WWE NXT Report JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 3/15: Alt. perspective review of Tuesday's NXT Week 2 show
Mar 16, 2011 - 2:32:42 PM
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WWE NXT Alt. Perspective Report
March 15, 2011
Taped in Kansas City, Mo.
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor
Last week, the audience was introduced to the widely panned idea of "NXT Redemption." Big changes from previous versions of NXT:
There are "redemption points" instead of "immunity points" which can be used to offset the viewer's votes.
The winner gets to go onto NXT 6.
William Regal is the color commentary man.
Maryse is a co-host with Matt Striker.
All competitors were on previous editions.
So far, NXT is a joke as a concept. Brodus Clay, the final "loser" of NXT 4 has been involved in both the Raw and Smackdown main events within seven days. Meanwhile, Johnny Curtis (the actual winner) has completely disappeared. And, of course, NXT 3's winner Kaitlyn has been on TV for a total of about five minutes since her victory, and Kaval (NXT 2 winner) has been future endeavored.
Current competitors (and Pros):
Byron Saxton (Yoshi Tatsu)
Conor O'Brian (Vladimir Kozlov)
Darren Young (Chavo Guerrero) - 3 "redemption points"
Jacob Novak (JTG)
Lucky Cannon (Tyson Kidd)
Titus O'Neil (Hornswoggle)
[Q1] The show opens with Maryse summarizing the season's theme of redemption, then the Rookies come out with their Pros. The announcers cannot be heard at all. Maryse then reminds the competitors of the stakes, and adds that the winner can choose their Pro next season.
Up first is a chance for each competitor to tell the crowd why they should win.
Jacob Novak gets boos before he even starts. He tries to rap, and the audience hates him even though JTG tries getting the fans behind them. Regal runs him down.
Darren Young cuts an "I love the WWE Universe" Promo from outside the ring, and talks up having Chavo as his Pro. Regal says that Young's getting better over time and Chavo's going to help him.
Conor O'Brian has the "I had a big dream and I'm living it now" promo. Kind of boring.
Byron Saxton starts off a bit corny and then makes fun of Lucky Cannon's outfit comparing him to Lady Gaga, and then is happy for the second chance.
Lucky Cannon starts off shushing the crowd, which gets boos, then talks himself up as being a stud and a champion. Regal praises Cannon for changing himself up.
As Titus is introduced, Maryse gives the hand to Lucky Cannon and Hornswoggle does the dog barking. Titus O'Neil goes over his time giving a boring promo about Hornswoggle. Maryse takes the mic from him.
Striker says that O'Neil won, for two redemption points.
Next: Young vs. O'Brian
[c - WrestleMania ad]
Video package for Titus O'Neil. He says that his biggest mistake was not being himself. That's the theme of NXT 5 it seems like. He didn't really show much personality here.
[Q2]
1 - DARREN YOUNG vs. CONOR O'BRIAN
Early lockup with Young taking over the match, as Regal mentions that Young's been in WWE and O'Brian has worked hard. O'Brian throws Young into the ringpost very hard and he bounces out of the ring. Chavo looks concerned. O'Brian starts working the arm and Young is selling it like it may be legit, the impact looked painful. Young fights back one handed, and hits O'Brian with a unique finisher for the win. He took O'Brian from a fireman's carry and dropped him into a gut buster, like C.M. Punk's GTS mixed with Chris Jericho's Codebreaker.
WINNER: Darren Young in about two minutes. Darren Young either sells like a champ, or he was really hurt. The finisher is great; it's nice to see something I never saw before. The match was a bit rough due to the injury angle.
[c - "The Chaperone" ad]
Raw Rebound. ... Backstage, Maryse is on the phone and Yoshi is there ready to wrestle. Yoshi compliments Maryse and starts talking her up, then Lucky Cannon comes in to apologize for his behavior last week. Maryse says it's okay, then goes away. Cannon says he knows what Tatsu is trying and it won't work and that he will get her instead.
Next: Tatsu and Saxton vs. Kidd and Cannon
[c - Hall of Fame]
Video package on Jacob Novak. Lots of focus on the relationship with Dolph Ziggler and blames Dolph for his loss. He says that he is more focused and aggressive this time around.
2 - YOSHI TATSU & BYRON SAXTON vs. TYSON KIDD & LUCKY CANNON
Tatsu and Kidd start out. Yoshi has a black armband on to show his support for Japan. Lots of fun, fast paced back-and-forth between Tatsu and Kidd as expected. Kidd tries to cheap shot Saxton which lets Kidd take over. Kidd tags in Cannon who takes over with basic offense including a botched move that even Grisham called out. Cannot moves to the body scissors. Cannon slows the match down with more body scissors. Double clothesline and Cannon and Tatsu both look for tags. Kidd and Saxton for tag in, Saxton takes it to Kidd with punches and clotheslines.
[Q3] Kidd gets back in control, but Cannot tags himself in. Cannon hits a reverse burning hammer (almost botched that too) and gets the pin. Kidd looks upset, and calls out Cannon for taking the win.
WINNERS: Kidd & Cannon in 5:00. Three of the people in this match did a really good job, and then Lucky Cannon had a number of botches. He is playing his role quite well, though. The story of this match was Lucky Cannon being arrogant even to the point of aggravating his Pro. The joke is wins on NXT don't matter anyways, so why annoy your Pro to get one?
[c - "True Story of WrestleMania" DVD]
Replay of the Stratus -Guerrero match and post-match nonsense. Congrats to Layla for elevating Snooki to Mickie James status.
The people in the NXT live chat are amazingly behind Snooki. Who'd'a'thunk it?
[c - WWE Magazine]
This week's challenge is the NXT keg carry. Striker reminds the audience of O'Neil's disastrous keg carry from NXT 2 (complete with a video replay containing clown music and replays from a variety of camera angles.) Maryse begs him not to mess up again.
- Novak: 9.9 seconds, JTG cheering on from the stage.
- Young: 9.8 seconds, Chavo does a good job getting the crowd involved.
- O'Brian: 9.4 seconds.
- Saxton: 9.5 seconds.
- Cannon: Before the run, Maryse calls him "Fabio" again, Kidd says to ignore the audience and listen to him. Cannon waves off the race and tries to seduce Maryse with a poem in French instead. She asks if she can go throw up. He touches her hair, which makes her mad, and she dares him to touch it again. A ref tries breaking it up. He does and she slaps him hard. Cannon proclaims that he's in love as Kidd takes him to the back.
- O'Neil: 9.1 seconds Hornswoggle has "Make it a win" written on a whiteboard as the crowd cheers O'Neil on.
Winner: Titus O'Neil for two redemption points (four total on the night).
Final Reax: I thought it was an absolutely horrible show. The only thing worth watching was (believe it or not) Lucky Cannon building a character, and the brief moment of Yoshi Tatsu in the ring against Tyson Kidd.
New standings:
Titus O'Neil: 4
Darren Young: 3
Byron Saxton: 0
Conor O'Brian: 0
Jacob Novak: 0
Lucky Cannon: 0
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