WWE NXT alt. perspective report
September 13, 2011
Taped in Toronto, Ont., Canada
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

Well, last week featured the return of Yoshi Tatsu with a brand new gimmick. I am not sure if it is an improvement or if I like the new style that came with it. But, hey, WWE explained and built up the gimmick change better than most shows do now. Titus O'Neil is slowly sliding onto the main roster, with a tag match with "Showtime" Percy Watson on Superstars last week. I was a fan of Percy Watson on NXT 2. And Brodus Clay continues his squash match build-up while Johnny Curtis languishes in obscurity.

This week, I'm sure we'll see more of Yoshi Tatsu and Tyson Kidd, and build toward Matt Striker and William Regal against Darren Young and JTG. Derrick Bateman is building an anti-Hornswoggle feud, and I think he has the ability to turn lemons into lemonade if he can continue to recapture his old charm like he did in the hilarious backstage segment from last week. I'd also like to see more of A.J. and Maxine in the ring, and possibly get Naomi back too. Hey, NXT's website has Yoshi Tatsu's new look posted.

NXT Rookies (and Pros):
Titus O'Neil (Hornswoggle with A.J.)
Darren Young (Chavo Guerrero - released)
Derrick Bateman with Maxine (Daniel Bryan - on strike)
Conor O'Brian (Vladmir Kozlov - released)
Lucky Cannon - released (Tyson Kidd)
Byron Saxton (Yoshi Tatsu)
Jacob Novak - release (JTG)

[Q1] Opening the show, Matt Striker says that he wants to talk about last week's mess with JTG, William Regal, and Darren Young. He compares himself to a "skilled athlete" and says that JTG (I think, it cut out) is a "goon" (an unskilled athlete). JTG and Darren Young come out to interrupt and Regal comes into the ring to back up Striker. Regal is dressed to wrestle with a polo shirt over trucks and boots. Striker hypes Regal and says that he is better than JTG. Young says that guys like himself and JTG are the future, like JTG is a rookie or something. Regal says, "We're not doing this to teach us a lesson, we're doing this to teach you a lesson." Great line. Regal says that if they knocked his looks, they'd have it right, but if they say he needs to give it up, then they'll be embarrassed when he beats them senseless. Young and JTG challenge Regal and Striker to a match, and Striker accepts. Regal says that he is "straight up gangsta trippin'" and acts crazy. The heels bail and the faces chase them out. Regal gets JTG's hate and the pair mug in the ring.

Backstage, Derick Bateman is with Tyson Kidd. Good pairing.

[c - Recap of the Triple H - C.M. Punk situation, leading to their match at NOC, hype for Hugh Jackman on Raw next week]

Derick Bateman and Tyson Kidd come out, surprisingly to Bateman's music. Where's Maxine? Maybe she's kidnapping Hornswoggle right now. Titus O'Neil and "Showtime" Percy Watson come out to Titus's new music that debuted on Superstars last week.

1 - TITUS O'NEIL & PERCY WATSON vs. TYSON KIDD & DERRICK BATEMAN - Tag Team Match

Percy and Bateman start things off with some basic holds. Percy tags in Titus, they double team Bateman but celebrate and let him roll away to tag in Kidd. That makes them look incompetent. O'Neil quickly dominates Kidd as Korpela explains why Percy Watson is here and gives some backstory. Unique double team as O'Neil holds Kidd and Watson dropkicks him. Kidd tags in Bateman who goes on the offense against Watson. Bateman has a bit more athleticism on display tonight. Watson and Bateman trade chops, and Bateman corners Watson and tags in Kidd. Kidd gets Titus riled up to distract the ref while Bateman cheap shots Watson. Kidd holds Watson down, who can't power out, which is laughable considering the size of Tyson Kidd. Bateman tags in and cuts off Watson's comeback attempt.

[Q2] One thing that's really consistent is that the people on the NXT Chat on WWE's website are in love with Tyson Kidd's talent, for good reason. Kidd tags in and does some hard hitting ground 'n pound. Watson counters a Kidd top rope move with a dropkick, and tags in Titus. Kidd tags in Bateman. O'Neil takes Bateman down with shoulder tackles, shakes the ropes and hits Bateman with a bodyslam. Kidd creaks up the cover and clears Watson from the apron. Bateman wails away on Titus, but O'Neil shoves him off into the ropes, and catches him with the sit-out slam on the rebound for the win.

WINNERS: Titus O'Neil and Percy Watson in 10:00. Decent match, no slow points, and no botches.

[c - "Randy Orton: The Evolution of a Predator" DVD ad, WWEShop.com ad]

Backstage, A.J. is on the phone leaving a message for Hornswoggle saying she wishes she could find him. Maxine comes out, and A.J. says she knows Maxine has Hornswoggle. She says that we went to Florida with the Bella Twins. A.J. doesn't believe it, and shows her a picture on her phone. A.J. looks crushed, but says that she doesn't believe it. Maxine mentions that "Photoshop is great" once A.J. leaves.

