WWE NXT Level Up, also known as NXT Level Up (stylized as NXT LVL UP), is an American professional wrestling streaming television program. It is produced by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE, featuring performers from the promotion's NXT brand division. Episodes are uploaded on Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network internationally. The program features matches taped either before or after the preceding episode of NXT. The show premiered on February 18, 2022, as a replacement for 205 Live, and it goes head-to-head with AEW Rampage.
| WWE NXT Level Up | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Vince McMahon |
| Presented by |
|
| Starring | NXT roster |
| Opening theme | "Level Up" by def rebel (from WWE Music Group) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 144 |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multicamera setup |
| Running time | 30–60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | Peacock (US) WWE Network (international) |
| Release | February 18, 2022 – present |
| Related | |
History
editIn 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.[1] 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 pm Eastern Time on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network in international markets.[2][3] The show premiered on February 18, 2022. The commentators for the show are Blake Chadwick (using the ring name "Blake Howard") and Byron Saxton, and the ring announcer is Sarah Schreiber.[4][better source needed] In the main event of the inaugural episode, Edris Enofé defeated Kushida.[5]
After SmackDown LowDown started airing live after SmackDown with the subsequent show moving to the USA Network, NXT Level Up premieres after SmackDown LowDown airs at 10:40 PM Eastern Time.
Broadcast history
edit| Channel | Timeslot | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Peacock/WWE Network | Friday 10 p.m. ET | February 18, 2022 – September 6, 2024 |
| Peacock/WWE Network | Friday 10:40 p.m. ET | September 13, 2024 – present |
Episodes
edit| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 46 | February 18, 2022 | December 30, 2022 |
| 2 | 52 | January 6, 2023 | December 29, 2023 |
| 3 | 35 | January 5, 2024 | present |
Special episodes
edit- Series premiere - February 18, 2022: The first episode of NXT Level Up.
In some cases, like holidays, when matches have not been able to be taped, special episodes air in their place. These are clip shows hosted by Blake Howard. So far, there have only been two special studio shows:
- Thanksgiving weekend - November 24, 2023: Featured Eddy Thorpe vs. Dante Chen (February 17, 2023), Ivy Nile vs. Lola Vice (April 28, 2023), Wendy Choo vs. Kelani Jordan (May 12, 2023), and Axiom vs. Tavion Heights (July 14, 2023).
- New Year - December 29, 2023: The final episode of 2023. It featured Sol Ruca & Dani Palmer vs. Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson (April 7, 2023), Nathan Frazer vs. Tavion Heights (June 9, 2023), Jacy Jayne vs. Karmen Petrovic (August 18, 2023), and two instalments of Axiom vs. Riley Osborne (from October 13, 2023 and October 27, 2023).
References
edit- ^ Martinez, Phillip (September 10, 2019). "TRIPLE H DISCUSSES NXT'S MOVE TO USA AND THE BRAND'S CONTINUED EVOLUTION". Newsweek. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
- ^ WWE Staff (February 15, 2022). "NXT Level Up ushers in a new era on Friday nights". WWE. Archived from the original on April 2, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (February 15, 2022). "SAY GOODBYE TO 205 LIVE, NEW NXT SERIES TO BEGIN TAPING TONIGHT". PWInsider. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ "WWE NXT Level Up Photos And Notes From Inaugural Tapings, Quinn McKay Signs With WWE". Wrestling Inc. 16 February 2022. Archived from the original on April 2, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- ^ "NXT Level Up: February 18, 2022". WWE. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2022.