WWE NXT TV Results
October 5, 2011 - Season 5, Week 31
Taped 10/4 in Biloxi, Miss.
Aired on WWE's website
By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

The cast of Season Five of WWE NXT (Pros):

-- Darren Young (Chavo Guerrero (released))
-- Titus O'Neil (Hornswoggle)
-- Derrick Bateman (Daniel Bryan)
-- Jacob Novak (JTG) - eliminated Week 11
-- Byron Saxton (Yoshi Tatsu) - eliminated Week 13
-- Lucky Cannon (Tyson Kidd) - eliminated Week 15
-- Conor O'Brian (Kozlov (released)) - eliminated Week 17

This week's debut episode on Wednesday afternoons opened with Jack Korpela introducing the show and noting WWE has been full of chaos and controversy this week. Curt Hawkins's music then played to bring out Hawkins and Tyler Reks in street clothes.

In the ring, Reks and Hawkins sat on the top turnbuckles and Hawkins defined himself down by noting he actually has a microphone. He referenced the walk-out on Raw before running down NXT. Hawkins said this show is the Hawkins & Reks show tonight. Reks then spoke about taking out the Usos last week. Before that, though, Reks said he's proud of them for walking out on Triple H last night. Reks said he hates Triple H for dishing out opportunities to second-generation wrestlers who squander them, like the Usos. They went back and forth on having zero opportunities and zero opportunities squandered. Reks claimed this is their show now. Hawkins said the system may be broken, but it will not break Hawkins & Reks.

Cue up the Usos's theme music to interrupt the proceedings. Jimmy & Jey walked out in street clothes. Jimmy, fresh off a DUI last week, spoke first as Hawkins mocked Jimmy by pretending to be drunk driving. Jey said the Usos are "earning the right to entertain" the people in Biloxi. Jimmy said what's not entertaining is watching Hawkins & Reks complain about what happened on Raw despite earning nothing. He told them to take an opportunity against them tonight. Jimmy then popped Hawkins and the fight was on. The Usos easily cleared the heels, drawing cheers from the Biloxi crowd.

[Break]

In-ring: Back from break, Korpela told William Regal they have a lot to talk about from Raw as Titus O'Neil came out alone for the first match of the show. Regal said he has no problem with Triple H as COO and he was very torn about walking out on him. He said he walked out because it's far too much for Hunter to handle running WWE. Out came Derrick Bateman flanked by Maxine to face Titus.

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

Bateman started off in control of the match as Regal introduced this week's Fascinating Maxine Fact: her uncle likes to train monkeys and dilly-dally around flea markets. Korpela then noted Hornswoggle has left NXT and is residing on Smackdown only. With Bateman still on the defensive, Regal suggested Titus is now boring and bland after losing Hornswoggle's mentoring services. Titus finally made a comeback with an overhead slam that slowed down Bateman. Titus then ripped off a flurry of offense before landing a powerslam for a close two count. Titus became distracted by Maxine, though, allowing Bateman to clip him from behind and score with a bulldog for the win.

WINNER: Bateman at 5:12. Will this lead to the return of Hornswoggle to pep up Titus? Will A.J. now manage Titus? Will NXT ever end?

Still to come: Usos vs. Hawkins & Reks tonight.

[Break]

Raw Rebound: Highlights of Triple H being walked out on by the WWE roster. Who's trying to sabotage Triple H?

Backstage: JTG and Darren Young were shown talking before Yoshi Tatsu walked into the shot. The heels made fun of Yoshi Tatsu's facepaint. "Not make-up. Symbol of pride," he said. JTG laughed, then told Yoshi to bring his Avon to the ring tonight. Yoshi sternly walked off, then saw someone stole his facepaint and wrote a message on his mirror. Say no to bullying.

[Break]

In-ring: Yoshi Tatsu was out first and without facepaint since it was stolen. The poor audience continues to be conflicted when Yoshi's happy, fun-time music leads to a more serious Yoshi coming to the ring. JTG then came out with D-Young to face Yoshi.

