NXT Championship
| NXT Championship | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The current NXT Championship belt with default side plates (2022–present) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Details | |||||||||||||||||||
| Promotion | WWE | ||||||||||||||||||
| Brand | NXT | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date established | July 1, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current champion(s) | Ethan Page | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date won | July 7, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
TheNXT Championshipis a men'sprofessional wrestling championshipcreated and promoted by the AmericanpromotionWWE.It is defended as the top men's championship ofNXT,the promotion'sdevelopmental brand.The current champion isEthan Page,who is in his first reign. He won the title by defeating previous championTrick Williams,Shawn Spears,andJe'Von Evans,the latter of whom Page pinned, in afatal four-way matchatHeatwaveon July 7, 2024.
Introduced on July 1, 2012, it was the first championship established for NXT, and the inaugural champion wasSeth Rollins.In September 2019, WWE began promoting NXT as its "third brand"when theNXTtelevision program was moved to theUSA Network.The NXT Championship was referred to as aworld championshipduring this time; however, this recognition was dropped when NXT reverted to its original function as WWE's developmental brand in September 2021. In September 2022, theNXT United Kingdom Championshipwasunifiedinto the NXT Championship.
History
[edit]
From 2010 to 2012, the Americanprofessional wrestlingpromotionWWEhosted a competition reality television series calledNXT.In June 2012, WWE restructured the show and established theNXTbrand as theirdevelopmental territory,replacingFlorida Championship Wrestling(FCW). On July 1, the brand's first championship, the NXT Championship, was introduced as the top men's championship. NXT CommissionerDusty Rhodesannounced an eight-mansingle-eliminationtournament,dubbed the "Gold Rush" tournament, involving four wrestlers from NXT and four wrestlers from WWE's main roster competing to be crowned the first NXT Champion. On the July 26 tapings ofNXT(airedAugust 29),Seth RollinsdefeatedJinder Mahalin the tournament final to become the inaugural champion.[1][2]On November 19, 2016, atTakeOver: Toronto,Samoa Joebecame the first performer to hold the championship on more than one occasion.[3]The title was defended for the first time on the main roster on the June 4, 2015, episode ofSmackDown,whereKevin Owensretained the title againstZack Ryder.[4]
In September 2019, the NXT brand became WWE's third major brand when theNXTprogram was moved to theUSA Network.[5][6]AfterDrew McIntyrewon the NXT Championship in 2017, the match description for his win in the official title history referred to it as aworld championship.[7]In 2021, it was revealed that the NXT Championship was an option for the men's Royal Rumble match winner to challenge for atWrestleMania 37,along with theWWE ChampionshipandWWE Universal Championship.[8][9][10][11][12]However, WWE revamped NXT in September 2021 and returned the brand to its original function as a developmental territory, with it no longer referred to as a world championship and no longer an option for Royal Rumble match winners.[13]
In August 2022, WWE announced that theNXT UKbrand would go on hiatus and would relaunch as NXT Europe at a later time.[14]As such, NXT UK's championship's wereunifiedinto their respective NXT championship counterparts. On September 4, 2022, atWorlds Collide,reigning NXT ChampionBron BreakkerdefeatedNXT United Kingdom ChampionTyler Bateto unify the NXT United Kingdom Championship into the NXT Championship. Bate was recognized as the final NXT UK Champion, while Breakker went forward as the unified NXT Champion.[15]
Inaugural tournament
[edit]| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||
| Richie Steamboat | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Leo Kruger | ||||||||||||||
| Richie Steamboat | ||||||||||||||
| Jinder Mahal | Sub | |||||||||||||
| Bo Dallas | ||||||||||||||
| Jinder Mahal | Sub | |||||||||||||
| Jinder Mahal | ||||||||||||||
| Seth Rollins | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Seth Rollins | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Drew McIntyre | ||||||||||||||
| Seth Rollins | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Michael McGillicutty | ||||||||||||||
| Justin Gabriel | ||||||||||||||
