I stopped watching about 3 years after PG era started. NXT was dimes until this 2.0 nonsense. Thing is, some guy summed it up perfectly the other day:
Management have in recent years tried to portray WWE Superstars as(Marvel-like) superheroes. That's their whole goal. It's not about telling a story in the ring in terms of quality wrestling (just think of the Gargano Ciampa matches). It's about larger than life personalities appealing to the erratic minds of kids. AEW is trying its damndest to wow people with their wrestling (every week feels special), whilst WWE is just formulaic same-old same-old. Roll up here, cringe comedy there, roll up again. No anticipation is generated. WWE's top stars are all old (around 40 mark). Heck, they have to bring in legends all the time because they don't have stars anymore (think Lita, Goldberg, Trish, McMahon etc. etc.).
It's okay if you like this superhero stuff, I guess that's what the new generation people have been brought up with. But the art of subtle storytelling and emotion and passion and controversy is what brought pro-wrestling to the masses.
Damn I miss the old NXT. AEW is trying its best, doing good. I struggle to even get through the Bleacher report summaries of WWE which I have been doing the last few years. Brock is carrying the place, only legitimate star (he has a bit of free rein which is clearly good). AJ is another ridiculously talented guy. Big E's push was far too late and clearly only to satisfy BLM crowd (like with Woods). Ricochet's push is also a bit late, but he deserves so much more. See what happened to Cesaro. Sheamus is badass.
NXT 2.0 ... what the hell is that rainbow sissy show? Gunther? Really? WALTER was a beast ... wasted in Vince's kindergarten there, and for I guess 2 or 3 more years.
RIP WWE, AEW deserves the crown, though it will never touch the gritty feel of NXT 1.0. Remember when Io Shirai came in and her entrance gave you goosebumps. I cringe so hard when I think of NXT now.
