10 Things You Didn't Know About WWE NXT
"Another idea considered was to, and we're quoting here, 'somehow do a Sci-Fi version of wrestling', in order to match the network's motif..." Oh what NXT could have become...
It became a modern wrestling tradition that took place four or five times a year (although this NXT TakeOver: In Your House weekend is slightly different, of course). There was a period of time where a Saturday show was hailed as the greatest wrestling event of all-time before it was followed by a Sunday night card that was picked apart like a frog in biology class. Main roster WWE comes off uneven on its better days, while NXT, especially through its takeover cards, is considered the alpha and the omega to this day.
A full decade has passed since the letters N-X-T first graced our ears on WWE programming, though veteran fans will remember that at one time, they stood for a product that was much, much different than the gathering of independent and international stars that we see today. Certainly, NXT as we know it has come a long way over the course of the last 10 years and with its plum spot on cable, the world waits to see what the next step of the brand will be. Having come so far already, it's hard to see how we can reach the next step.
Let's dive a little deeper into the total history of NXT, from its origins to its modern standing, the facts and the statistics therein.
10. Stranger Than Fiction
Many remember that NXT in its initial form debuted back in February 2010, on the SyFy channel on Tuesday nights, assuming the time slot previously held by the ECW brand. Although it did help launch the likes of CM Punk, The Miz, John Morrison, and Sheamus, ECW felt like an inferior brand, utterly second-class beneath the Raw and SmackDown fare. Thus turning ECW into a literal developmental/main roster go-between made a little more sense.
But when the decision was being made to turn ECW into something else, those in WWE apparently weren't sure what the new show was going to be. According to The Wrestling Observer, ideas were thrown around for that hour of television, one of which was making it into a reality show (which early NXT indeed was). Another idea considered was to, and we're quoting here, "somehow do a Sci-Fi version of wrestling", in order to match the network's motif. We'd feel sad that we never got to see mystic grabs at its finest, but Lucha Underground did alright sorta filling that void.
Written by Justin Henry
In addition to writing lists and commentaries for Cultaholic, Justin is also a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine, and is co-author of the WWE-related book Titan Screwed: Lost Smiles, Stunners, and Screwjobs.
