HeadLocker — Jay Shannon
What Happened NXT? — Week Four

Our resident philosopher returns after a brief vacation to take a look at the fourth edition of the WWE’s newest project, NXT.

The first hints that people are going to start dropping from NXT came out. No, they weren’t talking about the dismal ratings.

Roll the opening montage.

The Straight-Edge Society and Darrin Young came out for the opening match. C.M Punk and Young were scheduled to battle Matt Striker announced that the first round of votes will happen in 2 weeks. Matt Hardy and Justin Gabriel then arrived to fight.

.C.M. Punk and Darrin Young d Matt Hardy and Justin Gabriel

The Finish:

Punk let Gabriel free and blasted Hardy. Young with a nasty Back Suplex for a two count. Punk tagged back in and boxed the ribs of the South African. Gabriel punched nad kicked his way towards his corner but Punk stopped him. Punk with a Kneelift that flipped Gabriel double. Punk went for a Springboard move but Gabriel hit a Dropkick. Hardy took the tag and went to town on Punk. Hardy with a Bulldog out of the corner. Side Effect by Nardy for a two. Hardy went to the middle rope but Punk retreated to his corner. Young took the tag and Hardy hit a Neckbreaker. Young booted Hardy. Hardy came back with a Cactus Clothesline. Luke Gallows attacked Hardy,on the outside. Hardy hit a Side Effect on Gallows. Hardy called for the Twist of Fate. Gallows distracted the ref so Punk could hit the G-T-S. Young took the eady pin.

Grade: B+

After the match, Gallows attacked Hardy and Gabriel. Suddenly, he trapped Young in the Gallows Pole (formerly the 12 Steps). Huh?

Jay’s Thoughts: I actually enjoy the pairing of Punk and Young. Maybe, if we are lucky, Young will lose the shaving brush hairstyle and end up looking cue-ballish like the rest of the Straight Edge Sheep.

Daniel Bryan came out for the next match, without his mentor. Daniel is currently 0-3 on this show. This week, The Miz set Daniel against…The Great Khali. The “Punjabi Playboy” came out to his hip Indian music. Ok, I like the theme (even if my kids hate it).

The Great Khali d Daniel Bryan

Michael Cole continued his whinny behavior towards Daniel. Get him some chesse to go with that whine! Khali threw Daniel into the corner. Daniel with kicks. Khali threw Daniel back into the corner. Khali with a wicked Open Hand Chop. Khali with for th Tree Slam but Daniel converted it into a Guillotine Sleeper. Khali shoved Daniel off but the “American Dragon” came bakc with kicks nad then hit a spectaculat Top-Rope Backsplash Senton. Daniel tried for another but Khali hit a Khali Khop and then finished him off with the Tree Slam. Daniel goes to 0-4.

Grade: B-

Big Show lumbered to the ring. Show looked at Daniel and hit a nasty Chokeslam on Daniel and then left the ring. Khali was seriously confused.

Jay’s Thoughts: I don’t know what irritates me more…Daniel’s constantly losing or Cole being such a jerk with his disrespect of Daniel’s past. Cole comes across looking like a complete jackass as he whines about why Cole is so not what everyone expects him to be. I’m so ready to see Daniel pull Cule into the ring and go all “American Dragon” on him.

NXT looked at the contract signing between Bret Hart and Mr. McMahon. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin moderated the signing. Austin announced that Stu Hart would go into the Hall of Fame, after all. Bret swerved Vince by showing him that the car accident that “broke his leg” was alll a ruse. Bret was never hurt in the staged incident. Hart clubbed Vince with the leg cast. Bret left with the chant of “Vince Screwed Vince”. Cole and Josh Mathews then ran down the updated Wrestlemania card. I am so there in a week and a half, albeit from my tiny little office here in Fallon, NV.

NXT ran a video piece on David Otunga. He really oushed his Hollywood connection. He has adopted the nickname “The A-List”. His arrogance works. He really should go far in this business, as long as he doesn’t get bored and bail like others in the past (Ultimate Warrior, Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley, etc…). In the back, Michael Tarver prepared for his battle with my daughters’ favorite rookie…Heath Slater.

