NXT Rewind: Ten Years Ago, When Future Legends Took Their First Steps

Step into the time machine, wrestling fans, and set the dial for September 9, 2015. A decade ago, an episode of NXT, partially taped from the intimate setting of Full Sail University, offered a fascinating snapshot of a brand in transition – a true “time capsule” revealing the nascent stages of future main eventers, championship contenders, and Hall of Famers.

This was a period bubbling with anticipation for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, featuring dream teams like Samoa Joe and Finn Balor, and showcasing emerging talents who were, at this point, essentially on extended tryouts. From historic signings to pivotal debuts, this night laid crucial groundwork for the NXT we know today.

The Shifting Landscape: NXT in Transition

Ten years ago, NXT was navigating a fascinating, yet challenging, period of evolution. With established top stars like Kevin Owens having transitioned to the main roster, and the “Divas Revolution” shaking up WWE, the black and gold brand was actively rebuilding its main event scene and developing its next generation of superstars. This felt akin to the adjustments made after the departures of the Wyatt Family or Paige – a continuous cycle of reinvention.

Amidst this backdrop, a significant announcement electrified the wrestling world: Kana, now globally recognized as Asuka, had officially signed with NXT. This signing alone signaled a massive investment in the future of the women’s division and the brand as a whole.

The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: Early Rounds & Surprises

The inaugural Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic was a focal point of this era, designed to honor the late “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and highlight burgeoning tag team talent. This episode provided crucial advancements and a few eye-opening debuts within the tournament.

A Dream Team Forges Ahead

The formidable duo of Finn Balor and Samoa Joe, a pairing that would become legendary, prepared to face the high-flying Lucha Dragons. In a brief backstage segment, Joe checked in on a focused Balor, who emphasized his desire to win the tournament for Dusty. In a moment of classic Finn, Joe had to stop Balor from almost forgetting his NXT Championship in the locker room!

House Show Highlights & Tournament Momentum

To add extra weight to the tournament, results from house show matches were integrated into the broadcast. We saw Enzo Amore & Big Cass secure a win against the early iteration of Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins. Meanwhile, Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder, who would soon redefine tag team wrestling, overcame Tucker Knight and Elias Sampson (before he became “Elias” and his guitar). This creative integration of live event results gave depth to the tournament bracket.

Unexpected Debuts: Gargano & Ciampa Arrive

Perhaps one of the most historically significant moments of the night was the NXT TV debut of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa as a team. At this point, they were essentially on an extended tryout, appearing on a show-by-show basis. Yet, Full Sail University recognized their potential, giving them a huge welcome – complete with their own theme music and ‘Tron video – as announcers lauded them as a big deal.

They squared off against Tyler Breeze and Bull Dempsey. Dempsey, surprisingly, garnered a decent crowd pop, a testament to his “Bull-Fit” weight loss and his comedic interplay with Breeze. The match itself was a mixed bag:

• It kicked off with an immediate intensity, as Ciampa delivered a massive slap to Breeze after a quick toss and a bit of lounging.
• Dempsey’s comedy, with chants of ‘Bull is gorgeous!’ and ‘This is Bull-Fit!’, unfortunately overshadowed some of Gargano and Ciampa’s early brilliance.
• While they showed glimpses of the chemistry and skill that would define them, Gargano and Ciampa visibly held back, saving their full arsenal for future encounters.
• The finish saw Ciampa hit a running jackknife to pin Dempsey for the win in six and a half minutes.

The post-match action, however, raised eyebrows: Breeze ambushed and “destroyed” Dempsey. The lingering question, then and now: please, please tell me this wasn’t the start of some ‘much-anticipated’ (read: no one asked for) Breeze-Dempsey feud!

Lucha Dragons on the Hunt

The high-flying Lucha Dragons, Sin Cara and Kalisto, cut a promo, mixing English and Spanish, hyping their readiness for the Dusty Classic and their impending clash with Balor and Joe. Amusingly, the version of Sin Cara performing here spoke perfect English, yet Kalisto still translated his Spanish a classic nod to kayfabe!

Women of Tomorrow: Paving Their Path

The women’s division on this episode offered a clear look at the future, with a focus on character development and in-ring progression.

Carmella’s Solo Struggle

The show opened with Carmella facing Peyton Royce. Carmella’s entrance music, with its early 2000s Lil Jon vibe, lacked the energy she typically commanded alongside Enzo Amore and Big Cass. Without her charismatic partners, the crowd wasn’t fully behind her.

The match was a back-and-forth affair, showcasing mat wrestling, quick pin attempts, and trading control. Carmella secured the win with a leg scissors choke, forcing Royce to tap after just over five minutes. It felt a little drawn out, especially considering Royce, despite her obvious talent, didn’t even get a proper introduction. It was evident that, at this stage, Carmella truly relied on Enzo and Cass to ignite the audience.

The Rise of the “Total Diva”: Dana Brooke’s Declaration

A fiery backstage segment showcased Dana Brooke, fuming over Bayley’s NXT Women’s Championship win, especially since Dana had defeated her before. Brooke declared her ambition to be recognized as the best, dismissing those who thought she’d just use her looks to get to the top. She emphasized turning down physique championships for NXT, demonstrating a serious commitment to winning. After a classic heel head-pat, her intentions were clear.

Brooke later faced Billie Kay, one of three talented Australian women in NXT at the time (alongside Emma and Peyton Royce). Dana immediately asserted her dominance, delivering condescending head pats and trash talk. The match highlighted Brooke’s improving ring work and strong character:

• She showcased her physical style, mounting Kay, delivering punches, and striking poses.
• Her signature handstand into an elbow drop was on display.
• Billie, however, impressed with a cool head scissors takedown, countering Brooke’s powerbomb in a fluid sequence, and landing a big boot.
• Ultimately, Dana secured the win with her fireman’s carry into a sit-out slam.

Dana Brooke was visibly building something special back then – a strong character, improving in-ring work, the look, and a standout persona that commanded attention.

Emerging Faces: Glimpses of Greatness

Beyond the major matches, short segments teased the arrival and development of other significant talents.

Apollo Crews, in a typically humble interview, spoke of his success as belonging to the “Apollo Nation.” A quick video package also highlighted the “Perfect 10” Tye Dillinger, whose popular gimmick was just beginning to take hold.

Main Event Disappointment? Balor & Joe vs. Lucha Dragons

The main event of the evening – Finn Balor & Samoa Joe vs. The Lucha Dragons in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic was, by many accounts, a major disappointment in its presentation, despite the incredible talent involved.

It inexplicably felt like a “SmackDown dark match,” complete with the unusual commentary pairing of Tom Philips and Jimmy Uso. Balor even had a random jacket added to his attire, which only added to the bizarre atmosphere. Despite these oddities, a good portion of the audience recognized the star power of Balor and Joe.

However, once the bell rang, the match itself delivered in spades:

• It began with a respectful handshake between Balor and Sin Cara, quickly escalating into intense mat wrestling and trading holds.
• Balor’s athleticism shone, with a dropkick, Slingblade, Enziguiri, and a stunning flip dive over the top rope to take out both luchadores.
• Joe entered like a wrecking ball, dismantling Sin Cara with his trademark flurry of fists, big boots, and sentons.
• The Lucha Dragons showcased their incredible teamwork with a truly gorgeous move: Sin Cara monkey-flipped Kalisto into a 450 splash on Balor for a super close nearfall.
• The final few minutes were absolute fire, featuring a blind tag into a reverse rana on Joe (an incredible sight for someone of his size), a Joe Uranage, and finally, Joe’s Musclebuster leading directly into Balor’s Coup De Grace for the win after eight and a half minutes.

Despite the strange setting, those last few minutes were exactly what you’d expect from these four highly talented individuals. It’s a real shame this wasn’t a 15-minute rematch at Full Sail with the full, roaring crowd.

Ten Years On: A Legacy Forged

Looking back, this particular NXT episode was a pivotal moment. It candidly captured a brand in a rebuilding phase, actively crafting its next generation of main eventers while navigating the departure of its previous stars.

The seeds of future greatness were undeniably planted that night. We saw the hesitant first steps of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, the clear potential of Dana Brooke, the imposing presence of Nia Jax, and the quiet arrival of Asuka. Even if the main event felt relegated to a dark match, the in-ring action from Balor, Joe, and the Lucha Dragons was a testament to the talent NXT consistently attracted.

It’s fascinating to see how far these stars have come since then, their early struggles and triumphs shaping the legends they are today. And yes, for the record, ten years later, no one wanted a Breeze-Dempsey feud. No one.