WWE NXT Report
February 1, 2012
Taped 12/31 in Omaha, Neb.
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

As "NXT: Redemption" nears the one-year mark (most of which has been with a mere three "Rookies"), I am amazed at just how much story they manage to pack into a one-hour show that theoretically has only three main characters. The end result is that all of the NXT Rookies are better defined than almost any main roster member outside the top tier, and even the supporting cast like Matt Striker, Maxine, and Johnny Curtis are multi-layered characters at this point. I would like to see the Raw and/or Smackdown mid-card could receive the same focus as the NXT cast. If I had a guess, I'd say that this week's show is headed for more hijinks with Johnny Curtis, Maxine, and Derrick Bateman, and the teaser promised a tag match of Titus O'Neil and Darren Young against Percy Watson and Alex Riley, which was pretty obvious.

Rookies

Derrick Bateman
Titus O'Neil
Darren Young

NXT Regulars

Matt Striker
William Regal
Josh Mathews
JTG
Yoshi Tatsu
Tyson Kidd
Trent Barreta
Justin Gabriel
Percy Watson
The Usos
Curt Hawkins & Tyler Reks
Tamina
Kaitlyn
A.J.

[Q1] Titus O'Neil starts off the show in the ring with a mic, and leads with some generic cheap heat comments. He says that Alex Riley should have kept to himself. He calls out Alex Riley. Instead, Darren Young hits the ramp with a mic. That is the most abrasive entrance music. Young tells O'Neil to worry about him, but O'Neil doesn't see it that way since the feud was blown off. Young says that he respects O'Neil's new attitude. Young says he still hates O'Neil, but he does respect him, and offers a handshake. Since when are heel pairings based on mutual respect? O'Neil says that he doesn't care about the fans (especially not those in the "cheap seats") respecting him and says he doesn't need Young's respect, but he does appreciate that he's "finally starting to see the light." Huh?

Percy Watson comes out questioning their sudden respect for each other. Watson promises that the gloves are off. O'Neil blows up and Young backs him up and invites him into the ring. Alex Riley comes out to support Watson and tells O'Neil to shut up and gets into the ring with Watson. Riley says that after winning last week's match, he should have let things be, and that he knows what it's like to help a best friend get to the top but take the blame when it falls apart. He says that he has no problem protecting someone whose best friend turned on him, and will do it again. He says, "If you have a problem with that, you can say it to my face." The heels assault the faces, but Riley and Watson clear them from the ring and send them packing back up the ramp.

Matt Striker comes down the ramp and says that he must cater to the fans and books Watson and Riley against O'Neil and Young as the main event. Matt Striker must go to the Teddy Long school of management.

[ c - Hype for Raw ]

1 - TRENT BARRETA vs. TYSON KIDD

With the right amount of time, this match could be and should be top notch. Kidd overpowers Barreta in some early mat wrestling and Kidd tries to use strength to pin Barreta, who is able to stay off the mat.

[Q2/ Barreta with arm drags and a wrist lock to turn things around. Barreta chops Kidd, but Kidd fires back with kicks. Barreta with a step-up enziguri. Barreta with his rope-walking elbow drop on Kidd in the corner, but charges again, only to eat a jumping side kick. Kidd covers for two. Barreta slips out of a suplex and when Kidd charges him in the corner, counters with boots. Barreta lands the Gobstopper Knee for a nearfall.

Kidd shrugs off the Dudebuster DDT and lands a big kick to the head from the apron. William Regal is amazing in the booth, talking about how he gets regular reports from Bret Hart about Tyson Kidd so he knows more about Kidd than Barreta. Seriously, how much more can you elevate someone from the booth than to say that Bret Hart talks them up? Kidd looks for a moonsault, but Barreta crotches him, and looks for a belly-to-back superplex. Kidd shoves him off, but Barreta jumps up and lands a snap huracanrana with a roll-through to a cover, but Kidd rolls right though and covers for the pin.

WINNER: Tyson Kidd in 4:00. Seriously, if WWE is going to have a "we respect each other, so let's team up" angle on NXT, can it be Trent Barreta and Tyson Kidd instead of Darren Young and Titus O'Neil? This match wasn't nearly long enough, but what was there impressed.

Backstage, Matt Striker is on the phone complaining that NXT doesn't need a "host" it needs a "babysitter," but Curt Hawkins comes out to interrupt. Tyler Reks takes Striker's phone and just hangs up on the caller. Curt Hawkins says that Striker has the "audacity" to not book them this week. Striker says,"Audacity's a big word for you," and says that since they lost to the Usos, they don't get a rematch. Tyler Reks says that NXT is about "ratings" and "according to the Internet, Twitter, Facebook, and social media, Reks and Hawkins against the Usos was the best match of all three shows." I beg to differ, and I'm curious why Reks forgot about "Superstars."

