First WWE NXT Event Outside of FL in Conjunction with Triple H's International Sports Hall of Fame Induction

The first-ever WWE NXT live event outside of Florida takes place on March 5th in Columbus, Ohio at the LC Pavilion. This is a 2,200 seat arena and it's part of the Arnold Classic expo weekend, where Triple H will be inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame. Stars advertised include Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Finn Balor, Hideo Itami, Kevin Owens, Adrian Neville and NXT Champion Sami Zayn.

Triple H Comments On Sami Zayn

"I do think he can succeed, I think it would take some time, he is the slow built kind of guy," Triple H said of Zayn. "Every time you see him he wins you over with that emotion and that quality and that realness. He lets you inside who he is as a person, you know it's very Steamboat-esque, in a way, that level of emotional connection to a talent that takes you and really invests you in him as a person and a character. His growth curve has been phenomenal, he had all the tools, but to see him do what he's done in a relatively short period of time is awesome and I can't wait for him to get that opportunity on the [main] roster."

WWE NXT TakeOver: R Evolution Results

Triple H Talks Sami Zayn Impressing, Kevin Owens’ NXT Debut, How Charlotte Was Booked On Raw, NXT Touring & Much More

During a conference call at the WWE Performance Center Triple H gave some time to the media today to talk about NXT Takeover R Evolution airing Thursday night on the WWE Network. Triple H also enjoyed talking about the business in general and where WWE is headed. The following are some highlights:

- He noted he looks forward to these conversations and likes being able to speak with the media directly.

- He said they are “feverishly” working on getting the WWE Network in the UK but that the NXT special will be airing on television in UK.

- He talked about how proud he is of Charlotte and Sasha Banks. He talked about how some people were upset that Charlotte was used quickly in a loss on RAW. Apparently they were given more time originally but due to factors of live television, when they got to that segment they had to shorten their time. Triple H noted the important thing was exposure for NXT and Charlotte. Once she is a regular on the main roster, she would be be booked stronger.

- In a discussion about all the different types of athletes and backgrounds who come into NXT, HHH noted some talents pick things up quicker than others. He said Kurt Angle picked up professional wrestling faster than anyone he can recall.

- Finn Balor was overwhelmed in the past when they would walk him through entrances, music cues, where cameras can be and all of the other factors of being a television show. Triple H said Balor explained he had never thought about all that stuff. In the past he just walked to the ring and whoever was filming just captured him walking to the ring. Triple H was excited when speaking about the collaboration of WWE and great talent such as Balor.

- It has been discussed and is possible that the NXT title could be featured on the kickoff shows for the main roster pay-per-views or the events themselves. He said he likes when he hears people talk or suggest it because it’s a good sign the NXT brand is wanted.

- Gave a lot of praise to Sami Zayn. Talked about how he can be hard to describe sometimes to someone but is a great talent. Triple H said it might take longer for Zayn to reach his full potential with the audience, but once he gets there, it’s going to be great. He said Zayn is great with emotionally captivating an audience and has strong facials for television. At one point he compared Zayn to Ricky Steamboat. Triple H went on to say how impressive that is considering Zayn worked for so many years prior to WWE with a mask on.

- We were running short on time, but Triple H said if Vince can add more time to interviews because he owns the WWE Network than Triple H can add more time to his phone call, so he did.

- He gave a lot of credit to William Regal being a great scout for talent and evaluation talent.

- With regards to promos, Triple H said less heavily scripted promos are good, but not everyone can do them. He said a script isn’t a bad thing as long as the talent can put emotion into what is written for them and not sound like they are reading off of a piece of paper. He said some guys learn better than others with it. He noted Adrian Neville couldn’t speak when he first got to NXT but is now a lot better.

- NXT Takeover R Evolution will air on J Sports in Japan.

- Triple H talked about it being a fine line with Kevin Owens in terms of embracing what he’s accomplished in the past but moving forward and creating a WWE product. He says there is no point in ignoring Kevin’s accomplishments, but at the same time you don’t want to live in the past.

- Says he would like to get NXT touring more. Right now they tour in Florida and some of Georgia, but he would like to expand to more regions to continue growing the brand.

New Name and Main Event Revealed for Next Live WWE NXT Takeover Special

As noted, the next live WWE NXT Takeover special on the WWE Network will take place on December 11th from Full Sail University.

NXT General Manager William Regal announced at tonight's tapings that the name will be NXT Takeover: Our Evolution.

The main event will see Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville going at it for the NXT Title.

