WWE NXT Results
February 15, 2012
Taped 2/14 in Fresno, Calif.
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

Opening Thoughts: I've been out of town this week (hello, Seattle!) so I didn't get to watch Raw, but after reading PWTorch assistant editor James Caldwell's report, all I could think of was, "Did they have the NXT staff write this?" Let's see, the show started with what was basically the "Talk the Talk Challenge," then tried cramming four months of the BetaMax drama into a two-hour show. The "new old" Kane may give my four-year-old nightmares, but Johnny Curtis creeps me out a lot more. Also, the "WWE Inbox" YouTube episode delivered more NXT goodness again this week, featuring Maxine, Derrick Bateman, and Kaitlyn.

[Q1] Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins come out to start the show. They sit on the turnbuckles to cut a promo, saying they won their match last week "fair and square" and Matt Striker deserved to get beaten up. Hawkins complains about not being on Raw, Smackdown, or PPV. Reks denies that they pushed Striker around, and he says that they are "politicians without the suits." Hawkins runs over Striker's career. Hawkins says that the show doesn't need a host; it needs change and reveals a shirt with a picture of himself, done in the style of the famous Barack Obama "Change" picture by Shepard Fairey.

Striker comes out to interrupt. He says that he's tried to give everyone a chance to shine. Reks and Hawkins invite him to the ring and he declines. Striker says that they've got bigger problems and he invited a friend to help him, a substitute. Hawkins says Striker has no friends. As Hawkins talks, William Regal gets on the mic to say that he is running NXT tonight.

Regal books Hawkins in a match immediately and Reks is banned from ringside. Regal then offers Tyson Kidd as Hawkins's opponent. Some piped-in cheers let the audience know to cheer Kidd. Regal returns to commentary with a funny reference to the past - he says that being in charge can go to his head, as he tends to end up "suspended or something."

1 - TYSON KIDD vs. CURT HAWKINS

Hawkins surprises Kidd out of the gate and sends Kidd almost outside, but Kidd skins the cat and springboards over Hawkins's side. Kidd charges Hawkins from the apron, swings around on the ringpost, and catches Hawkins with a huracanrana. Very slick. Kidd on the barricade to showboat a bit as the crowd cheers. Kidd gets on the apron to deliver more offense, but Hawkins trips him up.

[ c - Elimination Chamber ad, Randy Orton is still featured in the ad ]

Hawkins with a two count on Kidd out of the break. Hawkins with the headlock and the crowd is rallying Kidd, who fights out, but Hawkins trips him. Mathews heaps praise on Regal's skills as a GM, as Regal calls Reks a "shower dodger." Kidd finally turns things around by dodging a charge in the corner. Kidd with speed and kicks to get the crowd behind him. Kidd wants the Sharpshooter, but Hawkins escapes. (Josh Mathews calls it by name this week, but he still calls it a "potential submission move.") Hawkins with a leaping DDT for two. Kidd followes with his odd reverse springboard sunset flip where he grabs Hawkins with his legs and rolls him up for two. Hawkins with an inside-out bodyslam, but Kidd gets a rope break to stop the count.

Hawkins puts Kidd on the turnbuckle and looks for a superplex, but Kidd blocks, and counters with a faceplant. Hawkins gets up and rips Kidd off the turnbuckle on his shoulders, looking for an electric chair, but Kidd suddenly lands a sunset flip from the top. Kidd immediately rolls into a Sharpshooter for the quick tap.

WINNER: Tyson Kidd in 7:00. Good match, but it moved a bit slow. The crowd went pretty nuts for Kidd's win. It's proof that good wrestling can win a crowd over.

[ c - Be a S.T.A.R. ]

[Q2] Titus O'Neil is in the ring. Regal praises his aggressive streak and says he'll need it to beat his opponent. Out comes Yoshi Tatsu, still without the mask.

2 - YOSHI TATSU vs. TITUS O'NEIL

O'Neil shoves Tatsu down, and then powers out of a waistlock. Tatsu uses speed, instead, but it doesn't last long, as O'Neil gets him with a big backbreaker. O'Neil with hard offense to dominate Tatsu, whose selling makes O'Neil look great. Tatsu gets some room and moves to offense. Tatsu powers up and gets the Shining Wizard for two. O'Neil counters a corner leap with a kick and hits the Clash of the Titus for the win.

WINNER: Titus O'Neil in 4:00. Basic booking here, but O'Neil was smart enough to change his style to a more domineering, heel style.

Post-match, O'Neil demands real competition from Regal, and says he wants Alex Riley. Good way to make O'Neil look like a monster, demanding a second match after he easily won the first. Riley comes out in a suit and says that he isn't afraid. He comes into the ring, but O'Neil rolls out. O'Neil says that since he just had a match, he shouldn't fight again and says that he'll take Riley next week and walks away.

