NXT: The Future Is Now

by Jon Robinson, Vincent K. McMahon (Foreword)

The first comprehensive book on WWE’s hottest brand

NXT: The Future Is Now follows the rise of WWE’s popular NXT brand from its conception to the brink of taking over WWE with its own rabid following. For decades, sports-entertainment had no centralized system for recruiting and training talent. Recognizing this need, Paul Levesque — better known as 14-time World Champion Triple H — convinced Vince McMahon that WWE must reinvent itself. This book delivers the revealing story of Levesque’s vision and the revolutionary impact it has already had on the WWE landscape, cultivating such world-renowned stars as Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Charlotte, Finn Bálor, Sami Zayn, Sasha Banks, and so many more.

Learn about WWE’s groundbreaking approach to talent development and take a look inside the state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center as exciting performers hone their wrestling skills, characters, personalities, and so much more under Triple H’s watchful eye. With new, insightful interviews from Triple H, NXT trainers, Superstars, and other personalities, discover how WWE’s future is now!

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports

310 pages, Hardcover

Published April 11, 2017

About the author

Jon Robinson is an award-winning author and journalist whose work has appeared across media including ESPN, Sports Illustrated, GamePro, and IGN.com. He has written eight books, including Rumble Road, The Attitude Era, NXT: The Future is Now, and Creating the Mania. His book, The Ultimate Warrior: A Life Lived Forever won the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Biography. His first YA novel, Sunshine and the Full Moon is set to release June 2021.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically a glorified press release about the WWE Performance Center writ large. I wasn't expecting a hard-hitting expose, but the whole book was a rehash of chapter one over and over and over again: The Performance Center is state-of-the-art, and is the future of the WWE.

There are a lot of great pictures. However, they mainly functioned as ways for me to mentally tick off where all of these people are now. Big E is out with a potentially carer-ending broken neck, Paige had her career ended by a neck injury, Neville, William Regal, Samoa Joe, Jon Moxley, and Bryan Danielson are all in AEW, Sasha Banks just walked out of WWE, Austin Ares was fired for being a pain in the ass, Drake Wuertz is a Trump lunatic, HHH and Stephanie McMahon are in completely different roles and working at a reduced capacity, and NXT itself was gutted and taken over by Vince McMahon, who transformed it into a pale shadow of what it once was. There's some interesting bits about the original NXT reality show, and how it was set up to humiliate and embarrass the wrestlers, something that Vince McMahon loves doing, but mainly this is a huge puff piece that becomes unintentionally sad with the benefit of five years hindsight.

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know better at this point than to read books like this. Still, as a wrestling fan who really, really likes NXT as a brand and product, I heard enough positive things in other reviews in wrestling circles about some of the insight this book gives into the overall project and process to give it a read.

The bad news? The morsels of interest are completely buried under a mountain of promotion and marketing that is so overbearing that it’s hard not to skim through portions as they’re repeated for the third, fourth, seemingly fifth time. The glowing adoration of everything NXT is doing from the wrestling talent to the complete lack of any indication that there haven’t been issues (like, most notably, the Bill DeMott bullying/hazing issue) makes this book almost indefensible outside of being a marketing piece, never mind a piece of literature that a publisher expects human beings to pay for. This isn’t a tie-in book or anything like that, it’s just a 200 page glossy profile that misses what makes the subject truly great.

Do not waste your time with this. Find a few posts on the internet highlighting the interesting takeaways from this book, and pretend the total package never existed. You’ll be better off.

[Jaleel Shaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Triple H deserves all the credit for the transformation of NXT and this book made sure that you never forgot that ... repeatedly.
I love that Sara Amato got some of the recognition she deserves ...

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining and quick read detailing the rise of NXT and the Performance Center in Orlando. Certain parts read like a marketing piece for future NXT performers and tout how great the Performance Center is. I would have liked some more in depth interviews with the wrestlers but otherwise a fun read for wrestling fans.

[Patrick Scattergood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a big wrestling fan since I was younger than my son and while there have been times when I have fallen out of love with it, I still watch wrestling from all sorts of promotions.

NXT has long been one of my favourites to watch, so when I found this book in a charity shop, I was excited.

This is actually a bit of a tough book to review. On one hand, there are some absolutely wonderful stories behind the creation of NXT and Triple H's wish to create something different under the WWE umbrella. The quotes and stories from the wrestlers themselves were really fun to read as well, especially from the likes of Finn Balor and Samoa Joe. The problem is, they seemed to be lost under the constant stream of being told how amazing the WWE is for allowing NXT to exist. It seemed more of a promotional catalogue than a book at times and that's a shame, especially when the writing style is so fluid and easy to read.

