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Stop me if you have heard this one before, but this guy really digs NXT’s presentation of women’s wrestling. In fact, I could argue that it is the most entertaining aspect in all of professional wrestling today. Just to clarify, I do mean ALL of wrestling – not just women.
Every single female wrestler in NXT has a gimmick or character that the audience can identify with. They aren’t just throwing them in the ring to wrestle matches, as it is abundantly clear that the company is committed to fully developing each of their personalities. There are lots of people that are responsible for this, but you have to start by giving all the credit in the world to NXT trainer Sara Del Rey.
Receiving nothing but the highest praise from everyone in the company (all the way up to Triple H), Del Rey is helping to turn these incredible athletes into entertainment superstars. Just on watching the product alone, it is clear to me that Del Rey is an expert in understanding how to train and coach wrestlers in every single important aspect of the business. I challenge anyone to find me matches on television right now that have better in-ring psychology, match pacing, and presentation of character from bell-to-bell.
Without a doubt, wrestlers such as Sasha Banks, Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Bayley, Carmella, Alexa Bliss, Dana Brooke (and anyone I have forgotten) have the talent and ability needed to be superstars in this business. Raw talent goes only so far in wrestling, and it takes people like Del Rey to develop these gems into full-blown superstars. When you think of any of these women, you know exactly who they are, what their character is about, and why you care if they win or lose in NXT competition.
The presentation of these women is top of the line as well. Everything they wear - from their ring attire to their hair and makeup – screams exactly what they are about. People who have never seen NXT would be able to ballpark their personalities just by watching the ring entrances. Next time you watch NXT, pay attention to even the smallest details such as their posture and movements as they walk to the ring (especially Sasha Banks). These are things people miss out on when trying to develop stars, but body language is immensely important when presenting wrestlers to the fans. The music is also outstanding and fits with each of their characters.
Combining unbelievable talent, coaching, and presentation is the formula for success in pro wrestling. Nobody is nailing all three of those on a consistent basis as NXT is with their women’s division. The term “minor league” no longer applies. This is the gold standard.
Follow Jeff on Twitter: @JeffLane22
