NXT 7/12/11

Who Will Be Redeemed?
Both Derrick Bateman & Titus O' Neil picked up big wins last week. Who of the fianl 3 can keep impressing as elimination draws near?

Source: pwtorch.com

WWE NXT Results

The cast of Season Five of WWE NXT (Pros):

-- Darren Young (Chavo [color:58fc=blue !important][color:58fc=blue !important]Guerrero)
-- Titus O'Neil (Hornswoggle)
-- Derrick Bateman (Daniel Bryan)
-- Jacob Novak (JTG) - eliminated Week 11
-- Byron Saxton (Yoshi Tatsu) - eliminated Week 13
-- Lucky Cannon (Tyson Kidd) - eliminated Week 15
-- Conor O'Brian ([color:58fc=blue !important][color:58fc=blue !important]Kozlov) - eliminated Week 17

This week's WWE NXT started with NXT announcer Todd [color:58fc=blue !important][color:58fc=blue !important]Grisham plugging the MITB PPV in five days and NXT being down to a final three. New theme music hit to bring out Derrick Bateman to start the show. Bateman walked over to the announce table and shook hands with William Regal before entering the ring. Bateman then took a mic and welcomed everyone to NXT. Or, as he calls it, the Super Terrific Derrick Bateman Happy Hour Extravaganza. Bateman said WWE begged him to come back and save this show. Bateman said while his two opponents are fighting for redemption, he is looking to redeem redemption. Bateman said it's his quest to redeem the entire WWE. The crowd booed this.

Suddenly, the NXT theme music interrupted, bringing out Darren Young. Regal was dumbfounded by Bateman, saying he doesn't get it. Young asked Bateman who he thinks he is. He said in case Bateman forgot, he main-evented Summerslam, wrestled John [color:58fc=blue !important][color:58fc=blue !important]Cena on Raw, and done more here in WWE than Bateman ever will. Young then shouted out to Titus Young that he ain't no D. Young. Bateman told Young to slow down. Bateman said this is a popularity contest and for some reason, the audience seems to enjoy Titus's dog bark. Plus, they seem to enjoy his Pro, the leprechaun. Bateman told Young he's close to being the next one to go home.

On cue, Hornswoggle's music hit to a standard reaction to bring out Titus O'Neil. Regal said he's sitting by silently fearing impending doom. In the ring, Titus told both of them they have it all wrong. Bateman and Titus debated cheap pops, then O'Neil suggested Bateman should be called Master Bateman. The childish exchange was interrupted by Maryse's music. She came out and announced a triple-threat elimination match. For a moment, it seemed like the very end of the season with the winner of the match being declared the NXT winner, but, alas, it's merely a match.

[Break]

1 -- DERRICK BATEMAN (w/Daniel Bryan) vs. TITUS YOUNG vs. DARREN YOUNG -- triple threat elimination match

Grisham brought up Bateman's claim he would "save the show" as Bateman and Young double-teamed O'Neil. They randomly cut to a shot of Bryan standing ringside as Bateman's Pro. Regal thanked Bryan for dressing up before discussing his personal training with Bryan, which, in effect, has trickled down to Bateman. The crowd showed how invested they are in the match by chanting, "Daniel Bryan," as the heels continued to wear down Titus. They couldn't put Titus away, though, and continued to slow things down. Titus made a comeback at 5:00, but couldn't score a fall on one of the heels.

Bateman and Young eventually turned on each other and Bateman found himself on the outside. Young was alone in the ring and took Titus's sky-high bomb. Titus had a pin, but Bateman scampered back into the ring to knock Titus away. Bateman then pinned Young to eliminate him from the match. So, it's Bateman vs. O'Neil. Bateman then knocked Titus out of the ring and they cut to break.

[Break]

Back on NXT, Titus was shown throwing Bateman halfway across the ring. Then again. Regal was dumbfounded trying to describe Titus's strength. Bateman then attacked Titus's left knee and began wearing down the big man. Bateman ripped off a series of chops, which fired up Titus, who responded with bigger chops to the chest for a nearfall. O'Neil followed with knockdown clotheslines and a big sidewalk slam before stalking Bateman to finish him off. O'Neil scored with a Scott Hall-style overhead slam, but Bateman kicked out of a pin attempt.

Titus went up top for an uncharacteristic high-risk move and slipped off the top rope. Bateman took advantage with a uranage-ish move, which was good for the win. Regal noted that's the mark of a good wrestler taking advantage of an opponent's slip-up. Grisham wondered why Titus went up top to begin with. After a replay of Bateman's victory, they showed Bateman and Bryan celebrating in the ring.