The Wrestlemania Recall showed Pete Rose getting Tombstoned by Kane. It happened two years in a row. “Charlie Hustle” will run Raw on Monday. I have a feeling part of Rose being there has to do with the next Hall of Famer. They both have baseball in common. I hear Bob Uecker is going into the celebrity wing. Makes sense that Rose would be there when it happens.

Heath Slater came out to a huge pop from the crowd.NXT showed Slated beat Carlito, last week. “Mr. 1.9″, Michael Tarver came out with Carlito.

Heath Slater d Michael Tarver

Slater with a Side Headlock. Slater ducked a pair of Clothesline and hit a Flying Fore-arm. Tarver moved Slater to the ropes na hit a Jumping Knee to the ribs. SLater threw Tarber to the outside and hit a Spinning Plancha over the ropes to drop Tarver. Wow! Slater roleld Tarver back intot he ring. Slater missed a Running Fore=arm but Tarver hit a Running Boto to the face. Carlito and Christian watched the match from the back. Tarver twisted Slater’s neck. Cole praised Tarver for over-coming all his woes. Slater hit a Flapjack. Tarver with an Irish Whip. Slater Floated Over and slid down Tarver to Roll up Tarver in a surpise move. After the match, Tarver jumped Slater and hit a brutal Inverted T-Bone Suplex.

Grade: B+

Jay’s Thoughts: Slater has a really great chance of “winning” this mess. He’s really getting the push that Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan should be getting. He has a unique look and tons of charisma. Tarver might get a small run in WWE but he will likely just fade away in short order.

William Regal talked with his rookie, Skip Sheffield. Skip wouldn’t shut up long enough to hear anything Regal had to say.

Chris Jericho escortedhis protege, Wade Barrett, to the ring. Barrett was embarrassed by his loss to Justin Gabriel, last week. This week, Barrett faced off against Skip Sheffield.

Wade Barrett d Skip Sheffield

Skip is biled from College Station, TX> Big college twon Barrett kicked Skip as the bell rang. Wade whipped Skip to the corner. Skip hopped over the ropes, ran to the other corner and came off the top with a modified Ax Bomber. That big kid is quick. Wade bailed out as Skip slaaped the back. Wade ran Skip’s back into the steel post. Jericho taunted Regal about his rookie’s performance. Wade twisted Skip in the ropes.Jericho scremed at COle and Mathews to announce how great Barrett is. Wade with a Surfboard. Wade planted the foot in the back of Skip and pulled back on the arms. Skip blocked a Sulexandthen hit one of his own. Regal almost cracked a smile. Wade missed a Corner Rush. SKip with a s Clothesline and Double Slege. Wade was sent to the ropes and Clotheslined again. Skip with a Funky Splash. Wade Hedbutted the ribs. Skip with a High Elbow . Wade jerked Skip off the ropes. Wade with the St. George’s Cross to take the win.

Grade: C

Jay’s Thoughts: Neither of these two really have much to offer. Skip is just a little too bland, despite doing his best imitation of a Friday Night Cowboy. I saw a million of them in Texas when my old band played “The Ol’ Top Rail” bar. Barrett has a confusing character. He has the look of a Mafia Don but sounds like William Regal. He needs to adjust the character to push his lower class, bare-fist fighter gimmick. And for Heaven’s sake, get rid of those silly darn flowers.

Final Grade: B-

Final Thoughts: And we lost ECW for this? The rookies are so mis-matched with the pros. The in-fighting might have been seen as a cute twist but it’s actually much too distracting. Just about all the pros and rookies are having issues. Miz v Daniel Bryan would have worked great, if not for Regal, Punk, and R-Truth having problems with their kids. This show is kind of like a really bad car wreck. You don’t want to look but you can’t turn away.

Peace

– Jay Shannon
Jade89512@yahoo.com
(3/18/2010)