by Greg Parks, Torch Columnist

WWE NXT Report
February 23, 2010
Taped earlier tonight in Milwaukee, Wisc.
Aired on SyFy


- WWE Open.

- What I can only assume is the NXT Open aired. It spotlighted each rookie while the music that has been in the commercial played.

- They went backstage where each rookie was dressed in their gimmick and lined up in a row. The Miz walked into the picture and eyed each one of them before stopping at Daniel Bryan. Man, he's short even compared to Miz. Miz talked to the camera and listed his credentials, saying he was the trainer for Daniel Bryan. Bryan stepped up and Miz called him an "Internet darling" who has made his name in the minor-leagues, on the independents. Miz told him to expect anything, so he told Bryan to go to the ring and cut a promo (not in those words) and tell the people why they should watch him. He said Bryan could go to the ring to his music and not to forget a catchphrase. Bryan walked away and Miz's music played. Miz talked to the camera, and said that Bryan's personality is as dry as the Mojave. He said if Bryan doesn't show personality, he's going to slap some personality into him.

- In the arena, as Bryan came to the ring, Michael Cole (NOOO!) opened the show alongside Josh Mathews. Mathews threw it to their "host," Matt Striker, who was backstage. Striker said he jumped at the opportunity to host NXT. He said he'd be getting reactions from Miz and Bryan after the segment.

- Bryan was in the ring, and was introduced by ring announcer Savannah. Bryan thanked the crowd for the reception he was given, and they booed at his mention of The Miz. Bryan said, to his fans, he wants to say "I'm sorry," because he wished his pro was William Regal. Bryan then introduced himself and said he's been wrestling all over the world for 10 years. Bryan talked about NXT being the Next Evolution of WWE, but before he could get anymore out, Miz's music interrupted and he walked out.

Miz said he could tell this is going to be a lot of fun. He mocked Bryan for telling everyone "I'm sorry." Bryan told Miz to watch what he says, or he'll submit him right now. That's some wording you don't hear in WWE. Bryan said he thought he'd get on a reality show, grow a faux-hawk and embarrass himself on TV, but that was taken. Miz told Bryan to get a catchphrase like him. Bryan said if they were ever to step in the ring, he'd have two options: tap, or snap. The crowd "oooh'd" at that, and Miz asked for their opinion on that catchphrase and their overall impression of Bryan. Miz said Bryan doesn't deserve to be in the same ring as him, and Bryan failed. Then Miz slapped him and walked out of the ring. As he walked to the back, Bryan was steaming in the ring. It was rocky at first for Bryan, but overall, a good segment that got him over as a babyface. They showed a replay of what just happened to end the segment. Bryan promised Miz that there will be a time where he slaps Miz back. Still not sure what the format is going to be here yet.

[Commercial Break]

- Mathews thanked American Bang for "Wild and Young," official NXT theme.

- They showed Striker talking to Bryan during the break. Striker categorized him at being "completely embarrassed" by being slapped. Bryan reiterated that he'll get his chance to slap Miz back, and do it harder. Bryan said he's been in the business twice as long as Miz when Striker questioned him about respect. He said Bryan will have to listen to the Miz if he wants to a be a star. Cole said that what Bryan doesn't know is that he'll face Chris Jericho later on in the show.

- Carlito walked out with his rookie, Michael Tarver. Carlito had a mic and said with his mentoring, Tarver will become the next breakout superstar. Then they showed a video package on Tarver. He talked about being able to knock someone out in 1.9 seconds and how his father was a sparing partner of Mike Tyson. They showed clips of him in Florida Championship Wrestling. He said he has ability that the world needs to see. He warned the other rookies to bring their A-game.

- Savannah announced Carlito and Tarver in a tag match. Their opponents, Christian and Heath Slater, walked out. We got a profile on Slater, who professed himself to be cocky at times. He said he's only ever wanted to be a WWE Superstar. He said he'd blow our minds.

1 - CARLITO & MICHAEL TARVER vs. CHRISTIAN & HEATH SLATER

We've had a few different camera angles than in any other WWE show as well. Slater went for a quick roll-up on Carlito. The hard camera felt like it was closer up on the ring, perhaps to encourage the rookies to be tight with their moves. Slater with a deep arm-drag on Tarver. Tarver choked Slater on the ropes, allowing Carlito to get a cheap shot kick in. The announcers basically gave more background on the characters during the match. Carlito back in with a reverse chin-lock. Tag in again to Tarver. He worked the back and neck area of Slater. Scoop slam by Slater, but he couldn't make a cover. Both men made tags and the two wrestlers who faced off last night for a MITB spot went at it. Missile dropkick by Christian for two. Killswitch countered, but Carlito took back over by whipping Christian into the corner. Tarver tagged in and he whipped Carlito into Christian. Christian caught him with a boot and Slater helped Christian out. Killswitch on Tarver and it's over.

