3/16 Twilling's WWE NXT Live Coverage: C.M. Punk and Darren Young vs. Matt Hardy and Justin Gabriel, will dissension continue between the rookies and their mentors?

WWE NXT on the Syfy Network
Taped earlier tonight in Los Angeles, Cal.

[Q1] The opening video aired. As Michael Cole welcomed us to the show, C.M. Punk's music hit. Punk, Luke Gallows, Serena, and Darren Young made their way to the ring. Josh Mathews checked in on commentary as well. He sent it back to Matt Striker.

Striker said in two weeks, the first round of votes would be completed and someone would be sent away. Matt Hardy and Justin Gabriel came out in matching colors. The crowd popped huge for Hardy. The on screen graphics show the current records of the rookies...

Twill's Two Cents: I still like the reality feel of the concept with records being shown and emphasis being placed on the sports atmosphere of it all. I'm curious to see who and how many people will be eliminated based on the votes and where the eliminated contestants will end up. Jason Powell is in the Dot Net Member's Forum discussing tonight's show with Dot Net Members.

1. C.M. Punk and Darren Young defeated Matt Hardy and Justin Gabriel in 14:04. Young and Punk worked well as a team although Punk's mannerisms were very apprehensive. Gabriel took the offense and tried to come back, but missed a springboard high cross body. Young developed some heel mannerisms and attacked Gabriel on the floor by throwing him into the ring steps... [C]

Back from commercial, Punk continued the onslaught on Gabriel and scored a few nearfalls. Young tagged in and worked a much more aggressive style. Gabriel hit a few impressive kicks but Young did not sell the moves for long at all.

Gabriel hit a telegraphed move (Rock Bottom/leg sweep) and missed the 450 splash. Punk tagged in and applied a leg scissors around the midsection of Gabriel. Young and Punk continued to make frequent tags and work well as a unit.

[Q2] Punk attempted the springboard closeline but Gabriel countered with a dropkick. Hardy made the hot tag and scored a nearfall on Punk after hitting the Side Effect. Punk tagged out and Hardy closelined Young to the floor. Gallows knocked out Gabriel but Hardy hit Luke with a Side Effect.

Back in the ring, Hardy positioned himself to hit the Twist of Fate on Young, but the referee was distracted by the Straight Edge Society. Punk hit the GTS on Hardy and Young covered him for the win...

After the match, Gallows attacked Hardy and Gabriel. Young high fived a smiling Punk, but Gallows then hit the Gallows Pole on Young. The SES left Young laying in the ring as they left the ring...

Twill's Two Cents: I really enjoyed Young's new and more aggressive style. I think he could make a much more effective heel than a babyface. Gabriel did a nice job selling for several minutes and the pros picked up their pace a bit too. Young was impressive offensively but needs to work on selling moves.

It was announced that The Miz put Daniel Bryan in a match with The Great Khali and that match will take place tonight... [C]

The Miz's music hit and Daniel Bryan, who is 0-3, came out alone. Cole mentioned again that the pros would be casting their votes soon. Cole played the respect card again in terms of what Miz is teaching Bryan...

2. The Great Khali (with Runjin Singh) defeated Daniel Bryan in 2:01. Cole and Mathews argued over the merits of Daniel Bryan. Bryan dropped Khali to his knees with a front face lock. Bryan scored a one count after hitting a few kicks. He went to the top and flew into a Khali chop. A Khali Bomb later and a foot to the chest gave Khali the win...

Big Show's music hit and he came out to the ring doing The Miz's bidding. He hit a chokeslam on Bryan and left as Khali looked on with a half smile. Bryan sold his injuries in the ring as the announcers hyped Skip Sheffield vs. Wade Barrett as tonight's main event... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: I'm sure there are many internet fans and Daniel Bryan fans throwing up in their mouthes a bit as the worst wrestler in the world just squashed one of the best. Bryan is obviously being built up as the ultimate underdog. It worked for Rey Mysterio, but can it work that well for anyone else?

[Q3] The statue of the great Magic Johnson was shown outside of the Staples Center. The Raw Rebound played and focused on the WrestleMania match between Bret Hart and Vince McMahon. Of course, Steve Austin moderated the contract signing and personally put Stu Hart into the WWE Hall of Fame...

Twill's Two Cents: How cool was it to see Bret Hart and Steve Austin together in a WWE ring again?

Cole and Mathews ran down the top matches at WrestleMania set to the "Be Yourself" song. Dot Net readers, email me if you remember when WWE used that song before. I think it was during one of the Diva Search contests...

A David Otunga video aired. Otunga's Hollywood lifestyle was profiled, including his relationship with Jennifer Hudson and meeting the President of the United States. He said he did not care how people reacted to him because everyone was just jealous. "If you don't know me, you should." ...

Twill's Two Cents: Otunga definitely has the out of ring skills to be a star. He has two great catchphrases. "Google me" could be a top selling t-shirt, assuming WWE could use "Google" on one of their shirts.

Michael Tarver was shown walking through the backstage area in preparation for his match with Heath Slater... [C]

[Q4] The WrestleMania recall featured Pete Rose at WrestleMania XIV in Boston. Of course, that was the first time Pete took Kane's tombstone piledriver. Look for something with Kane this Monday as Rose will be the guest host of Raw...

The undefeated Heath Slater made his way to the ring. Highlights of Slater pinning Carlito was shown. Tarver made his entrance looking for his first win. Neither rookie came out with their mentors (Carlito for Tarver and Christian for Slater)...

3. Heath Slater defeated Michael Tarver in 2:49. The announcers reiterated that the veterans would be casting votes in two weeks and a rookie would be eliminated. Christian and Carlito were shown watching together backstage. That was weird. Crowd checked out for this one and the announcers were not good enough to keep it interesting.

After some methodical back and forth action, Slater scored the win with a rollup. Christian was happy as Carlito looked upset. Then Tarver attacked Slater with a t-bone suplex. This pleased Carlito as Christian became upset over Tarver's actions...

Twill's Two Cents: Decent match in which Tarver looked more comfortable and Slater made a nice comeback, but the crowd was completely dead, so the entire thing pretty much goes overlooked. The rookies could probably benefit from having their mentors at ringside with them every time out.

William Regal was shown talking to Skip Sheffield backstage... [C]

World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho led his rookie, Wade Barrett, out to the ring. Regal made his entrance with Sheffield...

[Overrun] 4. Wade Barrett (with Chris Jericho) defeated Skip Sheffield (with William Regal) in 3:48. Barrett worked over Sheffield as Jericho screamed at Skip and the announce team. He drove his foot into Sheffield's back as he pulled back on his arms. Sheffield hit a couple of sledgehammer blows to gain the advantage.

Skip hit a splash for a one count as the announcers bickered like children. Sheffield went to the second rope, but Barrett pulled his ankle out from under him. He hit his finisher (I guess), which began as a GTS and he just dumped him forward. He scored the pinfall...

Jericho and Barrett celebrated and left together. Regal left Sheffield laying in the ring as he just walked away...

Twill's Two Cents: This was a match that the crowd did not know who to cheer for, so like the previous rookie vs. rookie match, it just dragged. Barrett is a little sloppy and Sheffield looked decent on offense. Tommy Dreamer hit it on the head today when he said the fans don't know these guys and don't know who to get behind. This show has to start doing a better job of personalizing these guys.

What did you think of the show? Feel free to let me know by shooting an email to dotnetrich@gmail.com. Thanks for following along with me tonight and check out my NXT Hitlist tomorrow.