About

WWE NXT (often referred to as simply NXT) is a division of the American professional wrestling promotion WWE, and is based in Winter Park, Florida. While it principally serves as a developmental division for WWE, NXT has come to be viewed by wrestling writers and fans as its own distinct entity, having embarked on national and international tours, being praised for its high quality of wrestling, 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. 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 television aspects of the show had been dropped earlier in 2012; WWE NXT now serves as the primary television program for the promotion. 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. Eventually, WWE scheduled more live two-hour special events. In 2015, NXT promoted its first live events outside of Florida, with an event that was held in March in Columbus, Ohio.