How Triple H Brought 5-Star Matches Back To WWE
NXT's transformation into workrate heaven started in June 2012. WWE's existing developmental promotion, FCW, was closed, and with all operations switched to Winter Park, Florida's Full Sail University, the company repurposed their newly defunct reality show's name for the project. A seemingly innocuous change, it seemed, but the evolution was well underway.
It was a slow process. The likes of Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins rose as must-see prospects in 2013, but it wasn't until February 2014, and NXT's first ever live Network special, that NXT emerged as something more than a little development show from Florida.
Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro was the first hint that NXT was onto something special. They opened the Arrival supercard with aplomb, crafting a breathless athletic spectacle that still stands among the brand's finest matches in 2018, with Meltzer throwing ****1/4 its way. Underrated or not, this is a secondary concern. The bout laid the blueprint for what NXT would eventually become, and soon, Triple H's vision was fast becoming a reality.
'The Game' cultivated an environment that didn't stifle the wrestlers' creativity, but celebrated it. Wrestlers weren't given complete free reign, and some restrictions remained, but the training wheels were off. Zayn wrestled much like he did on the indies, only without the unnecessary head drops, and the same goes for Adrian Neville, Finn Balor, and everyone else who emerged between 2013 and 2014.
On top of this, Hunter took the very un-WWE approach of harking back to the old southern rasslin' style his father-in-law reportedly hates. Competition was emphasised above all else, and with shows taking a straightforward match-promo-match-promo format, there was no room for soap opera theatrics.
But none of these changes would've worked without the right personnel. WWE's signing policy underwent a complete revamp, with the company looking to established independent stars more than ever before. Thus, the Zayns, Balors, and Owens of the world rushed through the door. They were joined by Japanese standouts Shinsuke Nakamura, Hideo Itami, and Asuka, and soon, NXT's green rookies were greatly outnumbered by seasoned 30-35 year olds.
Women's wrestlers were allowed to be wrestlers again, with Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Becky Lynch putting on matches that rivalled anything the men were producing. The success of The Revival, DIY, and American Alpha predated the main roster's own tag team revolution by several years. Characters were presented as believable human beings, not shallow gimmicks. The list goes on.
These changes brought great wrestling back to the forefront, and star ratings followed...
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