WWE NXT is a sports entertainment television program produced by WWE that debuted on February 23, 2010.^[2] NXT was originally a hybrid between reality television and WWE's scripted live event shows, the premise of the show followed select talent contracted to WWE's developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) in a competition to become WWE's next breakout star with the help of mentors from WWE's Raw and SmackDown brands.^[2][3]. The first four seasons saw Wade Barrett, Kaval, Kaitlyn, and Johnny Curtis winning NXT. In the later stages of season five, the all-rookie competition was abandoned, Derrick Bateman is the only rookie that remains due to Titus O'Neil and Darren Young being signed to smackdown. The show now features feuds between lower card superstars as well as the past rookies

The show originally made its debut on Syfy in February 2010, replacing ECW, which concluded the previous week. Less than a month after its premiere, it was announced that WWE SmackDown would move from MyNetworkTV to Syfy in October.^[4][5] NXT aired its final episode on Syfy on September 28 to make way for SmackDown, and began airing as a webcast at WWE.com for visitors from the United States on October 5. Outside of the United States, the show is still televised.^[6]

Format (2010-2011)[link]

WWE NXT paired up wrestlers from WWE's developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (dubbed "Rookies") with wrestlers from WWE's existing Raw and SmackDown brands (dubbed "Pros"). Each episode featured the rookies being mentored by the pros as they develop their characters and performance skills in front of a live audience. The pairings also enabled the show to crossover into WWE's Raw and SmackDown programs.^[2][3] As the length of each season differed, features of the competition occur at different times accordingly.

Weekly challenges[link]

In addition to matches, weekly challenges were held during the competition to further test the Rookies' physical and mental skills.^[7] Past physical challenges include a keg carrying contest, an assault course contest and a "Rock 'Em Sock 'Em" tournament.^[7][8][9] Past non-physical challenges include making 30-second promos on a given topic and selling programs within a time limit.^[10][11]

During seasons 1 and 2, the winner of the weekly challenge receives a special prize such as a main event match, a talk show segment or a feature on WWE's official website.^[7][10][11] One of the more frequent prizes given out to the winner is an "Immunity Pass", which gives the holder immunity from elimination in the next round of polls.^[12][13]

From season 3 onwards, a greater emphasis on challenges was placed on the show. Instead of awarding prizes to the winner of the challenges, points are instead awarded to the winner with a cumulative tally of points recorded before each of the first three polls. The Rookie with the most points before the next upcoming poll is awarded immunity.^[14] In season 3, one point is awarded for winning the challenge.^[14] In season 4, the number of points vary on the difficulty of the challenge.^[15][16] In the result of a tie-break, the audience is then asked to vote for the Rookie they want to get immunity.^[17]

Season 4 also saw the introduction of challenge matches involving the entire roster of Pros or Rookies where the winner would be given the chance to swap their respective Rookie or Pro for another.^[18][19]

Polls and eliminations[link]

In various weeks, polls were held to evaluate the success of each Rookie and determine the winner of the competition.^[20] The poll rankings are entirely determined by votes from the Pros and starting from season 2, votes from fans via WWE's official website.^[21] In the Pros' votes, each of the Pros vote for their favorite Rookie, but cannot vote for their own Rookie.^[20] Their votes are based on the following four criteria:^[22]

• Win-loss record within the show
• Strength of opponents
• Work ethic
• "It" factor

Initially in seasons 1 and 2, the full results and rankings from the poll were revealed.^[23] However since Week 11 in season 2, only the elimination is revealed.^[24] The first poll, usually held a third of the way through the competition, determines the Rookies' rankings. Subsequent polls are held several weeks later near the end of the season, where the lowest ranked Rookie without immunity is eliminated.^[23] Season 2 was set to use this format, but was changed to have the first poll an elimination poll.^[13][25] Season 3 will also use the second season's format.^[14]

The show continued until the season finale, where final two or three Rookies appear. One or two final polls were then held to determine the winner of the competition.^[23][26] The prize for the winner is a (kayfabe) WWE contract as well as a championship match at any pay-per-view.^[23][27]

Outside of the polls, Rookies could still be eliminated via an executive decision from WWE management. Season 1 saw Michael Tarver and Daniel Bryan eliminated by management for a lack of self-confidence.^[28]

Format (2012-Present)[link]

Starting in 2012, the all-rookie competition was abandoned with the show now featuring past and current rookies along with lower card superstars, whom never competed on NXT making the show similar to Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown. William Regal would also take over as the authority figure and match coordinator, with Striker being retained as the show's host.

