KELLER'S WWE NXT REPORT
MARCH 2, 2010
AIRED ON SYFY

-After the WWE NXT open, David Otunga's ring entrance began. They went to ringside with Josh Matthews & Michael Cole. After touting the unpredictable nature of the show, Matthews threw to Matt Striker backstage.

-Striker said he's very excited about this show's concept. He said the rookies have to impress the eight WWE Pros, but the Pros can't vote for against their own Rookie. Striker said some will fade into obscurity, while others will become the next breakout star. Let's hope wins and losses count for something, not just "impressing the Pros" with charisma and promo ability.

1 -- DAVID OTUNGA (w/R-Truth) vs. DARREN YOUNG (w/C.M. Punk, Luke Gallows, and Serena)

Cole and Matthews acknowledged that Young lost week and wanted this rematch. Matthews said Otunga just pops off the screen. Cole touted his fiance and said he got a ton of p.r. on gossip sites because of his relationship with Jennifer Hudson. After Young dropkicked Otunga off the ring apron, they cut to a break at 2:00. [c] Young applied a chinlock after the break. At 9:00 Otunga made a comeback and knocked Young to the floor with a shoulder tackle. Gallos got in Otunga's face. R-Truth got in Gallos's face. As Otunga bounced off the ropes, Punk yanked on his leg. That distraction gave Young the chance to hit his finisher for the win, a released full nelson overhead flapjack (?). Otunga shoved his Pro, R-Truth, afterward.

WINNER: Young in 10:00.

STAR RATING: (*) Acceptable action, but WWE house show mid-card type of action without anything overly dynamic out of either. But both also show potential.

[Q2]

-A video package aired on Daniel Bryan. He said he's called an NXT Rookie, but he's been wresting ten years all over the world. Clippings aired of him from around the world. He talked about being a submission specialist. He said he was trained by Shawn Michaels in 1999. He said he left high school the night he graduated to train with Michaels. He said outside the ring he's very laid back. He said the best things in life aren't the things you buy or own, but the time you spend with friends and family. He said his goal is headline WrestleMania. He said his first step is to win NXT, then move to another brand, then main event, then headline WrestleMania. He said nothing will stop him from achieving his dream.

-Cole at ringside said to Matthews, "Despite what you and your little Twitter geeks have to say, I still stand behind what I said about Daniel Bryan last week." He said he has to learn how to perform on the WWE level in front of millions of fans. Isn't Cole calling others geeks kind of like a french fry calling other food greasy? They showed a replay of Jericho catching Bryan last week diving at him at ringside and turning him into the table at ringside. They also showed Miz stomping on Bryan after last week's match.

-A trainer worked on Bryan's ribs backstage. Miz walked up to him and said last week he learned a valuable lesson. "That you are dirt, you are scum, you are nothing in WWE, and you will respect me as your mentor," he said. "Your next lesson is even when you have a boo boo, you still have to compete." He said he arranged for him to face Wade Barrett. He slapped him in his sore ribs. The trainer began to tape him up. Bryan took a deep breath. [c]

-WWE Fact: WWE NXT was watched by more people last Tuesday than any program on CW, TLC, A&E, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Spike TV, and TBS.

-Striker interviewed Otunga backstage. He complained about Punk interfering. R-Truth barged in and angrily said he won't him try to earn his name off of him. He told him he barked up the wrong tree and shoved him. They ended up in a scuffle on the ground with a referee bravely trying to break them up. Two other referees helped.

-Chris Jericho walked out and told the failures in the crowd to welcome his success story, Wade Barrett. A video package aired on the Manchester, England native. He said WWE is the place where he can make millions. He said people don't like that he's blunt, but he's not there to wow the fans, he wants to win that WWE contract. "I am the next WWE Superstar," he concluded.

