WWE NXT
May 4, 2010
results thanks to wwe.com
Week 11 of WWE's NXT show started
with the usual NXT intro video on the eight Rookies, eight Pros, and one dream
to win this thing. After being reminded for the umpteenth time that the Rookies
are wild and young, Michael Cole and Josh Mathews introduced the show with a
plug for R-Truth vs. David Otunga tonight.
Ringside: Matt Striker stood on the floor with the NXT Rookies assembled for
their weekly words of wisdom. They all sold this with their facial expressions
of it being a huge deal that one of them will be eliminated next week when they
reveal the next Pros poll. Striker plugged R-Truth vs. David Otunga tonight,
then introduced the Obstacle Course challenge for tonight's competition. The
crowd was silent for this announcement. It starts with the X Division monkey
bars, some sort of run through the stairs, down to the concession stands to
drink a beverage, run back to the ring, juggle, do the dizzy-bat challenge with
a baseball bat, then push a cart up the entranceramp. It's freakin' Wild & Crazy
Kids. Except Striker is no Don Jeffcoat. The winner of today's contest gets
immunity from elimination next week. Striker told Daniel Bryan, who had the
taped ribs, he would be up first. Cole noted the multiple Batistabombs by
Batista on Raw last week while also noting he enjoyed it.
Bryan scaled the monkey bars while selling the ribs, then climbed a rope to ring
a bell. He charged out of the arena up some steps, and landed in the concession
area to drink a cold beverage. Mathews asked if vegans eat soda. Cole, again
exposing himself for not knowing anything, said vegans just don't eat meat.
Bryan took forever to drink his soda, saying he doesn't drink soda. Bryan took
his sweet time here and Mathews said perhaps the ribs were affecting him.
"Speaking of ribs, this might be a rib on all of us," Cole said. Bryan finally
finished the cold drink and scrambled down the stands back to ringside. He
entered the ring and proceeded to juggle some balls. He then entered the ring
and did the bat spin before pushing a trunk up the ramp past the yellow line.
Bryan's time: 2:45.5.
Suddenly, The Miz's theme music hit and Miz came out on stage to stare down
Bryan. Miz: "Are you kidding me? Really?" He said any of the people in the arena
could have done that obstacle course better. Miz said he could have eaten a
bunch of burgers, eaten a hot dog, and watched the Cavs in that time. He told
Bryan he's putting his winless streak on the line tonight against Michael
Tarver, who is also winless, and that match is next.
[Commercial Break]
[Q2]
In-ring: Bryan was still selling the ribs in the ring, then Michael Tarver came
out with Carlito in a battle of the winless Rookies. Tarver was sporting an "nXt"
t-shirt in the NWO theme. Give the guy credit for coming up with creative
t-shirt designs.
1 -- DANIEL BRYAN (w/The Miz) vs. MICHAEL TARVER (w/Carlito)
Bryan went to work on Tarver with a surfboard stretch early on, but Tarver
smashed him in the ribs to slow Bryan before whipping him hard across the ring.
Bryan suddenly came flying out of the corner with a big kick strike as Cole
actually said something positive about Bryan working hard despite being sick and
having the "ribs injury." Tarver then cut off Bryan and worked him over with a
Camel Clutch as they cut to break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, Tarver executed an overhead suplex on Bryan as Cole reset the
show. "Michael, you said something stupid before the break," Mathews dryly said
in a transition to talking about Cole suggesting Tarver has given it his all on
NXT despite quitting all of the competitions. Subtly great from Josh. Daniel
made a comeback and slapped on an armbar, but Tarver lifted Bryan in the air and
dropped him on his back to escape. Tarver then dropped Bryan with a swinging
slam on the ribs and he scored the pin for the win.
Post-match: Miz rolled his eyes ringside as Tarver acted shocked that he won.
Carlito told Tarver to calm down and act like he's been there before. Of course,
he hasn't. Miz then entered the ring and watched as Tarver slowly picked up
Bryan for Carlito to deliver the backstabber on Bryan. Miz simply crouched over
Bryan and talked trash to him as Bryan sold the ribs. Ringside, Mathews and Cole
talked about the second Pros poll next week.
WINNER: Tarver in 7:00. And the beat goes on for Bryan, as he reaches 0-10
status with the latest loss. At least it's half-way interesting to see where
this leads with Daniel perhaps finally being booked to make that babyface
comeback and "kick out" of the losing streak. (*1/4)
Last week recap: Darren Young tried to get people to buy programs to watch him
vs. C.M. Punk. ... Backstage: Punk, Luke Gallows, and Serena addressed Darren
Young in the locker room. Punk asked Young if he really wants to fight him.
Young said he wants to make a statement. "You will not make a statement using
me," Punk told him. He told Young to win the obstacle course challenge or else
he's going to make the decision for Young on who he's going to be.
Announcers: Cole and Mathews were back on camera to hype the next obstacle
course. Cole tried to act excited like he does for lame comedy bits on Raw, so
Mathews mocked him. Cole acknowledged it was lame, then they fed it to the
obstacle course.
Stage: Heath Slater was up next and he cut a better pace than Daniel Bryan. He
chugged a soda before running back into the arena and nearly tripping on the top
steps. Slater hopped the guardrail and juggled five balls before picking up the
baseball bat. He spun the bat, then pushed a cart up the ramp to easily beat
Bryan's time with 1:36.9.
