NXT Takeover’s main event formula is hurting, not helping

NXT TakeOver’s consistent main event formula delivered some of its greatest hits- but now, it is actively harming the brand.

Since the reinvention of NXT from a game show to a true developmental TV show, and especially since the advent of the WWE Network and the expansion of NXT to a relatively popular promotion in its own right, NXT has the reputation of being WWE’s best brand. It is seen by many as a bastion of quality storytelling (or at least competent) and amazing in-ring action, particularly in the brand’s biggest shows: the NXT TakeOver series.

However, in recent years, the latter, while certainly very present through most of NXT, fades in perhaps the most important matches in NXT: the TakeOver main events. Once, these main events could be relied upon to be the satisfying conclusion to a wonderful night of action, but in recent years, they have consistently become overbooked, overly long, melodramatic affairs, the novelty of which has long worn off due to overuse. These matches (the template of which will be referred to as NXT’s “main event formula,” for simplicity) are “overbooked” because they are rife with interferences and finisher kick-outs, “overly long” by going a half-hour or more when it’s unnecessary, and feature a lot of melodrama- which isn’t a flaw in and of itself, but often comes across as forced.

I understand the criticisms of NXT’s main event formula as a format in and of itself. These criticisms are mainly: 1) the constant finisher kick-outs (or reaching the ropes/otherwise escaping) cheapens the legitimacy of the move(s) as a match-ender and 2) Reduce the impact when someone survives the moves. However, I have no problem with the existence of a match following this formula, on occasion. Sometimes, shedding any concern for an abstract concept of a move’s (or moves’) “overness” or any sense of realism, and instead just going as bonkers as possible, leads to incredible matches. For example, Johnny Gargano versus Andrade Almas from NXT Takeover Philadelphia, Gargano versus Tommaso Ciampa at NXT Takeover: New Orleans, or even after this format had been run into the ground, Gargano’s title win over Adam Cole at NXT TakeOver: New York, are instances of this match working really well.

However, NXT has become a victim of its own success. At least one of Ciampa or Gargano has been involved in every main event since January 2018, and accompanying this consistency of participants was the unending use of the main event formula (with the exception of Velveteen Dream vs. Ciampa at NXT TakeOver: WarGames II). With these matches involving so many finishers and such extensive lengths, it has naturally led to apathy towards the events occurring in the ring, even when the in-ring action itself is otherwise stellar.

NXT TakeOver: Portland on Feb. 16 was perhaps the pinnacle of the overuse of this formula. Not only did we see a million kick-outs in an overly-long (at 33 minutes and 23 seconds) title match with Ciampa versus Cole, but we are also treated to a Finn Balor-Gargano match that went over 27 minutes and where nothing of value would’ve been lost if ten minutes were just lopped off.

The worst part is, there doesn’t seem to be any sign of rejection or move away from this type of match. We’re due for a fourth Gargano/Ciampa match that could follow this format if it followed the same structure as the first three matches. And that’s not even to mention Adam Cole’s title defense or any other match on the TakeOver card.

NXT certainly isn’t in mortal peril or anything like that. There’s still a ton of good wrestling on the weekly show, and elsewhere on Takeovers. Hell, even in these matches themselves, there are great wrestlers performing great matches, the only thing damning them being the overuse of this format. But in order to restore NXT from the good wrestling show it is now, to the great one it once was and can be again, it needs to detach itself from the formula that powered some of its greatest successes.