WWE NXT
March 16, 2010
results thanks to pwtorch
The fourth week of WWE's NXT show started with a
recap of the concept of eight WWE Rookies and eight WWE Pros having one dream.
Cue up the "Wild & Young" theme music introducing the eight Rookies with their
corresponding Pros.
In-ring: C.M. Punk's music hit to start the show. Well, I sure thought WWE's
announcement "John Cena will address the NXT Rookies in the ring at the start of
tonight's episode" actually meant Cena would start the show addressing the NXT
Rookies. Punk, Darren Young, and the Straight Edge Society came out, then Matt
Hardy's music hit to bring out Hardy and Justin Gabriel.
Backstage: Matt Striker was shown making an announcement that in two weeks time,
the first round of voting will take place. He said the Pros will evaluate the
Rookies and make some determinations of their performance. Based on what
criteria, winning matches? If so, where's the scoreboard? Is it charisma? What's
the criteria for subjectively evaluating that? Back to the ring, Cole said that
"by his estimation," Gabriel winning this match would make him 3-0. An
estimation? It's either a win or loss. It's not an estimation. If winning
matches is the criteria, then Bryan Danielson sure has been handed a tough hand
with an unbalanced schedule of matches. Danielson's first match was against the
World champ, while Heath Slater has two wins over Carlito, who hasn't won a
single match in 2010. Danielson's "Strength of Schedule" has to factor in,
right? Or, does it? Does winning matches count? It's so mind-boggling how they
fail week after week to explain the criteria for evaluating this show's
competition.
1 -- C.M. PUNK (w/Luke Gallows and Serena) & DARREN YOUNG vs. MATT HARDY &
JUSTIN GABRIEL)
Young and Punk worked over Gabriel early on, then Young knocked Gabriel to the
floor and rammed him stomach-first into the steps. Punk and Young were in
control with Gabriel coughing up a lung on the floor heading to break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Cole talked up the Staples Center being sold-out tonight. He
reset the action with Punk working on Gabriel's back with forearm smashes to the
back. Young then tagged in and over-sold a round of knee strikes from Gabriel,
who made a babyface comeback with a strong reaction from the crowd. We're
looking at a future Smackdown brand star babyface. Gabriel then went up top for
the 450 splash, but Young moved after Gabriel spent too much time posturing for
the audience. Punk then tagged in and tried a pin, but Gabriel kicked out. Cole
said something like Gabriel's miss-step will be part of the evaluation process
by the other Pros. How much of a factor? 50/50 with wins & losses? 30/70? 90/10?
Punk and Young then resumed their work on Gabriel after Punk knocked Hardy off
the ring apron.
[Q2] Punk tried a springboard smash, but Gabriel moved and hot-tagged to Hardy,
who cleaned house on Punk and landed a running bulldog for a two count. Hardy
then ducked a clothesline and hit the side effect for another nearfall. Hardy
tried to follow with a move from the second rope, but Punk ran to his corner to
make a tag. Hardy then hip-tossed Young into the ring from the apron and scored
a two count. Hardy followed by clotheslining Young over the top rope to the
floor. The ref was distracted as Luke clotheslined Gabriel on the floor before
Hardy gave Luke a side effect on the floor. Chaos ruled on the floor before
Hardy rolled Young into the ring. Hardy wanted to end it, but Luke distracted
the ref and Punk hit the Go 2 Sleep on Hardy. Young fell on Hardy and scored the
pin for the win.
Post-match: Luke dropped Gabriel with a clothesline, then suddenly grabbed
Darren Young and gave him the Gallows Pole sit-out bomb. Luke, Punk, and Serena
then stood tall after Luke took out Punk's Rookie. Cole sold confusion on why
they would do that. Mathews suggested Punk just has his own agenda. SES then
walked out of the ring as Young stared at them from the ring selling the
effects.
WINNERS: Punk & Young in 15:00. Nice, long tag match that continued to
elevate...Punk. Isn't the point of the show to elevate the Rookies? Gabriel drew
good babyface sympathy here and should be fast-tracked to Smackdown as a future
babyface star. (*1/2)
Up next: Bryan Daniel vs. Great Khali. So, is Cena not on the show? If Cena's on
the show, they're doing a horrible job hyping that the top star in the company
is appearing on the show tonight.
[Commercial Break]
In-ring: The Miz's music hit, bringing out Daniel Bryan. No Miz tonight. He's in
Australia doing WWE promotion again. (They didn't say that, but that's where he
is.) Cole repeated the "breaking news" from Striker at the top of the show with
the Pros casting votes in two weeks on how the Rookies are doing. So so so
vague. Great Khali's music hit to bring out Khali and Ranjin Singh. The audience
cheered for Khali as Bryan tried to pump himself up in the ring. Cole
condescendingly told Bryan "good luck!" with his match tonight. Mathews cut a
promo on Cole about him living in a bubble and about Bryan's background. Cole
shot back that "ten million viewers watch Monday Night Raw" every week.
