Ever since Triple H unveiled the WWE developmental centre in 2013, the company have placed an increased focus on NXT. The brand has taken off since appearing weekly on the WWE network to the point that now the show has left it's Florida home at Full Sail University and began traveling around America.
The aim of NXT has always been to prepare wrestlers to make the jump to the main roster to join the likes of John Cena and compete on the biggest stage possible, creating the future. Since NXT became a brand rather than the failed game show system it debuted as, the company has pushed many wrestlers up to the main roster.
Some have gone on to have great success, where as others are still struggling to get over with the WWE universe.
The hounds of justice
Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, the Shield. One of the most dominating and entertaining factions in WWE history, from the minute this trio debuted on the main roster at the 2012 Survivor Series right up until the groups breakdown on the Monday Night RAW after Payback 2014.
The 'hounds of justice' took out countless superstars from the Undertaker to the Rock, main eventing several pay per views during their reign. The Shield held the Tag Team Championships and the United States title, as well as picking up four Slammy awards. Now all three men can still be found on the main roster competing in the companies main events and main storylines.
These talented WWE superstars didn't just turn up randomly, they first appeared in the companies minor leagues, NXT. While they didn't exist as the Shield or team together, the personalities and traits they showed were the same as when they debuted on the main roster as a group. All three men have had enormous success, both together as the Shield and alone. While they have developed since joining the main roster, it was the work in NXT that laid the foundations.
Seth Rollins was the company's first ever NXT champion, winning the belt on the debut episode. The self proclaimed architect of the Shield can now be seen weekly as the WWE World Heavyweight champion, main eventing shows on a weekly basis. Reigns and Ambrose have both also found themselves involved in the title hunt, but are yet to capture the belt.
The company continuously places the trio in main event matches and important storylines, showing the faith in them to deliver, knowing that the WWE universe is invested deeply in each man. The three founding members of the Shield are perhaps the best example of superstars who have made the leap from NXT to the main roster, and gone on to find even greater success.
Characters not connecting
Two of NXT's most popular alumni: Adam Rose and Bo Dallas, both got the opportunity to work on the main roster after impressing at Full Sail. Unlike the Shield trio, things haven't exactly gone to plan for them so far, often finding themselves stuck in the mid card or lower. The pair have huge personalities and certainly knew how to work the crowd within the NXT environment, but have struggled to connect with the larger WWE universe.
There doesn't seem to be many 'BOlievers' to be found in the crowds for RAW or Smackdown when Dallas comes from behind the curtains. He had great success in Florida becoming NXT champion and being the shows number one heel, he worked hard in the ring and certainly found it easy getting reactions when on the microphone.
Rose had a slightly tougher time within the developmental system, starting off as Leo Kruger but failing to connect the way the company would like, he changed up his personality and became the leader of the exotic express, Adam Rose. With his rosebuds by his side he began to win over the crowd, becoming one of NXT's most over talents earning him a call up to the main roster.
So where did it go wrong? Rose's character never managed to get going on the main roster at all, and after many failed attempts at reigniting his character, which including him wrestling one of his rosebuds (a man inside a bunny costume) the company has seemingly all but given up on him. Rose now often goes back to NXT to compete in matches, perhaps whilst the company decides quite what to do with the superstar.
For Dallas, the character has simply not clicked the way it did in NXT, he has yet to have a major feud to be remembered and an unfortunate foot injury saw him out of action for several months, hampering his development. Both men come as examples that perhaps not everyone can make the transition from NXT to the main card.
It's all about family
Dallas is the real life brother of another former NXT talent whose character certainly has connected on the main roster, Bray Wyatt. The eater of worlds has taken the main roster by storm since making the move, with the Wyatt Family by his side (Luke Harper and Erick Rowan) they have enthralled the WWE universe becoming 'fireflies' for the character.
The Wyatt family, similar to the Shield came in as a trio, taking out many of the companies top talents and working their way up the card, even having several classic matches against the Shield themselves. Unlike the 'hounds of justice', since separating not all members have managed to maintain a strong position within the company, with both Harper and Rowan not managing to make as much impact alone.
Wyatt himself however has managed to maintain a large presence on television, including two Wrestlemania moments getting to work with John Cena and the Undertaker. However it seems that every time he builds momentum the new face of fear loses major matches and drops back down. However now linking back up with Luke Harper the dominance of the Wyatt Family may once again continue.
Is NXT working?
There can be many arguments made for whether NXT is working as a developmental brand for the future talents of the company, with successful NXT talents such as The Ascension and The Lucha Dragons seemingly getting lost in the shuffle and not getting over people may claim the answer is no. But a second look at examples already mentioned, and with Kevin Owens making a huge impact and the Divas revolution taking place many others would argue that it is.
The main reason for NXT's current success is the skills that the men and women possess inside the squared circle, the quality of wrestling on the show is very high, and the majority of talents have the character to back it up. However somewhere between the move from the minors to the main show, the characters and personalities eem to be getting lost.
Some will point fingers at the creative team, and to some degree they could be correct, a perfect example for that could be Neville (the man whose first name we forgot). A former NXT champion and incredible in ring worker has yet to be given a real storyline to thrive on the main roster, whilst he has impressed in the ring and stole the show at Money in the Bank, people want more from him.
However others may look at the talents themselves not making the most of the chance they are provided, The Ascension and Erick Rowan being good examples of superstars who have had chances to impress and failed to take them.
Overall it can't be denied that NXT has been a success, with the the bran now touring and only rising in popularity it seems that more and more superstars will be making the leap to the main roster and with talents such as; Samoa Joe, Bayley and current NXT champion Finn Balor waiting in the wings, it may be sooner rather than later.
NXT is a breeding ground for the future, it is almost impossible to see a pay-per-view without a former NXT talent being on the card, and ultimately that is what the company is looking for.