WWE NXT TV Results
May 31, 2011 - Season 5, Week 13
Taped in Des Moines, Iowa
Aired on WWE's website
By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

The cast of Season Five of WWE NXT (Pros):

-- Darren Young (Chavo Guerrero)
-- Byron Saxton (Yoshi Tatsu)
-- Conor O'Brian (Kozlov)
-- Lucky Cannon (Tyson Kidd)
-- Titus O'Neil (Hornswoggle)
-- Jacob Novak (JTG) - eliminated Week 11

This week's WWE NXT episode opened with a video package recapping last week's apparent blow-off to the Hornswoggle & Titus O'Neil vs. Darren Young & Chavo Guerrero feud. Inside the arena, Todd Grisham introduced the show and plugged the second elimination going down tonight.

In-ring: Matt Striker and Maryse were already in the ring with the five remaining Rookies. Maryse welcomed out the Voice of WWE, Michael Cole, for a one-night-only appearance tonight. Seriously? Cole walked out to join Grisham on commentary with William Regal absent. With that out of the way, Striker recapped this season's gimmick of the NXT Season 5 winner advancing to Season 6 and picking his own Pro. Striker talked up the Redemption Points and told Maryse to recap the points. O'Neil with 19, Young with 7, and Saxton with 4. Cole asked why Striker still works here.

Maryse continued the awkward introduction segment by slowly reminding each Rookie how many points he has. Maryse got around to plugging Tag Team Turmoil as the gimmick tonight. The winning Rookie gets three Redemption Points. Maryse then asked the Rookies to explain to the audience why they should still be here on the show.

Conor O'Brian was up first. He said he's not done breaking his bones "for this business." Way too not-at-the-level to be tossing around "this business." Lucky Cannon was next and talked himself up. He said anyone not down with him is deaf, dumb, and blind. The camera zoomed in on Maryse, who chuckled at Lucky's arrogant heel promo. Lucky said he has a "queen" up his sleeve in Maryse.

Next was Darren Young, who said there's only been one individual at the top of NXT: Redemption since the season began. He said he's doing this his way. Young said he main-evented Summerslam last year and he shouldn't even be on this show. Young said he would be challenging John Cena for the WWE Title. Cole laughed and cackled to himself. Grisham dryly noted he looks like John Cena.

Byron Saxton was up next. Saxton laughed to himself and said he doesn't get why he should have to explain himself to anyone. He ran down Yoshi Tatsu and said he did what 99.9 percent of the audience doesn't have the guts to do: fire his boss. Saxton did this cocky lean-back to taunt the audience, leading to Titus O'Neil for the last promo. He repeated the "Bigger, Badder, Better" slogan of the New WWE, claiming he's all of that compared to the other chumps on this show. Titus talked up Hornswoggle and the audience before noting the only option for him tonight is to Make It A Win. Striker said Tag Team Turmoil is up next.

Suddenly, Hornswoggle's music hit and he did the Dog Bark to greet Titus. Young tried to get in the way, but Titus scared away Young. Tag Team Turmoil is next.

[Break. Next Monday: Stone Cold hosts the live season finale of Tough Enough.]

1 -- TITUS YOUNG & HORNSWOGGLE vs. LUCKY CANNON (w/Maryse) & TYSON KIDD -- Tag Team Turmoil

Cole was confused on Maryse's relationships during NXT, trying to get caught up on the relationship issues on the show. Meanwhile, Titus dominated early on as Cole weirdly continued to hype up Hornswoggle as his favorite Pro in the history of NXT. Horny tagged in and did a bottle-opening head scissors on Kidd to dizzy both men. Titus tagged back in after Horny got his spot in, then Titus executed a shoulderbreaker for a two count. Suddenly, Horny walked up to Maryse with a flower, which drew Cannon's anger. Titus tried to defend Horny, but Kidd smashed him into the ropes. Kidd followed with a springboard elbow smash and it was good for the win. Immediately after the match, Yoshi Tatsu's music hit. Out came Yoshi and Saxton for the next match in the Turmoil.

WINNERS: Lucky & Kidd at 2:38.

[Break]

2 -- LUCKY CANNON (w/Maryse) & TYSON KIDD vs. YOSHI TATSU & BYRON SAXTON -- Tag Team Turmoil

They returned from break with the next match already in progress. Cole noted a correction from Maryse that she was never with Yoshi and she is not with Cannon. Yoshi dominated Kidd early on, then Saxton tagged himself in and demanded Yoshi get out of his ring. Saxton, of course, lost control of the match, allowing the heels to work on Saxton. Saxton made a comeback and waved off Yoshi, not wanting to tag out to him. So, Lucky cut off Saxton and the heels went back to work on him. Meanwhile, the crowd chanted, "We want Yoshi."