Seasons[link]

Season 1[link]

WWE NXT
Season 1
Broadcast from	02012-02-23February 23 – June 1, 2010 (2010-06-01)
Host(s)	Matt Striker
Broadcaster	Syfy
No. of episodes	15
Winner
Wade Barrett, winner of season 1.
Name	Wade Barrett
Hometown	Manchester, England
Pro(s)	Chris Jericho
Runner-up
David Otunga

The first season of NXT began airing on Syfy on February 23, 2010 and ended on June 1, 2010.^[26][27] The majority of the season 1 cast was revealed a week before the premiere on the series finale of ECW. However, before the season's premiere aired, Skip Sheffield's Pro was changed with William Regal replacing the announced Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP).^[29][30]

Near the end of the season, several changes were made to the original plan of the format. The season was shortened from the planned 17 episodes to 15 episodes.^[26][31] In the first elimination episode on May 11, both Michael Tarver and Daniel Bryan were eliminated by WWE Management and removed from that night's Pros' Poll after both made comments about wanting to be voted off. The show ended with three eliminations, with Sheffield ranked last in the Poll.^[28] Carlito was released on May 21 for refusing rehab after violating WWE's Wellness Program. Subsequent Pros' Polls were held without him for the rest of the season.^[32]

The winner of season 1 was Wade Barrett, who began performing on the Raw brand.^[33] Immediately after the conclusion of season 1, the Rookies were used in a storyline that had them forming an alliance called The Nexus.^[34][35] Led by Barrett, the group invaded the Raw show in an attempt to gain WWE contracts for the losers of NXT season 1. The invasion consisted of the group attacking John Cena as well as other wrestlers and WWE personnel.^[34][36] Daniel Bryan was (legitimately) released from his contract when he strangled ring announcer Justin Roberts with Roberts' tie during the first ambush, which WWE reportedly felt was too violent for their TV-PG programming.^[37][38] His release was put in a storyline, where the rest of the NXT rookies kicked him out of the group for showing remorse for his actions and declared he wouldn't be seen in the WWE ever again.^[39] The group were eventually all signed to Raw, but continued their disruption of the show, including an attack on WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.^[40] Bryan eventually returned to WWE two months later at SummerSlam, when he became the surprise seventh member of Team WWE in a seven-on-seven elimination tag team match against The Nexus.^[41] After their initial attacks, Barrett along with the other Nexus members were barred from competing for a WWE championship.^[42] However, more than a month later, the ban was lifted and Barrett announced that he would invoke his title shot at Night of Champions for the WWE Championship in a Six-Pack Challenge.^[43] At the event, Barrett lost in his title match to Randy Orton.^[44] Meanwhile at the same event, Bryan became the first Rookie to win a WWE championship when he defeated his former pro, The Miz, for the WWE United States Championship.^[45]

Barrett later got a fair singles match against Orton once more, which he also lost, in spite of having Nexus weakening Orton before. This set up Orton to be defeated by the Miz who cashed in his Money in the Bank, which he had held in spite of losing his US title. Barrett would later win the Intercontinental title on Smackdown from Kofi Kingston.

Although Daniel Bryan did not win the first season, he did become the first Rookie on the show to win a world title in WWE, as he won the World Heavyweight Championship at Tables, Ladders, & Chairs 2011.^[46]

Contestants[link]

Poll results[link]

     – Winner of competition

     – Safe in competition

     – Eliminated from competition by Pros' Poll

     – Eliminated from competition by WWE management

     – Won immunity prior to that particular poll and is ineligible to be eliminated

Career Highlights[link]

• World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) - Daniel Bryan
• WWE United States Championship (1 time) - Daniel Bryan
• WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time) - Wade Barrett
• WWE Tag Team Championship (5 times) – David Otunga (2), Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel (3)
• Money in the Bank (SmackDown 2011) - Daniel Bryan
• Slammy Award for the Shocker of the Year (2010) The debut of The Nexus
• Slammy Award for Cole in Your Stocking (2010) – attacking Michael Cole on NXT - Daniel Bryan

