10 Times NXT Black & Gold Was Better Than Literally EVERYTHING
6. War Games In NXT Has Never Been Topped
In its best moments, NXT felt like the show that Vince McMahon forgot even existed. Head booker Triple H did some of his best work when he could pull the reins in ways that surprised fans that were used to WWE's very defined edges.
Some of this was the usage of the catalogue of copyrights the company had acquired in 2001 from WCW and left dormant. The most pivotal of these, of course, was the return of (best Regal impression at the ready):
WAR GAMES.
NXT's revival of the two-ring caged structure was refreshing after 17 years away and, even more so, against the backdrop of the tired formula of Hell in a Cell. More than this, in terms of the modern era, it's never been bested.
WWE adopting the gimmick for Survivor Series 2022 created some fantastic storytelling moments for the Bloodline. AEW's own Blood and Guts bouts have been entertaining in their own right, but production issues have stopped them from achieving their potential. But NXT knocked it out of the park every single time from the word "go", utilising the space and teams involved to run stories through the match as well as create a series of incredibly memorable spots. Io Shirai diving off the ropes with a trash can on her head, anyone?
The event was a chance for NXT talent to prove they could put it all on the line for entertainment and it was unmissable NXT TV.