wwe NXT champion old

WWE NXT, also known simply as NXT, is a brand of the American professional wrestling company WWE, introduced on February 23, 2010. For its first two years, NXT was a reality-based television show in which "rookies" competed to become a WWE star. NXT was transformed in 2012 by replacing Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) as WWE's developmental territory for its main roster (Raw and SmackDown). However, over time, wrestling journalists and fans came to see it as its own distinct brand.

Originally holding shows primarily in the Orlando, Florida area, NXT expanded its reach over time, having embarked on national and international tours, being praised for its high quality wrestling12 and captivating storylines.34 NXT's status was elevated when its eponymous television series moved to the USA Network in September 2019. Previously, the brand was known as NXT 2.0.

WWE now promotes NXT as its third main brand, although some wrestling journalists still refer to and view NXT as developmental territory, with Raw and SmackDown as the "main roster."

Storyline

In August 2012, WWE closed operations of its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), located in Tampa, Florida, to begin focusing on its new developmental territory from Full Sail University under the name NXT, more specifically at the newly built WWE Performance Center, where all of its weekly shows have been taking place. WWE started in 2010 the NXT program as a reality show format with developing wrestlers from FCW, competing against each other having as a prize to join WWE's main roster, a format concluded in 2012. Since then, NXT began as a television show more in the style of Raw and SmackDown.5

On February 27, 2014, NXT had its first two-hour live special event called NXT Arrival, which was also the WWE Network's first live broadcast.67 Eventually, WWE scheduled more two-hour live special events for NXT.8