No dice as the match continued with the heels working on Saxton. Saxton made a one-armed comeback and Lucky kind of fell down in the ring. He then kind of pulled himself up and intercepted Saxton's top-rope move with a boot to the chest. Cannon with the pin for the win.

WINNERS: Lucky & Kidd at 5:58. Cannon needs so much work in the ring.

[Break]

3 -- LUCKY CANNON (w/Maryse) & TYSON KIDD vs. KOZLOV & CONOR O'BRIAN -- Tag Team Turmoil

Back from break, the match was in progress with Kozlov on the defensive against Cannon. Suddenly, JTG's music hit. JTG came out on-stage in street clothes trying to distract Kozlov and O'Brian. JTG then made his way to ringside and Cole noted he didn't think commentary could get any worse. Cole instantly turned into JTG's best buddy once JTG joined commentary. The match slowed down with the heels working over O'Brian. JTG then noted he's picking the Rookie, I Don't Care, to win this season. Cole cackled and said it was like talking to a piece of cardboard before JTG came out here. Cannon continued to slow this thing down to a sluggish pace working on O'Brian. O'Brian finally broke free and hot-tagged Kozlov, who ran over Cannon. Kozlov eventually finished off Cannon with the Iron Curtain for the win.

WINNERS: Kozlov & O'Brian at 5:08. The two worst Rookies in terms of wrestling ability - O'Brian and Cannon - having an exchange for three minutes was dreadful. They looked so lost. On-camera, it's the only thing holding Cannon back from being a future star.

[Break]

4 -- KOZLOV & CONOR O'BRIAN vs. CHAVO GUERRERO & DARREN YOUNG

Back from break, Kozlov was working on Darren Young. Meanwhile, JTG continued to sell frustration that his Rookie, Jacob Novak, didn't take his advice and found himself eliminated. JTG also said he should be in the match right now. Meanwhile, Young and O'Brian had an exchange before Chavo tagged in for a few moments. Young re-entered and wore down O'Brian for a bit. O'Brian and Young then awkwardly butted heads in the corner and Kozlov begged for a tag.

Kozlov received a tag, as did Chavo. Kozlov landed multiple head butts before smashing Chavo in the sternum with a head butt. Kozlov wanted a powerslam finish, but Young pulled down Chavo in mid-air. Chavo then dropkicked Kozlov to the floor. Confusion over the legal man here. Chavo and Young eventually reset and began working over Kozlov. The crowd was hot with hate for Chavo, which was a good sign for this match. Chavo and Young tried a double-suplex, but Kozlov blocked and double-suplexed them, drawing a reaction from Cole.

Kozlov then made a hot tag to O'Brian, who tried to show fire making a comeback. The heels cut him off, though, and Kozlov went flying to the outside. Chavo also went flying to the outside. In the ring, O'Brian executed some sort of rolling suplex move and it was good for the win. O'Brian then fell down trying to celebrate, which only drew more anger from JTG. Kozlov and O'Brian celebrated in the ring as Grisham noted O'Brian picked up three Redemption Points by winning the turmoil.

WINNERS: Kozlov & O'Brian at 7:52. O'Brian has to go home. Awful. The match was decent and the focus on wrestling with Redemption Points on the line and four straight matches was good, but some of these Rookies seem like lost causes in the ring.

[Break. PPV Alert: New fake Obama press conference clip with a "Breaking News" scroller across the screen plugging Capitol Punishment.]

Ringside: Maryse and Striker were with the five remaining Rookies ringside. Maryse awkwardly set up the elimination before Striker talked up all five of their efforts on NXT Redemption. Cue up the drumroll to find out who's going home...Byron Saxton.

On-stage, Yoshi simply hung his head. Ringside, Saxton looked around the arena selling bewilderment. Saxton said clearly that was a mistake. He said whoever put his face on the Tron made a mistake. Saxton said he gets it - the joke's on Byron and everyone gets to go home and have a good laugh about it. Saxton told the audience they just sent home a living, breathing role-model of a Superstar. Saxton told them they will never forget this day for the rest of their lives. Cole told him to go away. Saxton handed off the mic, then shouted at the crowd on the way up the ramp. Grisham said they're doing to the Final Four and the chase continues next week on NXT. Saxton continued his recent hot-streak on the mic with good passion and energy, but it was too little, too late.

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