WWE NXT Results
May 16, 2012
Taped 5/15 in Hershey, Pa.
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

Opening Thoughts: NXT underwent a major reboot of storylines last week, with Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins getting "hired" as "security guards" at the suggestion of John Laurinaitis. We'll also see if the Kaitlyn/Derrick Bateman relationship gets any worse, and maybe even some FCW talent? It is looking like NXT is going to be moving from being a pre-Smackdown taping to a Florida-area taping. Some are afraid that this means the end of NXT, though with the recent storyline refresh, I doubt it. I am very anxious to see what happens with Derrick Bateman through all of this, one of my favorite people to ever come through NXT. Indeed, my biggest disappointment with this is that NXT won't be coming to Columbia, S.C. on June 5. I was very tight on ticket money, but I was going to "figure it out" anyways, but now that I know NXT won't be coming, I'm not going to bother. I'd rather see NXT than Smackdown right now, so no Smackdown means I'm not buying tickets.

[Q1] Johnny Curtis hits the ramp to start the show. He is followed by Percy Watson.

1 - PERCY WATSON vs. JOHNNY CURTIS

William Regal says that if he were to wrestle Curtis, he would make sure Curtis had a shower first. Watson gets control of the match with his speed. Curtis ambushes Watson through the ropes and starts a power-based offensive streak. Regal says that the "MVP" of NXT: Redemption has been Maxine, because she has made the biggest impact on the show. Watson makes a comeback with double dropkicks and a throw. The Highsman draws a near fall. Curtis slips out of the Perscution and counters with a brainbuster for the win.

WINNER: Johnny Curtis in 4:45. I enjoy this pairing, and I would have enjoyed a longer match. Regal's comments regarding Maxine were spot-on; she has carried this show along with William Regal.

2 - GREAT KHALI & EZEKIEL JACKSON vs. TYLER REKS & CURT HAWKINS - Tag Team Match

Khali and Hawkins start the match, with Hawkins eating Khali's offense. Jackson tags in and Hawkins scrambles to tag Reks in. Reks has a spot of offense, but makes the mistake of mouthing off to Jackson. Meanwhile, Regal reminds viewers of when he led a stable with Jackson and Kozlov.

[Q2] Reks and Hawkins isolate Jackson. Jackson finally brings in Khali, who single-handedly chumps both Reks and Hawkins. Khali then hits Reks with the Punjabi Plunge for the win.

WINNERS: Great Khali & Ezekiel Jackson in 6:00. If they ever put Ezekiel Jackson or Great Khali on NXT again, I'm going to cry. This show has been blissfully isolated from this kind of nonsense, and now it isn't. If I say anything else, I'll start sounding like Charles Cress, the Torch's Alphabet Soup specialist - read his articles, they are good for the soul - and draw up a Khali Inner Monologue.

3 - KAITLYN vs. MAXINE

Maxine has a new ring outfit - pleather plants and a shiny bra-like top, which is definitely a change from her usual nightie and fishnets. I think Kaitlyn has yet another new song, too. Kaitlyn with a takedown and a jackknife to start. Maxine looks for a quick tap out with the Reverse Dragon sleeper, but Kaitlyn fights out. Kaitlyn wants a delayed vertical suplex, but Maxine fights out. Maxine tricks Kaitlyn, then goes on the attack with malice.

Camel Clutch from Maxine looks like it hurts. Kaitlyn puts Maxine's face into the turnbuckle and gets in some offense. Kaitlyn is bleeding from the mouth. Maxine wants a headlock of sorts and transitions to a neckbreaker. Maxine with a standing Camel Clutch but Kaitlyn escapes, reverses it into a full nelson sit out slam, and then locks on a full nelson with her legs. Maxine taps.

WINNER: Kaitlyn in 6:00. These two always work well together, but I feel like Maxine's in-ring work has gotten a lot tighter in this match than I've ever seen it. Nice match and I like the emphasis on submissions in a Divas match.

[ c - WrestleMania 28 DVD ad ]

[Q3] Raw Rebound - Big Show gets fired. I gotta say, Big Show is one of the best actors in WWE and rates with Shawn Michaels in the ability to garner sympathy. Oh, wait… Big Show is going to get involved in the Cena-Laurinaitis match at Over the Limit - how did I not see that on Monday? And, it will be to neutralize Brock Lesnar.

John Cena Make-a-Wish package airs.

4 - TYSON KIDD vs. DERRICK BATEMAN vs. MICHAEL MCGILICUTTY - Triple Threat Match

McGillicutty ducks out of the ring early and tells Kidd and Bateman to go at it instead. Nice technical wrestling between Kidd and Bateman. They show some good sportsmanship, and McGillicutty mocks them. Kidd and Bateman leave the ring and surround McGillicutty and double team him. The team doesn't survive as Bateman tries a schoolboy on Kidd from behind. McGillicutty keeps Bateman out of the ring. Bateman re-enters and Kidd tricks Bateman into creaming McGillicutty.

[ c - Over the Limit ad - Cena/Laurinaitis ]

[Q4] Kidd and McGillicutty are going back-and-forth and Bateman struggles to get into the match. Bateman finally gets a chance to unload on McGillicutty. Now Kidd is involved. Bateman with some offense on Kidd but McGillicutty gets into it. Bateman with a suplex to a bridge, but Kidd hits Bateman with a springboard elbow for a nearfall, then he rolls over the McGillicutty for a nearfall. Lots of pin attempts and break-ups. Regal gives Bateman some praise despite cutting him down earlier in the match.

McGillicutty fights out of Bateman's superplex attempt; Kidd charges Bateman, but Bateman sends him flying head-first into McGillicutty, who goes crashing to ringside from the top rope. Kidd slips by Bateman and locks in the Sharpshooter. Bateman almost gets a rope break, but Kidd turns the Sharpshooter into the Dungeon Lock. Bateman taps just before McGillicutty is able to break it up.

WINNER: Tyson Kidd in 14:00. This was a bit slow at the beginning, as Bateman spent most of his time on the outside recovering, but the second half picked up nicely. Good example of what a Triple Threat match can be.

Final Reax: Nearly 31 minutes of wrestling on a 45-minute show. That's how it's done folks. Was it perfect? No. I would have liked to have seen some plot developments. Dropping the Khali/Jackson match would have been nice if someone like The Usos got that time instead. Of note, the announcers made no mention at all of a change in NXT's plans for next week. I did miss Matt Striker, too, a bit.

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