All in all, it was well worth picking up and reading, I've even passed it on to my son who loves wrestling too, but it's not one that I feel I would read multiple times.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

NXT: The Future Is Now follows the rise of WWE’s popular NXT brand from its conception to the brink of taking over WWE with its own rabid following. For decades, sports-entertainment had no centralized system for recruiting and training talent. Recognizing this need, Paul Levesque — better known as 14-time World Champion Triple H — convinced Vince McMahon that WWE must reinvent itself. This book delivers the revealing story of Levesque’s vision and the revolutionary impact it has already had on the WWE landscape, cultivating such world-renowned stars as Seth Rollins, Finn Bálor, Sami Zayn, and Sasha Banks (among many others) The book focuses on WWE’s groundbreaking approach to talent development and takes a look inside the state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center as new performers hone their wrestling skills, characters, personalities, etc under the watchful eyes of ring legends turned trainers and a full time medical staff helping talent to learn how to avoid injuries. Has alot of insightful "Point of Views" from Triple H, NXT trainers, Superstars, and other personalities.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would definitely recommend this book to any WWE fans that are out there in our world today because you get the inside scoop of what NXT is all about... I remember NXT as the reality show but now it's a huge show on the WWE Network.... If you are new to NXT this book is for you to learn what NXT is all about... I love how you hear stories from Bray Wyatt, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens and many more what NXT has done for them so they can be part of the main roster of the WWE. Also very good job with the photographs especially to see the pictures of Superstars that started in FCW but came up as NXT Superstars. When it was a reality show on TV nobody didn't really care for it like they do now when it's on the WWE Network and the fans really gets into it by singing to the person's entrance or just chanting NXT. So if you are a fan of WWE then this is a must read book for you.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice insight into the minor leagues of the WWE. The book is more of a promotional tool than a full disclosure of history, although there isn't much history to disclose yet. Enjoyed the background of going from Tampa to Orlando and from abandoned warehouse to Full Sail Live.

Unfortunately, most of the wrestlers mentioned have already been on the main roster for months, and there is an empty gap between the info in the book and what is currently happening (unless you have kept up with wrestling the last few years).

Hopefully somebody will write an "unauthorized" real behind the scenes book about NXT. It is too good to be true according to Robinson's book. Everything is going swimmingly and despite the bumps along the way, all the hard work and dedication is paying off...

Nice intro book for NXT, but there is obviously more to the story that hasn't been discussed yet.

[Jacob Shirker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My book "NXT: The Future Is Now" is about the journey of NXT and how it started. It mentions a lot of successful wrestlers like Baron Corbon, Austin Aries, Finn Balor, and Samoa Joe. It talks about how NXT was first called Florida World Wrestling, and how NXT stars went successful their. Then it talked how Triple H came and told them their gonna be apart of a revaluation.

Then it talks about how NXT moved on the network when the network started. Then it talks about how NXT is big because of all the wrestlers from around the world. Then towards the end it says how some wrestlers were getting successful on the main roster.

[Roland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great insight into the reformation of the NXT brand from a weekly segment on RAW transformed into my opinion the better of the WWE product. HHH did a phenomenal job and you can tell that he has sole creator control over the brand. What kept it from 5 stars? Sone NXT stars were major Indy guys like Kevin Owens(Sheen), Sami Zayn(El Generico) and Finn Balor(Prince Devitt) that name a few. They were not created by NXT. I can only think of Roman Reigns & Bray Wyatt as being true products. Other than that the book was a cool fast read.

[Ryan Case · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very good look into the backstage goings-on of NXT but... there's a lot of chest thumping too. There's, frankly, only so many different ways you can say that it is "counterculture", "gritty", etc. It's an enjoyable read for those that are fans but doesn't give a ton of information beyond what I already knew - and I hadn't done much research outside of this book.

[Giuseppe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first third of the book does a good job explaining the history of NXT and how it was formed. The rest is just page after page of different superstars repeating how great the performance center is, and how grateful they are to triple H. it became very repetitive and wished it showcased iconic matches from the early days of NXT.

[Diego Saavedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lectura obligatoria si eres un amante del wrestling profesional, la marca black and gold, la que nos regalo rivalidades increibles (mi favorita: la trilogía de Champa vs Gargano). Necesario si quieres saber como se engendra una superestrella desde lo mas bajo, como se crea la magia, como ance el entretenimiento deportivo.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for WWE fans. For some reason I wasn't expecting too much from this, but really enjoyed the honest, open look at how NXT operates and the ins and outs of the business. It gives great insight into the Superstars we're starting to see on the main roster now.

[Chris Kiefer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite the puff piece, which I guess I should have expected since WWE wrote and published the book themselves. They get quotes from the same 8-10 wrestlers throughout. Barely anything in terms of interesting content.

