NXT is Still Mostly Developmental, And That’s Actually Okay

While many fans believe NXT is the best brand in WWE, it really exists to develop the next batch of WWE superstars. It’s how that goal is met that makes it stand out compared to Raw and SmackDown.

Like most of you, I’m a big fan of the NXT events WWE produces. My first role here at Daily DDT was the weekly NXT reviews (2016-17). I’ve been fortunate enough to attend a set of tapings at Full Sail University, way back when tickets weren’t nearly impossible to get. Once the promotion-within-a-promotion starting hitting the road, I made sure I was able to be at the first show in my area. And I’ve been to five different TakeOver events since 2015, when Barclays Center hosted the first TakeOver: Brooklyn.

One thing I’ve heard from fans a lot is some variation of, “NXT is soooooooo much better than the main roster!” When it comes to Raw and SmackDown, no matter how good the in-ring product is, there’s something the WWE Universe will complain about — sometimes warranted, others maybe not so much. But NXT is often immune to that kind of criticism.

As I watched TakeOver: Chicago II recently, I started to figure out why everyone views NXT as some kind of infallible presence. Just what is it that makes the third brand seem so head and shoulders above the juggernaut of main roster programming? And the answer is something very simple: understanding the people performing.

That seems like it might be an oversimplification, but it really isn’t. The team in charge of putting together NXT has a clear knowledge of just what every member of the roster is capable of. And no superstar is asked to be something he or she isn’t — and if someone is pegged incorrectly, more often than not that superstar is repackaged with bigger success. (I call this the Andrade Almas Principle.)

Take this quote from Triple H, head of NXT creative, from a teleconference after TakeOver: Chicago II. Wrestling Inc. asked The Game about some major NXT superstars not making it on the main roster:

"“You try to prep them, you try to give them the tools, you try to give them everything you can so they can succeed on the main roster. But the truth is if you believe that everyone who gets called up will become ‘the guy’ or ‘the girl’ or the next big thing it’s kind of an unrealistic expectation.”"

Some might see this as a slight dig at the main roster creative teams. Yeah, not everyone is going to be the biggest star, but some should. But I see it as proof that Triple H and crew are focused on accentuating the strengths of every performer on the NXT roster.

Take Lars Sullivan. Sure, he’s big, he’s got a great monster heel look, and he’s progressed very well so far. But if he were to be slotted in on, say, SmackDown next week, he’d be a fish out of water. What he is doing on NXT is almost certainly different than what he’d be expected to do on the main roster. Is he ready to make that transition? Maybe, maybe not.

More from Daily DDT

• It’s time for Adam Cole and MJF to drop the ROH tag team titles
• Tom Lawlor talks MLW return, AEW opportunity, CM Punk’s WWE return and more
• Eddie Kingston stands to gain the most from the AEW Continental Classic
• Trish Stratus on WWE NXT would help elevate that women’s division
• Randy Orton signs with SmackDown to go after The Bloodline

For proof, look no further than Bo Dallas. Or Tye Dillinger. Or Tyler Breeze. Heck, look at a guy like Finn Balor. All of these superstars were a big part of NXT during their time on the roster, but upon moving up to the main roster, for one reason or another subtle changes in the booking stopped all their momentum. Whether a gimmick was falling flat, or everything was catchphrase-based, or someone misunderstood the character, or there was an injury that forced a change in plans, plenty of superstars have suffered.

I don’t expect someone’s NXT character to go completely unchanged on the main roster. Guys like Kevin Owens and Elias have thrived, and the Four Horsewomen have all done well for themselves; none of them is exactly the same character on Raw or SmackDown as they were in NXT. But any tweaks to a character should enhance, not detract. NXT knows how to use their talent, WWE not always so much.

Next: NXT Power Rankings: May 2018

Every fan is free to have a favorite brand, even if all are still part of the same parent company and there’s not really any difference in the grand scheme of things. But if you’re a stan for NXT, make sure you know exactly why the product seems so much better.