6 Ups And 8 Downs From WWE Elimination Chamber 2015

2. NXT = WWE

More will be written about the John Cena versus Kevin Owens match in a bit, but one important development that should not get lost in the shuffle here: The champion versus champion match did more than make Owens a star, it put NXT and its wrestlers on par with WWE and its superstars. That itself was a major victory Sunday. It would be easy to consider NXT second fiddle to WWE, the minor leagues to WWE€™s major leagues. And really, who could blame fans for thinking that? NXT has been described as WWE€™s developmental territory. Most of the wrestlers down there are still learning the trade. So why shouldn€™t a WWE superstar the caliber of Cena run over an NXT competitor? But having Owens blast Cena repeatedly with high-impact moves and put the 15-time world champion on his back showed casual fans that NXT is producing wrestlers who can hang with the big boys. (Couple this with Sami Zayn coming an eyelash away from beating Cena last month and Neville€™s success since arriving, and the message is being reinforced.) This is important if WWE wants fans to look at NXT as more than just a developmental territory, but as a legitimate, separate brand. JBL€™s comparison of the old American Basketball Association and NBA and the talent from two different promotions magnified that point. If that€™s what WWE is going for, Sunday night was a huge step in that direction.