WWE NXT Report
March 14, 2012
Taped 3/13 in Columbus, Ohio
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

Opening Thoughts: This has been an interesting week for former and current NXT competitors. Jakob Novak was the topic of a story in "The Hawkeye paper. While it did not go into much depth, he highlighted the poor pay in FCW (it seems to start around $500/week), and explained that he was released due to injury. Also, Brodus Clay made his return to TV on Monday night with a quick win over Jinder Mahal. Keep in mind, last week on Superstars, Mahal won a tough-fought victory over Ted DiBiase; the booking of Mahal is completely unexplainable. Also, Derrick Bateman is holding a contest for anyone with a picture of him or herself wearing a Barber Shop Window's "Chicks and America" t-shirt (inspired, of course, by Derrick Bateman on NXT: 4). The winner will get a Twitter follow from him. Act fast, because BSW only lists their shirts for one week! Finally, every week Tyler Reks has a weekly trivia contest, where folks who accurately answer questions will also get a Twitter follow.

For tonight's episode, WWE has promised a mixed tag match of Derrick Bateman and Kaitlyn against Johnny Curtis and Maxine, Tyson Kidd has been petitioning for a re-match against Michael McGillicutty, and I have a feeling from Twitter chatter that Alex Riley will be in action tonight, as well. I believe it will be a tag match with Percy Watson as a partner against possibly Curtis Hawkins and Tyler Reks.

[Q1] Matt Striker and William Regal start the show in the ring. This week, Regal is the "official match coordinator." Regal says that the theme of NXT is "tag teams." Regal explains why tag team wrestling is so special. Love it. He introduces "the most dynamic tag team I've seen in years, The Usos." That is high praise coming from Regal. Titus O'Neil and Darren Young then hit the ramp, mocking The Uso's entrance war dance.

1 - THE USOS vs. TITUS O'NEIL & DARREN YOUNG - Tag Team Match

Jimmy and O'Neil start the match, and Jimmy brings O'Neil to his corner and tags in Jey. Some boots in the corner and Jimmy tags back in. Quick cover for one. O'Neil turns the momentum with a knee lift, but Jimmy no sells two headbutts and responds with one of his own. Jey comes back in. O'Neil is able to tag out, but Young eats an elbow, then a headbutt. Jey whips Young right over the turnbuckle, then knocks O'Neil off the apron, tags in Jimmy, and Jimmy hits Young with a crossbody on the outside.

[ c - WWE Magazine ad ]

Out of the break, Jimmy and Young are trading blows with Young getting the upper hand. O'Neil tags in, but Jimmy is able to get Jey into the match and O'Neil in their corner. O'Neil powers up, and brings Young in again. Young settles into the first hold of the match - it may be a WWE record for time without a hold. O'Neil's back in and works Jey over in the corner, then Young comes back in as the crowd chants for The Usos. Young puts Jey on the turnbuckle, but Jey hits a side kick to the throat area to knock Young down. The ref starts a double count and hot tags are made. Jimmy goes wild on O'Neil. Cross-ring stinkface for a nearfall, but Young breaks up the pin. Jey gets involved and clears Young out. Jimmy lands a Samoan Drop on O'Neil, then tags in Jey, who gets the win with the Superfly Splash.

WINNERS: The Usos in 10:00. Decent match at the end. I was impressed that everyone stayed away from the rest hold formula for the match, despite it being relatively long for O'Neil and Young.

Regal throws to a flashback package from "Earlier Today." Alex Riley and Percy Watson discuss their love of basketball. Riley says that Watson needs less flash and more substance. Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks interrupt and Regal breaks it up, and books the two teams against each other. If Hawkins and Reks lose, they'll need to clean Regal's laundry.

[ c - "The Epic Journey of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson" DVD ad ]

[Q2] Hawkins and Reks hit the ring. Josh Matthews questions if Regal is abusing his authority with the match stipulation. Regal agrees with Riley that Watson needs more steam to his sizzle.

2 - ALEX RILEY & PERCY WATSON vs. CURTIS HAWKINS & TYLER REKS - Tag Team Match

Percy Watson and Curt Hawkins start things off. Hawkins hides in the corner to avoid an aggressive Watson. Hawkins runs to his corner and tags in Reks, who looks annoyed. Watson and Reks trade heavy blows and make it a power game. Big dropkick from Watson gets one. Reks sends Watson into the corner, but Reks can't tag out. Riley tries to get involved, but this allows Hawkins to get in some cheap shots. Reks goes wild on Watson with axe handles and the crowd cheers for Watson. Reks clears Riley from the ring, but when Riley reacts, the ref deals with him letting Hawkins get involved.

