WWE NXT Report for March 9
From Seattle, Washington
The latest WWE hype is that NXT is cable TV's "hottest new show." NXT may not be but at least it's hotter than Monday Night Impact.
Miz & Daniel Bryan v. R-Truth & David Otunga
R-Truth did his entrance routine before the match. By the way, they are now plugging Twitter sites for each of the rookies such as Twitter.com/DanielBryanNXT. Miz cut a promo saying that Daniel Bryan was 0-2 on NXT and that tonight's match was important because R-Truth laid him out last night. Miz then said that Bryan would be thrown off of NXT if he was pinned tonight. Truth got the better of Bryan with a couple of clotheslines to start. He and Otunga then used a double shoulder block for a one count. Truth tagged in, promptly clotheslining Bryan to the floor and firing Miz out after him. Truth then hit a spinning plancha onto both men as the match headed to break. After the break, Bryan was working over the back of R-Truth. He hit a knee lift and tagged out to Miz. They kept the advantage on Mix for a bit, before Truth got the hot tag to Otunga. The rookie hit a couple of clotheslines before he and Miz couldn't get together on a flapjack spot. At that same moment, a sign flashed in the crowd: "NXT=Botch-A-Mania". Anyway, Otunga hit a powerslam on Miz which forced Bryan to make a save. Bryan then tagged himself in and hit a missile dropkick off of the top rope. Bryan then began to work a heel hook; as they teased a submission, Miz tagged himself in. The two partners shoved one another which allowed R-Truth to hit a spinning heel kick. Otunga hit a sit-out spinebuster to take the fall.
By the way, the goofy anti-Internet, anti-Bryan Michael Cole character seems to be gone (thankfully). Likewise, the R-Truth and Otunga feud which was teased last week seems to be over.
Truth & Otunga d. Bryan & Miz
They went to a pre-tape video and promo about the Carlito-Heath Slater feud. Slater did an awful job in the promo despite what was invariably numerous takes to get it right.
Elsewhere, Matt Striker questioned Miz about whether he let Daniel Bryan down. Miz out himself over when Bryan walked in and said that every partner Miz has had, has been the one to carry the team.
They aired a video piece on Justin Gabriel. They mentioned that his father was a wrestler and that he supposedly trained in several forms of the martial arts. Backstage, Matt Hardy complimented Gabriel on his performance last week. Jericho and Wade Barrett walked in and predicted victory tonight. Good segment.
Heath Slater v. Carlito
Slater suckered in Carlito early and sent him over the top rope. Carlito stopped Slater cold with a big boot back inside. Slater tried for a sunset flip but Carlito blocked it. Carlito then tried for an avalanche in the corner and missed. Slater got a near fall off of a flapjack. Carlito turned it around with a spinebuster. He then went for the apple but Christian took it out of the corner. That distraction allowed for Slater to get a near fall off of a rolling cradle. Carlito tried for a rollup, but Slater rolled through for the "upset" pin. I'm not sure that a win over Carlito mean anything for Slater at this point, particularly when it was played that Carlito lost because he was continually distracted.
Slater d. Carlito
They aired a so-so video package on Darren Young, who really hasn't established any sort of a character yet. He mentioned his favorite superstars were Ricky Steamboat and Shawn Michaels. Backstage, CM Punk mentioned that Darren Young won when he had the help of the straight edge society, but lost when he didn't. Young walked in and said he respected Punk's lifestyle but asked if he could live his own lifestyle.
Justin Gabriel v. Wade Barrett
The match started at 11:00, so this isn't going long. Gabriel slipped out of a hip toss attempt and went into a leg sweep in a cool spot to start the match. Barrett took the advantage in the corner as Chris Jericho went over the broadcast table and took credit for Barrett. Gabriel came back, slipping over the back of Gabriel and hitting a spinning heel kick. As the Briton and the South African battled, the crowd began to chant "USA"; presumably to support Matt Hardy or maybe the referee. Gabriel got another near fall off of a sunset flip. Barrett came back with a backbreaker for a one count. Barrett tried for a superplex but Gabriel pushed off and hit a 450 splash for the victory. This was a good for a 4 minute match.
After the match, Jericho hit Hardy and Gabriel from behind and used the codebreaker and Walls of Jericho on Gabriel. That got a good amount of heat. Another fun show this week.
Gabriel d. Barrett