Sami Zayn Talks NXT & Kevin Steen; Calls Triple H a “Visionary”

NXT stand-out Sami Zayn talked to Sam Roberts recently on a tour of the WWE Performance Center. Zayn discussed performing on Monday Night Raw, going head-to-heat with the NFL, Triple H as a “visionary” for the future, Daniel Bryan before and after he was popular, and a lot more.

NXT Wrestlers Confirmed for WWE 2K15 Video Game

Triple H hosted a WWE 2K15 media event today at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, to promote the career mode, where a wrestler starts out his career at NXT. The official Instagram account of 2K confirmed that Adrian Neville, Bo Dallas and Sami Zayn, who were on hand for the event, will be in the game.

Leaders of the new school: Sami Zayn, Hideo Itami, Adrian Neville, Fergal Devitt and Kevin Steen talk to WWE.com about their generation

In August, NXT sensation Sami Zayn sent out a tweet that, in precisely 140 characters, at once gave hope, elicited excitement and put the sports-entertainment world on notice.

Talking 'bout my g-g-g-generation! @FightSteenFight @WWENeville @fergaldevitt @KENTAK312 @WWEDanielBryan @WWECesaro @WWERollins. Change=now.

— Sami Zayn (@iLikeSamiZayn) August 12, 2014

Some 3,000-plus favorite tweets and retweets later and the buzz surrounding “Zayn’s generation” — let’s call it WWE’s new New Generation — has only intensified. As WWE fans await the in-ring debuts of international Superstars Fergal Devitt and the wrestler formerly known as KENTA, Hideo Itami, and independent wrestling demigod Kevin Steen, WWE.com sat down with the NXT Five inside the place they call home — the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla. — for a roundtable discussion to learn about their connections to each other inside the ring and out. Click here.

EVOLVE co-founder Gabe Sapolsky Comments on WWE NXT

History does repeat itself. I remember when ECW was shunned and ignored in the early days. Then suddenly we saw WWE and WCW embracing the principles and soon the ECW wrestlers. This ignited the biggest boom in the history of US wrestling. Yesterday, we saw some things that lit the Internet on fire because they are new and we didn't expect them. The biggest was HHH posing for a selfie with Kevin Steen, Hideo Itami and Fergal Devitt and then giving huge endorsements to Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville by tweeting that he would like to wrestle them. Kalisto as well as Zayn and Neville brought new excitement to NXT Takeover that had fans tweeting their support. This doesn't even include the impact that Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose are making on the main roster. WWE has even included me on the The Shield documentary and Paul Heyman DVD. So what's my point? A few years ago, none of this would have happened because the talents from the independents weren't considered "major league." WWE has obviously changed it's thought process and we are hopefully at the dawn of a new era. Will it lead to a boom like in the 90s? I don't know, but I do know that it will lead to new stars and and some fresh wrestling (or sports entertainment in the WWE Universe). The most important thing is that these innovative, cutting edge talents capture the imagination of new, young fans. Given the stage WWE is providing, they can.

NXT talent scheduled for next week's WWE TV Tapings

NXT talent Sami Zayn, Tyler Breeze and NXT Champion Adrian Neville have been scheduled to appear at this Monday's 9/15 WWE RAW in Lafayette, Louisiana & this Tuesday's 9/16 WWE Smackdown TV tapings in Biloxi, Mississippi according to a report by Mike Johnson. It is said that more talent from NXT have been scheduled to appear at WWE TV tapings over the course of the next several weeks as well. It is unknown as of this writing what the NXT talent will be used for on WWE TV.

source: pwinsider.com

Adrian Neville, Sami Zayn and Tyler Breeze Make Their WWE RAW TV Debuts

WWE NXT stars Adrian Neville, Sami Zayn and Tyler Breeze made their RAW TV debuts on tonight's show from Baltimore. Neville and Zayn teamed up to defeat Breeze and Tyson Kidd.

The crowd really got going when Neville received the hot tag and went to work on Breeze. Neville ended the match with Red Arrow on Breeze, to another good reaction.

The RAW announcers put over NXT and Thursday's Takeover 2 event several times. As noted, these four Superstars will compete for Neville's NXT Title on Thursday night.