[Marcus Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read and insight into how HHH created the brand and setup for the future.
A must for any wwe fan

[Alexander K · Rating 2 out of 5]

My expectations: a look behind the scenes with explanations on business decisions and marketing plans.
What it is: half book, half magazine; promotional piece. I'd pass on this one.

[Tony Cottam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very slick as you'd expect from a WWE approved offering. somewhere down the line, there is a warts and all true story of NXT. This isn't it, but it's a good start.

[Roger Gaboury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for business students and WWE fans alike. In addition to giving “origin stories” for current stars Finn Baylor, Bray Wyatt, Sasha Banks, and more, it describes the origin of innovating and creating the next step in a historical (pro wrestling organization) business model. Paul (Triple H) Levesque is one of my favorite wrestlers, and this description of his blueprint for starting the NeXT generation of wrestling illustrates his thinking man cred for his in-ring “Cerebral Assassin” persona. While the book is an obvious paean to HHH and the WWE, it still holds a lot of fun and interest.

[Ian Hrabe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Totally state sponsored propaganda but it does have some interesting insights into how WWE is (likely reluctantly if you ask Vince McMahon) evolving.

[J.L. Lamastus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and informative. I liked this book.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you follow professional wrestling at all you know what NXT is, and if you're like me, you wonder why it can't be as good as the main show. When talent gets called up there's that feeling of loss because now, the wrestler you watched become NXT champion is now going to be buried by older, more established talent. The question though is how did this small developmental territory become better than the main show? This book gives us a peek inside NXT and tries to explain it all.

The book does a good job of introducing the brand to an audience who may not follow prowrestling, or may be curious about this developmental territory that became an underground phenomenon. It gives you the inside scoop, and the interviews from talent to trainers all talk about nurturing new talent and giving these wrestlers a chance to hone their craft in a state of the art facility that gives you the tools to be great, but in the end you have to want it bad enough.

It's an interesting book about a man who wanted to create talent for the future, give them a place where they could have an opportunity to become a WWE superstar the correct way. In the process, it became better than the main show they were supplying talent for due to the way HHH handles the business side of things, and a belief that the talent from NXT deserve to be seen, and now they and its grown into a cult like following.

It's an interesting book filled with stories that rave about HHH, the performance center, and the great things they do there. You learn a lot about how the place works, and sometimes you almost want to head down to Orlando to try out for a spot on the roster. There's a touching chapter dedicated to the late Dusty Rhoades, and you get to see what kind of things the performance center offers. It gives you an inside look at how WWE is creating future superstars, the only question it doesn't answer is if wrestling is fake, but you already know the answer to that one.

If you're a fan, or just curious about NXT and what it is, this is a must read book. It gives you the stories about how NXT was created and there's a lot of gushing about how great the place is. It's a great commercial for the building and its talented crop of wrestlers. It repeatedly tells you that you have to work hard to make it, and if you don't it's clearly your fault.

[Ashley Stanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book won't be for everyone and it glosses over some of the bad things that have happened in the course of nxt, but that's basically what i expected.
i do love how many pictures they included and the number of talent they quoted. it really was their story from the beginning. i also appreciate how involved HHH still is with nxt, he had such a vision for them and what it has become have even exceeded that. nxt is so much more than a developmental brand, its a competitor.
it was nice to see where nxt really came from and what fcw was like before they moved to nxt. i love how much things have changed and gotten better for the talent. they really do have so many resources available to them, its their own fault if they don't succeed. they just don't want it enough.
i have been with nxt since very near to the start and i can't wait to see where they go from here. seeing talent called up to raw or smackdown is always such a bittersweet thing. but i'm always interested to see what the new developmental talent can do when given a chance to shine.

[S.C. Parris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very repetitive and either they schooled the wrestlers on what to say or they just phoned it in and wrote very similar things for everyone to say.

In the middle of the book I realized it was just a massive ad for the WWE Network and NXT.

Which I think is annoying as someone that has the WWE Network and is an avid watcher of the product.

WWE doesn't need a book to sell people on NXT. Like they kept mentioning in the book, anyone can just google a match to see what all the hype is about.

On the business side of things it was fairly interesting but most things I already knew.

Interesting if you've never watched Raw or Smackdown before or want to watch NXT but don't have the Network yet, otherwise just get the network and see what all the hype is about. There's a reason there are free trials after all.

Now I'm weary to read the book on Women's wrestling I picked up. Here's to hoping it's not ultimately an ad to get women to work hard to be a WWE Superstar like this book was.

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A+

[Ryk Stanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had considered buying this book but then did not have to because it became available on hoopla. I love that app. I love NXT and wrestling, and I would have given this book 5 Stars if it had not been for frequent repetition of certain ideas and the occasional profanity that just did not belong there. I read this book very quickly, over two days reading every chance I could.