NXT Evolution In WWE Arrives!
Last night, WWE’s newest show NXT debuted on Syfy. It’s been hyped as the next evolution in the WWE, part reality show, part live event. Here’s what happened:
Backstage: All 8 NXT rookies are standing at the ready. The Miz walks into the room, eye-balling everyone of them. He then calls out Daniel Bryan, his NXT rookie. Miz mentions all of his independent wrestling accolades, but then tells him, “you need to be learn to expect anything, so right now, go to the ring and tell everyone who you are… I want you to give people a reason to watch you every Tuesday night. Bryan heads to the ring.
- Miz turns to the camera and says, “If Daniel Bryan doesn’t show you personality, I’m going to slap some personality into him!”
Michael Cole & Josh Matthews welcome all viewers to the debut of NXT.
Backstage: Matt Striker, our “host,” explains the show and how he’ll be getting reactions from the competitors before and after their matches.
In the ring, Daniel Bryan takes the mic. “To my fans all around the world, I have two words to say, I’m sorry! Seriously, I wish my pro was William Regal.”
- Bryan begins to introduce himself, but is cut off by The Miz. “I have my work cut out for me being your pro!”
- Bryan replies, “You better watch what you say or I’ll submit you right now!”
- Miz, unafraid, says “You may be a submission machine… How are you going to become a star in the WWE?”
- Without missing a beat, Bryan says, “I was thinking I’d go on a reality show, get a faux hawk and act like an idiot in the ring… wait, that’s already been done by you!”
- Miz is obviously pissed. Has him try a catch phrase and doesn’t appreciate it at all. He tells him, “You failed!” and slaps Bryan in the face, then runs for the back.
- Bryan yells down to him, “There will be a time when I slap you back.”
Backstage: Striker gets a comment from Bryan. “I think at some point, I’m going to get him back… I slap a lot harder than he does… I can be a star in the WWE on my own!”
Video Package: On Michael Tarver & Heath Slater‘s backgrounds.
Carlito & Michael Tarver vs. Christian & Heath Slater
WINNERS: Christian & Slater via pin fall after Christian hit the Kill Switch on Tarver
Video Package: CM Punk cut a promo earlier in the day not knowing why he was selected to be a coach on NXT.
Video Package: On David Otunga‘s background.
Darren Young with Straightedge Society vs. David Otunga with R-Truth
WINNER: David Otunga via pin fall after hitting an absolutely terrible spine buster! (Sloppy as hell!)
Chris Jericho and NXT rookie Wade Barrett come to the ring. Jericho has Barrett take the microphone and give him a proper introduction.
Non-Title Match
Chris Jericho vs. Daniel Bryan
WINNER: Jericho via submission after locking on the Walls of Jericho
- Before the match, Bryan tried to uphold ROH’s “Code of Honor.”
- Mid match, Matt Striker interviewed Barrett at ringside and he’s learning “how to be the best” from Chris Jericho.
- After the match, The Miz beat the holy hell out of Daniel Bryan saying, “I’m the pro! You’re the rookie!”
Backstage: Matt Striker says, “This is the future. This is unique. This is NXT!”
Video Package: Highlight reel of the night.
QUICK THOUGHTS:
So I have a mixed reaction to this show. It’s not really reality, but a WWE manufactured reality like all WWE shows try to be. It’s a competition, but it’s not a competition because the WWE pros don’t all want to be there to coach their rookies. I don’t know about this one. I just seems like we’re watching something that was scrapped from RAW, but someone pushed Vince McMahon enough to get it on TV.
I have to say though that the main event was good. Right off the bat Daniel Bryan shows the world that he can wrestle with anyone, but he also showed that he’s got a long way to go when it comes to being good on the mic too. In all honesty, I’m looking forward to after the show ends when Bryan and The Miz will finally get to go one on one for the US Title… well that’s what I’m predicting anyways!