Sami Zayn Comments on feedback from Triple H after his match with Cesaro at "Arrival"

It was awesome. If I'm being honest again, actually the first time that I got that kind of feedback from HHH was actually the two out of three falls match (with Cesaro), which had been about a year, nine months prior to the Arrival match. So we had this match, now has gotten a lot of talk, buzz or whatever it is. As I was in the ring and the crowd was like just going nuts, giving us this standing ovation, which was so cool. And as I was on my back, out of the corner of my eye, I kinda saw the replaying some of the highlights of the match and the crowd with each replay started getting louder and louder to the point by the time they were replaying the finish, it was another standing ovation. So it was actually one of the most incredible moments of my career. Just to lay flat on my back and just hear them continually getting louder way after the match. And they (crowd) start chanting match of the year, match of the year and I haven't told anybody this on camera or anything like this. I really didn't know how that reaction was going to go over. At this point, I was fairly new to the WWE system. I didn't know if I overextended myself, if we had done more than they wanted, I don't know. I really didn't know. And then we came back and I had no idea what to expect, I really didn't. I thought I'd get chewed out over like what the hell are you doing out there? I really didn't know. And I got back there and HHH was the first one to pull us aside. He said that was awesome. He gave us a very candid speech. That was the first time I got insight into his mind and the way his mind works. I was so happy because yes, its not gunna be this like, I have my vision. the office has their vision. It was this guy who likes good stuff and he appreciates good stuff. And it was an amazing experience and amazing thing validated by a guy who is not only your boss, but as one of the most accomplished and greatest professional wrestlers/WWE superstars of all time. It was really cool to have him on your good side for sure.

Triple H's Twitter Q&A Highlights: NXT Takeover, Who To Watch, Proof That NXT Works, Sami Zayn, More

Which match is he most excited for tonight? "has to be split between Kidd/Neville and Charlotte/Natalya. Zayn/Breeze isn't far behind."

Who is the mega-star to look out for in NXT? "NXT Champion Adrian Neville, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin and Alexa Bliss"

Who has been the best example that the NXT system works? "look no further than Bray Wyatt"

Which Takeover star will be a future WWE Champion? "they will all be prepared for it. Right now? Adrian Neville."

When will we see Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville on the main roster? They are two of the best young talents right now. "they absolutely are. When the time is right. The goal is to make sure everyone is prepared on EVERY level."

Which NXT star do you hope to face one day? "I hope none of them! But if I had to pick one to work with today? @iLikeSamiZayn"

Do you see NXT as a developmental system or more of a brand? "it's both. It's clearly it's own brand but is definitely a launching pad to Raw, Smackdown, and WWE main roster."

Are you a lemon or a Rosebud? "that depends on the day!"

Are you concerned that people might work on NXT but fail to transition onto the main roster? "always a concern, we give them the tools but Success or failure depends on the talent. If it was easy, anyone could do it."

Is Full Sail University going to be the main location for NXT or are there any plans to take it elsewhere? "Full Sail is an amazing partnership, we're thrilled with it. We hope that Full Sail remains NXT's home for years to come."

What do you think is the biggest key to success these athletes need to learn in the business? "Confidence in the ability to let go and not just pretend to be something - but to actually be something."

If NXT was around when you came to WWE would you have wanted to gone through that or straight to the big time? "the journey that my generation had is different than this one has. NXT and the PC were designed to give them everything they need."

Is there anyone on the NXT roster that you would compare to yourself? "Lot of talent based on hunger to succeed and their passion."

Rumor Mill - More NXT Stars Getting Called Up

After Bo Dallas and Adam Rose come up to WWE's main roster, the next NXT stars in line to come up are Sami Zayn and NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension.

Triple H Q&A Highlights: Who Would He Face from NXT?, Tyler Breeze, Adrian Neville, More

Below are some highlights from Triple H's Twitter Q&A this afternoon to promote WWE NXT Arrival:

Would you consider Arrival the WrestleMania of NXT? everyone here has been saying it feels just like a WrestleMania. So, I would say yes.

If you could face anyone from NXT, who would it be? good question. I would have to say Neville and Zayn. Both awesome. Future of #WWE.

Can we expect to see some talent move up to the main roster soon after tonight? it's all about timing and making sure it's the right moment to succeed.

What do you think of Tyler Breeze? always had the talent. Finally found the formula. I see big things in his future.

Would you encourage your daughters to go into the wrestling business? I would support anything they wanted to do. If it's WWE, then absolutely!

Do you train any of the rookies or have any favorites? work with them as much as I can when I'm here. No favorites. Want them all the succeed.

Why isn't Adrian Neville on RAW? when he has the most chance to succeed, he will be.

What is the most innovating and compelling aspect of the WWE Performance Center? from a learning and safety stance, the crash pad ring will add years to careers!

What do you think is most important to have first - the look, the mic skills or in-ring ability? I would take charisma over anything. It is the one thing you can't teach.

