WWE NXT
WWE NXT is a brand and television program by professional wrestling promotion WWE based in Orlando, Florida.[2] The NXT brand is the official developmental territory for WWE.[2][3]
| WWE NXT | |
|---|---|
| |
| Details | |
| Acronym | NXT |
| Established | February 2010 (as a TV series) August 2012 (as a brand/developmental territory)[1] |
| Style | Professional wrestling |
| Location | Orlando, Florida[2] |
| Founder(s) | Vince McMahon |
| Parent | WWE[2] |
| Website | wwe.com/shows/wwenxt |
History
NXT was started as Florida Championship Wrestling, typically shortened to FCW, by Steve Keirn in 2007,[1] as WWE's second developmental territory when they ended their relationship with Deep South Wrestling.[4] It became their only developmental territory in early 2008 when they ended their relationship with Ohio Valley Wrestling.[3]
FCW's first show was on June 26, 2007 in Tampa, Florida. A 21-man Battle Royal was held during the show, with Harry Smith winning to become the first ever FCW Southern Heavyweight Champion.[5] The next year, the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship was introduced,[6] with Jake Hager becoming the first champion at a battle royal on February 15, 2008 and defeating Ted DiBiase, Jr..[7] The FCW Florida Tag Team Championship was also introduced in February, with the Puerto Rican Nightmares (Eddie Colón and Eric Perez) beating Steven Lewington and Heath Miller to win it in the finals of a tournament.[8] The two heavyweight titles were later unified, keeping the "Florida Heavyweight" name.[9]
FCW regularly ran shows every Tuesday at Bourbon Street Nightclub,[10] as well as shows on other nights at other venues in and around the Central Florida area.[11] As NXT, it now runs live shows at several locations around Florida.[12]
In August 2012, WWE retired all FCW championship belts and changed the promotion's name to "NXT". WWE had previously used NXT for a reality television program that featured FCW wrestlers trying to earn a WWE contract. WWE NXT, which had been the name of the reality show, is now used as the title of their TV show.[13]
After the name change WWE started a TV show, usually taped at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida (from 2012 to 2020 at Full Sail University in Winter Park). NXT has six exclusive championships right now: The NXT Championship, the NXT Tag Team Championship, the NXT Women's Championship, the NXT North American Championship, the NXT Women's North American Championship and the NXT Heritage Cup. It also used to have the NXT Cruiserweight Championship and the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship. The show also featured the WWE United Kingdom Championship before NXT UK started.
Roster
Champions
WWE NXT Media
An NXT house show in Omaha, Nebraska in 2016.
Related pages
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fox, Geoff (2007-09-08). "Area Wrestling Will Continue Under A New State Banner". The Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on 2008-12-20. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "About page". NXT Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2013-05-31. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "WWE Ceases affiliation with Ohio Valley Wrestling". WWE Corporate. 2008-02-06. Archived from the original on 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ↑ "WWE ends relationship with DSW". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
- ↑ "FCW 2007 results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
- ↑ Wojcik, Alan J. "Results from Florida on 2/5". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ↑ Wojcik, Alan J. "Results from Tampa on 2/15". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ↑ Wojcik, Alan J. "Results from Florida on 2/23". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ↑ "FCW Southern Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles. Archived from the original on 2009-05-04. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ↑ "Events". Club Bourbon Street. Archived from the original on 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2007-10-28.
- ↑ Wrestling with the future (News report). Tampa, Florida: WTVT. 2007-12-06. Archived from the original on 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
- ↑ "NXT Live Event Dates". NXT Wrestling. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- ↑ "WWE News: FCW name being phased out". Wrestling Observer. Archived from the original on August 17, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.