WWE NXT – 3/30/10
We are at a point with WWE NXT where the Rookies have shown their talent enough for their Pros to make their first evaluations. Which Rookie has made the biggest impact and will end up being #1 in the Pros Poll?
Video Package: Highlights from the entire NXT season so far, and how the vote will shake down based on Win/Loss Record, Quality of Opponent, Heart, and, The “IT” Factor.
Matt Striker is in the ring and he addresses the crowd about the Pros Poll that will rank the NXT Rookies. The Rookies come to the ring.
Striker reveals the results of the Pros Poll:
- Daniel Bryan
- Wade Barrett
- Justin Gabriel
- Heath Slater
- David Otunga
- Skip Sheffield
- Michael Tarver
- Darren Young
- Striker gets comment from Young, “I need to step it up so that people know what I’m about!”
- Striker gets comment from Bryan, “My win/loss record isn’t the best, and Michael Cole may not think I look like a superstar, but there’s some guys here who look like a superstar and are married to people who are famous (Otunga upset, married to singer Jennifer Hudson), truth is, they can’t wrestle!”
- Otunga cannot stand it anymore, “I may have not been on the indys for ten years, but I have the “IT” factor. You can do a bunch of moves, but talking to you is like eating mashed potatoes!”
- Striker breaks up the possible fight and then lets the Rookies know, “In six weeks, Pros will vote again, but this time whoever is last will be eliminated, and each week one rookie will be eliminated until we have a final four. Whoever wins the NXT competition, they’ll receive a championship match at a PPV against any champion of your choosing!” Guys are stoked!
- Striker adds, “Also, all eight of you will be in our Main Event Battle Royal! Whoever wins will have the opportunity to host next’s week’s Monday Night RAW!”
Eight Man Tag
Raw Pros (William Regal, Carlito, Christian & The Miz) vs. Smackdown Pros (Matt Hardy CM Punk, R-Truth, Chris Jericho)
[Jericho opted out to allow his Rookie, Wade Barrett to be on the Smackdown side, while he went on commentary]
WINNERS: Smackdown via pin fall after Barrett hit the Fireman’s Carry Slam on Christian
Video Package: Shawn Michaels‘ farewell speech and highlight reel.
Eight Rookie Battle Royal
WINNER: David Otunga
Order of elimination:
- Wade Barrett
- Skip Sheffield
- Darren Young
- Michael Tarver
- Heath Slater
- Daniel Bryan
- Justin Gabriel
- After the match, Matt Striker gets the post match opinion from David Otunga, “I told you so! I should’ve been #1!”
QUICK THOUGHTS:
Okay, so this one had a lot more talking than I expected, but it was well worth it because we finally got the meat and potatoes (LOL!) of how the actual vote would be tallied. When it comes down to it, I was doing my own evaluation, and shockingly WWE had it pretty damn close to where I thought it would be. I knew the middle would be muddled, but I knew the bottom three would be Young, Tarver, and Sheffield. Out of the top guys, the only one I can’t help but feel is out of place is Wade Barrett. While he’s a decent wrestler, he’s not very showy with his personality and I think in the long run that could hurt him. I think maybe he should’ve been around four and shift everyone else up. Glad to see that even though Daniel Bryan is 0-5, that the WWE actually thinks he’s a talent!
Chris Jericho on commentary was just hilarious! He, Cole, and Josh Matthews were ribbing each other the whole match, and I was laughing my ass off. The most ribbing went in the direction of Matthews, specifically his coming in 2nd place on Tough Enough and his two matches of experience!
As soon as I heard that there was going to be Battle Royal to host RAW, I figured it would be Otunga winning. He’s got the Hollywood ties, and he’s really the only one who could play up that “A-List” persona for the “A-Show!” I’m just hoping that he is able to pull it off.