Gutteridge's WWE NXT Review: A 'Review of the Year' show featuring Kane vs. Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins vs. Jinder Mahal, Big E Langston vs. Camacho, Bray Wyatt vs. Aiden English, C.M. Punk, John Cena, and The Shield appear

By Darren Gutteridge
 
12/27 WWE NXT on Sky Sports 3
Taped in Winter Park, Florida
 
[Q1] After titles, Tony Dawson was shown in the backstage studio set up, and he talked about a few of the stars of NXT this year. He explained that the show would feature highlights of matches, as well as a look at The Shield. He lead us into the first match, a replay of Jinder Mahal vs. Seth Rollins to crown the NXT Champion...
 
1. Seth Rollins vs. Jinder Mahal. The match was joined in progress. The two men threw punches, and went back and forth with offence until Mahal landed a sidewalk slam for a two. Rollins ended up on the apron, and kicked Mahal to set up a springboard flying knee. Mahal kicked out, and Rollins set up and hit corner splash, followed by the turnbuckle slam. A superkick again brought a two count. Rollins attempted a corkscrew moonsault, but Mahal rolled out of the way.
 
Mahal once again tried for the Camel Clutch, and Rollins escaped twice. Out of nowhere, Rollins hoisted Mahal into a powerbomb position, and then stalled as he seemed to get his bearings in the ring. He eventually slammed Mahal into the turnbuckles, and landed the Blackout for the victory and the NXT Title...
 
Seth Rollins defeated Jinder Mahal to win the NXT Title.
 
After the match, Dawson spoke over a video of The Shield attacking Randy Orton, and said that Rollins seems to have taken Dusty Rhodes advice of 'making a name for yourself' to heart. Dawson then said Rollins wasn't the only one, which led us into a quick video highlighting Audrey Marie, Richie Steamboat, Bo Dallas, CJ Parker and Big E Langston... [C]
 
[Q2] A mix of a few Bray Wyatt vignettes was shown. After it, Dawson said people don't know what to make of Wyatt, but he found him creepy. Dawson summed up by saying whatever you think, you can't question the results, before we cut to the second match...
 
2. Bray Wyatt vs. Aiden English. Bray attacked viciously right off the bat. English quickly ended up on the outside and got thrown around quickly by Wyatt. Bray got back in the ring and started to roll around by himself, looking down the camera. He landed a big splash in the corner, and then started ballroom dancing with him. He pulled English in, kissed him on the forehead, and then hit a swinging reverse STO for the squash win...
 
Bray Wyatt defeated Aiden English in 1:50.
 
After the match, we cut to a new Bray Wyatt promo, this time backstage. He said the New Year represented the chance to 'lose that last 10 pounds, pay off your debts' etc., or for 'you're love ones to betray you in my name'...
 
Dawson said that a previously unaired Cody Rhodes vs. Kane match would air later on... [C]
 
Gutt Check: It's a little weird that WWE would show new content in a highlight show, but this was only small. I can't argue with their choices so far, but it's strange to think that for all his attention, this is Wyatt's only match on NXT.
 
[Q3] A Kassius Ohno vignette aired. He said he inflicts pain, and it brings him pleasure. He finished with the 'I'm Kassius, and I hurt people'. It also showed highlights from his matches, finishing with William Regal pulling Tyson Kidd out of the ring after Kassius and Leo Kruger beat him up.
 
This led into a backstage promo from Kassius where he said, although he's not suppositious, 2013 may be unlucky for his opponents. He also said he aims to win the NXT Title...
 
CM Punk was then shown talking to the camera in a locker room. He mentioned his appearance on the show, when he told Rollins to 'beat respect out of people', and how he's taken it to heart with the Shield. Punk said the future is in NXT, but they need to emulate him if they want to reach the top. He finished by promising to beat The Rock at the Royal Rumble, main event Wrestlemania, and keep hold of his title...
 
Gutt Check: As I mention in my awards for 2012, the gimmick still isn't clicking for Ohno. It's a combination of lots of little things as opposed to a glaring problem, but it needs addressing in 2013. Good use of Punk, who seemed genuine in his praise of NXT.
 