WINNER: Bateman at 13:28. This dragged at times, but commentary helped accentuate the story trying to be told. Bateman's pseudo heel persona isn't clicking, though.

MITB [color:58fc=blue !important][color:58fc=blue !important]video [color:58fc=blue !important]package: Grisham fed to a video highlighting the MITB ladder match using clips from past WrestleManias and last year's MITV PPV. Plenty of Jim Ross audio to sell the match. Back on NXT, Regal broke down the Raw and Smackdown MITB ladder match line-ups.

Backstage: Yoshi Tatsu was sitting in front of his action figure shrine. He handed the action figure a casino chip since they're at the Mohegan Sun. Matt Striker walked in to ask Yoshi why he doesn't just get a new figure. Yoshi said it's about honor and respect. Tonight, he gets back his honor. So, again, it's Yoshi vs. Tyson Kidd tonight. It's the rubber match of their Best-of-Three series over the past three weeks of NXT.

[Break]

The Following Is A Message From C.M. Punk: A propaganda-style video package aired with Punk presenting his version of anti-Vince McMahon, anti-WWE, anti-Rock, and anti-John Cena sentiments that have been expressed in promos leading to the MITB PPV. The very well-done video package concluded with Punk hitting the high points: WWE Title, WWE, and John Cena's career are in jeopardy.

Announcers: Grisham and Regal discussed the Cena-Punk feud. Regal said he believes Punk will become the most famous and infamous WWE champion of all-time at the PPV on Sunday. It appeared John Cena, Sr. was sitting behind Grisham.

Backstage: Hornswoggle was downing some root beers to wash away his sadness over Maryse. Titus O'Neil sat down to ask Horny where he was during his match. Titus saw the picture of Maryse and said this has gone on too far. A random man walked into the shot and noted he has a delivery for a Mr. H. Swoggle. Hornswoggle received a heart-shaped box that was filled with green candy. Hornswoggle thought it was Maryse and snuggled with the picture. Titus told Swoggle not to get too carried away.

Backstage: Kozlov was standing in front of a locker that appeared to be from the lost Saved by the Bell prop room. Kozlov hung up on his call when JTG barged in. Kozlov laughed at JTG's ill-fated experience on NXT before JTG told him the wager: Kozlov can't be more fly than him. Kozlov said they have a deal and did some sort of hand wave in front of JTG's face before bailing. "What just happened?" JTG inquired.

[Break]

In-ring: Yoshi Tatsu was out first for the main event. Regal cackled about Swoggle's heart-shaped box and claimed to have sent the box to Swoggle since he's an old villain. Tyson Kidd, sporting hair on his head, came out to the ring to face Yoshi. Kidd had the broken Yoshi action figure dangling around his neck on a necklace.

2 -- YOSHI TATSU vs. TYSON KIDD

"Yoshi, Yoshi" chant early in the match as Kidd and Yoshi exchanged offense to start the match. Kidd got the upperhand and Yoshi rolled to the floor for a breather as they cut to a break 3:30 in.

[Break]

Kidd remained in-control of the match back from break as Regal noted he'd like to see a submission match between these two at some point. Yoshi then came back with a roundhouse kick that put both men on the mat. Grisham and Regal discussed both men appearing to be a step slower this week after absorbing tons of blows from each other the previous two weeks. The pace picked up with Yoshi scoring a combination of offense before Kidd came back with sustained offense.

At 10:00, Yoshi clotheslined Kidd over the top rope to the floor. Yoshi tried to follow with a suicide dive, but Kidd smashed him in the face with a leg strike. Kidd then went to the ring apron for a springboard elbow drop, but Yoshi got his knees up to block. The match then moved up top and Kidd dropped Yoshi across the top rope. Kidd then set up for a top-rope move and went for a double springboard moonsault, but Yoshi avoided and Kidd hit the mat with a thud. The one mistake cost Kidd, as Yoshi bridge-pinned Kidd moments later for the pin and the win.

Post-match: Yoshi retrieved the action figure necklace and celebrated, but Kidd blindsided Yoshi and stole the action figure leg again. Kidd bailed from the ring as Regal said he doesn't see this as the end of the feud. Yoshi demanded the leg back as the show abruptly faded to black.

WINNER: Yoshi at 11:15. Another solid effort from Kidd and Yoshi. It wasn't quite as good as match #1, but certainly better than last week's match and really built on the stories from the previous two weeks. A well-done match, despite the inherent problem of two Pros having center stage on the Rookie show. (**1/2)

FINAL WORD: Still no announcement of when the next elimination is taking place.