NXT

**WWE NXT** is the professional wrestling developmental branch for W

WE, based in Winter Park, Florida. From its inception in August 2012 to June 2013, it was a distinct but affiliated developmental territory for WWE under the name **NXT Wrestling**. In June 2013, the NXT Wrestling website was shut down and NXT content was moved toWWE.com. From February 2014, NXT started a series of live special events broadcast on the WWE Network, comparable to main roster pay-per-view shows.

Despite its status as a developmental branch, NXT has been praised for its high quality of wrestling,[1][2] captivating storylines, and the opportunities they afford female wrestlers as opposed to on the main roster; the latter of which has led to a change on how women's wrestling is portrayed in WWE.[3]

## Contents

 [hide]

* 1History
* 2Championships and accomplishments
	+ 2.1Current championships
	+ 2.2Other accomplishment(s)
* 3Roster
	+ 3.1Male wrestlers
	+ 3.2Female wrestlers
	+ 3.3Backstage personnel
	+ 3.4Referees
* 4On-air personalities
	+ 4.1Authority figures
	+ 4.2Commentators
	+ 4.3Ring announcers
* 5Television show
	+ 5.1Production
	+ 5.2International broadcasters
* 6NXT TakeOver Specials
	+ 6.1Scheduled upcoming events
* 7NXT TV Episodes away from Full Sail University
* 8See also
* 9References
* 10External links

## History[edit]

In August 2012, WWE ceased operating Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), its developmental promotion in Tampa, Florida, and began running all of its developmental events and operations at Full Sail University under the "NXT Wrestling" banner. WWE had been using the *NXT* name for a television program featuring rookies from FCW competing to become WWE main roster members, though the reality televisionaspects of the show had been dropped earlier in 2012; *WWE NXT* now serves as the primary television program for the promotion.[4]

On February 27, 2014, NXT held its first live two hour special event called NXT Arrival, which was also the first live in-ring program broadcast on the WWE Network.[5][6][7] Eventually, WWE scheduled more live two-hour special events.[8]

In 2015, NXT promoted its first live events outside of Florida, with an event that was held in March in Columbus, Ohio.[9]

In late February and March 2015, several former NXT trainees previously working within WWE developmental system alleged misconduct by head trainer Bill DeMott, with Judas Devlin and Brandon Traven publicizing complaints which they claimed they had submitted to WWE management about DeMott back in March 2013 when they were still employed with WWE.[10][11] Meanwhile, other ex-trainees like Briley Pierce,Derrick Bateman, and independent wrestler Terra Calaway also made allegations in 2015,[10][11][12][13] while previous allegations made in 2013 by Chad Baxter and Chase Donovan were also noted.[14] They accused DeMott of making trainees perform dangerous drills,[10] physically assaulting and bullying trainees,[10][11] using homophobic and racial slurs amongst other derogatory terms,[11][14] and condoning sexual harassment.[12] WWE released statements regarding some of the claims that came to light in 2013 and 2015 saying that investigations were done and no wrongdoing was found.[10][14] On March 6, 2015, DeMott denied the allegations but resigned from WWE "to avoid any embarrassment or damage" to the company.[12]

## Roster[edit]

### Male wrestlers[edit]

Finn Bálor

Dash and Dawson - Dash Wilder (left) and Scott Dawson(right)

## On-air personalities[edit]

### Authority figures[edit]

 John "Bradshaw" Layfield
 **William Regal** | July 31, 2014—present

Notes
1. **^** Michael Cole acted as Interim General Manager of *NXT* while William Regal had/recovered from neck surgery.

### Commentators[edit]

Notes
1. **^** Jim Ross largely only called the main event.
2. **^** The pairings of Dawson and Regal and Phillips and Maddox commentate on alternate shows. Riley replaced Maddox in August 2013 after Maddox became General Manager of *WWE Raw.*
3. **^** Tony Luftman and Tony Dawson were the same commentator.

Scott Stanford serves as narrator.

### Ring announcers[edit]

 Howard Finkel
 Summer Rae and Byron Saxton
 Byron Saxton, Kendall Skye, Alexa Bliss and Veronica Lane
 Eden Stiles and JoJo
 Byron Saxton and JoJo
 JoJo

## Television show[edit]

Main article: WWE NXT (TV series)

 Starring
 Opening theme
 Country of origin
 No. of seasons
 No. of episodes
 Camera setup
 Running time
 Original network
 Picture format
 Original release
 Related shows
*WWE SmackDown*
*WWE Main Event*
 Website

***WWE NXT*** is a professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that airs on the WWE Network in the United States. The show (which premiered February 23, 2010) features wrestlers from NXT and WWE. The show currently serves as the flagship program for the eponymous WWE NXT developmental system.

From 2010–2012, WWE aired a previous version of **WWE NXT** which consisted of pairing "Rookies" with WWE main roster members (known as "Pros"), with the pairs competing in challenges until there was one sole winner. The winners of the show were Wade Barrett (Season 1), Kaval (Season 2), Kaitlyn (Season 3) and Johnny Curtis(Season 4). After season 5, the show was replaced with a homonymous television show featuring the developmental NXT roster.

### Production[edit]

*NXT* was taped in large venues before the *WWE Smackdown* tapings and used the universal WWE HD set from 2010–2012. When WWE revamped the show, they moved the tapings to Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida, with the venue known as *Full Sail Live*. WWE started taping *NXT* in Florida on May 17, 2012.[109] Tickets are available free for Full Sail students; general admission for non-students is $10.[110] *NXT* aired on Syfy from 2010-2011. In 2011, when *SmackDown* moved to Syfy, *NXT*moved to WWE.COM, and after Season 5, *NXT* stopped broadcasting in the US until September 2012 when WWE reached a deal with Hulu Plus, on which new episodes of *NXT* began airing September 26, 2012.[111]

NXT began airing on the WWE Network on February 27, 2014 with a live event called NXT Arrival. And now features taped broadcasts on Wednesday nights on 8:00 PM.

### International broadcasters[edit]

*NXT* is also televised on a number of channels in many different countries.

## NXT TakeOver Specials[edit]

See also: NXT TakeOver (series) and List of WWE Network events

## NXT TV Episodes away from Full Sail University[edit]

To date, only four TV episodes have been recorded away from Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida.