Imagine a wrestling world turned upside down overnight. That’s exactly what happened in 2021 when NXT, WWE’s beloved black-and-gold brand, transformed into NXT 2.0. But here’s where it gets controversial—was this bold rebrand a fresh start or a risky gamble? Jacy Jayne, the current NXT Women’s Champion, recently spilled the beans on what it was like to be at the epicenter of this seismic shift during her interview with The Takedown on SI.
From 2015 to 2020, NXT’s black-and-gold era was the gold standard of wrestling. Its TakeOver events consistently outshone main roster shows, and its roster was a who’s who of indie wrestling’s brightest stars. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the brand’s momentum stalled. By September 2021, NXT was unrecognizable—new colors, new talent, and a vibrant, almost playful vibe replaced the gritty, serious tone fans had come to love. NXT 2.0 was born, and Jacy Jayne was one of its poster stars as part of the Toxic Attraction faction.
Jayne recalls the whirlwind nature of the change: ‘It was almost overnight. I was on TV for maybe two weeks before the switch. I didn’t really have a huge grasp on how things worked in the black-and-gold era because I was so new.’ For her, NXT 2.0 was a crash course in wrestling—not just in the ring, but in character development and storytelling. ‘It was different because you had people on TV who had just started wrestling, having their fifth or sixth match ever. That’s crazy,’ she added.
And this is the part most people miss—NXT 2.0 wasn’t just about new faces; it was about creating characters from scratch. While the black-and-gold era relied heavily on established indie stars, NXT 2.0 focused on raw talent with untold stories. Stars like Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, and Joe Gacy emerged during this period, proving that character development could be just as compelling as in-ring experience.
Jayne explains, ‘It was about creating new characters. Before, it was a lot of indie wrestlers putting on crazy matches. Now, it’s about people you might not know, but you’ll learn to love through their stories.’ The rebrand even extended to the arena itself, which was transformed into a colorful, almost carnival-like setting. Storylines became more playful, and the brand felt like a fresh canvas waiting to be painted.
But not everything was smooth sailing. Toxic Attraction, the faction that launched Jayne’s career, disbanded in December 2022 after Mandy Rose’s release. Jayne briefly teamed with Gigi Dolin before striking out as a singles competitor. Her hard work paid off in May 2023 when she captured the NXT Women’s Championship, defeating Stephanie Vaquer on NXT. She even held the TNA Knockouts Championship simultaneously, becoming a double champion for much of the summer.
This weekend, Jayne defends her NXT Women’s Championship against Tatum Paxley at Halloween Havoc, airing live on Peacock domestically and Netflix internationally from the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona. The card is stacked, with matches like Ricky Saints vs. Trick Williams for the NXT Championship and Zaria vs. Blake Monroe for the NXT Women’s North American Championship.
Here’s the controversial question: Was NXT 2.0 a necessary evolution or a betrayal of what made NXT great? Did the focus on character development sacrifice the in-ring excellence fans adored? Let us know in the comments—we want to hear your take!
For more wrestling news, check out the latest on WWE, AEW, and more. From Chris Jericho’s potential big-money offers to major changes in the Halloween Havoc card, the wrestling world never sleeps. Stay tuned!