Hawkins tags in and slows it down with a side chinlock. Reks comes in again, but Watson uses an overhead throw to get a double tag out. Riley runs over Hawkins, then nails a spinebuster to take it up a notch. Riley heads to the turnbuckle, but Reks tries to get involved. Watson takes Reks out, but Hawkins is able to throw Riley to the floor and hit the Heatseeking Elbow for the three count.

WINNER: Hawkins & Reks in 5:30. Very enjoyable match with sound pacing and ring psychology.

Post-match, Hawkins tells Regal that he'll need to find another laundry person, and Reks reminds Regal that they are just getting started. Regal smiles like he's almost pleased.

Backstage, Maxine is in the GM office, and takes down Striker's Ronald Regan picture and replaces it with a picture of Queen Elizabeth II with a bow and a card. Too funny. Kaitlyn literally bumps into her and says that she was playing tag with Derrick. She says she almost missed her flight again, and Maxine says she might have had something to do with it. Bateman comes in and breaks it up. Johnny Curtis enters the scene and says that "maybe the four of us could get into it, right here, right now" motioning to the couches. That's a new low for the Creepster. When they all give him "the look," he insists that he's talking about the match. Maxine gets annoyed with them all and leaves, but she yanks Curtis's ear when he start sniffing Kaitlyn like she's an air freshener. Kaitlyn and Bateman give each other a goofy look, then Kaitlyn tags him and runs away.

[ c - Raw hype ]

Michael McGillicutty comes out in street clothes. He addresses Tyson Kidd's demand for a re-match and says that he's an average loser like the rest of the crowd. He gets mad at the crowd for telling him that he sucks. He still says there will be no re-match.

[Q3] Tyson Kidd comes out and defends the crowd from McGillicutty's insults. He says he respects McGillicutty's passion and says that this is in his blood, same as McGillicutty. McGillicutty gets on him for always talking about the Harts. He says that Kidd will never be a Hart. Kidd thinkgs it over, then clocks McGillicutty with the mic. They brawl on the outside and Regal is happy to not break it up. Kidd rolls McGillicutty into the ring and tries a Sharpshooter, but McGillcutty rolls out. McGillicutty agrees to the re-match from the ramp.

[ c - WrestleMania 28 ad ]

Raw Rebound - Rock's concert.

3 - DERRICK BATEMAN & KAITLYN vs. JOHNNY CURTIS & MAXINE - Mixed Tag Team Match

Kaitlyn and Mazine to start things off. Kaitlyn takes Maxine's legs out from underneath her twice, then Maxine slaps Bateman. Bateman and Curtis come into the ring to calm down the Divas.

[ c - Smackdown hype - "The Peep Show" returns to Smackdown ]

Bateman is dominating Curtis out of the break with power, but Curtis dodges a high knee in the corner, then works Bateman's knee. Kaitlyn encourages Bateman, but Curtis gives her a goofy look and sexual innuendo. He body slams Bateman, then gives more dirty looks to Kaitlyn. Bateman capitalizes with a schoolboy for a two count. Curtis puts him back down for two, then goes back to the leg work. As he does it, he tries to disgust Kaitlyn. Bateman kicks out of the leg hold, and lands the Sweet Meat Sizzler for the win.

WINNERS: Bateman & Kaitlyn in 3:45. This match needed more time to properly develop given that the folks involved are all pretty good wrestlers.

Post-match, Maxine gives Curtis a look of disbelief as Kaitlyn and Bateman hug Bateman's mom ringside. Maxine gets in the ring to berate Curtis. On the ramp, Bateman says that they are over and she can do whatever she wants with Curtis or Regal. Bateman then tells Kaitlyn, "Tag, you're it," then kisses her. Regal says that this is the first time he's ever not been jealous of Derrick Bateman. Maxine stews.

Final Reax: Nice advancement of all storylines, but I felt that some of the in-ring work wasn't quite what it should have been. I wanted to see more offense from Riley and Watson, as well as a lot more time to the final match. I am looking forward to the McGillicutty-Kidd match next week. NXT continues to be a well-booked show that doesn't make viewers scratch their heads or get frustrated.

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