WWE NXT Report
November 23, 2011
Taped 11/22 in Wiles-Barre, Pa.
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

First Thoughts: Well, it looks like my hopes to see Derrick Bateman on the main roster may be coming true, and it gave Ted DiBiase something to do on Smackdown. Now where is my Brodus Clay debut? ... I hate to say it, but "Dirty Curty" (or is it "Flirty Curty") is growing on me, much like the ill-fated Lucky Cannon... I have tickets to Raw next week, and I chose that over Smackdown since I have never been to a Raw broadcast show before. However, now I regret it since next Tuesday will be a live Smackdown with Mick Foley, and because I officially consider NXT to be a better show than Raw at the moment, which is really sad.

[Q1] On announcing, it's Matt Striker and William Regal (that should be a good team), and Darren Young's abrasive music hits to send Mr. "No Days Off" (except for suspensions) down the ramp. Regal actually says that Young's finisher is called the "Gut Check," which is useful to know. Young cuts a promo on Titus O'Neil saying that he panders to the crowd, but they can't help him beat Darren Young. He uses the word "wrestle" a few times.

Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins come out and say that they were not impressed by his actions last week, but they are impressed by the way he did the attack. Hawkins says that he knows that Young has worked hard, and that they think he has "it" and can make it in the WWE. That's kind of funny coming from two guys who should be thankful to be on NXT.

Percy Watson and Titus O'Neil come out and knock Darren Young, then say Reks has no charisma. Titus is stumbling over his words a lot, but he says that he is going to make his agenda clear, and cheap-shots Darren Young. They chase the heels out of the ring. Striker, from the announce desk, books Reks and Young against Watson and O'Neil. Regal questions why Striker can book events.

[ c - Raw hype, focused on Punk - Del Rio for the WWE Championship, WWEShop.com ]

Good gracious, that ad for WWEShop.com actually featured Broski merchandise.

Back from break, BetaMax is on guest commentary.

Yoshi Tatsu comes out for a match. He has managed to lose just about all the support he used to have. Pre-match, Bateman says he is on a temporary contract to be on Smackdown and impress Teddy Long. Nice to know that all NXT Rookies need to do is make a call to Long to get a call up...

1 - YOSHI TATSU vs. JOHNNY CURTIS

Tatsu chases Curtis to the corner after winning an early lock-up. Regal claims to have been married 16 times. Tatsu continues to maintain control. There is some bizarre banter here. Curtis is selling as if Tatsu is wearing lead gloves, but he turns it around. He goes to the apron, shimmies his rear in Maxine's direction (or perhaps he is trying to impress Regal?), and then launches himself over the ropes and leg drops Yoshi for a two count.

Curtis prepares for a suplex, but waves to Maxine first. Bateman gets annoyed and Maxine says that she can't control his behavior. Bateman starts getting riled up about the Maxine-Curtis situation as Tatsu gets out. Maxine storms out, and gives Curtis a lingering look on her way out. Bateman brags about trending on Twitter, so I guess he's ready for Raw. Curtis gives Maxine the "call me" sign as she leaves the ramp.

[Q2] Tatsu goes on the attack with chops and strikes, then lands a running spinning heel kick. Curtis dodges a big boot and puts Yoshi on the turnbuckle, but Tatsu fights off the superplex. Yoshi with the top rope heel kick for the win.

WINNER: Yoshi Tatsu in 5:00. This was an angle, not a match, and the folks in the ring didn't give it their all as a result.

Post-match, Bateman checks up on Curtis in the ring and then walks out given him dirty looks.

[ c - "Stone Cold Steve Austin" DVD ad ]

Striker says that there is a backstage ruckus, and they cut to backstage with Bateman and Maxine. They are arguing about the Curtis situation. Maxine is angry with Bateman for not helping with anything at home, but he says he's busy on Smackdown. She says that there is no "playtime between you and me" until he gets his priorities in order. Curtis comes out of nowhere to stick a needle in Bateman's eye over the argument. Bateman tells Curtis to back off, but he vows to get with Maxine.

