WWE NXT alt. perspective report
August 2, 2011
Taped in Lexington, Ky.
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

Opening Reax: NXT is getting dangerously close to Caldwell's 25-week over/under for NXT: Redemption. The next elimination still has not been announced. Sadly, the last time NXT inspired me to even care was for Brodus Clay. Speaking of NXT: 4, is it my imagination, or has Johnny Curtis had the worst debut since Kizarny? At least Kizarny appeared in the ring once or twice, and never had a "guaranteed" Tag Title match that didn't happen. Wouldn't it be a hilarious joke - and appropriate for this season of NXT - if the "winner" from NXT: Redemption didn't actually appear on NXT: 6? No one in this season has shown any reason to deserve a main roster slot, and what's really bad is that Derrick Bateman really looked like he should have won during NXT: 4.

My prediction for this week: still no D-Bryan appearance (he's too busy being on Booker T's "Fave Five" like when Del Rio AWOL'ed NXT: 4), a Vladimir Kozlov-JTG match, me suddenly getting a touch jealous of Hornswoggle, and a continuation of the Yoshi Tatsu-Tyson Kidd feud. Oh, and a wretched match between the Rookies and perhaps a lame challenge. NXT has really set low expectations here.

Rookies (Pros):
Titus O'Neil (Hornswoggle)
Darren Young (Chavo Guerrero)
Derrick Bateman (Daniel Bryan)
Conor O'Brian (Vladimir Kozlov)
Lucky Cannon (Tyson Kidd)
Byron Saxton (Yoshi Tatsu)
Jacob Novak (JTG)

[Q1] Before the credits, NXT starts with a video package showing how Titus O'Neil dominated the competition until Derrick Bateman started getting some wins and coming after O'Neil. Grisham threw to Matt Striker in the ring, who seems to have shaved. I guess he took note of Triple H's comment to Josh Mathews Monday night.

Striker introduces Titus O'Neil, who comes out to the NXT music and without Hornswoggle. He gets much less of a pop than usual. Striker asks O'Neil about his thoughts on Bateman and Young ganging up on him. He claims to be the most dominant NXT Rookie ever. That's a gift horse of a title. Bateman and Young come out to interrupt. Bateman reminds O'Neil that he beat O'Neil last week. O'Neil reminds Bateman that he had help on the ring. O'Neil challenges them to a tag match, but Young insists that they choose his partner. They pick Matt Striker! O'Neil promises to "make it a win" despite Striker's objections.

Up next: Kozlov vs. JTG. There's one of my predictions safely covered.

[c - Summerslam ad ]

Interesting "Did you know?" - John Cena has a few less Twitter followers than The Rock, but more than twice as many Facebook fans. Kozlov comes out dressed like JTG, including the grille (made out of tin foil), and even does the entrance.

1 - VLADIMIR KOZLOV vs. JTG

They check each other out and JTG lands the cheap shot, then starts undressing Kozlov. Kozlov catches him off the ropes and tosses him with a fall away slam. They go to the outside where Vlad dominates, then rolls JTG in the ring for two. JTG's comeback gets cut off. Awkward pause before the break.

[c - WWE All Stars ]

[Q2] JTG is in control coming back from the break. JTG has his usual offense, and Kozlov looks like he has some blood coming from his nose. Kozlox rips up Kozlov's shirt. JTG continues to pound on Kozlov, Mugshot for two. Kozlov fires up and takes over the match. Kozlov with a power slam and the Iron Curtain for the win. Post-match, Kozlov takes a picture of himself planing on JTG.

WINNER: Kozlov in 8:00. Boring match, proving yet again that JTG should not be on sustained offense. Kozlov winning in two moves after being beat down is consistent with some of his previous matches. If you thought the Tatsu-Kidd feud had a lame basis, this one is even worse.

[c - "Rey Mysterio: The Life of a Masked Man" ad ]

Raw Rebound, recapping why C.M. Punk returned and the title situation. Too bad Punk didn't include Triple H hogging TV time as part of that "soul-crushing status quo."

[Q3] Tyson Kidd comes out with a microphone, claiming that he may have lost the match to Tatsu last week, but the post-match beat-down made up for it. That's some goofy logic. Kidd claims that he's gotten rid of Yoshi Tatsu. Kidd reminds us of his history and says that there is no room in "his" WWE for action figures and Yoshi Tatsu. Decent promo, definitely the longest one I've seen him cut since his ECW days. That's prediction #2 wrapped up.

[c - Smackdown hype with Mark Henry and Sheamus, Summerslam looking at Orton vs. Christian ]

2 - MATT STRIKER & TITUS O'NEIL vs. DERRICK BATEMAN & DARREN YOUNG

Titus comes out with Hornswoggle, who is prancing around with A.J., his new crush. Striker doesn't look too out of shape, Grisham points out how bad Striker's record is, and Regal asks if it's worse than his. A.J. and Hornswoggle are on commentary here. Ouch.

The match starts and Titus dominates Bateman. Regal says that Bateman's mom is in the audience, and says that he got her phone number. Striker tags in, and manages a blockbuster. Some rapid wrestling a Striker with a dropkick, and tags in O'Neil. Grisham is still ragging on Striker's record. Who decided to put Hornswoggle on commentary? Bateman gets tossed to the outside and Grisham begs for a commercial.

[c - Ad for the WrestleMania 27 broadcast on NBC. During the match, someone in the WWE chat room says, "Hornswoggle's gibberish. Titus's seal. Kozlov's double double E. JTG's slang. This show is like a submission hold on your ears." Too true.]

Striker is chain wrestling with Darren Young as A.J. and Hornswoggle feed each other candy. Striker looks really good in the ring. Young DDT's Striker face-first into the turnbuckle, unique move. Striker is taking come big offense, and Bateman tags in. Bateman is taking it to Striker pretty badly, and he's putting them over nicely. Strikers tries a Sunset Flip but doesn't quite hold onto Young, and Young scrambles to get into position for it. Striker finally tags in O'Neil who drops Young with clotheslines and knocks Bateman off the apron. Young covers O'Neil, puts his feet on the ropes, but Striker pushes him off the ropes. Young pays too much attention to Striker, and walks into O'Neil's sit-out slam for the finish.

WINNERS: Titus O'Neil and Matt Striker in 12:00. Matt Striker had some clunky moments, like the botched Sunset Flip, but did a much better job at selling than we've seen the other Rookies do in the past, and he made the match more tolerable. The match was better than I expected, which means my pre-show call of a "wretched" match was wrong.

Final Reax: NXT: Redemption has essentially become its own show similar to ECW before it closed up. The Pros are getting as much time as the Rookies, and everyone gets a chance to jump in the ring it seems like. At the rate the show is going, I expect to see an A.J.-Maryse match, or perhaps get Grisham in the ring. There is still no sign of an elimination any time soon.

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