WWE NXT on the Syfy Network
Taped earlier tonight in Milwaukee, Wis.

[Q1] The opening video featured all eight rookies in the a ring followed by on screen graphics of the eight pairings. A live shot featured all eight rookies backstage. The Miz walked in and looked at each guy. He then called Daniel Bryan up and introduced himself and his rookie.

Miz reminded everybody that Daniel Bryan was an internet darling and everyone thought he was ready. Bryan said he was ready. Miz instructed Bryan to head out to the ring and give the fans a reason to tune in to see him. Bryan took off and entered to Miz's music. Miz told everyone if Bryan did not display charisma, he would slap charisma into him...

Twill's Two Cents: So far, so good. I already feel pressure for these guys and they are going to have a great opportunity to make something of themselves here. By the way, Jason Powell is in the Dot Net Member's Forum discussing tonight's show with Dot Net Members.

Michael Cole and Josh Mathews will be your announce team. Josh sent it back to the host of the show, Matt Striker. Striker said he would get Bryan's reaction or perhaps pick up the pieces as soon as he was finished with his promo...

Bryan was introduced by Savannah. He apologized to the crowd and wished William Regal was his pro. He began to talk about his career when The Miz came out to interrupt him. "This is going to be a challenge, being your pro," said Miz.

Bryan said he could have gone the reality show route but that was done already. He said he Miz had two options, to tap or to snap. Miz laughed off Bryan's comments and asked the crowd what they thought of Daniel Bryan. He asked if they felt he displayed charisma.

Bryan received a decent pop. He asked the crowd if Bryan deserved to be in the same ring as him. "Well, I don't," said Miz. He then slapped Bryan and left. Bryan responded and said, "I'm going to slap you back." ... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: I feel it was smart to open the show with the pairing that most people were talking about. Daniel Bryan came across pretty well. He has never been a great promo guy, but he showed something there and his pairing with Miz should be an entertaining one.

[Q2] Mathews welcomed us back and sent it to Striker, who interviewed Daniel Bryan backstage. Bryan said he slapped harder than Miz. Striker called out Bryan and asked him how he could say that about his mentor. Bryan said he could because he's been in the business twice as long as Miz.

Striker reminded him that working in the WWE was all about earning respect and that Bryan was only in WWE for a minute. He asked Bryan if he wanted to be a star. Bryan said he could be a star on his own but Striker basically told him he was nothing unless he made it in WWE. Bryan looked defeated by the end of the interview...

Twill's Two Cents: Well, I understand that the rookies are going to get the hazing treatment, so I'm curious to see how the other guys respond to Striker's abrasive interviewing style.

Cole said Daniel Bryan would face Chris Jericho in the main event. Carlito and Michael Tarver made their ring entrance. They aired a video package introducing Tarver, who is known as "Mr. 1.9 seconds" because he can knock people out with one punch. Christian and Heath Slater made their entrance and they showed an introduction video of Slater as well...

Twill's Two Cents: I like the in depth video packages because the sooner we get to know these guys, the better.

1. Christian and Heath Slater defeated Carlito and Michael Tarver in 4:14. Slater started the match and impressed with a few deep arm drags. Tarver used a striking, boxing style but looked uncoordinated in the ring. Christian tagged in and scored a nearfall after a missile dropkick on Carlito.

Christian nearly won the match with a sunset flip. Tarver tagged in and Christian thwarted a double team by taking out both guys. He hit a second rope elbow on Tarver. Slater pulled Carlito to the floor and Christian hit the Killswitch on Tarver for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: Are the weird camera angles annoying for anyone else? There wasn't a whole lot to judge of the young guys there although Slater looked decent in the ring. Tarver looked very green but he definitely has the right look.

