February 23rd 2010, NXT was created initially just a reality TV show, with stars from RAW and SmackDown acting as mentors for new signees to NXT. It’s how wrestlers like; Wade Barrett, Daniel Bryan AJ Lee and Kaitlyn became names within WWE then, the reality side of things got dropped and NXT was reborn. The rebirth was something extraordinary, gone was the competition, the assault course and new talent being seen as rookies. Now NXT was in Florida in Fully Sail University with a Performance Center attached.
Then the major signings happened. Stars like; Seth Rollins (Tyler Black), Adrian Neville (PAC) and Becky Lynch (Rebecca Quinn), NXT was grabbing Indie stars, wrestlers with little to no experience and elevating them higher. Seth Rollins, Paige and British Ambition (Adrian Neville and Oliver Grey) all became the inaugural Champions and slowly but surely, NXT developed itself into something deeply impressive.
Over the years, under the guidance of Triple H and Dusty Rhodes, NXT blossomed bigger than anyone expected and fans fell madly in love with what was created. Bigger names joined the brand and it became a giant in WWE, it wasn’t long until NXT was seen less as a developmental brand and more of a 3rd brand. With events known as TakerOver and weekly tapings, everyone became glued to what NXT would do next. NXT toured around America and gained even bigger infamy, after a certain time in NXT, the wrestlers would head up to the main roster.
Soon, NXT got a spot wrestling at Download Festival (a rock and metal festival in the UK. Then a brand in the UK formed starting with a two day tournament to crown the inaugural NXT UK Champion – Tyler Bate, WWE started snapping up some of the greatest names in the UK and beyond for the second brand under the NXT name. By now, many were seeing NXT as better than RAW and SmackDown, they chose to view it over the main roster. It was a great surprise that last year, NXT would move live, to USA Network and become two hours long. NXT is firmly the brand love, watch and obsess over.
We. Are. NXT!
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