2 -- DANIEL BRYAN vs. GREAT KHALI (w/Ranjin Singh)
Bryan tried to psyche himself up before trying to take the fight to Khali. Cole
said Bryan's about to go to 0-4 in the Rookie standings if he loses. Bryan
landed some offense, then tried a top rope move, but Khali blocked with The
Chop. Khali followed with the Khali Bomb and put his foot on Khali's chest for
the pin and the win. Cole gloated. Post-match: Big Show's music randomly hit and
out came Big Show. Show, as a surrogate for his fellow Unified tag champ Miz,
then picked up Daniel Bryan and gave him a chokeslam. Khali kind of admired
Show's handiwork. I think. Khali's facial expressions tell a number of confused
stories. Show left, then Khali followed out.
WINNER: Khali in 2:00. What was this? Last week, they elevated Bryan, this week
they basically trashed him and fed him to a babyface monster to look like a
silly joke. This has been a pretty weak start to the show. (n/a)
[Q3]
[Commercial Break]
Raw Rebound: They focused on last night's show with Steve Austin guest-hosting
the show, officially adding Stu Hart to the 2010 Hall of Fame, and over-seeing
Bret Hart's Big Reveal at the contract signing for Hart vs. Vince McMahon at
WrestleMania.
Announcers: Back live to the announcers, Cole and Striker broke down the WM26
line-up with focus on Hart vs. McMahon, Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker, Chris
Jericho vs. Edge, and Batista vs. John Cena. The announcers were then shown
on-camera introducing a video package on Rookie David Otunga and his Hollywood
connection. It's the same video they aired during the intro of the new NXT show,
with the tie-in being they're in Los Angeles tonight. The sad part is they're
already doing repeat filler on NXT.
Backstage: They showed Michael Tarver walking down the hallway preparing for a
match. He has Heath Slater in the ring next.
[Commercial Break]
[Q4]
WrestleMania flashback: Pete Rose taking the Tombstone from Kane at WrestleMania
14 in Boston. Rose guest-hosts Raw next week, of course. "No, no, that's Pete
Rose!" in the infamous word of Jim Ross. ... Announcers: Cole plugged Rose
guest-hosting the final Raw before WrestleMania next week. He also plugged
Hunter & Orton vs. Sheamus & Legacy for the show.
In-ring: Christian's music hit to bring out Heath Slater sans Christian. Michael
Tarver then came out sans Carlito. So, it's Tarver vs. Slater one-on-one.
3 -- HEATH SLATER vs. MICHAEL TARVER
So, with no WWE stars ringside, we're basically looking at an FCW match on WWE
TV. They cut backstage to show Carlito and Christian casually watching the match
backstage on a TV. Slater ducked a clothesline and rolled up Tarver from behind
for the win after three uninspired minutes with the crowd disinterested. They
cut to a quick shot of Christian doing a double fist pump for his guy winning.
Post-match: Tarver attacked Slater from behind and knocked him out. Again,
backstage, Christian did a cartoon reaction about being upset with the attack.
Tarver stood tall in the ring. Mathews said the goal is to get the WWE Universe
talking and that's what Tarver did.
WINNER: Slater in 3:00. WWE is sending so many mixed signals with this
poorly-thought-out show. Why didn't Tarver just bring out a baseball bat and try
to bash Slater's head in if the goal is to get people talking? If wins and
losses count, which I'm not sure if they do since it didn't matter with this
match, then why try to compete in a match to win? It's just such a
frustratingly, low-IQ, unexplained approach to a wrestling show. (n/a)
Backstage: William Regal and Skip Sheffield talked with Skip saying he just
wants to make Regal happy by winning this thing. Skip kept talking over Regal,
who then walked away. Cole interjected that Skip will take on Wade Barrett next.
Well, there's another match with zero hype or build-up on the show.
[Commercial Break]
In-ring: Chris Jericho's music hit and out came Jericho with Wade Barrett.
William Regal's music hit and out came Skip with Regal. I thought Skip had
potential, but they announced this week he's from College Station. Sad day.
[Q5 -- over-run]
4 -- SKIP SHEFFIELD (w/William Regal) vs. WADE BARRETT (w/World Hvt. champion
Chris Jericho)
Barrett started on the offensive as Jericho interjected commentary in Mathews's
headset from ringside. Barrett then worked over Skip in the ring as Jericho
shouted instructions from the floor. Skip tried to collect himself and he
avoided a corner attack before nailing a Polish Hammer smash to the face,
followed by a clothesline. Skip then followed with a scoop slam and did his Skip
Strut into a splash for a two count. Skip turned his attention to Regal to give
him a nod, but Barrett cut him off on the turnbuckle. Regal simply turned his
eyes to the floor in shame. That was the highlight of the show. Barrett followed
with a powerslam on Skip for the pin and the win.
WINNER: Barrett in 4:00. Completely forgettable big-man match-up with no
back-story for why the match took place. Jericho tried to add the match with the
bonus commentary like last week and Regal was great with the facial expressions
outside, but this wasn't ready for prime time. (1/2*)
Post-match: Regal continued to stare down at the floor in disgust while Jericho
celebrated with Barrett. Skip then collected himself in the ring and Regal
walked away talking to Jericho and Barrett. Cole closed with a plug for two
weeks from now when the Pros cast votes evaluating the Rookies. On what specific
criteria? Who knows. End show. No sign of John Cena this week despite the
pre-show advertising as such.