WWE NXT alt. perspective report
May 17, 2011
Taped in Corpus Christi, Tex.
By Justin James, PWTorch contributor

This week is the first elimination. For a while, I had picked Jacob Novak to be the first to go, but lately I feel like Conor O'Brian will be gone first. Novak's been working hard to make something of the heel version of Slam Master J that he's been handed, while O'Brian is just spinning his wheels.

[Q1] The show opens with a video package summarizing the NXT: Redemption concept, then the credits. A quick look at the Redemption Points standings:

Titus O'Neil (Hornswoggle): 19
Darren Young (Chavo Guerrero): 7
Jacob Novak (JTG): 6
Byron Saxton (Yoshi Tatsu): 4
Lucky Cannon (Tyson Kidd): 0
Conor O'Brian (Vladmir Kozlov): 0

Titus is safe from elimination on points.

Opening the show, Regal declines to pick someone he thinks is going to lose. Darren Young stomps out to cut an awkward promo. He brags about beating Titus O'Neil and breaking his streak, omitting the fact that most of Titus's wins are against him. Young has a key on his neck and says that it is the key to Titus's weakness, and implies that he has Hornswoggle. Out comes Titus O'Neil.

1 - TITUS O'NEIL vs. DARREN YOUNG

O'Neil quickly goes after Young, demanding to know where Hornswoggle is. Ref Charles Robinson works hard to keep Titus within the rules. Young slows the pace down with some basic clothesline and kicks offense. O'Neil shrugs off a shoulder block and catches Young with a scoop slam off the ropes, nice sequence. A short arm lariat and some barking by O'Neil. Young rakes his eyes but O'Neil is still able to knock him down with European uppercuts.

Backstage, Chavo finds a box with a chain around it, Hornswoggle is inside. Chavo calls Hornswoggle "buddy" and tells him to hang on. O'Neil snatches the key off the turnbuckle and runs backstage to free Hornswoggle. He gets counted out.

WINNER: Darren Young by count out in three minutes.

As Titus frees Hornswoggle, Chavo ambushes him from behind. He then grabs Hornswoggle and tells him that he hasn't forgotten all of the humiliation. On commentary, Regal applauds Chavo's treachery, not because he's down on Hornswoggle, but he respects the deception that Chavo had come to like Hornswoggle. Chavo drags Hornswoggle to the ring and Young goes to work on him. Youngs holds Hornswoggle down as Chavo hits the frog splash. O'Neil runs out from backstage and Young and Chavo go fleeing to the ramp.

[c - "That's What I Am"]

Long video promo for Extreme Rules. It's a pretty good package that makes the Cena-The Miz feud seem much hotter, intense, and interesting than it actually is.

[Q2] Backstage, Yoshi Tatsu is ready to wrestle - it's Tatsu vs. Saxton tonight. Next is a video package on this week's Smackdown, focusing on Orton as reigning champion. Someone in WWE's NXT chat room has pointed out that both Maryse and Striker are missing so far, and they are right.

2 - YOSHI TATSU vs. BYRON SAXTON

Quick lockup with Saxton putting Tatsu in the corner, and playing the heeling aggressor. Tatsu with hard chops, and Saxton with a slap. Saxton goes into the corner and begs off, then pulls some heeling offense. Tatsu with a pair of Japanese armdrags, the second into an armbar.

Tatsu misses a shining wizard and Saxton takes advantage with aggressive stomps. Saxton with a headlock and Tatsu powers out. Tatsu with a series of hard kicks then a running, jumping knee. Tatsu goes up top and creams Saxton with the spinning heel kick for three.

WINNER: Yoshi Tatsu, about five minutes.

Tatsu leaves the ring without his customary celebrations.

