NXT means something entirely different now, but in 2010, the show was simply a reality-style broadcast, where fledgling WWE Superstars were paired with mentors, hoping to impress judges and their superiors in a bid to win a spot on the main roster. If that sounds like Tough Enough, it's because the shows shared a lot of similarities in the way they were presented, with the one major difference being that NXT took place in front of a live crowd. The first season was treated very seriously, but nobody could have foreseen what was about to happen. Just after the first series was wrapped up, winner Wade Barrett randomly appeared on Monday Night Raw, distracting John Cena during his match with CM Punk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzoa5mg3sF0 Out of nowhere, the rest of the NXT cast hit the ring, laying absolutely everybody out - Daniel Bryan even choked ring announcer Justin Roberts with the man's own tie, something which led to Bryan's release from contract for a few months. The entire segment came across fantastically well, and WWE had a hot new group - The Nexus - to show for it. The story was that all these men wanted to gang up and make an impact, and targeted John Cena, recognising him as the face of WWE.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