WINNERS: Christian and Slater, at 4:25. Fine match that gives some rub to the younger guys. The crowd was understandably quiet though.

- CM Punk and the Straight Edge Society were backstage listening to Darren Young talk excitedly - we couldn't hear what he was saying as the announcers were talking over Young, but all three members of the Society were hilariously frowning and staring a hole through Young as if he just told an insulting joke.

- Meanwhile, David Otunga was getting advice from his pro, R-Truth, before Otunga and Young lock up next.

[Commercial Break]

- Darren Young and the Society came out. Young didn't know whether or not to join in on the Society's posing on the ramp. This is gold, Jerry! There was an inset interview with Punk who said he has no idea why he's on this show as a mentor, and said if Young wants to get mentored, he should join the Straight Edge Society. Before Otunga came out, they aired a video on him. He seemed very confident in his looks and they brought up his background with Jennifer Hudson and his time at Harvard.

2 - DARREN YOUNG vs. DAVID OTUNGA

Truth has not taught Otunga the finer points of rapping yet I guess, as Truth did the singing himself. Maybe that's week two of the training. Young caught Otunga with a back-elbow for two. Otunga then connected on one of his own. Sloppy Ron Simmons-like spinebuster....and that ended it.

WINNER: Otunga, at :41.

The Society walked out on Young as soon as the three-count was registered.

- They showed what happened between Miz and Daniel Bryan earlier tonight. Tonight, Bryan faces Chris Jericho in the main event.

[Commercial Breaks]

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- The announcers talked about the WWE Title being on the line at Wrestlemania between Batista and John Cena.

- Chris Jericho and Wade Barrett, Jericho's rookie, came to the ring for the main event. It's next.

[Commercial Break]

- Next week, Matt Hardy and Justin Gabriel will be on the show.

- Jericho was in the ring and said he didn't want "her" (Savannah) to introduce him. He told Barrett to give him the introduction he deserves. Barrett introduced himself as Britain's #1 bare-knuckle boxer. He said it was an honor to be paired with someone like Chris Jericho. Barrett did some more sucking up before Jericho grabbed the mic and told him to just introduce him. Barrett did so. Too bad Michael Cole isn't the "pro" for a rookie that sits at ringside with him. That could be fun. Maybe Byron Saxton could fit that bill.

Miz came out and Daniel Bryan hopped right by him (bumping into him. and skipped to the ring, leaving Miz on the ramp. Miz walked down himself after Bryan made it to the ring. Apparently, the match is next. Talk about an unnecessary break.

[Commercial Break]

3 - CHRIS JERICHO vs. DANIEL BRYAN

As Jericho and Bryan went toe-to-toe, I'm wondering if they chose him to face Jericho tonight so he didn't look TOO short. The two exchanged slaps and he dropkicked Jericho. Jericho with a right hand, then a dropkick of his own. More kicks from Jericho. Snap-mare by Jericho, as he was still smarting from the slap. Crowd got into Bryan when he was in a rest-hold. Roll-up from Bryan for two, but an enziguiri put him back down. Jericho paint-brushed the back of Bryan's head. Barrett was interviewed at ringside by Striker. "Jericho is quality" said Barrett. Jericho missed a shoulder dive in the corner, catching ring post instead. Dragon-screw leg-whip attempt by Bryan, but Jericho just fell straight down rather than whip himself. Moonsault, but Bryan landed on his feet. Cole went on a rant about the Internet, saying Mathews is buying into the tweets and the dirt sheets about Bryan. Bryan dove through the ropes onto Jericho, but Jericho caught him and twisted him HARD into the side of the announce table. That was BRUTAL, folks. Bryan already had a huge red welt on his side. Springboard, but Jericho caught him and tried a Walls. Bryan countered with a leg lock of sorts. Jericho got to the ropes, however. Bryan then walked into a Codebreaker out of nowhere. All of the rookies were shown watching on the monitor backstage. Full-on Walls of Jericho was locked in (a legit one, not the Boston Crab variant) and Bryan immediately tapped.

WINNER: Jericho, at 5:55. Good match while it lasted, with some fun spots.

Miz came into the ring to do some "mentoring," which amounted to him pummeling his rookie with right hands. Miz yelled at Bryan about embarrassing him and disrespecting him. During replays, Cole was really coming off as a heel talking about Bryan's personality amounting to "watching paint dry."

- Striker was backstage with the other rookies. Striker said they are the future and this is NXT.

- The show closed with a video package on the first episode.

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