4/6 Twilling's WWE NXT Live Coverage: The fan rankings are revealed for the eight NXT rookies, will David Otunga and Daniel Bryan take the next step in their feud?

WWE NXT on the Syfy Network
Taped earlier tonight in Chicago, Ill.

[Q1] The opening video aired and fireworks lit up the stage. Michael Cole and Josh Mathews welcomed us to the show. They sent it Matt Striker on the stage. He introduced the eight rookies from last to first in the way they were ranked. Otunga received a huge pop, as did Gabriel and Daniel Bryan...

The eight men stood atop the stage. Striker reminded us the winner of the show would receive a pay-per-view championship match. Otunga said he turned his back on John Cena last night because he wanted to do The Miz a favor because Miz can help him get a future championship match.

Bryan was asked if he deserved to be number one. He asked if The Miz deserved to be a pro. He asked if Otunga deserved to host Raw. He asked if Michael Cole deserved to take Jim Ross' spot at the announce booth. Funny. Michael Tarver cut a promo and said he was the most dangerous man in the competition.

Striker introduced a competition where the rookies had to lift a 160 pound keg, run it around the ring, and cross the finish line. Bryan went first and scored in the :24 second range...

Twill's Two Cents: What is this? The Diva Search Contest?

Barrett beat Bryan by more than ten seconds. Cole actually said something funny. "Don't worry, internet fans will still think Bryan won the thing." Gabriel beat Barrett's time. Slater beat Gabriel with a time of twelve seconds. Otunga received huge heat from the crowd. The people that emailed me saying he isn't a star should have listened to that.

[Q2] Skip Sheffield missed the mark by four tenths of a second. Tarver, who ran his mouth earlier, dropped the keg and was disqualified. Thanks for coming Mike. Young could not beat the time, so Heath Slater won the competition.

Heath Slater won the Diva Search type contest.

By winning the competition, Slater won his way into tonight's main event. Kane's music hit and he walked out and looked Slater in the eye. To his credit, he did not back down. Kane lit the ringposts on fire and the show went to commercial... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: It was silly, but if they have contests like these in order to earn main event matches and other perks, I think that could be a good thing and definitely better than having random rookie vs. rookie matches.

Skip Sheffield was interviewed backstage and he said the keg contest was rigged. He said nobody matched his strength or skills and he was the "NXT biggest thing." Striker said that is the attitude that would help get him to the top...

Daniel Bryan vs. Darren Young is up next... [C]

[Q3] 1. Darren Young defeated Daniel Bryan in 1:54. Cole called Bryan "a tool." Wow, if the pot ever called the kettle black, that would be it. Young scored the surprise win with a rollup...

Twill's Two Cents: So, Bryan is never going to win a match and every time he wrestles, we get to hear Cole call all of his fans "internet geeks?" I'm still curious as to how Bryan can be painted as the underdog who cannot win when he is ranked at the top of the polls.

Justin Gabriel made his entrance to a huge pop. I still think it is funny that the fans are fooled every single time when a veteran's theme hits and the rookie comes out instead...

2. Justin Gabriel defeated Michael Tarver in 2:24. Gabriel impressed early but could not hit the 450 splash because Tarver knocked him off the ropes. He recovered though and hit the 450 for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: Gabriel's 450 is just as impressive as Evan Bourne's Shooting Star Press. He is an easily likable guy and if he can learn to work a longer match, his big spots are going to do him a lot of good.

Kane vs. Heath Slater was hyped... [C]

[Q4] 3. Wade Barrett defeated David Otunga in 3:29. Barrett impressed early with his power and mat work. Otunga hit a reverse neckbreaker for a two count. Barrett came back and hit his finisher for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: I didn't like Barrett's finisher at first but it's grown on me and the crowd was into it. Otunga is so green in the ring and Barrett has a lot going for him. He has the obvious power, but he is very agile as well.

Heath Slater was shown getting ready for Kane... [C]

[Overrun] 4. Kane defeated Heath Slater in 4:59. Slater went right to the top and hit a missile dropkick. He went up again and hit a high cross body. Kane kicked him in the head. He then slowed things down.

Slater kicked out of a couple of nearfalls. The beginning of the end was a huge closeline by Kane. He followed with the top rope closeline. The crowd popped huge when Kane hit the chokeslam for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: Slater was portrayed as the competitor that never quits, which could be a nice niche for him. I knew it wouldn't take long to get WWE veterans on this show and I think it is a good thing. For the young guys to work with the veterans will only do them good.

What did you think of the show? Feel free to let me know by shooting an email to dotnetrich@gmail.com.