NXT Champion Bron Breakker has commented publicly on his polarising entrance at New Year’s Evil that saw him symbolically smash a big gold ‘X’ representing the black and gold era of NXT.
At NXT New Year’s Evil on January 4th, 2022, Bron Breakker did what many expected him to do after he debuted on the revamped NXT 2.0 in September and finally became NXT Champion. In a hard-hitting match with Tommaso Ciampa, Breakker withstood a Fairtytale Ending before locking Ciampa in the Steiner Recliner for the submission victory.
Afterwards, Breakker celebrated with his father and former WWF Tag Team Champion Rick Steiner to the delight of the fans inside the Capitol Wrestling Center.
But the victory and celebration wasn’t the only thing to get people talking as Breakker’s entrance also caused something of a stir. On his to the ring, Bron Breakker smashed a giant gold ‘X’ in half, the ‘X’ symbolised the black and gold era of NXT that is now well and truly over given Breakker’s victory.
Now Bron Breakker has addressed his controversial entrance while speaking to Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports. For Breakker, he doesn’t believe it was a death knell for the black and gold brand and says Tommaso Ciampa and others from the black and gold days will still be around:
“I don’t think it’s a nail in the coffin or anything like that. We’re just shifting from black and gold to 2.0. Tommaso [Ciampa] is going to be around. I’m sure that he and I will cross paths again. That will happen at some point in time whether it’s now or later. It’s going to happen again. I’m looking forward to it. It’s just a shift. Those guys are going to be here. I’m fully aware that they’re here. It ain’t going anywhere.”
The shift from the black and gold era looks to be complete behind the scenes as well as WWE made some surprising releases from the company including William Regal and former NXT Champion Samoa Joe.