Dawson began talking about Big E Langston, and the huge impact he has made on the show. This led into a Big E highlight package, and then a match...
 
3. Big E Langston vs. Camacho. Langston immediately began dominating Camacho, headbutting him before tackling him in the corner several times. Camacho booted him in the face when he tried for another tackle, and slapped Big E. This fired Big E up, as he immediately body checked Camacho and set up the Big Ending. He hit it and the ref counted 3...
 
Big E Langston defeated Camacho in 2:03.
 
After the match, they cut to a replay of Big E's debut on Raw, attacking Cena. Following it, Dawson was shown interviewing Big E backstage, and asked him why he attacked Cena. He said he was merely helping his friend AJ Lee, and he now aims to beat Rollins for the NXT Title... [C]
 
Gutt Check: Again, this was little new stuff that is ultimately unimportant, but interesting. Big E deflected the question pretty quickly, as so not to give away a big Raw storyline point on NXT, and then set up something for NXT in the coming months.
 
[Q4] Another quick highlight package aired, focussing on Leo Kruger, Kassius Ohno, Paige, Conor O'Brian and Corey Graves. They replayed Graves attack on Rollins, and said that Graves vs. Rollins for the NXT title will happen on the first NXT of the new year. Good hook. Dawson then introduced the main event...
 
4. Kane vs. Cody Rhodes. Lots of stalling early on from Rhodes, who kept ducking out of the ring. Kane eventually tired as Rhodes was leaving up the ramp, catching him on the stage and throwing him back in the ring. Kane hit a big boot, but Rhodes dodged the flying clothesline, jumped out of the chokeslam, and ducked a big boot in the corner. Kane's knee got caught in the turnbuckle, and Cody zeroed in on it...
 
In the middle of the match, after a tour promo, Cena was shown backstage, talking about NXT being the future. It sounded very scripted. I mean, Punk was scripted, but he didn't sound it...
 
Cody was down on the mat when we returned, and Kane hit him with the flying clothesline this time around. He motioned for the chokeslam, but Rhodes grabbed the ropes to force the break. Kane argued with the ref, and Cody used this to set up and hit the Beautiful Disaster kick. Cody went for Crossrhodes, but Kane escaped and hit the chokeslam for the 1-2-3...
 
Kane defeated Cody Rhodes in 7.30
 
Dawson began to plug next weeks NXT after the match. He said The Shield will be in attendance when Rollins faces Graves, and also announced Bo Dallas vs. Epico, as well as Leo Kruger and Kassius Ohno vs. Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel. He was interrupted by a Shield video, shot with their handheld camera.
 
Seth did most of the talking, saying that winning the NXT Title didn't get him the 'call up' to the main roster, and he is now going to fight injustice in the company. Dean Ambrose said the WWE was ill, but was too proud to admit it. He said the world was full of injustices, as is the WWE, but it doesn't have to be like this. Rollins said he intends to make Corey Graves leave on a stretcher next week, before Roman Reigns called NXT the Shield's "house". Rollins closed by saying the Shield's New Years Resolution was to fight injustice and right wrongs in WWE, starting with NXT next week...
 
Dawson thanked us for watching, and wished us a happy New Year...
 
Gutt Check: Now this I didn't expect, but highly commend. The hardest thing for NXT to deal with will be the hard reset of Rollins from babyface to heel. This was the most they could do to explain the change one week out. It's going to be jarring, but at least they tried. NXT may encounter this problem again and again, if people are called up to main roster with a different allegiance while still having unfinished business on NXT. Big E is already going to face this problem soon. Solid work from Rollins and Ambrose too. Reigns was flat, but maybe that’s by design.
 
What can you say about a highlight show? The Kane vs. Rhodes match was kind of dull, but it was basically a house match so they can be let off, and the new content shown was all fine, but didn't matter all that much.
 
Thanks for reading. If you had any comments or thoughts on the show or this review, add me on Twitter via @Dazatheg