WWE NXT review
June 7, 2011
Taped earlier this evening in Roanoke, Va.
Aired on WWE.com
By Greg Parks, PWTorch columnist


- WWE Open.

- They aired a video package of Lucky Cannon and his interaction with Maryse over the past several weeks.

- NXT Open.

- “The numbers continue to shrink,” said Todd Grisham, as he opened the show with the camera panning the crowd. I thought he was talking about the number of NXT viewers, but he actually meant the number of contestants on the show.

- They went right to the ring where JTG was hosting his own segment, “Straight Outta Brooklyn.” JTG complained about the crowd “hating,” then he introduced his guest, Yoshi Tatsu. Quite the colorful trashcans used for the set of JTG’s interview segment. JTG asked Tatsu what he thought about Saxton pointing the finger at Tatsu for getting him eliminated. JTG said Saxton told him that if JTG was his pro, he’d win the show. JTG said he was just joking, but did say his relationship with Maryse may have cost Saxton his spot. JTG didn’t give Tatsu much time to respond, as he said he talked to Maryse, and she said she dumped him because Tatsu has no game, unlike JTG. He accused Tatsu of having a “small, tiny…..” but we never got the punchline as Tatsu grabbed the mic and said the show should be called “Straight Outta Yo’ Momma.” William Regal didn’t get it. And that was it. JTG raised Tatsu’s hand and his music played, but Tatsu made the mistake of turning his back on JTG, and JTG attacked him.

Matt Striker then walked out and got a cheap pop for naming the town. He suggested putting JTG in the ring with Tatsu, one-on-one. The crowd liked it, and it’s next.

- An ad for Raw next week, with Steve Austin as GM, aired.

- Next was a video for the WWE Rumblers action figures.

1 – JTG vs. YOSHI TATSU

Regal said he liked JTG’s intensity, but still couldn’t understand what he was saying. Match was joined in progress, and JTG gave a knee-lift to Tatsu. Grisham helped out Regal when Regal was looking for a word to describe what JTG has been making, and Grisham told him “impact.” Then under his breath, he said that might not be the word they want to use there. JTG got a near-fall off of a high-impact move. Sunset flip by Tatsu was countered by JTG. High knee-drop for two by JTG. Grisham noted these are the only two Pros whose rookies have been eliminated. JTG worked the arm as the crowd got behind Tatsu. Tatsu dodged charge in the corner. Hard chops were delivered by Tatsu. Spinning heel kick, shades of Savio Vega! JTG avoided Tatsu’s big kick and applied a rear waistlock to ground Yoshi. JTG did some trash talking while holding his opponent down. Tatsu got to his feet, flipped out of a suplex, and kicked JTG in the head. The pin was academic.

WINNER: Tatsu, 5:30 shown. Okay mid-card match. Tatsu has some potential, but I think JTG’s still best served as a tag wrestler.

- Tomorrow beginning at Noon EST, the polls will be open for another round of voting to find out which NXT Rookie is eliminated.

- An ad for the Wrestlemania DVD aired.

- WWE’s DYK was that 10 million people watched Tough Enough and Raw last night. Are they counting the people who watched Tough Enough AND Raw as two people?

- Regal and Grisham talked on camera about Capitol Punishment, then we got the latest Obama Press Conference video, the one featuring R-Truth.

- The announcers sent it to Conor O’Brian backstage. He was concentrating on breaking a board, with help from Hornswoggle. Horny tried to break the board with his head, but couldn’t. Titus O’Neil then walked in and launched Horny into the board to break it. Vladimir Kozlov, also standing by, said O’Brian made it a win. Hey, they’re having fun! Isn’t that cute?

- Next, Vladimir Kozlov & Conor O’Brian face Chavo Guerrero & Darren Young.

- A plug for Smackdown aired, centering around Christian’s next move.

2 – DARREN YOUNG & CHAVO GUERRERO vs. CONOR O’BRIAN & VLADIMIR KOZLOV

Young and Kozlov started things off. They did some mat work early on. Kozlov backed Young into the corner and laid in a few shoulders. Tag to O’Brian, who worked Young’s arm. Young and Chavo did some heel double-teaming. Chavo flew over the top rope, but O’Brian was too close to the ring, and Chavo barely caught O’Brian with an arm to his back. Chavo rolled O’Brian into the ring and was about to make a cover when they went to break. Seriously?

- A video for the DX DVD aired.

- A plug aired for John Cena vs. R-Truth at Capitol Punishment.

Back at 5:49 of the tag match. Regal applauded the tag effort of Young and Chavo. O’Brian tried to break free, and finally did, making the tag to Kozlov at 6:45. Kozlov went to work on Young, and dropped him chest-first over the top rope. Kick to the chest, then a clothesline for Chavo. Young walked into a big boot, but Vlad made the mistake of going after Chavo again. Young took out the knee of his Russian foe. The heels worked the leg of Kozlov to keep him from getting to his feet. They cut off the ring as well. This is kind-of tough with a guy like Kozlov, who struggles to sell. O’Brian got the hot tag, and did some nondescript offense. The standard tag finish went into effect, and Young hit O’Brian with his finisher for the win.

WINNERS: Young and Chavo, at 12:10. Young and Chavo looked good as a tag team, but there were a couple of long heat segments on O’Brian and Kozlov.

- A reminder that voting opens tomorrow at Noon EST for the next NXT elimination.

- The hype video for That’s What I Am aired.

- Another plug for next week’s WWE All-Stars three-hour Raw.

3 – TITUS O’NEIL vs. LUCKY CANNON

Both Tyson Kidd and Maryse accompanied Cannon to the ring. Grisham read a Tweet from Maryse earlier in the day. She carried a purse that Cannon bought for her. O’Neil powered Cannon down off of a lock-up. The two men brawled in the middle of the ring in lieu of actually communicating and doing a move. Running boot to the seated Cannon by 29-take Titus. Cannon gained control and choked O’Neil in the ropes. Cover by Cannon for only two. He settled into a rear chinlock and the crowd was quick to get behind the big man. Grisham talked about O’Neil’s college football days at Florida. Knees to the face by Cannon, who then shoved Titus to the mat. Hornswoggle got the crowd into it, but Cannon again took O’Neil down for a two-count. More work on the neck. O’Neil came back, but ended up crashing to the floor when Cannon shoved him into the ropes, and O’Neil inexplicably fell through. Hornswoggle, on the opposite side of the ring, gave Maryse a velvet case and inside was a candy necklace. He grabbed her leg and she hit him with her purse. Cannon started yelling at Horny when Maryse’s purse exploded. I guess it’s a fake. Maryse was pissed and hit Cannon with her purse. Cannon turned around into O’Neils finisher for the win.

WINNER: O’Neil, at 5:18. Neither man looked smooth here.

Maryse stormed to the back after the match. O’Neil and Horny celebrated in the ring. They replayed the finish, including the purse being ripped. Definitely needed to see that in slow-mo.

- One final plug for voting on WWE.com. O’Neil and Hornswoggle celebrating was the final image. Gee, you think they want O’Neil to win?

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