Season 2[link]

WWE NXT
Season 2
Broadcast from	02012-06-08June 8 – August 31, 2010 (2010-08-31)
Host(s)	Matt Striker Ashley Valence(June 22-August 31, 2010)
Broadcaster	Syfy
No. of episodes	13
Winner
Kaval, winner of season 2.
Name	Kaval
Hometown	Brooklyn, New York
Pro(s)	LayCool (Layla & Michelle McCool)
Runner-up
Michael McGillicutty

The second season of NXT started on June 8, 2010 and ended on August 31, 2010.^[25][48] The season 2 cast was revealed on the first season finale on June 1, 2010.^[49] The season was originally planned to last twelve weeks. However, it was later extended to thirteen weeks.^[25][48] In this season, the polls were different as rankings were based half on Pro votes and half on votes from fans via WWE's official website.^[25]

The first poll was shown in Week 4.^[13] Originally, the polls format was set to match season 1, with a non-elimination poll followed by weekly elimination polls three weeks later.^[13] However, the first poll was made a surprise elimination round on the night with a second elimination poll held four weeks later instead.^[13][25][50] In addition, a double elimination stipulation was added to the fourth NXT poll in Week 11.^[51]

The winner of the season was Kaval, who began performing on the SmackDown brand.^[52] Along with Kaval, Alex Riley was immediately promoted to a WWE brand, aiding his Pro, The Miz, on Raw.^[53][54] Over a month later at Hell in a Cell, both Michael McGillicutty and Husky Harris made their first appearance since the second season by helping Wade Barrett win his match against John Cena while disguised as fans.^[55] A few weeks later, the two were made members of the Nexus.^[56] Kaval invoked his title shot at Survivor Series for the WWE Intercontinental Championship against the reigning champion Dolph Ziggler where he was defeated.^[57] Kaval was released from his contract in December 2010.^[58]

Contestants[link]

Poll results[link]

     – Winner of competition

     – Safe in competition

     – Eliminated from competition by NXT Poll

     – Won immunity prior to that particular poll and is ineligible to be eliminated

Career Highlights[link]

• WWE Tag Team Championship (1 times) – Michael McGillicutty (1)

Season 3[link]

WWE NXT
Season 3
Broadcast from	02012-09-07September 7 – November 30, 2010 (2010-11-30)
Host(s)	Matt Striker
Broadcaster	Syfy (September 7, 2010 (2010-09-07) – September 28, 2010 (2010-09-28)) Webcast (October 5, 2010 (2010-10-05) – November 30, 2010 (2010-11-30))
No. of episodes	13
Winner
Kaitlyn, winner of season 3.
Name	Kaitlyn
Hometown	Houston, Texas
Pro(s)	Vickie Guerrero
Runner-up
Naomi

The third season of NXT started on September 7, 2010 and ended on November 30, 2010.^[14][61] The season is Diva-exclusive and is the second different contest produced by WWE to find a new Diva, the first being the WWE Diva Searches held between 2003 and 2007.^[52] The first four episodes of season three were aired on Syfy. Due to the debut of SmackDown on Syfy in October 2010, NXT left the channel and became a webcast at WWE.com for visitors from the United States from the fifth episode onwards.^[6] A new interactive website for NXT was also launched at the beginning of the season to accommodate the move.^[14] The reward to the victor was changed in contrast to the previous seasons. Unlike the first two male victors, the female victor of season 3 would not get a shot at a title of her choice (the only title being the WWE Divas Championship) but rather, a WWE contract. Other changes in the third season include a greater emphasis on challenges for the first three polls where the winner of the most challenges before the next upcoming poll would be awarded immunity. The first elimination poll took place five weeks into the competition.^[14]

