired on tape delay on July 25
NXT North American Championship Ricochet 1 August 18, 2018 2300 Brooklyn, New York Defeated Adam Cole at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4
NXT Women's Championship Shayna Baszler 2 October 28, 2018 2229 Uniondale, New York Defeated Kairi Sane at Evolution
NXT Tag Team Championship The Undisputed Era
(Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong) 		2 June 21, 2018 2358 Winter Park, Florida Defeated Mustache Mountain (Trent Seven and Tyler Bate) on NXT
Aired on tape delay on July 11

Other accomplishment(s)

Championship Latest winner(s) Date won Location Notes Previous winners
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic The Undisputed Era
(Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly) 		April 7, 2018 New Orleans, Louisiana Defeated Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne and The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) in a triple threat tournament final to win (Their NXT Tag Team Championship were also on the line) Samoa Joe and Finn Bálor (2015)
The Authors of Pain
(Akam and Rezar) (2016)

Roster

Main article: List of WWE personnel § NXT

Television show

Main article: WWE NXT

The WWE Network broadcasts NXT's eponymous television program in the United States. From 2010 to 2012, WWE NXT ran as a seasonal show, presented as a hybrid between reality television and WWE's scripted live events. The show saw "NXT Rookies" paired with "WWE Pros", with the pairs competing in challenges until one sole winner remained. The winners of the shows were Wade Barrett ( Season 1), Kaval ( Season 2), Kaitlyn ( Season 3) and Johnny Curtis ( Season 4). After NXT Redemption, the show's seasonal format was dropped.

Production

From 2010 to 2012 NXT was filmed in large venues during the SmackDown tapings. Beginning on May 17, 2012, WWE began filming NXT at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, with the venue being billed on air as "Full Sail Live".[21] Tickets are available free for Full Sail students; general admission for non-students costs $10.[22]

NXT began airing on the WWE Network on February 27, 2014 with a special event called NXT Arrival. Regular episodes are one-hour and air on tape delay. Live two-hour episodes are produced periodically as part of the NXT TakeOver series.

WWE Network events

See also: NXT TakeOver
Event Date Venue Location Main event Ref.
NXT Arrival February 27, 2014 Full Sail University Winter Park, Florida Bo Dallas vs. Adrian Neville for the NXT Championship [23]
NXT TakeOver May 29, 2014 Adrian Neville (c) vs. Tyson Kidd for the NXT Championship [24]
NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way September 11, 2014 Adrian Neville (c) vs. Sami Zayn vs. Tyler Breeze vs. Tyson Kidd for the NXT Championship [25]
NXT TakeOver: R Evolution December 11, 2014 Adrian Neville (c) vs. Sami Zayn in a Title vs. Career match for the NXT Championship [26]
NXT TakeOver: Rival February 11, 2015 Sami Zayn (c) vs. Kevin Owens for the NXT Championship [27]
NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable May 20, 2015 Kevin Owens (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the NXT Championship [28]
NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn August 22, 2015 Barclays Center Brooklyn, New York Finn Bálor (c) vs. Kevin Owens in a Ladder match for the NXT Championship [29]
NXT TakeOver: Respect October 7, 2015 Full Sail University Winter Park, Florida Bayley (c) vs. Sasha Banks in a 30-minute Iron Man match for the NXT Women's Championship [30]
NXT TakeOver: London December 16, 2015 SSE Arena Wembley, London, England Finn Bálor (c) vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship [31]
NXT TakeOver: Dallas April 1, 2016 Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, Texas Finn Bálor (c) vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship [32]
NXT TakeOver: The End June 8, 2016 Full Sail University Winter Park, Florida Samoa Joe (c) vs. Finn Bálor in a Steel Cage match for the NXT Championship [33]
NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II August 20, 2016 Barclays Center Brooklyn, New York Samoa Joe (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the NXT Championship [34]
NXT TakeOver: Toronto November 19, 2016 Air Canada Centre Toronto, Ontario, Canada Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship [35]
NXT TakeOver: San Antonio January 28, 2017 Freeman Coliseum San Antonio, Texas Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Bobby Roode for the NXT Championship [36]
NXT TakeOver: Orlando April 1, 2017 Amway Center Orlando, Florida Bobby Roode (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the NXT Championship [37][38]
NXT TakeOver: Chicago May 20, 2017 Allstate Arena Rosemont, Illinois The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) (c) vs. DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) in a Ladder match for the NXT Tag Team Championship [39]
NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III August 19, 2017 Barclays Center Brooklyn, New York Bobby Roode (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the NXT Championship [34][40]
NXT TakeOver: WarGames November 18, 2017 Toyota Center Houston, Texas SAnitY (Alexander Wolfe, Eric Young, and Killian Dain) vs. The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) and Roderick Strong vs. The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O'Reilly) in a WarGames match [41][42]
NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia January 27, 2018 Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Andrade "Cien" Almas (c) vs. Johnny Gargano for the NXT Championship [43][44][45]
NXT TakeOver: New Orleans April 7, 2018 Smoothie King Center New Orleans, Louisiana Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa in an unsanctioned match [46][47]
NXT TakeOver: Chicago II June 16, 2018 Allstate Arena Rosemont, Illinois Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa in a Chicago Street Fight [48][49]
NXT U.K. Championship June 26, 2018 Royal Albert Hall Kensington, London, England Pete Dunne (c) vs. Zack Gibson for the WWE United Kingdom Championship [50]
NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 August 18, 2018 Barclays Center Brooklyn, New York Tommaso Ciampa (c) vs. Johnny Gargano in a Last Man Standing match for the NXT Championship [51][52]
NXT TakeOver: WarGames November 17, 2018 Staples Center Los Angeles, California Pete Dunne, Ricochet, and War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) vs. The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong) in a WarGames match [53][54][55]

