Okay, so today I’m gonna walk you through how I put together a NXT match card. It was a bit of a process, lots of trial and error, but hey, that’s how you learn, right?
First off, the planning stage. I started by brainstorming. I mean, what feuds are hot? Who needs a push? Who’s been MIA and needs to come back with a bang? I literally just scribbled names and match ideas on a notepad. Real old-school stuff. I considered current storylines, potential matchups, and who I wanted to see shine. This part’s crucial because a weak card can kill the whole show’s momentum.
Then, I actually started slotting wrestlers into matches. I’d be like, “Okay, Melo is feuding with Ilja, so that’s gotta be a banger main event.” Next, I thought about the mid-card. What rising stars can get a good win? Maybe a tag team title defense to keep the tag division relevant. I tried to balance it out – you don’t want all heavy hitters at the top; spread the love around.
Next up, the match types. No one wants to see the same old match every single time. So, I threw in a Steel Cage match for a heated rivalry, maybe a ladder match if there are titles on the line, a No DQ match to settle a grudge, or even a good old-fashioned singles match. Variety is key, people!
Building the story. Once the matches were set, I thought about the narrative. How can I make these matches more than just a contest? Are there pre-existing storylines to build upon? Can I introduce a new wrinkle or a twist to keep things interesting? This is where promo packages, backstage segments, and in-ring confrontations come into play. Gotta sell the drama, you know?
The Booking Order. This is where you consider the flow of the show. You don’t want to start with your biggest match, usually. Build up to it. I usually started with a solid opener to get the crowd hyped, then sprinkled in some mid-card matches to keep things moving, and saved the heavy hitters for the later half of the show. And you definitely want a good semi-main event to transition to your main event.
Adding surprises and swerves. Nobody likes a predictable show. So, I always tried to throw in a surprise or two. A heel turn, a shocking debut, a unexpected win… something to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. I used to like the “run-in” interference spots, but they’re overdone these days, so I try to think outside the box.
Finally, the execution. This is where I would watch the show (hypothetically, of course, since I’m just booking in my head!), seeing how the crowd reacts, and making mental notes of what worked and what didn’t. I’d think about what I’d change next time, and how I can improve the card overall.
It’s a lot of work, but honestly, it’s super fun. You get to play fantasy booker and create the kind of show you want to see. And who knows, maybe one day, I’ll actually get to book a real show. That’s the dream!
- Brainstormed potential matches
- Slotted wrestlers into different matches
- Decided on match types (Steel Cage, Ladder Match, etc.)
- Created storylines to build hype
- Determined the booking order
All in all, it was a blast. Hopefully, this helps you out if you’re ever trying to book your own NXT show!
