The Rise of NXT

The Birth of NXT

Seth Rollins was the first NXT Champion

In 2012, WWE decided to pull the plug on the reality TV nature of the show and showcase NXT as WWE’s replacement to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) – the then developmental system of the WWE. NXT was rebranded as a wrestling only show under the wing of Triple H. The show was on par if not often excelling the quality of matches that were happening in the main roster. NXT was initially created as a proving ground for aspiring WWE superstars who wanted to shine on the main roster as part of RAW and SmackDown some day. It was meant to be a transitional phase wherein character development and talent polishing both took place. It was a live performance as well as a training room. Sort of like on-the-job training.

If you look at the first class of ‘graduates’ from Full Sail University (where NXT events are conducted), you can see all of them were fresh faces to the main roster. Some of the notable names from the first class include The Shield trio, Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt Family, Rusev, Bo Dallas, Adam Rose, The Ascension, Tyler Breeze.

The Shield remains to be one of the best factions of stars to ever come out of NXT

The extent of success some of them had on the main roster is questionable but still it did do its job. Then there were other superstars like Tyson Kidd and Cesaro who went back to NXT from main roster, honed their already awesome skills even sharper and came back to the main roster. This was a sign of things to come. The concept of NXT as a training ground was beginning to evolve and outgrow itself. Triple H (who is better at managing the WWE nowadays than Vince) was in charge of the whole NXT division.