See also

References

  1. ^ Brandon Stroud (February 12, 2014). "Vintage Best And Worst: WWE NXT 4/13/10, Season 1 Episode 8". Uproxx. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  2. ^ "Triple H Discusses NXT as a Third Brand, Putting Talent in a Position to Succeed, More - 411MANIA". www.411mania.com.
  3. ^ Shoemaker, David (December 17, 2014). "The Best Wrestling Show of the Year Wasn't WWE's 'TLC' ... It Was 'NXT Takeover: R Evolution'". grantland.com. Grantland. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  4. ^ Beougher, Wyatt (December 15, 2014). "NXT Is the Best Weekly Episodic Wrestling Show Today, Period". 411mania.com. 411mania. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  5. ^ Oster, Aaron (February 26, 2015). "NXT, Where the Women Work". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "The Magnificent Seven: The Top 7 WWE Moments of 2015 - 411MANIA". www.411mania.com.
  7. ^ "NXT Wrestling Speaks On WWE Trying To Use Their Trademark - Wrestlezone". February 4, 2010.
  8. ^ WrestlingNewsWorld.com. "WWE Settles Dispute Over NXT Trademark".
  9. ^ "WWE News: FCW name being phased out". Wrestling Observer. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  10. ^ Meltzer, Dave. "Reported problems related to WWE Network's NXT Arrival show". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  11. ^ Caldwell, James. "WWE news: NXT "Arrival" live tonight on the Network - Cena & HBK, two title matches, big names on Pre-Show". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  12. ^ Johnson, Vaughn. "WWE Network issues statement regarding live stream problems of NXT ArRIVAL". Philadelphia Media Network. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  13. ^ "NXT spoilers: Key news & notes for the next set of TV shows leading into "Takedown," plus main roster implications". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  14. ^ Caldwell, James (January 14, 2015). "WWE taking NXT out of Florida for big road show". pwtorch.com. PW Torch. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  15. ^ "Triple H on NXT's ever-shifting role in the WWE universe".
  16. ^ a b c d e "Heavy allegations levied against WWE's Bill DeMott, WWE's official response". pwinsider.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  17. ^ a b c d "Second letter of allegations against nxt's Bill DeMott leaks online, Chris Jericho, EC3, others comment on situation". pwinsider.com. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  18. ^ a b c "WWE News: Bill DeMott resigns, interim replacement (updated)". f4wonline.com. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  19. ^ "WWE News: Developmental head trainer is under fire again". prowrestling.net. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  20. ^ a b c Powell, Jason. "NXT investigation regarding claims made against Bill DeMott, statement issued by WWE". prowrestling.net. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  21. ^ "Sold Out WWE Superstar Showdown". Full Sail Blog. May 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  22. ^ "WWE/NXT Live Event". Full Sail Blog. October 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  23. ^ "JAMES'S WWE NXT "ARRIVAL" REPORT 2/27 - Week 87: Complete real-time coverage of WWE Network special, including all NXT Titles on the line, plus Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  24. ^ "James's WWE NXT TakeOver report 5/29: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live special on WWE Network". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  25. ^ Howell, Nolan. "Neville shocks, defies odds at NXT Takeover: Fatal 4 Way". Canoe.ca. SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  26. ^ James, Caldwell. "Caldwell's WWE NXT Takeover results 12/11: Complete virtual-time coverage of Neville vs. Zayn for the NXT Title, Itami & Balor, Charlotte, Kevin Steen/Owens's debut, Corey Graves retires". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  27. ^ Varsallone, Jim. "Hot crowd at Full Sail Live as Sasha Banks, Kevin Owens win WWE NXT titles; WWE NXT bound for Cleveland". Miami Herald. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  28. ^ James, Justin. "WWE NXT "TakeOver: Unstoppable" report 5/20: Owens vs. Zayn for the NXT Title ends in wild fashion with a major debut of Samoa Joe, plus spectacular NXT Women's Title match, more; Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  29. ^ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE "NXT TAKEOVER: BROOKLYN" REPORT 8/22: Balor vs. Owens ladder match for NXT Title, epic Women's match, Tag Titles, Samoa Joe, Liger, dignitaries in the crowd; Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  30. ^ "WWE NXT: Bayley vs. Sasha Banks IronMan match to headline TakeOver". f4wonline.com. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  31. ^ "WWE NXT results: Women's Champion Bayley battles Alexa Bliss". f4wonline.com. Retrieved November 19, 2015. Finn Balor vs Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship was made official for Takeover in December, plus next week they will sign the contract for their match.
  32. ^ Melok, Bobby. "WWE NXT TakeOver comes to Dallas during WrestleMania 32 Week". WWE. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  33. ^ Martin, Adam. "WWE announces next live NXT TakeOver special for this June, viewer numbers for "American Grit" premiere on FOX". wrestleview.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  34. ^ a b "WWE SummerSlam returns to Barclays Center in 2016 and 2017". WWE. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
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  37. ^ "Get WrestleMania 33 Travel Packages this Monday". WWE. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
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  40. ^ "NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn returns to Barclays Center on Aug. 19". WWE. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  41. ^ "Kairi Sane to challenge for NXT Women's Championship at NXT TakeOver: Houston". WWE. September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  42. ^ "NXT TakeOver: WarGames comes to the Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday, Nov. 18". WWE. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  43. ^ "Philadelphia to host 30th anniversary of WWE Royal Rumble in 2018". WWE. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  44. ^ "NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia comes to Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, Jan. 27". WWE. November 18, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
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  46. ^ "WrestleMania returns to the Big Easy". WWE. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
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  50. ^ "WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne def. Zack Gibson". WWE. June 26, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
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