10 Things WWE Stole From The Indies
1. NXT
WWE have rewritten the developmental rulebook with NXT.
No longer a mere finishing school, the system is now a viable brand in its own right, and a wrestling-centric island away from the main roster's tedious Sports Entertainment. NXT is the source of much of WWE's most visceral and exciting output. Its TakeOver events are always among the year's strongest, but while radically different from the rest of the company's output, NXT is little more than WWE's attempt at a super indie.
With few over-the-top stories, straightforward promos, an all-star cast, and a focus on wrestling above all else, NXT is presented almost exactly like prime ROH or PWG. It's Triple H's fantasy booking dream come to life, and while considerably glossier than any independent promotion could ever hope to be, WWE have largely succeeded in capturing the smaller stages' spirit with NXT.
This is nothing like the developmental territories of old. NXT is still a training ground, but putting on a good show is just as essential now. WWE have succeeded not by aping Raw and SmackDown, but successfully adapting dozens of indie traits for a wider audience, creating a product perfectly tailored to their hardcore fans' needs.