WWE NXT results
November 9, 2011
Taped 11/8 in Liverpool, England
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

One of the things that's annoyed me a bit about the shift in NXT's time is that by the time I see it, they have the names of clips posted below the main video. So, for example, it's clear that tonight's show will feature JTG vs. Jimmy Uso. Outside of that, I'd like to see more of Tyson Kidd and an announcement regarding the end of "NXT: Redemption," as well as more matches involving A.J. and Kaitlyn. Also, Darren Young's suspension should be wrapping up (or wrapped up), so it will be interesting to see if he returns, although all signs are that he won't.

NXT Rookies:
Derrick Bateman
Titus O'Neil

Regular NXT cast:
Matt Striker ("host" and occasional wrestler)
William Regal (announcer and occasional wrestler)
Jack Korpela (announcer)
Tyson Kidd
Yohsi Tatsu
The Usos
Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks
JTG
Percy Watson
Maxine (Derrick Bateman's fiance)
A.J.
Kaitlyn

[Q1] Hmm, it sounds like Josh Matthews is on announcing duties instead of Jack Korpela. Matt Striker is in the ring with Percy Watson, Titus O'Neil, Derrick Bateman, and Maxine. I really am not in the mood for fish jokes, but I'm sure we'll hear them. Bateman says that Striker failed to introduce "BetaMax" and he updates the audience on his love for her and they kiss, prompting Titus O'Neil to make a couple of fish references. Striker says that as the host, he's been assessing the Rookies in the ring, on the mic, and in the locker room. The last criteria is new, as is the idea that Striker is the one doing the judging. He compliments both of them, says they have a lot to learn, and then Johnny Curtis comes out.

Johnny says that the audience ("the idiots who tune in every week," specifically) has a lot to learn. He says he is disgusted with how bad NXT has become. He says that NXT 4 was about challenges and competitions, but NXT: Redemption is about "rejects" and "lovebirds." Titus steps up to the plate, and Bateman calls him out for doing nothing since winning and says he thought Curtis was his friend. Curtis says they were never friends and that Maxine is too good for Bateman and insinuates that something happened between them. Maxine says they went out just once and "nothing happened." Striker tried to ease the tension by saying that he's sure that Maxine went out with lots of men just once, did nothing with, and forgot about, and says they need to co-operate. Striker books Curtis and Bateman against O'Neil and Watson in the main event.

[ c - "WWE's Greatest Rivalries: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart" - DVD ad ]

Wait, now we're hearing Matt Striker in the announce booth, too? Odd. Striker says that Regal is visiting friends and family.

1 - TRENT BARRETA vs. TYSON KIDD

This has the potential to be a great match. Early chain wrestling as Striker recalls seeing Tyson Kidd as "T.J." back in the day. Kidd and Barreta make chain wrestling not just technical, but fast-paced and exciting. Kidd dominates Barreta in the chain wrestling, lots of very unique moves here. Sadly, the audience is dead and unappreciative of this. Barreta clears Kidd from the ring but Kidd avoids the dive. They go back-and-forth on the autside and Kidd catapults Trent into the ringpost.

[ c - "Raw gets ROCKED" ad ]

Kidd has Barreta in a Dragon Sleeper hold on the mat, he gets some separation but Kidd keeps up the assault. Double clothesline takes both men down. Matthews asks about the challenges and points, and Striker says that he works with headquarters to direct the show.

[Q2] Trent hits an enziguri to turn the tide. Striker tries to explain the logic of non-Rookies being on the show as making a name for themselves and protect their spot. Trent with a cross-body off the turnbuckle that is more than halfway across the ring. Barreta with more offense, but telegraphs a back body drop, so Kidd sends him to the corner. Kidd charges, Trent puts his legs up and turns the normal boots to the face into a Warrior's Way-like double stomp to the chest, which is a great twist to shake things up. Striker points out that with the WWE Network coming up, everyone is on their toes to jockey for air time. He says that Mathews is poised to be the Chris Berman of WWE Network, all over it.

Kidd shrugs off a Dudebuster DDT, counter-attacks with a roundhouse to the head, then with a dangerous buster that looked, well, deadly. That gets him two. Kidd kicks Barreta out of the ring. Kidd looks steamed and charges Trenth, who catches Kidd in mid-leap in a powerbomb position but uses Kidd's momentum to then throw him over his head and onto the barricade, then follows up with his corkscrew moonsault off the barricade. The crowd is finally invested in this match, but Trent Barreta has had to nearly kill himself a few times for that to happen.

Kidd rolls into the ring and Trent gets an elbow drop over the rope for two. Both men are selling hard. Trent puts Tyson on the turnbuckle and tries a huracanrana, Kidd holds onto the ropes, and in mid-move, transitions it into a single leg crab, drags Barreta to mid-ring, and he taps.

