NXT 8-22-12 Review

Original Airdate: Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012
Full Sail University
Winter Garden, Florida

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Derrick Bateman vs. Antonio Cesaro
Cesaro was good enough in 2012 to be a headliner, but instead he is in NXT fighting Derrick Bateman. Dropkick by Bateman and then a suplex. I never saw EC3's run in TNA, but everything I have seen from him in WWE has never impressed me. Headbutts to the chest by Cesaro and then a double underhook suplex. Cesaro is blessed with the ability to have a good match with any style, similar to Chris Jericho. Bateman fights back with some clotheslines and then a splash to the corner. Bateman hip tosses Cesaro back into the ring, but then misses in the corner and Cesaro has him in the Neutralizer and that is all.

Match Rating: *3/4

We get a hype video for the first ever NXT Champion featuring clips of main roster stars telling us how important it is to be the first.

Tamina Snuka vs. Sofia Cortez
Apparently having to watch Tamina at Fastlane was not enough for me this week. I needed one more match. Cortez has Tamina in a body scissors, but eventually Tamina lifts her up and shoves her in the turnbuckle. Superkick by Tamina gets a 2 count. Superfly splash for the victory.

Match Rating: 1/4*

After the match Raquel Diaz attacks Tamina. Whatever.

Kassius Ohno vs. Jake Carter
Regal seemed hesitant to talk about Carter being the son of Vader. If your dad was Vader, why would you want to name his son Jake Carter? Carter gets in some early offense, but Ohno gives him a shove to the face with his boot. Ohno nails him with a nice spinning forearm and that is all. Decent for what it was.

Match Rating: *3/4

After the match, Ohno continues to attack Carter until Richie Steamboat makes the save.

We get another hype video for the NXT Championship including John Cena.

Michael McGillicutty & Johnny Curtis vs. Tyson Kidd & Justin Gabriel
I like the pairing of Kidd and Gabriel a lot. Gabriel does a slingshot into a shoulder into the gut of McGillicutty. Curtis should have probably had a better career by now, although he has always made the best of what was given to him. The heels have a lengthy heat segment until Curtis goes up top and misses a reverse somersault leg drop off the top and in comes Kidd. Kidd hits his signature dropkick for a 2 count. Kidd goes for a springboard moonsault, but he loses his footing on accident. Curtis did a good job of trying to make it look like it hit a little bit. Gabriel hits a blockbuster while Kidd holds up Curtis for the victory. Not a bad little tag match.

Match Rating: **1/4

Ohno is backstage and says he accepts Steamboat's challenge.

Superstars give their predictions on the Mahal/Rollins match. Booker T picks Jinder because he is more experienced. You feeling OK, Booker?

Byron Saxton is in the ring and introduces Seth Rollins. I am so glad he got rid of this entrance. Next out is Jinder Mahal. Both guys give their reasons they should be champion and then Jinder attacks Rollins. Rollins fights back and clotheslines Mahal to the outside and then follows it up with a suicide dive. Kind of a dull finish to the show, but nothing terrible.

Overall, this show was more focused than a lot of the rest and they now are starting to try to create some storylines. I like the idea of a Steamboat/Ohno feud and next week we'll have our first NXT Champion. Slowly but surely, we are finally getting somewhere.

Overall Rating: 45%