Tonight is the last night of NXT as we know it.
NXT in its current, soon-to-be ending incarnation has been WWE’s edgy, alternative cousin that no one ever wanted at family functions. I mean, why would WWE have them over at Thanksgiving? NXT, since 2012, has had this incessant, annoying penchant to feature logically progressing storylines that were grounded, reality-driven, and centered on the in-ring product. It featured a delightfully motley mix of newer and emerging professional wrestlers that were given a platform that was purposefully built by veteran and established stars from WWE and other promotions. And don’t get me started on all those wonderful moments and matches that made stars out of Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Paige, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, Bayley, Charlotte Flair, Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Baron Corbin, Alexa Bliss and Asuka. Oh and NXT also gave us and Tomasso Ciampa, Aliester Black, Johnny Gargano, Andrade, The IIconics, Zelina Vega, Matt Riddle, Adam Cole, and Kyle O’Reilly. Not to mention Drew McIntyre, Ricochet, War/Viking Raiders/Experience, Dakota Kai, Tegan Nox, Rhea Ripley, Io Shirai, Keith Lee, and Karrion Kross. All of that is chump change, am I right?
Beyond that, NXT would not shut up about the wrestling. That little snot-nosed brat proved to wrestling promoters, other powers that be, and WWE itself that you could galvanize the independent wrestling scene to develop a viable and profitable product that simultaneously could satiate the small, yet vocal market niche where the “hardcore” fans reside that demanded an alternative product, bolster your mainline product by developing characters for later, further, and greater use, and, above all else, make some f***ing money. NXT was PWG with a WWE budget.
WWE is right, NXT is getting too rowdy. It’s time to send it to shave its hair, send it to boarding school, and refuse to let it come back till it trades in all those flippy indie marks who know what they are doing for some college football players with torn ACLs.
I mean, look all this stuff that NXT did when we left it to its own devices:
WWE should have never allowed this. Look at all these characters and wrestlers that gave us, the fans, unforgettable moments. WWE should have given NXT the means to craft, refine, and perfect what became the current model of professional wrestling production and, considering the success of AEW, also what will prove to be the superior way to market professional wrestling to the mass. WWE should have never strayed away from the Lex Luger types of yesteryear and you know what, it’s time for us to go back.
It’s time for us to go back to failed bodybuilders and underwear models that once upon a time heard about Dick Flair and Pied Piper from their dads. Let’s elevate the voices that were inspired by Kevin Nash wrestling Diamond Texas Page and Stung that one time at their friend’s house. Why would you want to watch Io Shirai do a moonsault off a cage when you watch that girl who auditioned for The Bachelor struggle through a snapmare on that girl who was on Keeping Up with The Kardashians that one time? And oh my lanta, do you think they’ll bring back Tito Sabatelli!?!?
F*** off, NXT. You’re no dark horse, you’re a black sheep and I hope you get picked on at boarding school.
Yeah, I’m sad too.
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