12 Things NXT Gets Right About Wrestling

11. Keeping Kayfabe alive

Billie Kay (far right) clouded real from fake by petitioning to ban Ember Moon's (far left) Eclipse finisher

NXT seems to embody an old-school mindset within a futuristic wrestling product, as announcers and talent appear to respect kayfabe and rarely ever break the fourth wall or expose the business with unrealistic-looking booking and fighting or clownish promo segments that make wrestling look juvenile.

Matches are harder-hitting and more likely to incorporate mixed-martial arts, with the more talented performers usually booked to win even if they don't fit the main roster's normative idea of a marketable Superstar. There is also very little dancing, thankfully.

In addition, NXT backstage segments and social media alike tend to protect the integrity of feuds and storylines, with exclusive videos frequently blending the "real life" Performance Center training of NXT development with the story-driven kayfabe world. This presentation is an intriguing and compelling approach as it makes it all the more easy to feel immersed in the narrative and suspend disbelief, something wrestling may need to help de-escalate the longstanding stigma of being 'fake'.