WWE NXT Level Up
{{Short description|Professional wrestling streaming television series}}
{{Infobox television
| image = NXT LEVEL UP LOGO.png
| creator = Vince McMahon
| producer =
| executive_producer = Paul "Triple H" Levesque
Lee Fitting
| presenter =
| composer =
| writer =
| opentheme = "Level Up" by def rebel
(from WWE Music Group)
| country = United States
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes = {{#expr:124 + {{age in weeks|June 28, 2024}}}}
| camera = Multicamera setup
| runtime = 30–60 minutes
| network = Peacock (US)
WWE Network (International)
| first_aired = {{Start date|2022|02|18}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2024|12|27}}
| related = {{Plainlist|
}}
}}
WWE NXT Level Up, also known as NXT Level Up (stylized as NXT LVL UP), is an American professional wrestling streaming television program that was produced by the American promotion WWE, running from February 18, 2022, to December 27, 2024. The program featured younger and lower-card performers from the promotion's NXT brand division with matches taped either before or after the preceding episode of NXT. Episodes were uploaded on Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network internationally.
The show premiered on February 18, 2022, as a replacement for 205 Live, and it went head-to-head with rival promotion All Elite Wrestling's program, Rampage. The show was canceled, airing its final broadcast on December 27, 2024, and it will be doubly replaced by WWE LFG and WWE Evolve.
History
In October 2019, WWE's 205 Live brand merged under the NXT brand with the 205 Live streaming television show becoming a supplementary show of NXT.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/triple-h-interview-nxt-usa-move-live-takeover-1458604|title=TRIPLE H DISCUSSES NXT'S MOVE TO USA AND THE BRAND'S CONTINUED EVOLUTION|date=September 10, 2019|last=Martinez|first=Phillip|work=Newsweek|access-date=September 12, 2019|archive-date=October 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022033149/https://www.newsweek.com/triple-h-interview-nxt-usa-move-live-takeover-1458604|url-status=live}} On February 15, 2022, WWE announced that 205 Live would be replaced by a new show called NXT Level Up, which would stream in 205 Live{{'}}s former Friday night slot at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network internationally, airing directly after SmackDown.{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxt-level-up/article/nxt-level-up-takes-over-friday-nights|title=NXT Level Up ushers in a new era on Friday nights|author=WWE Staff|date=February 15, 2022|work=WWE|access-date=February 19, 2022|archive-date=April 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402212145/https://www.wwe.com/amp/shows/nxt-level-up/article/nxt-level-up-takes-over-friday-nights|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=155853|title=SAY GOODBYE TO 205 LIVE, NEW NXT SERIES TO BEGIN TAPING TONIGHT|author=Johnson, Mike|date=February 15, 2022|accessdate=February 15, 2022|work=PWInsider|archive-date=April 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430092006/https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=155853|url-status=live}} The show premiered on February 18, 2022. The commentators for the show were Blake Howard and Byron Saxton, and the ring announcer was Sarah Schreiber.{{cite web|url= https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2022/02/wwe-nxt-lvl-up-photos-and-notes-from-inaugural-tapings-quinn-mckay-signs-with-wwe/|title= WWE NXT Level Up Photos And Notes From Inaugural Tapings, Quinn McKay Signs With WWE|date= 16 February 2022|publisher= Wrestling Inc.|accessdate= February 18, 2022|archive-date= April 2, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220402054105/https://amp.wrestlinginc.com/news/2022/02/wwe-nxt-lvl-up-photos-and-notes-from-inaugural-tapings-quinn-mckay-signs-with-wwe/|url-status= live}}{{Better source needed|date=August 2023}} In the main event of the inaugural episode, Edris Enofé defeated Kushida.{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxt-level-up/nxt-level-up-feb-18-2022|title=NXT Level Up: February 18, 2022|publisher=WWE|accessdate=February 19, 2022|archive-date=March 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325073949/https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxt-level-up/nxt-level-up-feb-18-2022|url-status=live}}
After SmackDown LowDown started airing live after SmackDown with the subsequent show moving to the USA Network in September 2024, NXT Level Up aired after SmackDown LowDown at 10:40 p.m. ET.
On December 20, 2024, it was reported that NXT Level Up was being canceled (with its final episode airing on December 27, 2024), in order to allow NXT resources to be reallocated to WWE's upcoming A&E reality series WWE LFG (which features up and coming wrestlers training for an NXT contract while being mentored by WWE Hall of Fame talent).{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=December 6, 2024 |title=A&E, WWE Expand Partnership With Competition Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/wwe-competition-series-lfg-ae-1236079518/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Mike |date=December 21, 2024 |title=WWE NXT LEVEL UP ENDING, WHAT WILL REPLACE IT |url=https://pwinsider.com/article/191218/wwe-nxt-level-up-ending-what-will-replace-it.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228141324/https://pwinsider.com/article/191218/wwe-nxt-level-up-ending-what-will-replace-it.html |archive-date=December 28, 2024 |access-date=December 28, 2024 |website=Pro Wrestling Insider}} NXT Level Up would be succeeded in concept by WWE Evolve, a new in-ring show and brand introduced in March 2025 that features developmental talent from the WWE Performance Center and WWE ID system.{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Joseph |date=February 3, 2025 |title=WWE Announces More Details For EVOLVE Series on Tubi |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/wwe-more-details-evolve-tubi/ |access-date=February 3, 2025 |work=411Mania}}
Episodes
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 46 | February 18, 2022 | December 30, 2022 |
| 2 | 52 | January 6, 2023 | December 29, 2023 |
| 3 | 52 | January 5, 2024 | December 27, 2024 |
Special episodes
- Series premiere – February 18, 2022: The first episode of NXT Level Up.
- Series finale – December 27, 2024: The final episode of NXT Level Up.
During 2023's Thanksgiving weekend and New Year holidays, clip shows aired in their place. These were hosted by Blake Howard.
- November 24, 2023: Featured Eddy Thorpe vs. Dante Chen from February 17, 2023, Ivy Nile vs. Lola Vice from April 28, 2023, Wendy Choo vs. Kelani Jordan from May 12, 2023, and Axiom vs. Tavion Heights from July 14, 2023.
- December 29, 2023: The final episode of 2023. Featured Sol Ruca and Dani Palmer vs. Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson from April 7, 2023, Nathan Frazer vs. Tavion Heights from June 9, 2023, Jacy Jayne vs. Karmen Petrovic from August 18, 2023, and two instalments of Axiom vs. Riley Osborne from October 13 and October 27, 2023, respectively.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxt-level-up}}
- {{IMDb title|18259734}}
{{WWE}}
{{Professional wrestling in the United States}}
Category:2022 American television series debuts
Category:2022 web series debuts
Category:2024 American television series endings
Category:2024 web series endings