2 -- JTG (w/Darren Young) vs. YOSHI TATSU

Regal said he's having issues with Yoshi this season because it was an action figure leg at first and now it's facepaint when he needs to be more concerned about winning matches. On the outside, D-Young mocked Yoshi with make-up, so Yoshi kicked him in the head. Back in the ring, JTG took advantage of Yoshi losing focus and went to work on him with kicks and stomps. The crowd rallied behind Yoshi, but JTG cut him off and D-Young mocked Yoshi again after recovering from the kick to the head. JTG hit the mug shot out of the corner, but Yoshi kicked out in time. Yoshi made a full comeback at 4:00, then went up top. Yoshi connected with his signature top-rope roundhouse kick and it was good for the win. Mike Chioda, spokesman for the referees who walked out on Triple H, raised Yoshi's hand in victory. D-Young then checked on JTG as Yoshi celebrated the victory.

WINNER: Yoshi at 4:52. Basic story played out in the ring. Good recovery win for Yoshi after the head-scratching loss to Jinder Mahal last week.

Backstage: Daniel Bryan was shown walking down the hallway. He stared at his blue MITB briefcase and shook his head, apparently examining whether it's a curse. He faces Heath Slater next.

[Break]

In-ring: D-Bryan came to the ring with his MITB briefcase as Korpela noted Bryan plans to cash in at WrestleMania 28. Bryan stared down at the briefcase, selling anger toward it, before Slater came out to face Bryan.

3 -- DANIEL BRYAN vs. HEATH SLATER

Korpela noted Slater was proud of himself for walking out on Triple H. Regal said he wasn't, but he did it out of necessity to send a message Hunter has too much responsibility on his plate. Regal then heeled on wrestlers thinking they're not getting opportunities when perhaps they don't deserve an opportunity, turning the storyline into a "worked shoot" direct from management. Regal added that people like Bryan, Sheamus, and Ted DiBiase actually go in the ring and try to be the best while other wrestlers sit in the stands all day and never ask questions or try to improve.

In the ring, Bryan dominated before Slater cut him off to begin working him over. On the floor, Bryan reversed a whip into the guardrail and followed with a running knee smash from the ring apron. Back in the ring, Slater crotched Bryan on the top turnbuckle and went back to work on Bryan. Slater's advantage didn't last long, as Bryan fired up a comeback and delivered trademark strikes. Slater tried to fight back, but Bryan caught him a Dragonscrew leg whip right into the Regal Stretch center-ring. Slater quickly tapped out. Post-match, Bryan shot a look toward Regal to acknowledge the finisher. After a replay, Regal noted Bryan has been frustrated lately due to the losing streak and perhaps this will snap him out of it.

WINNER: Bryan via submission at 5:41. That was perhaps Slater's best in-ring performance in some time. There's something to be said about when wrestlers get in the ring with Bryan, he forces them to raise their game. Also, nice showcase for Bryan displaying his intensity and trademark offense.

[Break]

In-ring: Hawkins and Reks came to the ring first for the main event, prompting a look back to events at the top of the show when the Usos cleared them from the ring. The Usos came out next and did pumped themselves with their pre-match war dance before storming the ring.

4 -- THE USOS (JIMMY & JEY USO) vs. CURT HAWKINS & TYLER REKS

Regal went back to heeling on wrestlers who complain about not getting opportunities as the heels worked over Jey to begin the match. The Usos then combined for a great Samoan Drop during their comeback before the action broke down. Jimmy and Reks ended up on the outside. Back in the ring, Jey delivered a big superkick on Hawkins before climbing up top. Reks distracted him, though, and Hawkins tossed Jey to the mat. Hawkins then went up top for a heat-seeking elbow drop for the pin and the win, dashing the hopes of the fans. Regal said Hawkins and Reks need to do something with this victory instead of just complaining. After a replay, they showed the Usos recovering as Regal finished his show-long "pep talk" to the younger stars to make a statement like Hawkins and Reks just did.

WINNERS: Hawkins & Reks at 4:50. Short main event, but effective for keeping the issue alive and the Usos on the chase.

FINAL THOUGHT: NXT is officially Superstars now. There's no sense of a Rookie competition show and NXT has become a showcase for mid-carders, just with the same characters every week, which differentiates it from Superstars.

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for an "NXT TV Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on NXT, email to pwtorch@gmail.com using our Feedback form.

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