[c - Sheamus teaches kids to "Be A S.T.A.R." ]

2 -- A.J. vs. MAXINE

Maxine goes on the attack early, but A.J. pushes her off and hits a basement dropkick, then a monkey flip out of the corner. Maxine with an inverted atomic drop, then puts A.J. into the ringpost. Maxine with a camel clutch. Maxine with heelish offense. Korpela notes that this is the second time that Hornswoggle's been kidnapped on NXT: Redemption. Maxine with more holds and trash talking. Maxine's style is very similar to the larger male wrestlers, which is interesting to see. A.J. fights out, but a big boot from Maxine gets a two count. The crowd is hot for A.J.

Maxine with a neckbreaker for two, then goes to a series of Sheamus-like fists ot the chest from behind. A.J. gets her boots off to stop Maxine's charge, then does a crossbody from the second rope for two. A,J. counters Maxine's kick with one of her own for two. Maxine picks up A.J. and drops her headfirst. Maxine with a weird finisher, like a belly-to-belly Glam Slam, which gets her the win. Post-match, Titus O'Neil comes out to tend to A.J. as Maxine struts away.

WINNER: Maxine in 8:00. That match was better than it had any right to be. Maxine's style is really like a man's, which is a good thing to help take the Divas seriously. A.J. is exciting to watch, and she makes a great underdog. Nice to see a heel get a clean, mid-ring win after dominating the bulk of the match.

[c - Night of Champions ad featuring Alberto Del Rio and John Cena, Smackdown hype]

3 - WILLIAM REGAL & MATT STRIKER vs. JTG & DARREN YOUNG - Tag Team Match

Korpela handling commentary by himself is surprisingly good as he intros the match. Oh geez, Michael Cole is here on commentary.

Regal and JTG start out, but Regal takes a moment to jaw at Cole. Regal offers JTG a handshake, but he declines. Cole's back to his full heel personality, which is funny in limited amounts but I'm not in the mood for it. Regal tricks JTG into running the ropes constantly, and eventually throws JTG over the ropes. Striker beats on JTG outside as Regal attacks Young on the corner. Regal and Striker pick up JTG like a battering ram and smash him into Young, and stand tall in the ring as they cut to commercial.

[c - WWE Network ad]

Back from break, Regal is dominating Darren Young. Cole says that Regal is the only one in the match with class, knocks Striker as being a loser, JTG as a moron, and Young as a never-was. Cole continues to rip Striker saying he wasn't good enough to wrestle or do commentary so he's on NXT. Striker is getting abused by Young, and JTG tags in. JTG keeps Striker on the mat while Cole starts to tear Korpella apart on commentary. Now he's babbling about Triple H at his desk reviewing Korpela's giant expense report, then insults Korpela for being on the Internet, not TV. Striker's roll-up gets two. Cole says that Zack Ryder's show gets more hits than NXT. In the ring is typical heel offense. Korpela is trying harder to call this match despite Cole than J.R. did last night on Raw.

Striker with a Jawbreaker to break out and tag in Regal, JTG tags in Young. Regal takes his offense into high speed, faster than I've ever seen him before. JTG tries to sneak in and gets a back body drip for his efforts. Regal tags in Striker who wallops Young. Striker with a high speed big boot then running kick to the face. JTG breaks up the pin and regal dumps him out. Striker stalks Young, Young counters. Striker tries a Backstabber but Young grabs the ropes. Young with a unique flip to grab Striker, then gets him into a fireman's carry from the ground, stands up, and his his fallaway gutbuster finisher.

Post-match, the Uso Brothers charge the ring and dump JTG and Darren Young outside. Huh?

WINNERS: JTG and Darren Young. The match was a typical "heels dominate the face" tag team routine with nothing unique to offer, which is totally on JTG and Darren Young. Striker and Regal did their parts well. Cole was completely insufferable on commentary. In the chat, they did a poll and only 16 percent of responders said they like him. Yes, he's funny, and he says a lot of true things, but I want to focus on the in-ring action! Korpella did his best, which was admirable. The Usos showing up makes zero sense.

Final Reax: No Yoshi Tatsu was odd. Striker didn't get in much of his exciting offense. The best match of the night was definitely the Divas match. That's probably the only time in my life that I'll ever say that. While it was not technically outstanding, the contrasting styles told a good story and the outcome wasn't obvious. Maxine and A.J. have both improved quite a bit since NXT: 3. It will be interesting to see how the trickle of new blood will change NXT: Redemption. It's interesting that they don't even bother mentioning the "competition" of the show anymore.

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