Can we get a Best of NXT DVD? once we have enough to fill one. BTW it's called @WWENetwork

Is NXT the only platform WWE will look at talent or will you still keep an eye on the indies? we look for talent any place, any time, any where!

MTV UK Looks at the WWE Performance Center

MTV UK was recently given a special look at NXT and the WWE Performance Center. You can check out their coverage at this link. They have interviews with Paige, Triple H, Kane, Sami Zayn and others. Kane noted that if he were to build a wrestling company around one person it would be The Undertaker.

John Cena, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Championship Ladder Match & More Advertised for WWE Network Debut of NXT TV, Special Gets Official Name

WWE is going all out for the live debut of NXT on the WWE Network February 27th. As we have known for quite some time, Antonio Cesaro will face Sami Zyan in a rematch of their epic 2013 match, where the winner must win two out of three falls to gain the victory. Also scheduled is an NXT Championship ladder match between champion Bo Dallas and Adrian Neville.

Tonight at the last NXT television taping prior to the live debut, a huge list of names both past and present was announced for the show. WWE Hall of Famers Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels will join WWE Superstars John Cena, Sheamus and the New Age Outlaws Billy Gunn and Road Dogg.

Additionally, the special will be titled “NXT Arrival.”

Chris Hero Talks About Getting Released by WWE, Current NXT Stars, the Indies and More

The Masked Man of Grantland.com has a lengthy new article up asking if indie wrestling can survive WWE. It features an interview with Chris Hero, formerly known as WWE NXT star Kassius Ohno. Here are some highlights:

The pressure of going back to the indies: "I'm the prettiest girl at the dance for the moment. I know it's not going to last forever. I have to be on my toes. One very real thing is people asking, "Does he still have it in him? Can he bring to the table what he brought to the table years ago?" It's inspiring for me. I want to show people that I have as much to offer as anyone in the history of wrestling. That sounds a little grandiose, but I feel like I have something different."

Whether WWE prefers homegrown talent to hiring wrestlers with indie buzz: "I don't think they give a shit about buzz. They only care about their own buzz, which makes sense. You can't solely cater to the niche fan base — it's a tricky demographic to deal with. But you can see somebody get over with those fans and think maybe they can do it in WWE, too. And they see someone who has the passion to chase the dream, traveling around the world. If you have passion, if you're a good performer, those are two of the most important things in wrestling, and they're things you can't manufacture. Some people are naturals. Take Big E Langston; he has such a perfect match of athleticism and charisma, and he looks like an action figure."

Being released by WWE: "I'd been employed for 21 months. They knew what I was. They had a certain perception of what I brought to the table, and I guess they thought I wasn't going to be called up anytime soon. They had a pecking order, and certain guys who were going to be the next ones called up, and I wasn't in that group. It was a little vague, but I was told, "This isn't good-bye forever; this is good-bye for now.""

"Getting fired sucks for anybody, even if it's a job you hate. So the gut instinct is to be mad, but none of that will serve me. None of that will put any money in my bank account. It's not hard to be positive because I do what I love. When I was 8 or 9 years old my mom would take me to Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio, to see Ultimate Warrior versus Andre the Giant or to watch Demolition versus the Rockers or to see the very first Survivor Series in Richfield. It would be completely different if I landed on my head and got injured so I couldn't wrestle anymore — that would be hard to deal with. But what was taken from me? A weekly paycheck?"

His fellow developmental wrestlers: "The guys in NXT now — Sami Zayn, Adrian Neville, Tyler Breeze, Scott Dawson — when they get called up, they could set the world on fire just like Daniel Bryan did. But Bryan did more than that — he set the locker room on fire. He was in the ring in the main event every week with so much intensity that everybody else realized they had to step things up. Randy Orton, for instance. He looks like he's wrestling with a new inspiration, and he doesn't need to do that."

WWE Posts Their Own NXT Power Rankings

While NXT has been releasing their own Power Rankings via Facebook for a little over a month now, WWE's website posted their first-ever NXT Power Rankings for the month of November. Here's how the first list looks:

1. Bo Dallas
2. The Ascension
3. Summer Rae
4. Sami Zayn
5. Paige
6. Alexander Rusev
7. Corey Graves
8. Adrian Neville
9. Emma
10. Tyler Breeze

Billy Gunn In Corporation Angle

NXT trainer Billy Gunn is now involved in the corporation angle that has expanded to developmental. Gunn worked as a special guest referee at an NXT live event last week in Daytona where he turned on Sami Zayn and allowed Bo Dallas to retain the NXT title. The storyline was that Triple H sent Gunn to make sure Dallas retained because it was best for business. The new NXT GM, JBL, agreed on Twitter.