NXT Weekly Rankings & Evaluation - 4/11: Week 58
By George Chiverton, PWTorch specialist

There wasn't much to write about since not one Rookie had a match last week. All three Rookies were good on the show, and that is all there is to say.

Elsewhere, NXT was utterly ridiculous in places. Seeing Matt Striker sell being locked in a cupboard for four weeks was particularly enjoyable, especially since I watched him on the WrestleMania pre-show within that period. I've got a lot of love for Striker, but sometimes he comes off as utterly ridiculous. For instance, I seem to remember him on Superstars a couple of months ago where he was a temporary manager for Tyson Kidd. He sold that by answering three different phones at a time and writing down things in a diary. Really? Three phones and none of them have a calendar function? He strikes me as a young kid at a teenager's party trying a little too hard to impress. Having said that, he is otherwise very good in his role as host.

Finally, how much do you love English audiences? London once again was superb this week on WWE TV. Big shout-out to my "across the pond" readers if you attended, as the hot crowds mean WWE usually puts on shows of significance storyline-wise at the O2 Orena.

***

WWE NXT Results Week 59
April 18, 2012
Taped 4/17 in London, England
Report by Justin James, PWTorch specialist

Opening Thoughts: This week in NXT will be interesting, as the whole kidnapping angle involving the bulk of the "cast" has come to a head. I am interested to see how the Darren Young, Titus O'Neil, and Tamina Snuka situation pans out. Outside of that, it seems like the Tyson Kidd-Michael McGillicutty feud has wrapped up, with Kidd getting the hard-earned victory last week. And, I'd really like to see A.J. show up and have some girl talk with Kaitlyn.

[Q1] The show opens with a humorous video summarizing the last few weeks of the Matt Striker-based story. It may be the most bizarre intro to any wrestling show in memory. Also, this may be third third time in three weeks that the show opens with Percy Watson's music sending him down the ramp for a match. William Regal adds that he was hang-gliding naked. Yuck. Maxine is on commentary, too.

1 - PERCY WATSON vs. JOHNNY CURTIS (w/Maxine)

On commentary, Maxine throws Curtis to the wolves, pointing out that he had the chloroform and was the one who did the kidnapping. Watson is dominating the match, and Maxine denies having a relationship at the moment with Curtis. Watson misses a leg drop and Curtis starts his attack. I think I hear a faint "We Want Regal" chant from the England crowd, but the audience isn't mic'ed well.

[ c - Extreme Rules ad, Lesnar vs. Cena ]

Curtis is continuing to press his attack on Watson out of the break. Josh Mathews reminds Maxine that we actually saw everything that happened, implying that people in WWE actually watch WWE programming and video packages. Watson tries a jackknife cover, but Curtis kicks out and goes back to the attack. Regal goes through a lengthy, bizarre explanation of how his suit was made and when Maxine calls him out on it, he tells her that it's less of a lie than some of the stuff coming out of her mouth lately.

The action resets in the ring and Watson lands rights and a pair of dropkicks to turn things around. Suplex places Curtis on the mat, then a Highsman gets a nearfall. Percy looks for the Percycution, but Curtis elbows out. Watson shows Curtis into the turnbuckle and catches him on the rebound with the Percycution for the win.

winner: Percy Watson in 9:00. This was a pretty good match for NXT, but it existed solely to give Maxine and William Regal a platform to discuss the story.

Post-match, Regal gets on the house mic and congratulates Watson on the win. He then recalls Curtis from the ramp to be on commentary as Maxine goes to the ring for a match. Curtis protests; he needs a shower, he says. I guess they'll be playing "he said, she said," which should prove interesting. Katilyn versus Maxine is next.

[ c - "You think You Know Me? The Story of Edge" - DVD ad ]

2 - KAITLYN (w/Derrick Bateman) vs. MAXINE (w/Johnny Curtis)

[Q2] I think Kaitlyn has new music. Bateman is on commentary, too. Kaitlyn tries a surprise pair of covers out of the break, but cannot get more than a one count. Maxine comes right back, but Kaitlyn comes out with a backbreaker, then a leg lock. Bateman, Curtis, and Regal all agree that Maxine is evil and at the heart of the issues going on. And, Curtis denies kidnapping Striker. Maxine with a boot to Kaitlyn's face, then she holds Kaitlyn down while chopping Kaitlyn's chest. Bateman claims he loves Regal and always plays as him in video games.

Maxine settles into a chinlock and the crowd rallies Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn fights out and hits a crossbody for two. Kaitlyn takes Maxine's face to the turnbuckle, forcing the ref to break them, and Maxine gets a drop toehold to turn the tide and send her face-first into the turnbuckle. Maxine mounts her from behind as she recovers and puts on a Dragon Sleeper hold with leg scissors. Kaitlyn foolishly stands up instead of keeping to the corner for a rope break, lasts about 10 seconds, and taps out.