[c - WrestleMania 27 DVD ad]

In the ring, Matt Striker introduces Maryse. Good gracious, is that dress PG? She flirts with the crowd and Striker a little bit. She says they have some unfinished business and introduces O'Brian and Kozlov. Regal notes that O'Brian is more intense in the ring and outgoing. I must have missed it. Striker recaps the bet between Kozlov and JTG. Kozlov talks up O'Brian, but Maryse can't help but giggling. Striker introduces JTG and Jacob Novak. Regal calls Novak and JTG "oxygen thieves" and says that they are stealing from hardworking people like him. Maryse says they need a judge and of course, they pick the live crowd.

[Q3] JTG introduces Novak. He's ditched the cornrows for a greasy pony tail. Novak calls the crowd "haters" and then calls out Regal. Oh wait, Novak is trying to rap as JTG does the backing interjections, Dr. Dre style. This is horrible. Novak raps like John Cena dropkicks.

Kozlov and O'Brian come into the ring to do the patented Kozlov breakdancing to Kozlov's theme song. The dance involves some throws and breaking boards - Kozlov uses his fist and O'Brian uses his head. The crowd is eating this junk up. It's crowd reactions like this that makes Vince McMahon put stuff on that plays well to a live crowd, but completely turn off the home audience.

JTG pushes Kozlov, who kicks him right out of the ring. JTG says they want to fight.

[c - "WWE Kids Magazine" and WWE Rumblers ads]

3 - VLADIMIR KOZLOV (w/Conor O'Brian) vs. JTG (w/Jacob Novak)

Back from break, Kozlov is down, but quickly takes over and manhandles JTG with headlocks and throws JTG out of the ring. JTG starts yelling at Regal and Kozlov goes outside and throws him back in the ring. Novak distracts the ref and Kozlov and JTG ambushes Kozlov from behind. On commentary, Regal references teaming with Kozlov on ECW over a year ago. Regal puts Kozlov over strong.

JTG with a Mugshot for two. JTG settles into a cravat and Kozlov bulls his way out. Kozlov suddenly hulks up and uses his standard offense on JTG. JTG with a neckbreaker for two, then back to the cravat. JTG takes Kozlov off his feet then goes to the second rope to pose. He comes off the rope and Kozlov head butts him midair, then catches him with the Iron Curtain for the win.

WINNER: Vladimir Kozlov in roughly seven minutes.

Backstage, Maryse is putting on make-up and Tatsu says hello. Maryse missed his match. Maryse shows off another purse that Lucky Cannon bought her. He says that she likes things more than people and says that he's dumping her and stomps off. She says that he can't do that because they were never dating. Cannon comes in and says that she needs a shopping trip to pep herself up. Wow, NXT Rookies must get paid!

[c - Extreme Rules ad, focusing on Orton and Christian, "That's What I Am" backstage segments ad]

[Q4] Maryse welcomes the Rookies to elimination, and says that it's been tough for them, but they have passion and that's sexy. The NXT drumroll and...Jacob Novak is gone. Regal says that he is thrilled that Novak is gone.

Novak throws a temper tantrum ripping off the JTG-inspired gear. He cuts a promo on the audience for getting rid of him twice. He seems to threaten to beat up the audience. Regal praises his promo for being passionate. JTG yells at the audience to continue the heel turn that only three people are aware of.

Final Reax: Interesting development with Novak, not O'Brian, being cut first. In retrospect, it was a coin toss. O'Brian or Saxton should be the next to go, with Lucky Cannon and Titus O'Neil in the top two. Cannon simply has an awesome gimmick right now and carries it so well, like a metrosexual Ric Flair, while O'Neil's ring work is quite decent. They seem to be protecting Lucky Cannon by keeping him out of the ring, since he really isn't that good.

We suggest these recent related articles...

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 9/30 - Week 182: Balor & Joe in Dusty tournament, Ciampa and Gargano in singles matches, final "Takeover" card, more; Overall Reax

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 9/23 - Week 181: Vaudevillians defend NXT Tag Titles, Kana introduded, lots of promos, Takeover build, more; Overall Reax

WWE NXT RESULTS 9/23: Vaudevillains defend NXT Tag Titles, Kana/Asuka formally introduced, Breeze, Eva Marie, more

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