The majority of the season three cast was revealed on the second season finale on August 31, 2010.^[52] However, before the season's premiere aired, prospective rookie diva Aloisia was dropped from the show. On screen, Aloisia's exit stemmed from an argument between Aloisia and her pro, Vickie Guerrero, forcing Guerrero to fire her.^[62] In real life, it was reported that Aloisia was allegedly dropped from the show after Amazon fetish photos of her were leaked onto the Internet. However in an interview, Aloisia herself is unsure whether this was the reason for her exit or not.^[63] Guerrero later revealed her new rookie in the season three premiere to be Kaitlyn, who would ultimately win the season and started performing on the SmackDown brand.^[14][64][65] All of the remaining losing Divas (except for Jamie Keyes, who was shortly released following her elimination) would eventually appear on the main roster. AJ debuted on SmackDown in May 2011 as Kaitlyn's tag team partner. Aksana and Maxine both returned in August 2011, with the former joining the SmackDown roster as Teddy Long's love interest, and the latter returning to NXT as Derrick Bateman's love interest, making one Smackdown appearance with Bateman. Naomi made her debut on Raw in January 2012 as one of Brodus Clay's back-up dancers, but has yet to have a match.

Contestants[link]

Poll results[link]

     – Winner of competition

     – Safe in competition

     – Eliminated from competition by NXT Poll

     – Won immunity prior to that particular poll and is ineligible to be eliminated

¹ As the result of a tie break between A.J. and Kaitlyn before the poll, Kaitlyn won immunity through a crowd reaction vote.^[17]

Season 4[link]

WWE NXT
Season 4
Broadcast from	December 7, 2010 (2010-12-07) – March 1, 2011 (2011-03-01)
Host(s)	Matt Striker
Broadcaster	Webcast
No. of episodes	13
Winner
Johnny Curtis, winner of season 4.
Name	Johnny Curtis
Hometown	Westbrook, Maine
Pro(s)	R-Truth
Runner-up
Brodus Clay

The fourth season of NXT started on December 7, 2010 and ended on March 1, 2011.^[64][69] Returning to the male-orientated format of the first two seasons, the season 4 cast was revealed on the third season finale on November 30, 2010.^[64] In a change from the third season, "immunity points" are now rewarded to the winner of each challenge, which vary depending on the challenge's difficulty. The person with the most points before the next upcoming poll is then awarded immunity from that poll.^[16]

During Week 5, it was announced the winner would earn a WWE Tag Team Championship match with their respective Pro as their partner. In the same show, Dolph Ziggler won a battle royal consisting of each of the Pros, and as a result of the win, Ziggler was able to trade off his Rookie Jacob Novak for Byron Saxton, who was originally mentored by Chris Masters.^[18] Similarly during Week 8, a Fatal Four-Way elimination match was held between the remaining four Rookies. Brodus Clay won and as a result, was able to trade off his Pros The Million Dollar Couple (Ted DiBiase and Maryse) for Alberto Del Rio, who was originally mentoring Conor O'Brian before O'Brian's elimination on Week 7.^[19]

The winner of the season was Johnny Curtis, earning himself and his pro R-Truth a shot at the WWE Tag Team titles.^[69] As of April 18, when R-Truth turned heel by attacking John Morrison, R-Truth and his rookie Curtis still have not had that shot at the titles. Curtis would eventually debut on SmackDown in June when he stated that he won't be challenging for the Tag Team titles with R-Truth.

Contestants[link]

Poll results[link]

     – Winner of competition

     – Safe in competition

     – Eliminated from competition by NXT Poll

     – Won immunity prior to that particular poll and is ineligible to be eliminated

¹ As the result of a tie break between Brodus Clay and Johnny Curtis before the poll, Curtis won immunity through a crowd reaction vote.

[edit] NXT Redemption (Season 5)

NXT Redemption, the fifth season of NXT, started on March 8, 2011.^[69][74] The season consists of six rookies chosen from all previous non-Diva seasons returning to compete for a spot in the sixth season of NXT alongside a WWE Superstar of their choice as their pro for that season.^[74][75] Immunity and the immunity points system have been replaced in this season with a "redemption point" system, where, in the result of a tie at the bottom place between the pros' poll and the fan vote, the person with the most redemption points avoids elimination.^[74] On June 25, 2011, Chavo Guerrero was granted a release from the WWE, leaving Darren Young without a pro, unlike Carlito of season one where he was released after his rookie, Michael Tarver, was already eliminated.