WINNER: Maxine in 4:00. Again, another match designed to give the commentary a reason to exist.

Post-match, Bateman heads to the ring to console Kaitlyn. Regal detains Curtis at the booth and calls Maxine over, and confronts them on the kidnapping. He says that Maxine must officially be Curtis's manager or else he will fire them, and has a contract for them to sign. They both look furious. Curtis signs it and Maxine holds out. She caves in and signs it. He offers a handshake, and when she accepts, he handcuffs her to Curtis. Clever. That will make bathroom breaks and showers awkward.

Backstage, Darren Young is looking sour. Titus O'Neil comes in dancing and singing. Young confronts O'Neil over Tamina, but O'Neil shows Young a contract from John Laurinaitis sending them to Smackdown. Young forgets about Tamina and is happy.

Matt Striker is shown looking into a mirror and holding Hawkins's cane.

[ Raw Rebound - the Punk - Jerico angle is highlighted ]

Backstage, Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins are freaking out because there is so much evidence on film. Maybe they shouldn't fall for the wrestling trope of invisible cameramen, then? Johnny Curtis and Maxine come in arguing, then blame Reks and Hawkins for their problems. Percy Watson comes in and laughs at them. So do Derrick Bateman and Kaitlyn. Maxine tries to take a swing at her, but falls because she is stuck to Curtis.

[ c - Raw Hype, Lesnar - Cena contract signing ]

[Q3] Reks and Hawkins hit the ring, wearing outfits that make them look like they are part of the Hart family, pink and black. They deny that they have anything to do with the "Striker mess" and claim that the opening video package was faked. Striker comes out from backstage carrying the cane. Striker admits that he isn't the typical Superstar, but WWE has supported him, and Hawkins and Reks tried to take it all away from him. He points out that when he was blindfolded and being beaten, it was a stick, not hands hitting him, and says that Hawkins was so stupid he left the evidence behind. Hawkins admits that it was him and dares Striker to do something about it. Striker goes nuts and starts swinging with the cane; Reks and Hawkins try to circle him and Regal tells Striker to back down.

Regal says he is tired of dealing with Reks and Hawkins, and books Reks against Hawkins, and the loser will be fired. Reks begs Regal not to do it, so Hawkins cheap-shots him to start a brawl. Regal calms them down and tells Striker to be the referee. Striker unzips his jacket and there's the striped shirt.

[ c - WrestleMania 29 ad ]

3 - TYLER REKS vs. CURT HAWKINS - Loser is Fired - Matt Striker special referee

Reks out of the bell with fast, hard offense. Hawkins leaves the ring and Reks pursues. Hawkins tries to surprise Reks, but Reks doesn't fall for it. It's clear Reks is playing the fired-up babyface fighting for his career. Reks to the top rope, but Hawkins dodges a frogsplash, and takes control. That was a huge jump for a man the size of Reks, as he went more than halfway across the ring. Hawkins keeps Reks down and controls him. Mathews gives them credit for fighting hard and not trying to weasel their way out of the match. Regal sarcastically asks why Striker had a referee's shirt on under his jacket.

Reks lands a slingshot plancha to Hawkins on the outside. This hasn't been seen from Reks since his ECW debut. Reks gets the speed and power turned up. Side Russian legsweep gets Reks two. Reks eats a boot in the corner and Hawkins runs him down for two. Reks looks for a gutwrench move, but Hawkins slips out. Hawkins then tries his swinging bodyslam, but Reks slips out and rolls up Hawkins for the win.

WINNER: Tyler Reks in 5:30. Reks just did a 180 on his in-ring career. He's gone back to the style that I saw so much promise in when he debuted on ECW a long time back - a high-flying moveset in the body of a heavyweight wrestler. Some of it was not quite as deft as a smaller man would have been, but it immediately positions Reks well as having a unique, recognizable moveset in his weight class.

Post-match, Reks panders to the crowd and gets a bit of reaction. Hawkins jaws at Striker, and Striker decks him and screams, "You're fired!" Reks leads the crowd in the good-bye song, then Regal gets on the mic and fires Hawkins officially. He shakes Reks's hand and says they will put their differences aside. Reks says Regal isn't bad after all. Regal asks him to repeat that, then says Reks is fired, too. Reks blows up as referees come out to escort them out to close the show.

Final Reax: NXT has become really good lately. There was a fair amount of wrestling and piles of plot development tonight. All of the major plotlines from the last few months are wrapped up and new ones are starting. Titus O'Neil and Darren Young to Smackdown is unexpected, but congratulations to them and best of luck. On Twitter, O'Neil says that they will pursue the Tag Team Titles. Between their departure and the firings of Hawkins and Reks, it looks like WWE just cleared some space on the roster for some FCW call-ups. Plus...does this make Derrick Bateman the winner of NXT: Redemption as the only "Rookie" remaining?

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