10 Most Ambitious WWE Shows Ever

Although WWECW was a failure, it did establish the idea of a "third brand" that could act as a breeding ground for new superstars. Years later, such an idea was attempted once more, but in a much more far-reaching way. Florida Championship Wrestling (WWE's developmental territory) was dissolved and remade as NXT, a passion project for Triple H. WWE's Performance Center would now train athletes to compete on the NXT brand, and with Triple H's booking style, be portrayed in a much different style from the main roster.

With its focus on in-ring action and grounded characterization, NXT has become the darling of hardcore WWE fans. Even when the main products of RAW and SmackDown are unwatchable, NXT almost always provides a blowaway Takeover special that reinvigorates faith.

NXT has been the platform that independent talent from all over the world have used to make themselves proper WWE superstars without the micromanagement and idiosyncrasies of Vince McMahon assaulting them from the get-go. While many people point to the problems of the NXT model, it's safe to say that it's been a bold project for WWE, one that, at least creatively, is paying dividends.