Backstage, Alicia Fox and Kaitlyn discuss her feelings for Derrick Bateman. Just as Kaitlyn says they are just friends, Johnny Curtis appears and invites them to check out the disco ball in his van. The Divas leave, and a schlub comes in with roses and a box of chocolates looking for Derrick Bateman. Curtis claims to be Bateman and signs for the gifts. The card says they are for Maxine from Bateman. Why is Johnny Curtis the best heel on WWE right now with the exception of Daniel Bryan?

[ c - "The Best of Raw and Smackdown 2011" DVD ad ]

Regal introduces Percy Watson's opponent, and says that he has high hopes for Watson. He says that this opponent is a "true Superstar." Out comes Michael McGillicutty.

3 - PERCY WATSON vs. MICHAEL MCGILLICUTTY

The two trade some mat wrestling and Watson tries a quick roll-up for two. Watson with an enziguiri, but McGillicutty comes right back with sustained offense. McGillicutty with a Camel Clutch, but Watson won't tap. McGillicutty is much less lethargic this week, and it's making for a better match.

[Q3] Watson with a clever jumping spinning neckbreaker on a telegraphed back body drop, and Watson with his speed and power to assert himself. Watson with a double-arm suplex and looks for the Highsman, but McGillicutty rolls out of the way. Watson dodges a charge and picks McGillicutty up for the Percycution for the win.

WINNER: Percy Watson in 5:00. I know I say it every time I see Watson in the ring, but he has so much talent, both potential and realized. Nice to see McGillicutty stepping up the pacing and trying out some new moves, too.

Backstage, Maxine finds the flowers and roses, but the note has been changed to be to Kaitlyn from Derrick. Maxine gets angry.

Raw Rebound.

Regal introduces Kaitlyn on commentary. Regal says that Bateman will have two opponents, and Heath Slater and Johnny Curtis come out. Regal says that Bateman needs a tag team partner, and out comes Justin Gabriel.

4 - JUSTIN GABRIEL & DERRICK BATEMAN vs. HEATH SLATER & JOHNNY CURTIS - Tag Team Match

Curtis and Gabriel start off and Gabriel sense Curtis to the outside. Gabriel tags in Bateman, who lands a huge suicide dive onto the heel pair, and Gabriel follows up, too.

[ c - Elimination Chamber ad, based on Cena-Kane ]

Out of the break, Curtis knocks Gabriel off the turnbuckle. For fun, Curtis's trunks say "Let's Get Weird." Slater tags in and the heels isolate Gabriel for a bit. Meanwhile, Mathews presses Kaitlyn on her relationship with Bateman. Kaitlyn says that they are just friends, and says that Maxine should be with someone she deserves, like Johnny Curtis. She questions "let's get weird." Regal asks if she'd consider lowering her standards, like "an English gentleman who wears nice clothes." Regal offers to leave his wife for her, but Kaitlyn turns him down because he probably has a lot of kids, and he admits that he does. Regal says that "friends" with a woman never works out.

[Q4] Kaitlyn continues to describe her friendship with Bateman as "harmless" even though they share a full-sized bed "head to toe." I hope he washes his feet before they do that. Gabriel dodges a dropkick in the corner and there's a double tag out. Bateman runs over Slater, then clears Curtis out of the ring. Bateman with a wicked-looking reverse STO sending Slater head over heels for the win. Kaitlyn dubs it the "Sweet Meat Sizzler." I'm going to run with that from here on out.

WINNERS: Gabriel & Bateman in 8:00. Good match. Bateman showed a lot of fire in the ring, and his new finisher is definitely unique.

Post-match, Maxine comes out to confront Kaitlyn. Maxine smashes Kaitlyn with the chocolates and beats Kaitlyn silly. Bateman tries to pull Maxine off, but she goes nuts on him, too. Kaitlyn is in tears as Bateman hauls Maxine away over his shoulder, and Curtis does his creep stare from the steps.

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 5/9 - Week 62: JTG debuts new look, Laurinaitis infiltrates NXT, Overall Reax

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 5/2 - Week 61: Riley snaps long losing streak, Regal sets in motion new wave of talent, another mystery angle, Overall Reax

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 4/25 - Week 60: Kidd vs. Curtis top-notch main event, Hornswoggle authority figure, new stars to debut, Overall Reax

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 4/18 - Week 59: Two "firings" in London; CHIVERTON'S NXT Weekly Rankings & Evaluation 4/11 - Week 58

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 4/11 - Week 58: Kidd-McGillicutty best-of-three conclusion, kidnapping caper, Regal Logic

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 4/4 - Week 57: Bateman-McGillicutty main event, physical Divas match, NXT love stories continue, Regal applies the law

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 3/28 - Week 56: Kidnapping angle continues, very long backstage segment delivers, Uso main event

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 3/21 - Week 55: Kidd vs. McGillicutty main event, bizarre episode with kidnapping & Regal foot massage, Overall Reax

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 3/14 - Week 54: Tag Team edition with Usos, Riley, BetaMax-Kaitlyn love triangle continues

JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 3/7 - Week 53: Regal takes over, Titus vs. Showtime main event, dated references