2 -- WADE BARRETT (w/Chris Jericho) vs. DANIEL BRYAN

Bryan came out to Miz's music, Jericho joined in on commentary. Jericho asked everyone to admire the majesty of Barrett. Barrett went after Bryan's injury. They showed Miz and Carlito watching the match on a monitor backstage. Matthews reminded viewers that the Pros are always evaluating all of the rookies. Jericho took credit for setting up Barrett's win by hurting Daniel last week. Bryan slipped on a springboard move on the top rope, clutching his ribs after he landed. Barrett then gave Bryan his finisher for the win, a move where he rolls Bryan over his head from a torture rack position and slams him to the mat. Afterward, Jericho entered the ring and put Bryan in a Walls of Jericho.

WINNER: Barrett in 3:00. [c]

[Q3] [c]

-A video package aired on last night's Raw.

-Back at ringside, Cole and Matthews reacted to Raw. Cole questioned by Sheamus attacked Triple H. They shifted back to NXT. Matthews said there are some pros who get along with their rookies, others who don't. A clip aired of last week's tag team main event which Christian & Slater won over Tarver & Carlito.

-Slater told Christian last week was great. He said his Twitter account is blowing up, as is his WWE Universe page. He said people loved him. Christian was lifting weights. He got up and told Slater there's a difference between confident and overconfident. Christian said those Peeps are still his, so don't take credit for it yet. Christian then encouraged Slater to lift weights. He said he's not just his mentor, he's also evaluating him. Actually, as they reminded viewers several times during the show, Christian doesn't get a vote when it comes to Slater.

-Matthews interviewed Matt Hardy and his Rookie, Justin Gabriel. Gabriel said he doesn't have words to describe his mentor and coach, Hardy. Matthews asked Hardy what Gabriel will bring that other rookies won't. He said he's going to bring a lot of exciting, high-flying aerial maneuvers.

-Ring intros took place with William Regal and Skip Sheffield. Cole said these two don't get along, and he'd add details after the break. [c]

[Q4]

-A video introduction aired on Sheffield. He calls himself "The Cornfed Meathead." He said he's not the smartest guy in the world and he doesn't have any specialized training. He said: "I'm an entertainer. That's what I do. I put smiles on people's faces. And I konw I'm darn good at it. I'm a runner and gunner, a shaker and baker, a mover and groover, muscle with hustle. You best believe that." He said NXT is an opportunity of a lifetime. He said he's wanted to be a WWE Superstars since age 12 and he's going to make the most of it. He's pretty charming. He's going to annoy the heck out of some people, but he's different without being a total goof like the Zach Ryder or D.J. Gabriel type of character.

3 -- WILLIAM REGAL & SKIP SHEFFIELD vs. MATT HARDY & JUSTIN GABRIEL

Cole said Regal says Sheffield has the personality of an open grave. He said his workrate isn't much better than his personality and he said this is the biggest challenge of his career, but he's going to work hard to make him a star. Matthews said Gabriel is a cross between Adam Lambert and Johnny Damon. That's quite a combo. [c] After an early commercial break, Regal had Gabriel on the mat. At 6:00 Hardy tagged himself in against Regal, but Regal cut him off before he could get going.

[Q5]

Regal and Sheffield exchanged some words as Hardy recovered at ringside. Regal yelled that Sheffield is a blood moron. Regal tagged the bloody moron in seconds later and he went to work on Hardy. He did a silly strut and then splashed Hardy for a two count. Cole said Sheffield is entertaining. Regal tagged back in. Regal continued to trash talk Sheffield as he worked over Hardy. Hardy surprised Regal with a Twist of Fate, then tagged in Gabriel who hit a 450 splash for the win. As Hardy and Gabriel celebrated, Regal chewed out Sheffield on the ramp.

WINNERS: Hardy & Gabriel in 11:00.

STAR RATING: (*3/4) Decent tag match, with a decent showcase of the personalities.

-They went backstage to Striker who stood with the other six NXT rookies. He spit a chewed up apple into the face of Slater, who I still say is Stephan Bonner's brother. Carlito said, "That's cool!" The crowd laughed. Slater yelled at Carlito as he walked away. Striker closed the show with: "That's NXT."

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