An Ode to the WWE PC
At this time now WWE is in the midst of something they have never seen before. The coronavirus pandemic is spreading fear across the world and everyone is trying to find a way to stay calm during such a difficult time. Most of the sports federations and leagues have decided to cancel or suspend their seasons due to this in order to protect their players, coaches, etc. But then WWE does the unthinkable, they continued on. WWE became the epitome of the phrase, the show must go one; and it is all because of a small investment in Orlando, Florida. That small investment is known as the WWE Performance Center, or WWE PC for short.
But even before the WWE PC, the idea began with Ohio Valley Wrestling. Long before the Performance Center was even a thought OVW was the birthplace of future WWE stars during the Ruthless Aggression era. Superstars like Batista, Brock Lesnar, and even John Cena came from OVW. At OVW these future superstars were able to train and hone in on their performance skills for both in and out the ring. These wrestlers were given a small platform that would slowly build something that can be put in front of thousands and garner a response from fans. But as soon as the group of John Cena and company left OVW, OVW began to decline in both talent and developmental. As soon as WWE began to notice the decline in success from OVW they immediately pulled the plug on them and looked for superstars elsewhere.
For a while, WWE would sign guys from independent promotions or other successful promotions to come in and join the company. A lot of these guys went through a new developmental promotion called Florida Championship Wrestling, FCW was the next step in evolving the developmental brand and build the future of WWE. But there was one simple problem, these guys didn’t make it. A lot of them would flounder when they made it up to the main roster and as quickly as WWE joined with FCW they terminated it, except for the last FCW class. This class was special, Triple H and Dusty Rhodes were the first to see it and then they came up with an idea. These new “kids” need a place to train and develop, they needed a new OVW.
This new OVW came to be known as NXT. NXT's first years out were spent with that class in the old FCW arena. Except WWE had a plan in their back pocket. They decided to invest in a 26,000 square foot facility in Orlando that would become their next step in perfecting the developmental program. In 2013, the Performance Center opened its doors. This state of the art training facility is now home to the next installment of superstars, with seven training rings, a strength and conditioning center, production suites, and an on-site medical facility the future was bright for these “kids.”
Every day the superstars gather and begin their daily workouts and in-ring training at the Performance Center. Each day they get better and better and then go out and perform for thousands at NXT. A lot of these guys are some of the greatest talents to come through WWE and are now being billed as the future of WWE as those from the Ruthless Aggression era were. What’s even the best part of the WWE PC was that anyone could walk in that is a current WWE main eventer and practice with them, learn from them so that you can use that when you get your chance.
The WWE PC is now being even used for more than just training the future of WWE. It is now the headlining arena of all Smackdown, Raw, and NXT going forward. Even being hailed as the arena to hold both TakeOver and WrestleMania this year. This “small” training facility is saving the WWE months of storylines that can now culminate at the showcase of the immortals.
Though the WWE PC hasn’t been around for a long time in terms of WWE’s lasting legacy its impact on the wrestling landscape has been felt immensely. Up to this point, WWE’s investment has paid off and even though at some point this will probably come and go once the next era comes along. But for a lot of fans today it will be the birthplace of their era, their superstars. And I for one can’t wait for that era to begin.
