WWE NXT on SyFy
Live from Seattle, Wash.

[Q1] A video package recapped last week’s show…The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Michael Cole and Josh Matthews welcomed us to NXT…

Shore’s Slant: Twilling hasn’t recovered from his sex change surgery in Brazil yet, so I have the show again tonight. Jason Powell, Marvin Hermanstyne, and Joe Mathieson are all in the forum discussing tonight’s show. You should check it out if for no other reason than to watch Joe slobber on himself while Daniel Bryan is on TV.

R-Truth and David Otunga made their ring entrance to Truth’s lame ass theme. Backstage, Matt Striker put over the rookies vying for a vote from the pros, and repeated that the pros could not vote for their rookie. Miz and Bryan managed to not kill each other on the way to the ring. A video package recapped the Morrison/Truth vs. Show Miz match last night.

Miz got a mic and said before the match he had a pep talk for Bryan. He said he was 0-2 on NXT and hadn’t proved anything to anybody. Miz said he got jumped last night and so tonight was important. He said if Bryan got pinned tonight, he would make sure Bryan never achieved his dream, and would have him thrown off NXT…

1. R-Truth and David Otunga defeated The Miz and Daniel Bryan at 10:04. Bryan and Truth started. Bryan tried the handshake and Truth had a seizure or something. Truth hit a big clothesline for two and tagged in Otunga. They hit a double shoulder block and Otunga covered for one. Truth tagged back in, and clotheslined Bryan over the top rope. Miz ran in and Truth tossed him to the floor. Otunga ran in and whipped Truth who hit a flipping plancha on Miz and Bryan. They recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 5:22, Bryan worked on Truth’s back with a rest hold. A video showed Miz yelling at Bryan, and then taking control from Truth by knocking him off the top rope, during the break. Bryan tagged out and told Miz to do his part. Miz locked on a chin lock. Truth escaped, but Miz hit a clothesline and choked him on the ropes. Miz tried to choke him again, but Truth moved and got the tag to Otunga.

[Q2] Otunga cleaned up Miz. He whipped Miz to the corner and ran in. Miz hit a shoulder and went to the second rope, but Otunga hit a powerslam. Bryan broke the count on the pin attempt. Otunga and Miz battled, and Bryan tagged himself in. He hit a missile dropkick, and then several kicks on Otunga. He locked in a heel lock submission, and Miz tagged himself in. Miz and Bryan argued and Miz slapped Bryan. The ref escorted Bryan out, and Truth ran in and hit a heel kick on Miz. Otunga followed with his finisher for the win.

Post match, Miz chewed Bryan’s ass. He told him to walk to the back or he would have Bryan kicked off NXT. Bryan flinched at Miz, and Miz leapt back. The crowd went nuts, and Bryan walked to the back…A video package had Heath Slater talking about Carlito spitting the apple in his face. The announce team hyped Slater vs. Carlito…[C]

Shore’s Slant: A couple of things. First, Otunga is the real deal. We knew Bryan was, but Otunga was a wild card. Right now, he looks like the total package. Second, Miz is a great heel. Bryan is getting over with the same boring personality just by being Miz’s foil. That’s a great heel folks. Fun match and a great way to start.

Back from commercial, Matt Striker asked Miz if he let Bryan down because he took the loss. Miz started to go off, and Bryan ran up. He said Miz’s partners had carried him in every team. Miz yelled that he was the pro and the talent. Bryan asked him why he took the pin if he was the talent. He pushed Miz and walked away…

A video package for Justin Gabriel aired…Backstage, Matt Hardy was giving Gabriel a pep talk. He said if Gabriel does what he did last week, he would win again against Wade Barrett. Barrett and Jericho walked in. Jericho cut a promo and Gabriel said he respected Jericho, but wasn’t afraid of Barrett. Barrett said he crushed Bryan last week, and he would do worse to Gabriel. Hardy mocked Jericho, and Jericho and Barrett left while wishing Gabriel luck…

[Q3] Christian and Heath Slater made their ring entrance. Carlito and Tarver came out next. Carlito said Slater should be honored he spat in his face. He said Slater should beg him to do it again. He got in the ting and chewed the apple. He spat at Slater. Slater ducked and they brawled. The ref broke it up and their match was hyped for next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Good exchange between Hardy, Gabriel, Jericho, and Barrett. Gabriel has on a Matt Hardy shirt as opposed to his future sperm outfit so that’s a plus. Slater is the biggest tool on the planet.

2. Heath Slater (w/Christian) defeated Carlito (w/Michael Tarver) in approximately 7:00. The match started during the commercial, and Carlito had Slater in a reverse chin lock. Slater escaped and they traded blows. Carlito pushed Slater, and Slater pushed back. Carlito charged and Slater tossed him over the top. Carlito slid back in and hit a knee to Slater’s gut. He worked Slater in the corner, and then whipped him to the opposite corner. Carlito charged, and Slater moved. Slater hit some strikes, but Carlito hit a big boot to retake control.

Carlito set Slater in the corner and charged. He tried for a dropkick, but Slater moved. Slater hit a slam for two, but Carlito came right back with a spinebuster. Carlito went for his apple, but Christian had it. Carlito and Christian argued and Christian tossed the apple to Tarver. Carlito went for the back stabber, but Slater elbowed out. Carlito tried for a roll up, but Slater rolled through and hooked the roll up for the win…

A Darren Young hype info video aired…Backstage, Punk talked to the SES with Young standing there. He said they didn’t help him the first week, and Young lost. He said they helped last week, and Young won. Young said he respected Punk’s life style, but why couldn’t he been him and live his lifestyle. Punk said he was the pro, and Young was the rookie. He could lead a horse to water, but can’t make him drink. He straight edge could make anybody a winner, or Young could try it his way and see how that turns out…The announce team hyped the main event…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Wow, two pros have laid down for rookies tonight. Impressive. The match was OK. Neither guy looked particularly good, but it was nice to see Slater get the win. Punk and party animal Young could wind up being a hot angle if it is played right.

[Q4] The Raw Rebound video recapped the Batista/Cena feud…The announce team ran down the Wrestlemania card…Barrett and Jericho made their ring entrance. The announce team hyped the return of the Highlight Reel for Smackdown this Friday…[C]

Back from commercial, Gabriel and Hardy came out to Jeff’s heat…

[Overrun] 3. Justin Gabriel (w/Matt Hardy) defeated Wade Barrett (w/Chris Jericho) at 3:50. Barrett worked power, and Gabriel worked speed to start. Barrett caught Gabriel and slammed him in the corner. Barrett hit several slams in a row while Jericho ran over to the announce table to hype Barrett. Barrett put Gabriel on the top and climbed up. Gabriel fought him off and hit the 450 splash for the win.

Post match, Hardy helped Gabriel up and Jericho attacked from behind. He knocked Hardy to the floor and hit the Codebreaker on Gabriel. He whipped Gabriel with his suit coat, and then put the Liontamer on him. Gabriel tapped several times before Jericho broke it. He and Barrett posed to end the show…

Shore’s Slant: We just saw this match last night didn’t we? Oh right, that was Regal and Bourne. This was the same match, only twice as long. If the rookies face off, it should be an extended match so we can see what they can really do. Sub-five minute matches don’t prove a thing, especially when all you hit is your finisher. I’ll have more to say tomorrow on the hitlist, and I will also take a shot at ranking the NXT rookies in a special editorial. Thanks for reading and I will see you then.

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

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