"In his *first match* in WWE he defeated Cena"

[543Y2J]

They have been saying this for a while, both on commentary and Cena/Owens themselves. Now I might be looking too far into this, but doesn't that imply that they view NXT as outside of the WWE cannon? That it is entirely separate and Owens is a renegade champion?

I just find it interesting that they have been saying that recently. It seems to me like they are trying to get over that it isn't WWE NXT, more like just NXT as far as promotions/narratives go.

What do you guys think?

[Wolf Hurricane]

They always have, but not in the sense that they're two different organizations, so much as NXT is widely acknowledged as the minor leagues and WWE as the major leagues. A number of wins in the minor leagues give you momentum heading to the major leagues, but you still start off at zero.

[Mid-Carder]

They do view NXT as separate, since it's technically developmental. It isn't another brand of WWE.

[Push R Truth]

The NXT/WWE relationship (in terms of storyline) will always be confusing because it will change based on the whim of each story. For one wrestler, it's a minor league that's barely worth mentioning. For another, it's their entire backstory and reason for being who they are.

[Henry Mark]

It's the same as playing on a minor league sports team that feeds a major league team. If you're playing for the Portland Sea Dogs, you don't say you're on the Boston Red Sox, even though they may be your employer. And when you do get called up to play for the Red Sox, it's still your first game as a Red Sock, even if you've been playing for them in the minors.

[rydndirty]

Which is even more confusing with someone like Dolph Ziggler wants a shot at the NXT Championship.

That's the equivalent to a former Cy Young Pitcher wanting to go pitch in the AAA championship game.

[Hit Girl]

NXT is developing a prestige of its own. It's WWE's in-house indie, whether that was the intent or not.

[Crappler El 0 M]

They make a distinction between NXT and WWE that was different from the distinction between Raw and SmackDown back during the brand split. Back then, Raw and SmackDown were BOTH the main roster shows of WWE. Today, NXT is viewed differently. It's sort of like the minor leagues. Your stats down in the minor leagues don't carry over into the major leagues. When you have your first match on the main shows, then you've had an official WWE match. At least that's how WWE has chosen to portray it with Owens. It suits their purpose to frame it that way.

[543Y2J]

and here we go Owens has finally refrenced them saying that

from the WWE account

[Deleted]

You don't brag about how many points you have in the AHL in the NHL.

[Deleted]

Jun 17, 2015 17:02:22 GMT -5 543Y2J said:

and here we go Owens has finally refrenced them saying that

from the WWE account

Said it in another thread but FANTASTIC response and I have no doubt thats how he really feels.

[Saul Goodman]

Carlito did it first.

[abjordans]

Ummm.. He did beat Cena in his first match in WWE. If Owens was a baseball player, he would have hit a home run in his first MLB game. Probably smacked a dinger in his minor league days, owned by the same team as the one he was playing for, but he still hit a HR in his first MLB game. Owens beat Cena in his first gosh-darn WWE match.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

NXT is part of WWE. NXT is a lot more widespread and is more closely intertwined with WWE canon than previous developmental incarnations. The show is called "WWE NXT".

[mrbananagrabber]

Yeah, the whole point of NXT is to "progress" to the main shows, always has been, so "his first match" is technically right. Beating Cena is a bigger deal than beating CJ Parker.

[Capt Lunatic]

"In his first match in *WWE* he defeated Cena"

[markymark]

Sheamus also beat him in his first PPV match.

[Chiral]

Jun 17, 2015 17:02:22 GMT -5 543Y2J said:

and here we go Owens has finally refrenced them saying that

from the WWE account

The thumbnail picture makes it seem like MGK is Cena's most prized possession.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Jun 17, 2015 22:37:19 GMT -5 Chiral said:

Jun 17, 2015 17:02:22 GMT -5 543Y2J said:

and here we go Owens has finally refrenced them saying that

from the WWE account

The thumbnail picture makes it seem like MGK is Cena's most prized possession.

Don't we all want a young skinny white boy that can rap?

[Bob Schlapowitz]

Jun 16, 2015 13:08:17 GMT -5 Henry Mark said:

It's the same as playing on a minor league sports team that feeds a major league team. If you're playing for the Portland Sea Dogs, you don't say you're on the Boston Red Sox, even though they may be your employer. And when you do get called up to play for the Red Sox, it's still your first game as a Red Sock, even if you've been playing for them in the minors.

Yeah, this. NXT is Pawtucket. Good analogy.