WINNER: Tyson Kidd in 15:00. At a technical level, that is most likely going to be the best match from either TNA or WWE all week, if not all month. It was that good. Too bad the audience didn't have anything to sink their teeth into in terms of story or characters. This could be a PPV match, but WWE needs to learn to put some air time behind people like Barreta and Kidd who can put on a great match. It was really sad to see Trent Barreta take some pretty nasty bumps and spots (as he always does) for a match that only a few people actually care about.

[ c - Survivor Series, WWE Network ]

Backstage, Bateman is angry at Maxine for having a date with Curtis, and says he has some skeletons in his closet but nothing like Curtis. Maxine drags out a list of Bateman's past women that seems pretty embarrassing. Curtis appears and says that he can think of some things that weren't meaningful or fun, one of which is NXT and the other is Maxine. She slaps him silly. Bateman overanalyses it and walks off. Curtis starts playing with Maxine's hair, and Bateman comes back and yanks her away.

JTG is talking up Tamina and putting some moves on her, and The Usos interrupt and say that she should mess with him. She tells them to not be like her dad, they say that Santino was better than JTG. JTG says her dad would be happy for him to date his daughter, since they are both "super... fly." Tamina thinks that's funny. JTG insults them and they challenge him to a match, Tamina will be in his corner.

[ c - Smackdown hype, Westlemania ad ]

Apparently, the Usos share a Twitter account.

2 - JIMMY USO (w/Jey Uso) vs. JTG (w/Tamina)

JTG runs to the corner to avoid Jimmy. Jimmy with a waistlock that JTG turns around. JTG takes sown Jimmy with a shoulder tackle and mocks their war dance entrance. JTG with a side headlock but Jimmy turns it into a headlock of his own. Jimmy catches JTG's foot and slaps him hard. Jimmy stays in control but JTG dumps him outside.

[Q3] Jimmy fights JTG away from the ropes and goes up top, but Tamina distracts him so JTG can get in control. Matthews says that Striker is the only one on NXT not dating someone. JTG slows it down some with more generic rest holds, then gets the Mugshot for two. Striker and Mathews argue over what to discuss, Jimmy gets his full nelson sit-out slam and a stinkface for two. JTG slips out of the Samoan Drop and turns it into a suplex for two. Jimmy with a one-man Alley-Us, and goes up top for the Superfly Slash for the win.

WINNER: Jimmy Uso in 10:00. That is the first time I can recall the "already in the ring back from the break" person winning a match. This match lacked juice. At least Kidd and Barreta could use speed and high flying to get the crowd rallied, these two just couldn't get them engages. The match itself was okay.

[ c - Raw gets ROCKED ad, "The Reunion" DVD ad ]

Percy and Titus seem to have a team Titantron. Curtis tries holding Maxine's hand on the way to the ring, but Bateman stops it. This feels like a beginning of a face turn for Bateman with a possible split from Maxine.

3 - PERCY WATSON & TITUS O'NEIL vs. JOHNNY CURTIS & DERRICK BATEMAN (w/Maxine)

Watson starts with some chain wrestling with Bateman. Watson turns up the heat with a throw and dropkick, and Bateman tags Curtis in. Watson tags in O'Neil as Bateman and Mxine jaw at each other. Maxine cheers for Curtis but then defends her cheering for him. Watson and O'Neil with double teaming and rapid tags. Watson clears Bateman for no good reason, and Curtis cheapshots Watson. As the ref talks to Curtis, Bateman rams Watson into the ringpost and rolls him into the ring. Curtis keeps control over Watson.

Bateman tags in and continues the beating on Watson. Bateman runs the ropes but Watson catches him with a facebuster, and they both tag out. O'Neil with his usual hot tag routine. He shakes the ropes and does the shoulder breaker but Bateman breaks up the pin. Watson with an enziguri to send Bateman to the outside.

O'Neil tries the Clash of the Titus on Johnny, but the ref is distracted by Percy so Bateman hits him from behind. They then double-team Titus, Bateman with a chop block and Johnny with a clothesline, Bateman drags Watson out as Curtis pins O'Neil.

Post-match: Maxine looks smug on the outside as Curtis offers a Bateman a handshake. Bateman drags Maxine away but she seems reluctant to leave.

WINNER: Johnny Curtis and Derrick Bateman in 8:00.

Final Reax: Johnny Curtis was not nearly this interesting in or out of the ring on NXT 4, that's for sure! He's really finding his place as a wrestler and a character. The three-way romance is an interesting idea and it seems to be leading to a Bateman face turn, which I would appreciate. Lots of good wrestling tonight, and a really outstanding match with Tyson Kidd and Trent Barreta, catch it on replay if you can. The big downsides were no A.J. and Kaitlyn, no William Regal, and little emphasis on ending the season.

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