On June 28, after Conor O'Brian was eliminated, Derrick Bateman was brought back. Daniel Bryan also returned as Bateman's pro, but weeks after not appearing with Bateman after he turned heel, Bryan said he was disowning Bateman due to the rookie's actions. On August 5, Vladimir Kozlov was also released from the WWE but, similar to Carlito, his rookie was already eliminated. While no divas from season three were part of the competition, since the end of regular eliminations June 28 both AJ Lee & Maxine have returned as the girlfriends of Hornswoggle and Bateman respectively.

In later episodes, NXT Redemption was devoid of the typical challenges and eliminations while pros have feuded with each other, Young (later joined by JTG) with host Matt Striker and announcer William Regal, Yoshi Tatsu with Tyson Kidd and Bateman/Maxine with O'Neil/Hornswoggle/AJ. On September 27, Hornswoggle delivered a letter to AJ and O'Neil claiming he was being anchored to the dead NXT ship and needing to set sail to Smackdown, leaving Titus (the last rookie being mentored) without a pro.^[76] On October 5, NXT moved to its new day and time, Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST. NXT Redemption also featured lower card superstars signed to the RAW or Smackdown brands, competing not as pros or rookies, like Yoshi Tatsu, Trent Baretta, The Usos, Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins, as well as former NXT contestants Percy Watson, season 3 winner Kaitlyn, and season 4 winner Johnny Curtis.

It was announced on October 6 that Darren Young was suspended by WWE for 30 days for violating of the company's wellness policy.^[77] On the October 12 edition of NXT, O'Neil and Bateman were referred to as the final two rookies in the competition with no mention whatsoever of Young, implying that he was eliminated from the competition due to his suspension. Young's suspension ended on November 5, and Young returned on the November 16th edition of NXT.^[78] The following week, in his return match Young teamed with Tyler Reks to defeat the team of Titus O'Neil and Percy Watson. On January 11, 2012, NXT debuted a new intro which replaced the intro containing only the remaining finalists. The new intro features all the talent from NXT Redemption, including WWE Superstars from Raw and Smackdown currently on the show, confirming the end of the rookie competition format.

In the weeks leading up to the show's 100th episode, stars from Raw and Smackdown who got their start on NXT, including Justin Gabriel, Michael McGillicutty, Alex Riley and Heath Slater, made special appearances. NXT celebrated its 100th episode special on January 18 in Las Vegas with O'Neil decisively defeating Young in a No Disqualification Match, before going on an anger-fueled tirade in which he insulted his former pro Hornswoggle and berated the fans in attendance, turning heel in the process. Derrick Bateman interrupted the wedding between Maxine and Johnny Curtis with footage of Curtis hacking Bateman's iPad to send an email to Smackdown General Manger Teddy Long. The email, sent through Bateman's address, contained disparaging remarks about Maxine and ultimately drove her into Curtis' arms. Upon this revelation Maxine slapped Curtis in the face and kissed Bateman. The following week O'Neil furthered his heel turn by assaulting his former friend and tag team partner, Percy Watson after O'Neil defeated Watson. On the February 1 edition of NXT, O'Neil even further solidified his transformation by aligning himself with his former rival Darren Young as they competed in a tag team match against Percy Watson and Alex Riley.

On February 29, on the "one year anniversary" of season five (actually over a full week prior to its March 8 anniversary), Matt Striker announced that William Regal would take over as the authority figure and match coordinator, with Striker being retained as the show's host. On March 14, William Regal put together a special episode featuring "the lost art" of tag teaming, as the Usos defeated Young and O'Neil, Hawkins and Reks defeated Riley and Watson and Bateman and Kaitlyn defeated Curtis and Maxine in a mixed tag team match.

On April 18, it was announced that Darren Young and Titus O'Neil would also compete on the SmackDown brand under orders of the show's General Manager, John Laurinaitis. On April 25, it was announced by Matt Striker that new wrestlers will appear on NXT due to Titus O'Niel and Darren Young leaving the show to go compete on smackdown.

The fifth season of NXT is by far the longest to date. On March 21, Redemption streamed its 55th episode, making it longer than all previous seasons combined. The first season was a distant second at 15 episodes.