Darren Young was up next to run the Wild & Crazy NXT course. Young scaled the X
Division gimmick match, then struggled to climb a ladder and ring the bell. He
got his foot caught on the way down the ladder before charging the stairs to
reach the concourse. Young started chugging a soda, but struggled to finish it
off. Young finally finished the soda, but time had already expired on Slater's
time. Young finished off the course anyways and ended at 2:07.8. And the
obstacle course continues later on, along with R-Truth vs. Otunga.
[Q3]
[Commercial Break]
Stage: Justin Gabriel was up next for the obstacle course. The crowd watched
quietly as Gabriel scaled the items. Mathews called him the "Jonas Brothers" of
WWE. Gabriel made good time here quietly approaching the concession stand and
chugging a soda. Gabriel made it to the ringside area and slid into the ring to
juggle balls one handed. He made it to the baseball bat and did some spinning
before pushing the case over the line and winning by seven seconds over Slater
at 1:29.0. Well done.
Up next was David Otunga, who made good time with the first part of this bit.
Otunga charged up the stairs and reached the concession stands to chug a soda.
Otunga made it back to the stairs and slowly made his way down to the ringside
area. Otunga struggled juggling balls, then hit the baseball bat, shoved a cart
over the line and lost at 1:35.0. Striker told Otunga his reward for completing
the challenge is his match vs. R-Truth is up next. Otunga took a breath, then
stomped to the ring to do his posing. After a plug for Over the Limit, R-Truth's
music hit to wake up a sleepy crowd. Truth did his rap as Otunga did a bored
hand motion to hurry up with the gimmick. After his music stopped, Truth asked
Charleston what's up.
2 -- DAVID OTUNGA vs. R-TRUTH
R-Truth scored some early offense, but was ironically distracted by his own
"R-Truth" chant to give Otunga an opening. Otunga landed a big shoulder tackle
off the ropes, then a few strikes to the gut before they cut to break with
Otunga in control.
[Commercial Break]
[Q4] Back from break, the story was Otunga getting too cocky on the offensive.
Truth then made a comeback and dropped Otunga with a flying spin kick before
hitting the spinning forearm blow off the ropes. Truth with the cover for the
win. Post-match: Truth danced and Cole tried to act hip as Mathews expectedly
mocked Cole for looking like an idiot. No "tool" reference this week, though.
WINNER: Truth in 6:00. Forgettable match with most of the match occurring during
the commercial. Otunga still needs time to work on standing out as a performer
during the wrestling portion of his act. He doesn't resonate with the audience
in the ring yet. He just more time and experience. (*)
Stage: Wade Barrett slipped on the monkey bars twice and complained about the
bars being greased. Instead of continuing, he gave up and walked to the back.
So, Bryan is not last place this week. Up next was Skip Sheffield, who tried to
pull off the X Division match and fared well. Skip made it to the concession
stands and chugged a beverage to chants of "chug, chug, chug." He gingerly made
it down the stairs and hit the ring to juggle. Skip finished it off, hit the
bat, spun around, and pushed the cart up the ramp close to Gabriel's time. He
was two seconds short at 1:31.2, though. Striker congratulated him, which drew
mockery from Cole and Mathews considering Skip lost. Up next: Michael Tarver.
Will he actually compete? That was the hook to stay tuned after the break.
[Commercial Break. A local ad for TNA's house show in Houston on May 22 aired.
The ad also noted TNA is on Monday nights on Spike. Whoops.]
Stage: And now Michael Tarver's turn. Tarver slipped on the monkey bars, but
didn't quit like Barrett. His time was screwed, though, and he finally made it
to the concession stands to chug a soda. Tarver sold that he was going to barf
like Droz. Cole to Mathews: "That looked like you the other night." Ref Charles
Robinson sold this like a submission hold and got in there to ask Tarver if he
wanted to give it up. "Ask him!" Tarver finally tapped on the soda and Justin
Gabriel was deemed the winner.
Ringside: Gabriel said he's probably stoked he won the deal and said he's just
glad Otunga didn't win because he's tired of this guy. Otunga said he checked
with Nielson because the ratings are up when his face is on the screen. Tarver
made it back to ringside and Striker asked him who should be eliminated next
week. "Me. I should be eliminated next week," he said. Striker acted shocked.
Tarver said he's sick and tired of waiting for a chance to prove himself and he
had to beat up "an injured, over-rated Daniel Bryan" to prove it. Bryan clenched
his jaw as Tarver cut a promo on him.
Striker then asked Sheffield who should be gone next week. Skip cut a babyface
promo, not hearing the question. He then said Tarver should be eliminated, plain
and simple. "You think that's funny?" Tarver asked Skip. They tossed words back
and forth before Striker got thoughts from Slater. He said Slater is going
nowhere, baby. He, too, wanted Tarver off the show next week.
Meanwhile, Gabriel and Otunga were about to go at it. Gabriel suggested they
have a match right now. Instead, Wade Barrett was given mic time to say there's
no way he's gone next week because he's the only man in this whole building.
Wade said Tarver is gone next week. Striker brought in Daniel Bryan to get his
thoughts. Bryan said he's the only one who hasn't won a match, so if there's
anyone who should be eliminated, it's him.
Darren Young was given last word to plug himself. He said he wants it more than
everyone on the show. He got to Wade Barrett, who piefaced him. The brawl was on
ringside with Young on top of Barrett as a ref tried to separate them. It turned
into a bar room brawl with fists and forearms flying here. More refs spilled out
to ringside to try to separate the two men having the most real-looking fight on
WWE TV in a while. Barrett and Young continued to fight as the show went off the
air. Very strong conclusion to the show with the wrestlers "in the heat of the
moment like a legit athletic event" after the silliness of the latest
Nickelodeon kid's game contest.