WWE NXT alt. perspective review
August 16, 2011
Taped in Bakersfield, Calif.
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

Coming into Week 24 of "NXT: Redemption" and still having Summerslam in my mind, I am shocked that no one has asked the obvious: why is William Regal still on NXT and Booker T is calling PPVs and Zackdown? And why hasn't Michael Cole gonged Booker T yet? I'm calling it here folks, Chavo is going to show up on TNA before "NXT: Redemption" wraps up. And, how about that Johnny Curtis debut? After weeks of build up, he gets fed to the Mark Henry machine. Why? Did Trent Barreta have the night off? Or, maybe WWE management is sending Curtis down the Kizarny route, which would be just find with me (yes, this is the second time I've referenced Kizarny with regards to Johnny Curtis).

This season is still just meandering along, with no sign of an elimination in sight, and they are so devoid of wrestlers on the roster they're dragging Matt Striker into the ring again. Titus O'Neil looks like he should eventually win. Maybe the Tatsu-Kidd feud will pick up again? Or Striker - Young?

NXT Rookies (and Pros):
Titus O'Neil (Hornswoggle)
Darren Young (Chavo Guerrero)
Derrick Bateman (Daniel Bryan, currently on strike until Bateman shapes up)
Conor O'Brian (Vladimir Kozlov)
Lucky Cannon (Tyson Kidd)
Byron Saxton (Yoshi Tatsu)
Jacob Novak (JTG)

[Q1] The show opens with Titus O'Neil, Hornswoggle, and A.J. Lee coming into the ring. Good gracious, all three have mics. Titus says he's been on a journey to win NXT, and Hornswoggle has been on a journey for love. Hornswoggle cuts a promo and Titus translates. Hownswoggle has a ring pop for her, and she seems impressed. It's being used as a not-quite-wedding-ring. A.J. says it's never been "about size" and Regal declines the obvious joke.

Derrick Bateman comes out to interrupt. Bateman is dressed in jeans and baby oil. Bateman rips on Hornswoggle and Titus. Titus takes Booker T's "awkward moment" title with a yeast infection reference. Eventually Titus asks he to come to the ring and Derrick says to make him. Derrick runs to the back. A.J. is alone in the ring, but she gets ambushed by Maxine from NXT 3. Hah! My prediction from a few weeks ago came partially true, Maxine is back, just not as a love interest for Hornswoggle...or maybe that's what this was about?

[c - "The Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century" DVD, Night of Champions ]

Great, here's JTG. He's out for a match, against Tyson Kidd. Who's the heel here?

1 -- JTG vs. TYSON KIDD

I guess JTG's playing the face as Kidd slaps him a little. JTG with a quick rollup for two. JTG gets in some offense. Some back-and-forth between the two. Again, Regal says that Kidd is the standout star of NXT: Redemption, and it's true. Kidd pulls out a wicked counter by doing a rolling roll-up into a single leg Boston Crab. JTG quickly taps out. Post-match, a sound strikes and the 'Tron shows a Japanese character. Kidd looks for the ambush, but it never happens. It looks like a reboot of Yoshi Tatsu's character.

WINNER: Tyson Kidd in 4:00. JTG tapping out to a single leg Boston Crab is about one step up from tapping to an abdominal stretch. It's a bad sign for his future endeavors.

[Q2] Backstage, Striker is ready to wrestle, and explains that he's challenged Young to a re-match. He's not making excuses for his loss last week, and he's ready to win.

[c - Be a S.T.A.R.]

2 - MATT STRIKER vs. DARREN YOUNG

Striker taunts Young, outsmarts him, and uses his agility. Hot opening. Young comes back, but Striker puts Young back into the corner. Young rolls outside and Striker kicks his hands into the steps. Young back int he ring, Striker continues to work on the arm, including one nasty-looking armbar. Young escapes by getting Striker's shoulders down. Young is bleeding from the mouth. He tries the neckbreaker on the apron, but Striker escapes. Instead, he suplexes Striker onto the apron and lands on the outside. Young moves into a few different holds to take the pace down a few notches. Striker on hard offense in the corner. Young tries a springboard shoulder block, but Striker reverses it into a neckbreaker and almost gets the win but Young gets his foot on the ropes. I guess this ref should have called the Summerslam main event instead of Triple H.

Young tries for his finisher, but Striker slips out and reverses into a Backstabber for two. Striker tries a clever move that was like a cross arm breaker transitioned into a crucifix pin, but Young stands up with Striker on his shoulders and hits his finisher for the win.

WINNER: Darren Young in 5:00. Very, very good match. Striker wrestles with a passion and fire that is rarely seen outside of PPV main events, which put Young over strongly.

[c - WWEShop.com, WWE All-Stars ads]

Derrick Bateman comes out for a match, holding hands with Maxine. She needs the black hair back, to go with her "Ice Queen" persona. With brown hair, she looks like the main character on that "Necessary Roughness" show. Bateman takes the mic and introduces "the love of my life, my soulmate, my girlfriend, Maxine." She says that Hornswoggle can't handle a real woman like her. Never mind the fact that she was making out with him on NXT: 3.

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

3 - DERRICK BATEMAN (w/Maxine) vs. TITUS O'NEIL

[Q3] Titus starts off strong and the ref needs to warn him about the corner. O'Neil on strong offense and Maxine looks worried. Bateman with a sweet running dropkick for two to turn the match around. O'Neil gets a small comeback but Bateman gets his knees up when O'Neil charges, and regains control. Bacteman with a sloppy hold, and Regal tries to excuse it. Bateman continues to slow it down. Titus with a big takedown. Then, he goes with a leaping shoulder tackle then a shoulder breaker. Fallaway slam and Bateman rolls out of the ring. Titus would rather bark than follow up.

Maxine distracts Titus, allowing Bateman to catch him coming back into the ring. Maxine grabs Titus' legs when the ref is distracted, allowing Bateman to surprise O'Neil with a roll-up for the win.

WINNER: Derrick Bateman in 8:00. Not a great match, but it put over the basic story that Bateman is a heel, Maxine is a heel, and she will cheat to help him win.

[c - Smackdown hype ]

Replay of Mysterio-Del Rio from Monday night's Raw, then end show.

Final Reax: Matt Striker looks better than at least half the main roster right now. I like his fire and use of innovative moves. Once again, he made Darren Young look good. Tyson Kidd beating JTG with a single leg Boston Crab was just pathetic; I can't remember the last time anyone tapped out to that hold. It really looked like one of those "one final, embarrassing squash match before we release you" moments. The rest of the episode was decent, and it is interesting how they are now using NXT: Redemption as a backdoor vehicle to get some mic and ring time for the NXT: 3 Divas. Maxine's return was semi-predictable (albeit, not in this role) and quite welcome; in her final few weeks on NXT: 3, I thought she really stood out from the crowd with some unique promos and charisma. Speaking of which, where has Maryse been? I miss her.

[Torch art credit Neal Obermeyer (c) PWTorch.com]

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