It's Official: WWE NXT Has Jumped The Shark

Triple H, Shawn Michaels
WWE.com

The pair of them clearly value their philosophy over the creativity and skill of the performers they exist - in theory - to enhance and guide, not mould. A teacher or coach in any discipline is meant to extract something from the pupil. Michaels lumbers his students with his ideas. When Shawn Michaels enters the Performance Center, does he say "Time to act, my talking props!"?

NXT has felt increasingly produced in recent years, and this can't go without mention, much as the hardcores will not like it: AEW has thrown this sentiment into sharp relief, and this is NXT's fault by broadcasting itself at the exact same time. The scripted promos feel more scripted, the solid angles feel more mid, the excellent in-ring action feels less vital.

Something changed within NXT's DNA over the last couple of years as it shifted from soulful developmental/SuperIndy hybrid to WWE's third brand proper. Critical acclaim and hardcore fan devotion was its clear objective, and for a while, this was attained. The wrestling was blow-away great and arrived at via at-worst functional TV that rewarded the intelligence the main roster had insulted. TakeOvers were fantastic in 2018 - we are talking greatest wrestling ever quality - but the Network show had become skippable. It had become a mere platform to showcase some of the best talent in the world. With no need for heavy lifting, nor the old Ryan Ward verve, NXT grew complacent and unadventurous.

CONT'D...(3 of 6)

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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!