By Chris Shore

WWE NXT on WWE.com
Live from Bakersfield, Calif.

The opening video aired, and Todd Grisham and William Regal checked in con commentary. Titus O'Neil, Hornswoggle, and AJ all came to the ring. Titus said he's been on a journey to win NXT, but his pro has been on a journey to find true love. He Horny had something to tell AJ.

Horny mumbled and Titus translated that out of all the Divas, there was no one lovelier to spend his time with than her. He got on one knee and gave her a candy ring. Titus said it was a promise for more later, or something. Why in the hell are we doing this? AJ said something about him not being big, but he had a big heart.

Derrick Bateman's music cut them off. He said all the guys in the back were regurgitating their lunch. He said if Horny thought someone could love him he was stupider than Titus looked. Titus said it was no one's fault Bateman has a yeast infection and wore stupid jeans. He said looking in the ring he couldn't tell who was the leprechaun and who was the troll.

Horny, through Titus, told Bateman to get in the ring. Bateman said to make him. Horny went after him, and then Titus followed. Bateman ran to the back and they followed, leaving AJ in the ring. Maxine from NXT season 3 ran out of the crowd and attacked AJ, leaving her laid out…[C]

Shore's Slant: What the hell just happened? Is Maxine back for redemption too? Please God kill me. This show will NEVER end.

1. Tyson Kidd defeated JTG at 3:02. Kidd tried to hit a sneaky kick, but JTG caught it and hooked a roll up for one. JTG hit several moves, but Kidd rolled through and hooked a single leg crab that JTG tapped to. Post-match, Kidd's music stopped and a Chinese or Japanese symbol appeared on the screen. And that was it. It was just over…

Backstage, Matt Striker said he challenged Darren Young this week because Young was a whiner and he wanted to beat him…[C]

Shore's Slant: I assume that's the return of Yoshi Tatsu eventually. This show is worse than usual so far.

2. Darren Young defeated Matt Striker at 5:02. Striker went right at Young, and Young hit a belly to back suplex on the apron. Young went for a slingshot shoulder tackle, but Striker caught him and hit a swinging neckbreaker off the rope. Cool spot. Striker went for a roll up, but Young rolled through and lifted for his gut buster finisher and the win…[C]

Shore's Slant: That match was pretty good. They stunk up the joint last week, but that was a fun match. Striker's getting his ring legs back, and Young is getting better every week too.

Bateman and Maxine made their ring entrance. Bateman said for everyone to honor his girlfriend and gave her the mic. She said Horny wished he could handle a real woman like her. She said he settled for a lesser woman like AJ. She said if Horny thought they were causing problems now, just wait…[C]

3. Derrick Bateman (w/Maxine) defeated Titus O'Neil at 6:17. Titus took quick control and pounded on Titus, but Bateman hit a running dropkick to take control. Bateman got good heat as he worked ground and pund on Titus. They botched something off the ropes and Titus ended up kind of hitting a tackle and took control.

Titus hit a shoulder breaker for a near fall that the crowd really popped for. He hit a fall away slam and Bateman rolled to the floor. Titus went to the floor and rolled him back in the ring. Maxine distracted Titus as he climbed back in, and Bateman scored a school boy rollup victory…[C]

Shore's Slant: The crowd was somewhat hot for that, but it didn't do much for me. The action was fine, but Bateman showing up late didn't do him any favors. And his heel character is the only thing worse than his babyface character.

Another lackluster show. The Maxine thing might end up OK, just like the Kidd story (which I assume is the return of Yoshi Tatsu.) But neither was impressive tonight.

A video replayed most of the Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio title match from Raw, and then John Cena's stupid (and I mean that literally) promo…

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

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