The show currently airs live on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on The CW in the United States, and in most international markets on Netflix.

In June 2012, WWE ended the seasonal competition format and opted to revamp the show as a developmental wrestling program, replacing FCW.

It then aired as an hourly webcast on WWE.com in the United States until June 13, 2012, before it was expanded to international markets on the WWE Network in 2014.

[6] On February 2, 2010, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon introduced a new weekly program that would replace the canceled ECW in its time slot on Syfy.

Both parties ultimately reached an agreement that resulted in SWA releasing the "NXT" trademark in favor of a new one before the show's debut.

[9][10] The show's format was revealed in an article by Variety on February 16, with a press release from WWE made shortly later that day.

[11] Due to WWE's nature of airing weekly shows without hiatus, the plan for NXT was to split the year's set of episodes into multiple seasons.

Each episode featured the rookies being mentored by the pros as they develop their gimmick and performance skills in front of a live audience.

[14][15][16] Past non-physical challenges include making 30-second promos on a given topic and selling programme within a time limit.

[17][18] During the first two seasons, the winner of the weekly challenge receives a special prize such as a main event match, a talk show segment or a feature on WWE's official website.

[39] Starting in 2012, the all-rookie competition was abandoned with the show now featuring past and present rookies alongside lower cardmembers of the main WWE roster.

William Regal would also take over as the authority figure and match coordinator, with Matt Striker being retained as the show's host.

These events would be aired under the NXT TakeOver banner from May 2014 to 2021, and effectively serve as the brand's equivalent to the main roster's pay-per-view shows.

This started the Wednesday Night Wars,[49] during which NXT was broadcast in direct competition with rival wrestling show AEW Dynamite, which aired in the same time slot on TNT.

[51][52] Beginning with the March 18, 2020, episode of NXT, WWE began filming all of its programs without an audience at Full Sail University as a result of restrictions imposed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On October 4, 2020, NXT relocated from Full Sail to the WWE Performance Center's main studio, citing logistical issues preventing it from continuing its residency at the university.

[58][59][60] After twelve NXT wrestlers were released from their contracts that August, Dave Scherer and Mike Johnson of Pro Wrestling Insider reported there had been internal talks of major changes to the brand, such as: "a new logo, new lighting, a focus on younger talents and a different format to the TV shows.

"[61] Dave Meltzer reported that, after having lost the ratings war with AEW, NXT will likely go back to their developmental roots, with "talent that are younger, bigger and that could someday main event at WrestleMania.

Wrestlers are portrayed as heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match.

The primary commentators for NXT are Vic Joseph, Corey Graves and Booker T. Additional commentary has been provided by Michael Cole, Jim Ross, Tony Dawson, Tom Phillips, Rich Brennan, Mauro Ranallo and others since its creation.

Upon its reboot and arrival at Full Sail University, "Welcome Home" by Coheed and Cambria was used from the show's relaunch on June 20, 2012, to February 24, 2014, but it retains the yellow ropes and used the black mat.

"Roar of the Crowd" by CFO$ served as the official theme song for NXT since its arrival to the WWE Network from (February 27, 2014) to April 5, 2017.

Select archived episodes are available for streaming on Netflix under the title NXT Vault, with live broadcasts beginning on January 7.

[86] In the Arab world, NXT episodes are added on Shahid streaming platform a day after the live broadcast on The CW.