Matt Striker On Hosting Original Game Show Format Of WWE NXT: It Really Helped For My Eye To See ‘That One’s Going To Be A Star’

Matt Striker reflects on hosting the original version of WWE NXT, when it was a game show as well as a wrestling show within WWE.

When the WWE NXT brand first became known in WWE in 2010, it began as a game show as well as an introduction for developmental talent within WWE. For several years while the show remained a game show, Striker would serve as the host of the program.

While speaking to MuscleManMalcolm in a new interview, Matt Striker reflected on working on WWE NXT while it was still a game show.

“Well, it came from the top. The idea came from the executive producer as well as the Chairman. So when they entrust their creative idea to you, it’s a feather in your cap, and I just- I had such a great opportunity to work with so many up and coming stars, and it really helped for my eye to see that one’s going to be a star. That one’s going to be a star, and when I look at this PWE roster, there are quite a few that remind me that the future of wrestling is bright. So it was a great opportunity for me.”

Striker continued, explaining what it was like to have an eye on talent such as Bryan Danielson before he broke out as a WWE superstar.

“It was good for me because my career started grassroots. I’m an indie guy before anything, so to see a lot of my friends and colleagues that I knew on the independent scene getting an opportunity under those bright lights, it just kind of reinforced for me- and I know this is cliche, but if you have a dream, and there are so many people out there that are going to tell you, ‘you’ll never make it, you’re too small, you’re too this, you’re too that…’ No, because opportunity is yours for the taking. So it really, again, just reinforced for me that dreams do come true, and I think that’s something people need to hear every single day.”

NXT is a much different brand in today’s era of WWE, as most fans are well aware of. You can check out what is currently announced for this upcoming Tuesday’s WWE NXT here.

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