WWE NXT – Season 1 Finale
This is it! WWE NXT is coming to a close for season one. We started with eight rookie hopefuls who have gone through the ups and downs of life in the WWE. Now we have three remaining that will be judged by the WWE Pros who will narrow it down to one winner. Who will be the WWE’s next breakout star? Find out right here:
Video Package: Highlights from the season of NXT.
Matt Striker welcomes everyone to the finale of this season of NXT. He introduces the fallen rookies who are sitting ringside, and then introduces the WWE Pros who come out to the stage.
- Striker then introduces the remaining three NXT rookies, Wade Barrett, David Otunga & Justin Gabriel. All three will be in action tonight in a triple threat.
Josh Matthews & Michael Cole introduce us to pros and rookies for season two of NXT throughout the evening.
Video Package: Husky Harris is profiled who is a third generation superstar. His father is Mike Rotunda aka I.R.S. and his grandfather is Blackjack Mulligan. His pro is Cody Rhodes.
Backstage: John Morrison is in the building and he introduces himself as a season two pro. His rookie is Eli Cottonwood.
- Video Package: Eli Cottonwood is profiled and he’s a seven foot monster!
Triple Threat Elimination Match
Wade Barrett vs. Justin Gabriel vs. David Otunga
1st Eliminated: Otunga – Gabriel hits the 450 Splash, but Barrett pulls him out of the ring and scores the pin.
WINNER: Barrett via pin fall after countering the 450 Splash by getting his knees up.
Matt Striker has the WWE Pros huddle up to narrow the field down to two rookies.
Backstage: MVP is proud to be a pro for season two and his rookie’s name is Percy Watson.
- Video Package: Percy Watson is profiled, and he’s a flamboyant, charismatic party boy.
Backstage: Zack Ryder is ready to coach his rookie, Titus O’Neal, in season two.
- Titus O’Neal is profiled, he’s a straightforward, serious athlete.
Matt Striker is with the three rookies in the ring about to reveal the Pros Poll. Striker decides to get the opinions of the eliminated rookies sitting ringside.
- Michael Tarver – Still thinks he should win.
- Daniel Bryan – Says Otunga can’t wrestle. Gabriel can’t talk. Barrett wins.
- Skip Sheffield – Says he doesn’t care.
- Darren Young – Says his money is on Wade Barrett.
- Heath Slater – Believes Barrett proved it tonight, and thinks it’s obvious.
Striker reveals the Pros Poll:
- Wade Barrett
- David Otunga
- Justin Gabriel (ELIMINATED)
- Gabriel gets to comment on the elimination. “The dream isn’t really over… I’ll keep coming back because someday I’ll be a world champion!”
- His pro, Matt Hardy, comments on his rookie’s performance and says that Gabriel reminds him of himself, and he knows that “Justin Gabriel will not die!”
Backstage: Layla & Michelle McCool are going to be co-coaches of one NXT Rookie next season. His name is Kaval.
- Video Package: The serious, martial artist Kaval is profiled.
Backstage: Mark Henry looks to make his NXT Rookie next season a champion. His name is Lucky Cannon.
- Video Package: The never say die, former sheriff’s deputy, Lucky Cannon is profiled.
Matt Striker is in ring and the rookies have a face off right in the middle. Sixty seconds to cut a promo on their opponent for the NXT crown.
- David “A-List” Otunga is first. “Your nose is as crooked as your pro… The only triple threat with you I’d pay to see, is you, Aquafresh, and Listerine (British bad teeth joke)…”
- Wade Barrett goes second. “You know I’m a fighter, that’s why I’ve got a broken nose… I’ve seen The Great Khali move in this ring with more balance and poise than you… IT factor, add two letters to the front of it and that’s what I think of you…” (think about it…)
Matt Striker once again has pros huddle up to make a decision on who will win NXT.
Backstage: Kofi Kingston may have his hands full with his rookie on season two. His name is Michael McGillicuty.
- Video Package: Michael McGillicuty is profiled, and he’s the ruthless son of Mr. Perfect.
Josh Matthews and Michael Cole inform viewers that season two of NXT will have a twist to it. The fans will get to help determine the winner.
Matt Striker looks to make the announcement of the final Pros Poll when he’s interrupted by The Miz who announces to the world that he’ll be back for season two of NXT, and he won’t be burdened by an egotistical loser like Daniel Bryan. He introduces his rookie, Alex Riley.
- Video Package: Alex Riley, the athletic, frat boy is profiled.
Matt Striker once again goes to announce the Pros Poll, but is interrupted by William Regal who announces his congratulations to Chris Jericho for coaching Wade Barrett to victory. R-Truth doesn’t appreciate Regal counting his rookie, David Otunga, out.
- Show breaks down for a few moments with the WWE Pros bickering among themselves until Matt Striker gets them back on task.
Matt Striker reveals the Pros Poll for reals this time:
- Wade Barrett (WINNER)
- David Otunga (ELIMINATED)
- Striker gets Otunga’s thoughts, and he thinks he’s being Punk’d… He says that there’s no question that he was the break out star of NXT!
- Barrett then gets his chance to comment on winning NXT. He says, “I told you from the start that I was going to win… I was right! This is the beginning of a new era, the era of Wade Barrett…”
- Chris Jericho joins him in the ring to celebrate as NXT season one goes off the air.
QUICK THOUGHTS:
Plain and simple, if it couldn’t be Daniel Bryan winning this season, it had to be Wade Barrett. He was head and shoulders above the other rookies in mic skills and in-ring talent. He looked like a wrestler, and if booked properly, he could be a mid-card champion in a few months.
As for seeing the coaches and rookies for next season’s NXT (which starts next week), I’m a little perplexed by some of the wrestlers, and by some of the pairings…
First off, I couldn’t help the rage from escaping my mouth when I saw that LayCool was coaching Kaval. For those of you who don’t know, Kaval is former ROH & TNA star, Low Ki/Senshi. This guy is a seasoned veteran, and they pair him up with two women who are disgracing wrestling! WTF WWE?!? Once again giving the finger to anyone who’s not an original product of the WWE machine. My bet is that he doesn’t win the competition. He’s the one that the fans should be voting for… if that’s not rigged.
Secondly, why would you not use the famous last names of the 2nd/3rd generation superstars? Also, could you come up with any more ridiculous names for these guys?!? Michael McGillicuty is just silly. Why not use the Hennig last name if he’s the son of Mr. Perfect? What about Husky Harris? Why not use either the names Rotundo or Mulligan? To me it just doesn’t make sense to give them a completely new identity like that.