It was impossible not to be excited about NXT's move to USA Network, even if a life lived within the wrestling bubble provides ample training exercises on how to cope with Vince McMahon ruining all your favourite things.
This was the pressing concern when news broke that WWE were shifting the former developmental brand over to Wednesday nights in an effort to win a brand new wrestling war against All Elite Wrestling's TNT vehicle. McMahon, now deep into his eighth decade on earth, has always trusted his own vision above all others when it comes to the state of his Universe. For several years, NXT formed a part he had very little to do with. A cushy spot on the WWE Network helped build an audience, the quality of Triple H's eye for talent and immaculate television booking helped build a following, and relentlessly brilliant TakeOver specials helped build a genuine third brand. Landing in Vince's lap eventually was sadly always going to be a potential casualty of its success.
But what of week one? WWE are traditionally excellent at making good first impressions in these situations, not least considering how much McMahon will want to keep USA sweet after some gentle b*llockings over Raw's ratings slide and SmackDown's impending switch to Fox.
Setting sail from Full Sail, did this maiden edition utilise the best bits of WWE's mainstream muscle, or did the wrong end of its owner's poisoned pencil begin erasing all we've come to adore?
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation for 10 years. Alongside the production of daily written, audio and video content covering WWE and AEW, he also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years.
As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot on the UK's wrestling podcast charts with over 10,000 episodes and 70,000,000 total downloads. He also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House!, Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast, and has guested on long-running Sunderland AFC podcast Wise Men Say.
With WhatCulture, he has provided in-person coverage of some of the biggest pay-per-views and Premium Live Events in wrestling history, including WrestleMania, Survivor Series, All In & Double Or Nothing in destinations such as New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. He has also been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana, 411Mania and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling.
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 music and culture magazines The Crack, Pilot as well as Sunderland AFC's premiere fanzine A Love Supreme. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it every other Saturday at the Stadium Of Light, and at Cribs gigs nationwide.