Matt Striker channels his inner Vince McMahon and says, "if you keep chasing the Internet's pat on the back, your career will stay right where it is." Reks and Hawkins give him intense stares, so Striker says that he's under a lot of pressure regarding if NXT will ever end or why he hasn't gotten rid of Johnny Curtis (great questions, really) and says that "everyone who is licensed and sanctioned" will have a match. He begs Reks to not be angry with him, they give him more dirty looks then crack smiles and laugh.

Reax: This segment was interesting, mostly because it seemed to have a number of subtle items in it showing a self-awareness not seen often.

[ c - The Best of Raw and Smackdown 2011 DVD. How did they manage to come up with a four-disc DVD set of "The Best of 2011?" I think 2011 was an awful year for WWE. Outside of the Money in the Bank situation, I didn't even order PPVs for four or five months because I was depressed with the product. ]

Heath Slater hits the ring, wearing the same outfit from the new YouTube show that debuted this week. He says that he didn't want to come back to this D-List show, but he had to. He points to the 'Tron to recap his victory over Trent Barreta last week. Regal takes offense at NXT being called a "D-List show." The 'Tron video shows the pin and post-win celebration over and over and over again. Regal name-drops Jamie Noble. As Slater brags, Derrick Bateman comes out. Slater objects to the interruption. Good gracious, Heath Slater looks just like Bobby Budnik (see WWE, I can make dated references too!) with his head under a hat.

Bateman offers a handshake, but Slater declines. Slater asks the production truck to show the video again. Bateman calls Slater "Skynrd" and says, "I didn't even know you had a finishing move, to be honest." He sarcastically congratulates Slater for beating Trent Barreta. He says that this isn't the Slater family reunion, it is NXT, and no one came to see the video. Bateman says that Undertaker's Mania Streak is "impressive," but Slater's losing streak is "the stuff that legends are made of."

Slater steps up to Bateman and talks up his credentials. When Slater points to the WrestleMania sign and says, "I've been to WrestleMania," Bateman mocks him by doing the cliched "point to the WrestleMania sign" pose. Slater continues to talk up his credentials. Slater says that Bateman has no idea of the "damage" that he's going to cause. Bateman says that he compiled a video of the "damage, and by damage I mean misses" that Slater's had, and tells the truck to roll the tape. Lots of pictures of Slater being beaten by Justin Gabriel and Hornswoggle labeled "loser." The crowd chants "losers" and Slater shoves Bateman. Bateman fires back and dropkicks Slater out of the ring. Bateman mocks the "one man rock band" celebration.

Maxine hits the ramp dressed to wrestle... or dressed for the bedroom. It's tough to tell when her wrestling gear is a leather teddy, stockings, and garters.

[ c - WWE YouTube channel ]

[Q3]

2 - ALICIA FOX vs. MAXINE (w/Derrick Bateman)

Maxine with a waistlock and a Thesz Press for total domination of Fox. Johnny Curtis then comes out to yell at Maxine and Fox scores with a quick schoolgirl for the pin.

WINNER: Alicia Fox in 0:30.

[ c - WrestleMania AXXESS ]

Replay of the John Cena video from Royal Rumble.

Backstage, Maxine and Derrick Bateman are looking for Johnny Curtis. They split up to look in different directions. Kaitlyn says that Maxine is always looking for a reason to talk to Johnny Curtis and expresses concern for Bateman. Maxine says that it isn't her business, and accuses Kaitlyn of liking Derrick Bateman. Kaitlyn walks off and denies it and Maxine keeps pushing the issue. Maxine walks away and Curtis appears from behind a door, happy with his handiwork. If this leads to a Kaitlyn-Maxine feud, I'll be thrilled, as regular readers know that I am a big fan of both.

3 - ALEX RILEY & PERCY WATSON vs. DARREN YOUNG & TITUS O'NEIL

Young and Watson start off and feel each other out. Early back-and-forth with lots of chain wrestling. Quick powerslam from Watson sends Young to the outside looking for relief, then Watson lands a slingshot dive over the top rope onto Young. Very impressive to see that from someone Watson's size.

[ c - Smackdown hype ]

Riley is dominating Young back from break. The faces keep Young isolated for a bit. Watson sends Young to the outside with a dropkick, then meets Young on the apron, where Young turns things around with a side suplex on the apron.

[Q4] Young covers for two. O'Neil tags in and the heels isolate Watson for a stretch. Watson goes berserk and tries to fight out, but O'Neil tags in and cuts off the comeback. Watson finally is able to make the hot tag and Riley cleans house on Young, with a big spinebuster and a float-over DDT, but O'Neil breaks up the pin. Watson throws O'Neil out of the ring and they brawl ringside. O'Neil blind-tags in. Riley hits a flapjack on Young, but O'Neil ambushes him and lands the Clash of the Titus for the win.

WINNER: Darren Young & Titus O'Neil in 9:00. This match felt really formulaic for the most part. But, one of Watson's comebacks was really on fire, and Riley's hot tag work was very nice. I'd like to see Riley and Watson team up long-term, as they both have charisma and have a very fast style despite their size.

Final Reax: Not much to say. Things are in the process of resetting in a way that shows that there may be a lot more of "NXT: Redemption" to go.

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