Around late 2012-early 2013, NXT became a developmental territory. It stopped being a goofy game show and was actually completely ignored by WWE altogether.
I don’t pretend to know exactly what went down in meetings and such, but it seems Triple H was given full power over The Brand With The Missing “E.”
From it’s inception NXT was designed to find talent. Talent that would then be featured on Raw and Smackdown and PPVs if they were lucky. It was already a development territory, only it was originally disguised as the fever dreams of an old man who loves talking about balls.
Under The Game’s looking eyes it grew. Fast. It’s like when the dad that’s desperately trying to cling to his childhood is busy putting together Harry Potter-themed Lego sets but his annoying son keeps asking to play.
To keep him busy he gives him a handful of the extra peices that Lego inexplicably puts in each box. Then the pesky son builds the coolest thing that makes no sense but you can’t take your eyes off it. The rest of the family won’t shut up about it. “Oh, jeepers, look at what little Paulie made! Susan, Susan, come quick, look at what he built! Isn’t it delightful?!?”
I told you. Lego.
