WWE NXT alt. perspective report
June 14, 2011
Taped in Providence, R.I.
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

This was an elimination episode and hopefully "NXT: Redemption" will be wrapping up soon. Sadly, the best part of the season has been the constant matches between Yoshi Tatsu and Tyson Kidd. Also, William Regal's commentary has been a strong point. The "Redemption Points" have basically been discarded since no one is even close to Titus O'Neil and they have not had a challenge for points in some time.

Rooks (and their Pros) and points:
Titus O'Neil (Hornswoggle): 19
Darren Young (Chavo Guerrero): 7
Conor O'Brian (Vladimir Kozlov): 3
Lucky Cannon (Tyson Kidd): 0
Byron Saxton (Yoshi Tatsu)
Jacob Novak (JTG)

The show opens with a video package focusing on Lucky Cannon and the relationship with Maryse.

[Q1]

Grisham throws to Maryse and Striker in the ring. As the Rookies come out, Grisham announces that Hornswoggle is out of commission thanks to R-Truth. Striker offers a reminder this is an elimination episode, and that the winner goes on to NXT 6. Ah, Striker just brought up the points for the first time in a while. To make it worse, they have a "talk the talk" challenge for three points.

- Lucky Cannon says that Titus O'Neil has been leeching off of Hornswoggle's popularity and says that he isn't a draw. He ironically says that O'Neil is clueless in the ring.

- Titus O'Neil calls out Cannon for his wardrobe. O'Neil points out that Cannon doesn't have any points and is focused on Maryse.

- Conor O'Brian says that Darren Young should go, because he was already on the main roster but couldn't hold his spot. He says he would have made the most of that opportunity. That was a good burial.

- Darren Young gives a bland "I dreamed of being here" promo. He then gets in O'Brian's face and cheap shots him.

The crowd boos Lucky Cannon. Conor O'Brian gets booed too. Darren Young gets cheers but they may have gotten confused with Titus O'Neil since Maryse was standing next to him. O'Neil also gets cheered. Striker calls for a "cheer off" and the crowd gets it right this time, cheering for O'Neil. Three points for Titus, bringing him to 20.

[ c - Capitol Punishment ad, focused on Christian's title quest, "Power to the People" Raw ad ]

[Q2]

1 - YOSHI TATSU vs. DARREN YOUNG (w/Chavo Guerrero)

Early lockup with Darren Young using a side headlock then an arm drag into a cover for one. Slow opening action. Another lockup and Yoshi scores a takedown and goes into an armbar. Young escapes, but Tatsu takes him down with a Japanese arm drag while running the ropes, going into more armbar action. Quick takedown by Tatsu and more work on the left arm. This match is paced like they are aiming for a 60-minute limit.

Slight comeback from Young with more armbars from Tatsu. In a moment of announcing oddness, Regal shows deep admiration for Tatsu's armbars. The pace finally picks up with some back and forth striking action. Young goes outside the ring but when Tatu tried to bring him back in, Young gets a neckbreaker on the apron. JTG comes out from the back.

[ c - WrestleMania 2 DVD ad ]

Young with a headlock after the break, and JTG on commentary. Young with more holds while JTG argues with Regal and Grisham. JTG says that Tatsu disrespected him. Young tosses Tatsu onto the ropes throat first from a fireman's carry. Regal threatens to break JTG's head open if he could get away with it. I agree. He then verbally demolishes JTG for his lack of career success. JTG wants to know why he's "hatin' on a brother." Young with the headlocks. Tatsu with a crucifix pin for two. Yoshi starts his kick strikes, but Young catches the second. Tatsu gets him with an enziguri to get some space, then chops and the usual Tatsu comeback. Spinning heel kick and a shining wizard for two. Yoshi to the top rope, but Chavo distracts him. Young throws Tatsu down and gets the pin.

WINNER: Darren Young.

Post-match, JTG puts the boots to Tatsu. When Tatsu comes back, Young takes him down. Kozlov and O'Brian make the save.

Reax: What an amazingly dull match. I've seen better at the local gym in front of a crowd of 150. Young just proved he's incapable of leading a match.

[ c - Capitol Punishment ad showing the Cena - R-Truth feud ]

[Q3]

Backstage, Cannon is grooming. Maryse says that she feels bad for smashing him in the face last week. Cannon threatens to hurt Hornswoggle. Maryse says that she get her purse fixed and billed it to Cannon's credit card. He doesn't seem to happy. She kisses him on the cheek and leaves.

[ c - "Degeneration X: One Last Stand" ad ]

Wow, they are milking the time on this episode. That's what happens when there aren't many Rookies left.

2 - TITUS O'NEIL vs. LUCKY CANNON (w/Tyson Kidd)

Cannon gets a microphone and vows to beat up Hornswoggle as soon as Hornswoggle returns. O'Neil comes out to little reaction, proving Regal's point about "the Leprechaun vote."

O'Neil start off with a hard right as Cannon makes fun of Hornswoggle. Hard offense from O'Neil in the corner, then a backbreaker with a bit of a jump on it, making it look like it really hurt. Powerslam for two. Cannon runs around the ring and ambushes O'Neil when he comes back in. Lots of stomps, then knees to the back, followed by the Cannon Chinlock. O'Neil mounts a brief combeback but Cannon cuts him off. More high school gymnasium offense from Cannon including the second Cannon Chinlock; the match must be about to wrap up now that he has two in. I was wrong; he manages to get a third chinlock in.

Cannon mocks O'Neil's barking routine for some heat. Cannon with a side headlock for variety, but Young powers out and takes over with power offense. He runs Cannon over a few ties and take shim down with a diving shoulder tackle. O'Neil throws Cannon over his head but Cannon gets a rope break on the cover. Cannon suckers O'Neil, and tries his reverse Burning Hammer. O'Neil slides out, shoves Cannon into the ropes, and gets the sit out slam for the win.

WINNER: Titus O'Neil. It's almost like the Rookies are going backwards in their ability to have a match. I think that no one ever taught them to do a match longer than five minutes, so they flounder when given more than that. They just bounce around with pointless action until they tie it up with a house show-quality finish. O'Neil looked merely okay here, but Cannon had far too many restholds and too little interesting action. Neither displayed enough talent to be on the main roster.

[ c - "Power to the People" Raw ad, Capital Punishment ad featuring R-Truth ]

Maryse says that it has been a rough night. Yes, it has been. Striker puts over the Rookies before calling for the drumroll... Cannon is out. Kidd and Striker look stunned, Maryse looks a bit nervous. Cannon no-sells the elimination and says that he should be on Smackdown or Raw, while O'Neil starts the good bye song.

Maryse interrupts and says that this is not fair. Cannon says that the crowd needs to respect Maryse. She has something to tell Cannon - she appreciates all of the gifts he bought her, but her purse repairman says that he bought a cheap purse that wasn't worth $5. She slaps him. He walks away, but seems broken.

Final Reax: Cannon was the right person to go home, simply because he can't wrestle. Then again, none of the Rookies this season are that impressive; Cannon is just the worst. That said, Cannon has charisma and mic talent, and his metrosexual rendition of Ric Flair is pretty entertaining. I would enjoy seeing him in a managerial or mouthpiece role in the future. I really think that O'Neil has this in the bag, he is the least untalented of the bunch at this point, but he still needs another NXT season to be ready.

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