Darren Young was excited backstage while the Straight Edge Society just stared at him. R-Truth was shown talking to David Otunga. Young will face Otunga after the break... [C]

C.M. Punk, Luke Gallows, Serena, and Darren Young made their entrance. Young does look exactly like John Cena. Young was smiling and waving to the crowd while Punk looked pissed. Punk cut a pretaped promo saying he didn't want to be on NXT and if Young wanted to be mentored, he would have to live the straight edge lifestyle...

[Q3] Young did not get an introduction video, but Otunga did. It focused on David's mainstream, Hollywood lifestyle, including visits to the White House. He cut a very cocky promo and said he was the complete package. R-Truth did his usual entrance and Otunga just walked to the ring...

Twill's Two Cents: I like both of these pairings. Punk's attitude is hilarious and he will be very good on this show. Otunga looks like the biggest star so I'm curious to see how he can go in the ring.

2. David Otunga (with R-Truth) defeated Darren Young (with the Straight Edge Society) in :37. Otunga won the match with a horrible looking Batista-style spinebuster. After the match, he celebrated in the corner and Punk just looked disgusted...

Twill's Two Cents: They are obviously looking at all of the components that make up a star and in this particular match, they were looking at how they looked on television and how the crowd reacted to them. You aren't going to learn much in a thirty second match except for that finishing move looked botched.

Cole hyped tonight's main event, Daniel Bryan vs. Chris Jericho... [C]

The Raw Rebound aired and showed highlights of everything involving the WWE Championship picture over the past 48 hours. The first graphic of Batista vs. John Cena at WrestleMania was shown...

Michael Cole joked about being Josh Mathews' mentor. Josh joked back that after twelve years in WWE, Cole was still learning. Chris Jericho and Wade Barrett made their entrance. Barrett has very cocky mannerisms similar to those of William Regal... [C]

[Q4] Matt Hardy and Justin Gabriel were hyped for next week's show...

Jericho said he did not want Savannah to introduce him because he wanted Barrett to do the honors. Barrett started to talk about how much of an honor it was to be paired with Jericho. Jericho interrupted and said, "I just want you to introduce me." Funny. Barrett obliged...

Bryan made his entrance with The Miz walking behind him... [C]

3. Chris Jericho (with Wade Barrett) defeated Daniel Bryan (with The Miz) in a non-title match in 5:54. Bryan attempted the ROH prematch handshake. Jericho slapped his hand away and talked shit to Bryan. He pushed him but Bryan slapped Jericho and followed up with a dropkick.

Cole sounded like a complete douche by saying he had never heard of Daniel Bryan until he showed up on NXT. Jericho hit a back suplex and grounded Bryan. Cole played the heel announcer. Jericho hit an enziguiri and followed with shoulders in the corner.

Striker interviewed Wade Barrett and asked him what he was learning. Barrett said he was learning the qualities of being the best of the world. Bryan nearly scored a three count after a running lariat. Cole continued to sound like a jackass by calling Bryan an internet darling that was never on TV.

With Jericho on the floor, Bryan ran and dove through the ropes at Jericho, but Jericho sidestepped him and pushed him into announce table. Bryan hit a springboard move but Jericho caught him and tried to apply the Walls of Jericho. Bryan reversed it into a single leg submission. Jericho fought out and hit the Codebreaker.

[Overrun] With the NXT rookies watching a monitor backstage, Jericho locked in the old school Wall of Jericho (Liontamer) and Bryan tapped out. Miz immediately hit the ring and beat Bryan down with several left hands. He yelled "You're the rookie" over and over...

Cole said Bryan had the personality "to make paint dry." Ugh. Striker was backstage with the six other rookies. He said, "This is the future. This is unique. This is NXT." A video package of what aired over the past hour was shown...

Twill's Two Cents: Good match and good showing for Daniel Bryan. I actually believed Jericho might have tapped out. So far, I like the show. It feels like a reality show and the idea is to really feel for the rookies being in the position they are in, and they succeeded with this viewer. I'm curious to see how long this format will remain interesting. I thought they did wonders with Miz and Bryan tonight.

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

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: