10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About The New Day

8. Big E's "Five Count" Gimmick In NXT

Big E.'s time in NXT was largely a happy one. He was put over as an unbeatable monster heel, terrorising opponents and embarking upon an extended winning streak. He won the NXT Championship in January 2013, just five months after debuting, and held the title for 168 days. However, one aspect of Big E.'s NXT gimmick is something WWE would surely like to keep on the down low. His tendency to demand a five count when pinning opponents (as opposed to the usual three) was supposed to establish his dominance, but inevitably made his opponents look disproportionately weak as a result. It was a gimmick that seemed to particularly go against the NXT ethos. With a smaller roster and a heavier focus on in-ring action, the developmental promotion can't afford to book too many squashes. Everybody on the roster has to be kept at least partially strong, as they all need a chance to demonstrate their abilities. Additionally, the idea was a direct rip-off from decades ago. King Kong Bundy would also demand five counts during the early stages of his career, first pedalling the gimmick in Mid-South Wrestling in the mid-1980s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiF3s7k8iVQ