10 Problems Nobody Wants To Admit About NXT
8. The In-Ring Action Is Getting Too Dangerous
"We're monitoring Tommaso Ciampa closely. He may have to change up his style. People like to play armchair doctor on Twitter, but WWE takes care of their talent and has access to the best doctors and training teams."
- Triple H, November 20, 2019.
Smash cut to: Tommaso Ciampa climbing up the WarGames cage, three days later, and taking part in one of the riskiest bumps witnessed in years.
Also, funny that the armchair doctors of Twitter correctly diagnosed a significant problem with Kairi Sane at TLC, and the best doctors did not, but back to NXT: since the move to USA, the demand for huge moments and spots, with which to win the social media GIF wars on Wednesdays, has manifested in far too many reckless near-misses.
In a bid to make the Forgotten Sons interesting, NXT opted not for a complete character repackage, but by having them annihilate Leon Ruff with an over-the-top-rope chokeslam to the apron. This move offered very little protection, nor did WWE's insistence that Mia Yim - hardly the best worker - wrestle a Ladder match ahead of WarGames (!). She endured/botched two horrendous looking bumps, for which she was praised, which underscored the grim, hidden curriculum of how to impress NXT brass. She also endangered Dakota Kai just last week in another mistimed stunt.
That NXT booked Ladder matches to earn the WarGames advantage in itself undermined Triple H's words...