[ c - "The Reunion" DVD ad ]

The Usos come out, do their entrance, and grab microphones. They say that they don't just represent themselves, but every Samoan that stepped in the ring, like Yokozuna, The Wild Samoans, Umaga, and Rikishi. So weird to hear Umaga namedropped on WWE. They explain that "Usos" mean "brothers" and that "Us" means "brother" and that WWE has been good to their family. They lead the crowd in saying "Use-Ol" JTG comes out with Tamina, who is dressed like Sigourney Weaver in "Ghostbusters." Tamina takes the mic and says that their history doesn't mean that the Usos can tell her what to do, and that she has a good man that's going to beat Jimmy.

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

JTG with early control, but his showboating lets Jimmy kip up and slap him out of the ring. JTG uses Tamina as a shield and he gets back in the ring, but Jimmy ducks a punch and sends JTG to the corner. JTG turns things around and goes on his generic offense routine. Striker goes on a long series of famous Samoans in WWE, and Regal says he'd like to see Rikishi come out and dance on the stage. On the outside, Jey rallies the crowd to get Jimmy fired up. He fights out of a hold and slaps JTG a number of times, sends him to the corner and splashes him.

[Q3] Jimmy with the stinkface, which gets two. JTG slips our of a Samoan drop attemp, tries a drop down punch, but gets superkicked in the face. Jimmy goes to the top with the Superfly Splash for the win.

WINNER: Jimmy Uso in 6:00. This match never got out of neutral, let along second gear. JTG just doesn't put on good matches, and the Usos haven't mastered singles matches yet.

[ c - Raw ad ]

Percy Watson and Titus O'Neil come out for the main event to Percy's music, but the 'Tron says "Titus O'Neil." They really need to get this straight in the truck.

3 - PERCY WATSON & TITUS O'NEIL vs. TYLER REKS & DARREN YOUNG (w/Curt Hawkins)

Watson and Young start off, but Young hides in the ropes when it looks like Watson may have the better of him. Watson gets the better of him once he gets his hands on him. Percy tags in Titus, but Young runs to the corner to bring in Reks. Reks mocks Titus, so Titus hauls off and punches him in the mouth. Back-and-forth between Reks and O'Neil, and Reks drags Titus to the corner to tag in Young. Heel teamwork in the corner by Reks and Young. Titus blocks Reks's suplex, and counters with one of his own, and tags in Watson. Watson with a pair of dropkicks and a flying clothesline and a throw send Reks to the ringside to catch a break. Percy with a leap over the rope to take them out as they cut to break.

[ c - Smackdown ad promising follow up on the World Heavyweight Championship's future ]

Out of the break, Reks fights out of a double team situation and isolates Watson, and eventually settles into a side headlock. Regal is excited to be in "WWE '12" because he has abs. Strikers asks if Regal likes video games and he says that he just likes to see how good he looks in the game, with abs. Young tags in and continues the assault. Regal praises Young and Reks for sticking with the basic tag match formula. Regal says he was always impressed by Young, even when they had their spat. Reks tags in and abuses Watson some more. He starts yammering at the crowd, and Watson tries to use that as a chance to come back.

Gordbuster from Reks prompts Striker to say they need a Twitter campaign to get Arn Anderson in the Hall of Fame. Reks clears Titus from the apron, but that lets Watson surprise him with a back body drop. Watson kicks Reks away and both men tag out. O'Neil knocks Reks off the apron, and does his hot tag routine. Reks breaks up a pin so Watson clears him, then Young clears Young. O'Neil prepares for the end, but Hawkins distracts him, so Young is able to hit the Gut Check for the win.

WINNERS: Tyler Reks and Darren Young in 10:00. I like Tyler Reks, I like Percy Watson, but this was a really generic tag match where the whole match was just filler for the "everyone clears everyone from the ring until one person hits a finisher" ending. Interesting to see them so high on Darren Young fresh off of a suspension.

Final Reax: Ho-hum episode of NXT. The best parts, by far, involved Johnny Curtis, Derrick Bateman, and Maxine. Bateman is sympathetic as the boyfriend who is being told "nothing happened" when it looks like something is about to happen, Maxine plays the cold blooded shrew to a T, and Johnny Curtis makes me want to punch him on behalf of every man who had a girlfriend cheat on him. That's pretty good, considering that three or four weeks ago Bateman was a solid heel and Johnny Curtis was in the "where are they now?" bin. I hate to say it, but the Bateman/Curtis/Maxine situation is more interesting, as a storyline, than anything on Raw right now.

[Torch photo (c) PWTorch.com]

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