NXT 2.0: Explain to me..... (thread)

[Big BosskMan]

In this thread, let's help each other understand - where possible - exactly what is happening in what used to be a great developmental system.

I'll go first.


Denizens of FAN, after watching/hatewatching 2.0 for a while now, explain to me....

Pretty Deadly

I understand in canon they were NXT UK tag champs but I just don't see the appeal of the wrestling equivalents of Elsa and Anna.

Given their presentation, they seem to be a better fit as the Eurotrash contingent of Maximum Male Models.

[hashtagdaley/JudasDay]

Silly, charismatic, and good wrestlers behind it all. The kind of stupid I love in my wrestling.

[government mule]

The main roster is so f***ing sterile, formulaic and boring. NXT at least tries a few different things and roadtests a variety of different gimmicks/characters, which may or may not work, just like a developmental program should do really. It's not perfect, but I don't think it ever claims to be.

I personally have greater affection for the black and gold version (2016-19) as it combined developmental stuff with great wrestling, but this is direction they have decided to go in and there is still some good stuff coming out of the PC and translating onto TV, so fair play.

Edit - Sorry, didn't see the specifics of what was asked - Pretty Deadly are an intentionally hamfisted attempt at being like an updated version of Tyler Breeze's early gimmick in NXT, they're good wrestlers and charismatic to boot.

[mistery]

Pretty Deadly is one of the few good parts of NXT.

But there are a ton of gimmicks in 2.0 right now that are definitely not going to translate to the main roster, or at least successfully. Some examples include:

- Chase U, while entertaining in a smaller venue, I can't see doing well on the main roster.

- Any woman in NXT whose gimmick is relying solely on their looks. That means Toxic Attraction, Nikkita Lyons, Tiffany Stratton, etc are going to bomb in front of wider audiences. Tiffany has the most potential of the names I listed, but she would definitely need a repackage because the "Daddy's Girl" gimmick isn't going to cut it in front of a wider audience.

- Tony D'Angelo's gimmick has lower midcard written all over it. It's a goofy stereotypical mafia. Which again, works in NXT, but won't work on the main roster. I don't think anyone sees Tony or his goons being in a prominent match at Wrestlemania, for example.

I've seen comparisons saying that NXT 2.0 is basically New Generations WWF, which is fairly accurate. What people fail to realize is that the WWF New Generation era completely crashed and burned because a lot of the gimmicks were absolutely horrendous.

[J is Justice]

I don't watch much NXT but I really like what I've seen of Pretty Deadly.

[dbrussel]

Pretty Deadly are the UK Breezango