10 Times WWE Was Categorically Worse Than It Is Right Now

7. The Original NXT (Season 3)

Triple H Kurt Angle
WWE

Back once again with the ill behaviour, it's the first and only female version of an idea that should have already been confined to the bin before the stench of the first season started to linger.

Everything already problematic about the freshman and sophomore series' of NXT were ramped up to the detriment of the all-female cast - a crew of performers that were, in the main, even less experienced than the rookies that were sent out to die in the months before them.

Michael Cole and Josh Matthews were - without hyperbole - rampantly sexist throughout in their vile takedowns of the over-exposed semi-pros. Commentary can sometimes tell the story when the wrestlers can't, but the pair going into business for themselves only served to underserve those that desperately needed it.

Living the gimmick presumably with the full support of Vince McMahon (if he even knew the show existed), Cole lambasted the women for their low quality efforts whilst Matthews offered little or nothing in the 'babyface' defence against his caustic colleague. It was unbearable - fittingly the only point at which it had any synergy with the p*sspoor product on show.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett