2/1 Shore's WWE NXT Live Coverage: How will Alberto Del Rio's Royal Rumble win affect his rookie Brodus Clay? Who in the final four will shine as the season winds down?

WWE NXT on SyFy
Taped earlier in Long Island, N.Y.

The opening video aired and Todd Grisham and Josh Matthews sent it to the ring and Matt Striker. Striker reminded everyone voting would open tomorrow for the next elimination. Each of the Rookies and Pros came out. Brodus Clay came out with Ricardo Rodriguez. Striker asked where Del Rio was. Ric Rod said Del Rio was busy after winning the Rumble, but he was replacing Del Rio tonight.

Striker said the challenge tonight was arm wrestling with three immunity points on the line. The first two competitors were Johnny Curtis and Byron Saxton. Curtis beat Saxton in like two seconds.

Brodus was laughing at Daniel Bateman who had Daniel Bryan slap him three times to get ready. Brodus held Curtis for a moment and then slammed his hand down.

Brodus and Curtis faced off. Curtis pulled and pulled and almost won. Clay headbutted Curtis and won. The ref saw the headbut and disqualified Clay and awarded the three points to Johnny Curtis…The announce team hyped Byron Saxton vs. Chris Masters for next…

Shore’s Slant: This was fun. I don't mind the arm wrestling challenge so much as it at least makes sense to some degree. Brodus is still going to win and he'll team with Ric Rod for the titles. You heard it here first.

The 2-21-11 video aired…

1. Chris Masters defeated Byron Saxton (w/Dolph Ziggler) at 3:16. Saxton managed to hit a double stomp off the top and some strikes, but otherwise it was a squash. Masters hooked on the Masterlock. Ziggler teased throwing in the towel, but Saxton gave up first…

Backstage, Bateman was trying to hook a guillotine choke on Bryan but couldn't quite get it. They talked about what it takes to cause people to submit and Bateman said something stupid. Kim walked up looking AMAZING and said she was good at submissions too. Bateman dared her to put him in the choke and she choked him out. Bryan and Kim made out to celebrate…[C]

Shore’s Slant: What the hell was that? OK, Saxton is probably out because Masters buried him and that seems to be the norm. Now, what the hell was that?

A video recapped Clay's pro switch from Ted DiBiase last week. DiBiase made his entrance and Maryse followed a moment later…

2. Brodus Clay (w/Ricardo Rodriguez) defeated Ted DiBiase at 4:30. Maryse gave Grisham her number and they spent more time on that than the action in the ring. DiBiase hit a plancha on the floor, but it was all Brodus in the ring. DiBiase clipped the leg and Maryse pretended to kiss Grisham. She slapped him instead and DiBiase yelled at her. Brodus used the distraction to hit a powerslam for the win…

Backstage, Curtis nursed his head and Byron Saxton walked in. He said everybody including Truth was talking bad about him. Curtis told him to pound sand and said he and Truth were tight. Saxton said they both know the truth…The announce team hyped Curtis and Truth vs. Bryan and Bateman…[C]

Shore’s Slant: So DiBiase has to look bad and Clay doesn't get a good win either. Weak.

The talk the talk challenge was next. Each of the rookies cut a promo on a pro. Saxton punked Truth a little, Bateman said Dolph Ziggler's real name was Turd Ferguson (the crowd started chanting turd), Curtis slapped Brodus and ran, and Brodus said he could hit Kim better than Bryan. Bryan called him fat and the crowd chose Bateman as the winner. He earned two points…

Shore’s Slant: That wasn't too bad because they let them talk about the pros, but I don't care for the silliness of it. I know that's NXT, but I would like to see these guys look good when they make the main roster.

The Chaperone trailer and Raw Rebound videos aired…

3. Daniel Bryan and Derrick Bateman defeated R-Truth and Johnny Curtis at 7:58. Truth and Bateman started. Truth took quick control and tagged in Curtis. Curtis and Bateman traded headlocks and squared off. The wrestled and spilled to the floor. They got real intense and started brawling and Bryan and Truth broke them up and talked with their rookies…[C]

Back at 3:19, Bryan and Curtis locked up. Curtis hooked three quick headlocks, but Bryan hit a back suplex and tagged Bateman. They knocked each other down and both men got hot tags. Truth got the best and tagged Curtis. They hit a double suplex and Curtis covered. All four men were in the ring and Truth took out Bateman and Bryan hooked the LaBell lock on Curtis for the submission win…

Shore’s Slant: Good match to close. I have an emergency and have to leave but I will have more in the hitlist tomorrow. Thanks for reading and I'll see you then.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com with whatever is on your mind.