Original Airdate: Wednesday, June 20th, 2012
Full Sail University
Winter Garden, Florida
So I didn't really want to do the NXT semi-reality competition show, so I am startint with the actual developmental show. This was the first episode of what we now think of when we hear NXT, but it is listed on the WWE Network as NXT 122.
Jim Ross comes out to introduce Dusty Rhodes as the interim GM of NXT. He announces the main event of Tyson Kidd vs. Michael McGillicutty.
Bo Dallas gets a hype video. I always liked the Bo-lieve gimmick, even if it wasn't something that was going to last forever. However, Dallas is an average worker at best.
Rick Victor vs. Bo Dallas
Rick Victor is now simply Viktor of the Ascension. It's always fun to hear JR calling the action, as it seems like it has been forever since he was over on Raw. They try to pretend like this isn't a squash, but it definitely is. Dallas hits a really weak looking spear and that is it for this one. He then does a promo after the match and I'm not sure if it was the intent, but it felt like he didn't know he would be interviewed. It gave it a similar feel to when athletes are interviewed right after a last minute win.
Match Rating: 3/4*
Seth Rollins now gets a highlight package. He looks like he might be pretty good.
Holy crap, talk about memories. They show a package for Antonio Cesaro, which brings back some lost memories. They hype that he was a rugby player and show that he was dating Aksana.
Damien Sandow vs. Jason Jordan
Damien Sandow walks to the ring cutting a promo and said he will not be competing against an ignoramus and walks back to the dressing room. No match, but its fun to see Jason Jordan with hair.
We get a promo video from the Ascension. This is obviously not the current version of the group and the video has a Gotham City feel to it.
Next up is a Raw Rebound and I can't help but mention it due to seeing People Power on my TV for the first time in forever. John Cena vs. David Otunga, Big Show and John Laurinaitis. Good times. They seriously showed a fan holding up a sign that said "Your Fired". Good lord.
The Ascension vs. Mike Dalton & CJ Parker
CJ Parker is Juice Robinson who competes over in New Japan. Mike Dalton is Tyler Breeze. This is a crazy quick squash. Not much to say there.
Match Rating: 1/4*
Bray Wyatt hype video now featuring the variation of Wyatt that I enjoyed the most.
Derrick Bateman (EC3) meets up with Johnny Curtis (Fandango) in a bathroom. Did I hear that right? Did Curtis just drop an F bomb and it wasn't edited? I rewound it 3 times and each time it sure sounded like it. These two are facing off in the main event next week. This is a really awkward backstage skit.
Michael McGillicutty vs. Tyson Kidd
Tyson Kidd has always been a personal favorite. It truly is a shame that he is no longer able to compete. McGillicutty's offense has always been just too basic for him to get over in this era. Kidd is doing what he can here to get a good match out of him. They definitely have the crowd into the match, as they are 100% behind Kidd. Kidd hits a nice moonsault, but it's not enough. McGillicutty puts Kidd in the Sharpshooter, but Kidd is able to get to the ropes. He then tries for a Perfect Plex, but Kidd rolls him up and it's still not enough. Kidd then puts him in the Dungeon Lock and gets the victory by submission.
Match Rating: **
This was a far cry from the NXT we know and love now, but it certainly wasn't bad. They introduced a handful of new characters and that's all you can really ask for out of a first episode.
Overall Rating: 52%
No comments:
Post a Comment