By Rich Twilling

WWE NXT on the Syfy Network
Taped earlier tonight in Manchester, N.H.

[Q1] The opening video aired and fireworks lit up the stage. Michael Cole and Josh Mathews welcomed us to the show. Cole sent it to the ring and new WWE announcer, Ashley Valence. Ashley was awfully cheerful. She didn't botch anything, so a nice showing for her...

She explained there would be an elimination next week and introduced all but two of the Pros. They took their seats. The Miz and Alex Riley made their entrance. MVP and Percy Watson were next out...

Twill's Two Cents: Ashley announces names like she is a female Justin Roberts. Everything gets emphasized.

1. The Miz and Alex Riley defeated MVP and Percy Watson in 6:16. Watson was impressive in hitting two standing dropkicks. MVP tagged in and whipped RIley to the floor. Miz verbally berated Riley and then forced Riley to tag him in.

Miz gained the edge on Watson before tagging Riley back in. Cole said Miz was a great coach. "His rookie from season one was ranked at the top before eliminating himself." No actual mention of Bryan Danielson. Watson hit a jawbreaker and tagged in MVP.

Watson and Miz tagged back in and the non-legal men took each other out. This left Miz and Watson in the ring together. Miz closelined Percy across the top rope and followed up with the Skull Crushing Finale for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: Good opener with two rookies with a lot of charisma. I was happy to see the Rookies and Pros work together during the match. Oddly enough, out of the Pros that need to show something in NXT season two, Miz is not one of them.

A Titus O'Neill video package aired. He spent four years at a Boys Ranch but rightened his ship. He then played football at the University of Florida and won a national championship...

[Q2] Titus and Zack Ryder made their entrance. Cole mentioned the attack on Vince McMahon last night and said we would see it in its entirety tonight... [C]

2. Michael McGillicutty (with Kofi Kingston) defeated Titus O'Neill (with Zack Ryder) in 2:06. McGillicutty cut an 80s style promo saying he and his mother were very emotional when he won his first WWE match last week. Mathews reminded us who McGillicutty was related to and said he took his mom's maiden name.

Sloppy spot with Titus trying to salvage a Samoan Drop out of it, but they worked through it just fine. Titus tried a splash but Michael put his knees up. He then hit his neck breaker finisher for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: McGillicutty is way more in-ring ready than O'Neill is. This was one of those short and forgettable Rookie vs. Rookie matches. I like both of these guys and although McGillicutty's finisher seems like a basic neck breaker, he snaps that thing off really well.

A Tale of the Tape for Kaval vs. Eli Cottonwood. Mathews said Eli was almost twice the size as Kaval... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: Almost twice the size? Kaval is 5'8", and Eli is nowhere near approaching 11'4".

[Q3] 3. Eli Cottonwood (with John Morrison) defeated Kaval (with Layla and Michelle McCool) in 2:42. Eli was billed as "weighing over 300 pounds." Okay. That is like TNA billing Tara "from the state of California.

Kaval just dominated the entire match, including a sweet looking Warrior's Way (double stomp from the top to a standing opponent) to Eli's back. Cottonwood hit that awkward looking reverse chokeslam for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: Obviously, Kaval was going to do the heavy lifting and he did. He offense is very impressive looking and very physical. One move and he loses. I hope he is not becoming this season's Bryan Danielson.

A Lucky Cannon video aired. He said his name was Lucky because he had a couple of close calls. He briefly talked about those, including getting beaten with a pipe...

Cannon vs. Cody Rhodes was hyped...

The NXT7 attack of Vince McMahon was hyped for after the break... [C]

Backstage, LayCool gave Kaval a pep talk. They also gave him a pink collared and sleeveless shirt that said "Property of LayCool." He was a good sport until that and LayCool tried to "turn his frown, upside down." ...

Twill's Two Cents: Kaval is definitely being tested. I thought it was pretty bad already, but now he is going to parade around in that shirt?

Matt Striker was shown footage of Cody Rhodes attacking him last week. He said he was going to be professional, chalk it up to Cody being put on the spot by Mark Henry, and that the show was about the rookies...

Footage aired of last night's NXT attack on Vince McMahon. We were told we were going to get the attack in its entirety but we didn't...

[Q4] The McMahon family declined comment. The new Raw GM sent an email (the same one Jason reported earlier today) saying "These actions will be met with the appropriate consequences." ...

Cody Rhodes made his entrance with Husky Harris in tow... [C]

Henry and Lucky made their entrance. They both wore Lucky's shirt. Cody said Lucky would be lucky to last five minutes with him, so he was making this a 5:00 challenge. A clock was put on the screen...

4. Cody Rhodes (with Husky Harris) defeated Lucky Cannon (with Mark Henry) in 3:58. Cody toyed with Lucky the entire time although Lucky had a couple of bright moments. Cody hit a nasty kick to the face and followed up with the Cross Rhodes for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: This show has been really positive so far for Cody. I figured they would let Lucky last the five minutes but instead, Cody just dominated the match. Good stuff from him.

The Rookies will give their closing arguments next since the elimination takes place next week... [C]

[Overrun] The NXT Rookies stood in the ring and yes, Kaval had that ridiculous shirt on. Looks like something Zack Ryder should be wearing. Matt Striker announced the fans could start voting next week when the show goes on the air. Each rookie will get 45 seconds to pimp themselves...

Twill's Two Cents: They just spit in the face of the overrun on this show.

Riley said he should not have to say anything, but ended up getting buzzed a bunch of times. Kaval said he tried to get into WWE ten years ago, but he was told he was too small. He cut a damn good promo, but he was buzzed and then his mic was turned off.

Titus O'Neill screamed for about thirty seconds. McGillicutty said he was the only guy without a weakness. Eli Cottonwood said he would be patient and wait in the wings. Percy Watson didn't say much, but he was hilarious and very entertaining.

Lucky Cannon said he was lucky because he appreciated what he had, unlike the other guys. How does he know that? Harris said he didn't need 45 seconds. He just beat the crap out of Striker and hit him with a senton. He left and Rhodes liked what he saw...

Twill's Two Cents: Why is Striker getting his ass kicked every week? Is he getting back into the ring? Cole getting beat up by Danielson made sense, but Striker is professional at least, so it's just ridiculous. As for the promos, points go to Kaval before he was buzzed, McGillicutty because he is confident and has a presence, and Watson for being so damn entertaining.

Thank you for following along with me. See you back here next week.

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