| Michael McGillicutty | Pin | |||||||||||||
Belt designs
[edit]
The original NXT Championship belt's design was simple: a large gold center plate shaped as the letter "X", with smaller letters "N" and "T" to the left and right of the center. The belt contained six total side plates on a large black strap, three sitting on either side of the center plate; each side plate only featured the WWE logo. When first introduced, the side plates had the WWE scratch logo but in August 2014, all of WWE's pre-existing championships at the time received a minor update, changing the scratch logo to WWE's current logo that was originally used for theWWE Networkthat launched earlier that year in February.[16]
On WrestleMania Weekend 2017, all existing NXT title belts at the time were redesigned. The new title belts were unveiled atTakeOver: Orlandothat same night and given to the winners of their respective matches. Like the previous design, the plates were gold and on a black leather strap. The letter "X" again dominated the center plate with smaller letters "N" and "T" sitting on the left and right sides, respectively. On this new design, however, the letters were on an octagonal shaped plate. Above the "X" was the WWE logo, while below the "X" was a banner that read "Champion". Simple ornamentation with some silver filled in the rest of the plate. Coming in line with WWE's other championships, the new design included side plates with a removable center section that could be customized with the champion's logo; the default plates featured the WWE logo.[17]
On the April 5, 2022, episode ofNXT,reigning championBron Breakkerdebuted a new belt design; it is largely similar to the previous version (2017–2022), but the silver behind the logo was replaced by multi-colored paint (matching the NXT 2.0 colorscheme) and the letters "N" and "T" on the center plate were updated to the font style of the NXT 2.0 logo. The default side plates were also updated, replacing the WWE logo with the NXT 2.0 logo. The new title retains the black leather strap.[18]When "NXT 2.0" went back to being called "NXT" in September, the default side plates were updated with the new NXT logo.
Reigns
[edit]
As of September 16, 2024, there have been 31 reigns among 24 different champions and three vacancies. The inaugural champion was Seth Rollins. Samoa Joe has the most reigns at three.Adam Cole's reign is the longest singular reign at396 days (recognized as403 days by WWE due totape delay), whileKarrion Kross' first reign is the shortest at 4 days (recognized as 3 days by WWE) as he had to relinquish the title due to a legitimate injury he suffered in winning it.Finn Bálorhas the longest combined reign at 504 days.Bo Dallasholds the record as the youngest champion, winning the title two days before his 23rd birthday (although WWE recognizes it was 18 days after his 23rd birthday due to tape delay), while Samoa Joe is the oldest champion, winning the title at 42.
Ethan Pageis the current champion in his first reign. He defeated previous championTrick Williams,Shawn Spears,andJe'Von Evans,the latter of whom Page pinned, in afatal four-way matchatHeatwaveon July 7, 2024, inToronto, Ontario, Canada.[19]
Notes
[edit]- ^403 days as recognized by WWE due to the episode airing ontape delay.
- ^3 days as recognized by WWE.
- ^WWE recognizes that Dallas won the title when he was 23 years, 18 days old due to the date of his championship win airing ontape delay.
References
[edit]- ^Parry, Josh (July 26, 2012)."NXT spoiler – first champion crowned".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedJuly 26,2012.
- ^James, Justin (September 5, 2012)."JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 8/29 – Week 11: First NXT champion crowned in big-match setting".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedSeptember 8,2012.
- ^James, Justin (November 19, 2016)."JAMES' NXT TAKEOVER: TORONTO REVIEW 11/19: Nakamura vs. Joe, Asuka vs. James, #DIY vs. The Revival, and more".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedNovember 19,2016.
- ^Holland, Dustin (June 5, 2015)."WWE Smackdown Results - 6/4/15 (Reigns vs. Sheamus)".WrestleView.Archivedfrom the original on June 8, 2015.RetrievedJune 5,2015.
- ^Csonka, Larry (May 10, 2016)."Triple H Discusses NXT as a Third Brand, Putting Talent in a Position to Succeed, More".411Mania.
- ^Rollins, Khadrice (August 19, 2019)."NXT moving to cable TV on Sept. 18".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedSeptember 8,2019.
- ^"NXT Championship".WWE.
Fulfilling a prophecy first laid out by WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon years earlier, Drew McIntyre captured a world championship in a WWE ring when he defeated Bobby Roode to claim the NXT Title at TakeOver: Brooklyn III.
- ^Burdick, Michael (February 5, 2021)."SmackDown results, Feb. 5, 2021: Owens attacks Reigns as Edge's WrestleMania opponent remains a mystery".WWE.RetrievedFebruary 16,2021.
In the wake of his Herculean effort,The Rated-R Superstartraveled first toRawto informWWE ChampionDrew McIntyrethat whomever he decided to face, he would be walking out ofThe Show of Showswith the World Title. He then ventured toNXTand put both NXT ChampionFinn BálorandPete Dunneon notice as well.
- ^Thomas, Jeremy (February 3, 2021)."NXT Title Match Set For NXT Takeover: Vengeance Day, Edge Hints at Possibly Challenging Winner".411Mania.RetrievedFebruary 16,2021.
Edgenoted he will be watching theTakeover[NXT Championship] match and may challenge the winner of that match if he hasn't decided who he will challenge by then.
- ^Stewart, Rob."Stew's Thoughts on NXT Takeover: Vengeance Day".411Mania.RetrievedFebruary 16,2021.
...if Karrion Kross hadn't gotten injured, we wouldn't have Finn Bálor and his Opponent Of The Month actively trying to bludgeon each other in a ring for a world title.
- ^Matthews, Graham (February 12, 2021)."Finn Balor Shoots on NXT, Bullet Club, Potential WWE WrestleMania 37 Match, More".Bleacher Report.RetrievedFebruary 16,2021.
For the first time ever, the NXT Championship is officially among the top titles the men's Royal Rumble winner can choose to contend for at WrestleMania.
- ^Burdick, Michael (February 21, 2021)."Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Edge".WWE.RetrievedFebruary 22,2021.
In the wake of his Herculean effort, The Rated-R Superstar [Edge] traveled to Raw, NXT and SmackDown to scope out the World Champions before declaring that he would not announce which World Champion he would challenge until after WWE Elimination Chamber [2021].
- ^Currier, Joseph (December 3, 2021)."Preview and Predictions for 'NXT WarGames'".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedDecember 11,2021.
- ^Defelice, Robert (August 18, 2022)."WWE Announces The Impending Launch Of 'NXT Europe' Final NXT UK Event To Be 'Worlds Collide' On 9/4".Fightful.Archivedfrom the original on August 18, 2022.RetrievedAugust 18,2022.
- ^Moore, John (September 4, 2022)."NXT Worlds Collide results: Moore's live review of NXT Champion Bron Breakker vs. NXT UK Champion Tyler Bate in a unification match, NXT Women's Champion Mandy Rose vs. NXT UK Women's Champion Meiko Satomura vs. Blair Davenport in a unification match, Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricochet for the NXT North American Championship".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.RetrievedSeptember 4,2022.
- ^Graser, Marc (August 15, 2014)."WWE Rebrands With New Logo Tied to Digital Network".Variety.RetrievedApril 16,2024.
- ^WWE(April 1, 2017)."Exclusive: WWE NXT General William Regal arrives at WrestleMania Axxess with a HUGE announcement regarding NXT TakeOver: Orlando!".Facebook.RetrievedApril 1,2017.
- ^WWE[@WWENXT] (April 12, 2022)."It's all in the details. #WWENXT"(Tweet).RetrievedApril 12,2022– viaTwitter.
- ^Moore, John (July 7, 2024)."NXT Heatwave results: Moore's live review of Trick Williams vs. Ethan Page vs. Je'Von Evans vs. Shawn Spears for the NXT Championship, Roxanne Perez vs. Lola Vice for the NXT Women's Championship".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.RetrievedJuly 7,2024.
External links
[edit]- Official NXT Championship Title History
Media related toWrestlers as the NXT championat Wikimedia Commons
