NXT – The Key to its Success

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Whilst many people are bored with the weekly Raw and Smackdown shows there is an alternative out there, presented by the same people, that is like a breath of fresh air in the wrestling world.

After watching NXT since it’s debut episode there’s always been something different about the shows that sets them apart from it’s parent product.

Whilst it’s set up at Full Sail University to be presented as the companies “developmental” territory, the NXT brand has quickly overtaken the bigger shows as the one to watch every week.

The occasional “specials” seem to deliver, both in storyline terms and in ring action, in a way that the majority of main roster pay per views have struggled with in the last year or so.

But why has the show quickly become the must watch wrestling event every week? For me there’s one main reason.

Whilst some of the wrestlers (i hate the term Sports Entertainer), are green rookies, brought into the wrestling world by WWE the majority have already made it as big stars in the world of the independents.

Looking at the men who have had the biggest impact since making their NXT debuts they have all travelled the world. Honing their style and impressing the fans everywhere they’ve gone, before making into that black and yellow branded ring.

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Long time NXT Champion Adrian Neville, the man formerly known as Pac, hails from England and spent most of his pre WWE time in Japan.

New Champion Sami Zayn blazed a trail around the world as the masked superstar El Generico, whilst his long time foe Kevin Steen has just made his NXT debut as the renamed Kevin Owens.

Former NJPW, NOAH and ROH standout performer KENTA now performs under the name Hideo Itami. Alongside him, current tag team partner, Finn Balor built his reputation under the name Prince Devitt in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

All five of the men mentioned above have more than enough ability in the ring to be major players on the main WWE roster, that is without a doubt.

You only have to look at the reactions to them all at last weeks NXT rEvolution to see that the fans are well behind them. Whilst saying that i can’t think of any “home grown” stars in the company that have had anywhere near a similar reaction in recent months.

Seeing Kevin Owens in almost tears as he walked down the ramp for his debut showed you how much this opportunity means to him. The fan reaction was as strong as it was due to the fact they know exactly what the man is capable of, and that comes from all the years of work he put in on the indy circuit.

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The same can be said for Neville, Zayn, Itami and Balor. They have all plied their trade around the world to build them up to the point where they are set to be major stars in 2015 for WWE.

Whilst formerly the company was more than happy just to sign up giants from the world of pro football etc (something they still do to a degree) it seems now they are looking at the men and women who are making a big impact around the world.

Building what seems to be a “Golden Generation” in their roster, under the helm of Triple H, there is only one way these men are going and that is up.