INSANE Wrestling Fan Backlashes You Didn't See Coming

9. NXT Is No Longer The Future

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WWE

Triple H developed an ingenious plan to generate critical acclaim and fan investment at the peak of NXT.

His one-hour TV show was a breezy, logical watch, even if it wasn't absolutely must-see compelling, and the TakeOver events were incredible. Seminal. At under three hours every single time, with fashionable world-class talents encouraged to work a far harder and exhilarating style than their main roster peers, the brand was untouchable. They took forever to come around and delivered an absurd hit rate, feeling as special as they did elusive. Triple H had arrived at a formula that withstood virtually any criticism. You could argue that the TakeOver shows were homogenised and that a sprint wouldn't have gone amiss, but NXT in its pomp was backlash-proof.

The backlash happened nonetheless.

NXT felt like an alternative because it was, but only in contrast to the silly and inscrutably stupid and wasteful main roster. It was exposed during the Wednesday Night War because AEW was alive, authentic pro wrestling.

Just a few episodes into Dynamite, NXT - good as the in-ring was - was rendered obsolete. The scripted promos and non-stop intensity felt more synthetic than ever; almost instantly, NXT in contrast was just a really good if passé version of WWE's über-produced sports entertainment.

It didn't help, either, that after TakeOver: New York - NXT's WrestleMania X-Seven - the desperate excess of its kick-out-heavy melodrama had become rather tiring.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!