On-air personalities[link]

Authority Figures[link]

(*) On August 24, Maryse underwent surgery for an abdominal hernia and was on medical leave from WWE, therefore Maryse's role as co-host ended. She would later be released from WWE on October 28, 2011 and would not return to NXT. As of November 2011, there is no official co-host.

Commentators[link]

(*) – Friday Night SmackDown play-by-play commentator and former NXT color commentator, Josh Mathews, was substituting for an absent Todd Grisham. This repeated on the November 16, 2011 edition of NXT, but this time, he was substituting for an absent Jack Korpela, who would later be released from his WWE contract.

(**) – Matt Striker became the alternate color commentator on NXT beginning May 3, 2011 due to Regal's increased in-ring schedule (Regal would continue as commentator when he wasn't wrestling). This ended on the May 17, 2011 edition of NXT when Regal would return to the announce table as normal.

(***) – Michael Cole served as special guest color commentator on NXT for the May 31, 2011 broadcast substituting for an absent William Regal. Cole would also substitute for Regal again on commentary on the September 13, 2011 broadcast due to Regal and Striker competing in a match that night.

(****) – Matt Striker and Josh Mathews were guest commentators on NXT for the November 9, 2011 broadcast substituting for the absent William Regal and Jack Korpela. Striker and Mathews returned to commentary the following 2 weeks because Jack Korpela's contract with the WWE had expired and he opted not to renew.

(*****) – Matt Striker and William Regal commentated the November 23, 2011 edition of NXT, due to Mathews being absent.

Ring announcers[link]

(*) If Chimel was absent from the NXT/Smackdown tapings, he would have been substituted as ring announcer by RAW's Justin Roberts or WWE Superstars' Eden Stiles, who would also serve as Smackdown's ring announcer for that week's episode. Effective December 8, 2011, Chimel has been replaced by Lilian Garcia on SmackDown and Eden Stiles has picked up Chimel's NXT announcing duties until December 13, 2011. On December 21, prior to NXT to be uploaded on WWE.com, Stiles would announce that she asked for her release from WWE a day after her final Superstars and NXT appearances have been recorded.

Production[link]

On February 2, 2010, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon announced that a new weekly program would replace the canceled ECW in its time slot on Syfy. McMahon described the show as "the next evolution of WWE; the next evolution of television history."^[79]

On the February 4, 2010 episode of WWE Superstars, the new show's name was announced as WWE NXT.^[80] The name was later discovered to be trademarked already in the United Kingdom by National Wrestling Alliance affiliate Scottish Wrestling Alliance (SWA) which also used "NXT" as their brand for upcoming stars. Both parties ultimately reached an agreement that resulted in SWA releasing the "NXT" trademark in favor of a new one before the show's debut.^[81][82]

The show's format was revealed in an article by Variety on February 16, with a press release from WWE made shortly later that day.^[2][3] NXT is the second reality-based series produced by WWE, the first being WWE Tough Enough which aired between 2001 to 2004.^[2] Due to WWE's nature of airing weekly shows without hiatus, the current plan for NXT is to split the year's set of episodes into multiple seasons.^[2]

In March 2010, WWE announced that their show WWE SmackDown would move to Syfy in October, with NXT leaving the network at the same time.^[4] The show aired its final episode on Syfy on September 28.^[6][83] Shortly after their March announcement, WWE also stated their intent of looking for another channel to broadcast the show.^[5] Despite their initial comments, WWE began to air the show as a webcast on their official website for American visitors as of October 2010.

The current opening theme song for the show is "Wild and Young" by American Bang, which has been used for each season with the exception of the third season.^[1] During season three, the show's opening theme song was "You Make the Rain Fall" by Kevin Rudolf.^[84][85] Also promoting it as an "official theme song" for the show, WWE NXT used "Get Thru This" by Art of Dying as bumper music during all five seasons of the show.^[86]

International broadcasters[link]

Outside of the United States, NXT is televised on a number of channels in many different countries.

See also[link]

Professional wrestling portal

• WWE roster (NXT Rookies)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• WWE NXT at WWE.com
• WWE NXT at Syfy.com
• WWE NXT on Twitter
• WWE NXT at the Internet Movie Database
• WWE NXT at TV.com