Booker T’s Brutal NXT Take on Josh Briggs Exposes a Creative Decision That’s Aging Worse by the Week
What started as one of NXT’s most organic success stories has quietly turned into a cautionary tale—and Booker T’s recent comments brought that reality into sharp focus.
During the NXT 2.0 era, Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen, and Fallon Henley quickly connected with fans as a grounded, blue-collar trio. Their barroom vignettes felt authentic, their chemistry was undeniable, and the momentum followed. Briggs and Jensen went on to become the final NXT UK Tag Team Champions, while Henley later thrived in both singles and tag team competition, eventually finding her footing as a core member of Fatal Influence.
Then came the split at the end of 2023—and that’s where things began to unravel.
Booker T Says the Quiet Part Out Loud
On the January 20, 2026 episode of NXT, Booker T delivered commentary that stunned viewers. As Josh Briggs made his entrance for a match he would ultimately lose, Booker referenced post-WrestleMania cuts and emphasized how “important” the match was. To many fans, it sounded less like hype and more like a grim prediction.
The moment hit harder because of context. Briggs has barely been featured on NXT television for months. His brief tag run with Yoshiki Inamura ended badly last summer, and since then, meaningful opportunities have been scarce. Jensen hasn’t fared much better—after a short-lived run with the Culling, he was quietly shifted to Evolve.
Booker’s words felt harsh, but they also felt uncomfortably honest.
From Hot Act to Afterthoughts
When tag teams split, the gamble is always the same: breakout singles stars or creative limbo. In NXT, the former has worked wonders for talents like Trick Williams, Oba Femi, Ethan Page, and Ricky Saints. For Briggs and Jensen, however, the opposite happened.
Looking back, the timing of their split raises serious questions. NXT flooded the brand with new singles talent shortly after breaking up a team that was already over with fans. The result? Two wrestlers who once felt essential now feel expendable.
What makes it worse is the lack of a course correction. After Briggs’ issues with Inamura and Jensen’s rejection from the Culling, a reunion felt logical—even necessary. Instead, both men have been relegated to losing qualifiers and low-visibility appearances.
Too Harsh—or Just the Truth?
Critics will argue Booker T crossed a line on commentary. But others see his remarks as a reflection of what fans have been thinking for months. Since the breakup, Briggs hasn’t been positioned as a serious threat, despite clear upside. Jensen’s stop-start booking hasn’t helped either.
The most frustrating part is that there was a moment to fix it. When Briggs beat Inamura, NXT had a chance to rebuild him. When Jensen joined a faction, there was hope for momentum. Neither direction stuck.
At this point, Booker T’s comments don’t just criticize Josh Briggs—they highlight a larger creative failure. Ignoring a tag team reunion that could instantly raise both men’s stock feels less like patience and more like neglect.
Whether Booker was right or wrong in how he said it, one thing is clear: NXT’s handling of Briggs and Jensen after their split may go down as one of the brand’s most avoidable missteps.
