The NXT Episode – 9th March 2010
09/03/2010
Hello and welcome the NXT Episode!
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On with the show!
Quick Links
Opening Segment: Striker Covers the Basics
Match 1: Truth & Otunga Vs. The Miz & Bryan
Segment 3: The Miz Interviewed
Match 2: Heath Slater Vs. Carlito
Segment 5: Straight Edge Decision
Main Event: Wade Barrett Vs. Justin Gabriel
Segment 1
Striker Covers the Basics
As with last week Matt Striker covered the rules of the competition, then rather interestingly said that ‘some of these guys may go on to be big names in the WWE’.
Whether this was him letting slip some info about how this is all going to pan out, or whether it was simply a turn of phrase, still remains to be seen.
Match 1
Tag Team Match
R-Truth & David Otunga
Vs.
The Miz & Daniel Bryan
Before the match Miz gave his Rookie a little ‘pep talk’, telling him that by losing his first two matches he’s proven nothing to the fans and nothing to the Pros.
He tells Bryan that this match is very important to him, and if he costs him the win by getting pinned he will make sure he never achieves his dream and will personally get him thrown off NXT.
So far Bryan and Otunga seem to be the two guys on NXT that have been tipped to make it big, getting the lions share of segments and storylines so far, mainly revolving around their respective grievances with their Pro’s.
Bryan is impressive there’s no doubt about it, but I question why he’s having to come through this process when he’s already pretty well renowned and clearly very skilled.
If there was any criticism of Bryan, from a WWE point of view, it would have to be his size. The fact remains that Vince doesn’t like small guys, and unless you’re Rey Mysterio you’re pretty much going to struggle to break through the glass ceiling.
Both Rookies looked impressive in this bout, but it was a blind tag from The Miz while Bryan had a submission locked in that brought about the end of the match.
The two squared up before Miz slapped Bryan, distracting the referee long enough for R-Truth to enter the ring and strike with the Lie Detector, allowing Otunga to cover the United States and Tag Team Champion and pick up undoubtedly the biggest win of his career to date.
After the match Miz blamed Bryan for the loss and demanded he head to the back immediately.
Bryan lunged as if he was about to slap his Pro, which sent The Miz reeling, before heading up the ramp looking disappointed.
R-Truth & David Otunga win by Pinfall.
Segment 2
That’s NOT Cool
A video ran showing Heath Slater’s reaction to Carlito spitting in his face last week.
Slater said it happened too fast for him to react but he’ll get his revenge tonight in a match against Michael Tarver’s Pro.
Segment 3
The Miz Interviewed
Backstage Matt Striker caught up with Miz and asked him if he thought he had let his Rookie down.
Miz crowed about being a dual-champion before Daniel entered and said that every single team The Miz has been in, he’s been carried by the other person.
The Miz argued the point but Bryan told him that if he was any good he wouldn’t have lost the match tonight.
Segment 4
Hardy & Gabriel
An introductory video for Justin Gabriel ran at this point. He played on his South African roots and said that he couldn’t envision himself failing.
Afterwards Matt and Justin chatted in the locker room about the Rookie’s second main event match in a row. It was quite clear that Gabriel needs work on his promo skills, as it all felt a little forced.
Jericho and Barrett entered and the World Heavyweight Champion said his Rookie would be victorious tonight.
Gabriel said he respected Jericho but wasn’t intimidated by Barrett.
Barrett grabbed the microphone and explained how he’d dispatched fan favourite Daniel Bryan in under three minutes last week, and as Gabriel isn’t even the fans favourite, he wouldn’t last much longer.
Hardy wrapped things up by saying ‘my guy is going to beat your guy’, which prompted Jericho and his charge to exit the room.
Match 2
Singles Match
Heath Slater (w/Christian)
Vs.
Carlito (w/Michael Tarver)
Before the match Carlito addressed his actions last week, saying that Slater should be honoured that he spit in his face.
Carlito said lots of WWE Superstars have had an apple spit in their faces and Slater should be begging him to do it again.
Once in the ring Carlito munched a huge section of his apple and attempted to spit it in the Rookies face.
However, Slater managed to dodge it and seized the opportunity, starting the match strongly.
Slater seems to have split opinion here at WWEBlog because while some members of the team quite like him, I personally I think he’s dull, fairly average in the ring and pretty poor at delivery for someone who classes himself as a ‘One Man Rock Band’.
So far most of the other Rookies have really seized their opportunities when facing Pro’s (Bryan put on an amazing showing against Jericho for example) but Slater just seemed to be going through the motions in this one, despite picking up the win with a quick roll-up.
In fact, despite being hardly involved in the match at all, Tarver showed a lot more character on the outside.
Heath Slater wins by Pinfall.
Segment 5
Straight Edge Decision
After a introductory video about Darren Young the camera’s head backstage where The Straight Edge Society are discussing him.
After a while Young appeared and said that while he respects Punk’s Straight Edge lifestyle, he thinks he should be able to lead his own life according to what he believes in.
Punk tells him that as a member of the Straight Edge Society he’ll be a winner, but it’s a decision he ultimately has to make on his own.
Main Event Match
Singles Match
Wade Barrett (w/Chris Jericho)
Vs.
Justin Gabriel (w/Matt Hardy)
To say this was the first all-rookie main event, it didn’t get a very big chunk of the card to work with.
Gabriel looked good but I’m still struggling to warm to him in comparison to Barrett, although that’s probably down to Barrett being from Manchester.
So when Barrett lost fairly and squarely to a rather impressive 450 Splash I have to admit I was just a little bit miffed.
However, after the match as the victors celebrated Jericho struck from behind and dumped Matt Hardy over the top rope, then hit Gabriel with the CodeBreaker, before locking in the Walls of Jericho.
Jericho raised Barratt’s hand as the show went off the air, but he couldn’t hide the fact that Gabriel has won two straight main events now.
Justin Gabriel wins by Pinfall.
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