NXT 9-5-12 Review

Original Airdate: Wednesday, September 5th, 2012
Full Sail University
Winter Garden, Florida

We get a highlight package of the NXT Championship last week.

Richie Steamboat vs. Kassius Ohno
This one has some potential. We get a back and forth start, with Steamboat leading the charge. Steamboat hits Ohno with some hard chops to the chest. Irish Whip by Steamboat, but Ohno puts his knee up. Steamboat is still able to quickly battle back until Ohno pokes him in the eye, to which Ohno pleads his case to the ref that it was an accident. Steamboat fights back yet again and Ohno does the same eye poke again and this time the ref calls for the disqualification. Hopefully this leads to a proper re-match sometime down the line.

Match Rating: 1/2*

After the match Ohno attacks Steamboat, including dropping Steamboat on the guardrail outside the ring. I'm not quite sure how Ohno never got called up to the main roster. Ricky Steamboat is out there now and he is not happy.

Audrey Marie vs. Paige
We get some pretty solid wrestling to start and then they start slamming each other to the mat and rolling all over. Paige hits Audrey with a forearm and then slams her head into the mat again. Short arm clothesline and hits the RamPaige for the victory. Still not a fan of Paige's work.

Match Rating: 3/4*

Steamboat is backstage and finds Ohno, who is wearing glasses and tells Ricky that his son doesn't have potential. Steamboat pushes him and Ohno taunts him as they are broken up by WWE officials.

Percy Watson vs. Leo Kruger
Kruger comes out in cargo pants and a goofy look on his face. Snap suplex by Kruger and he then attacks Watson's back. They are selling that he is a changed man, which we all know won't happen until he becomes Adam Rose. This match is getting 0 reaction from the live crowd. Watson fights back with a couple of dropkicks and a jumping clothesline. Showtime Splash by Watson for a 2 count. Kruger hangs him the ropes and then hits Kruger End for the victory.

Match Rating: 1/2*

Brodus Clay vs. Ryan Collins
Brodus was an interesting wrestler that I'm kind of surprised didn't catch on with the WWE audience. He hits a few of his moves and finishes it with a splash. This would have fit right in with the 1992 Superstars matches I have been watching.

Match Rating: 1/4*

The Ascension vs. The Usos
The Usos go right after the Ascension and clear them out of the ring. Back from a commercial break and the Usos are still in control. After watching the Usos for so many years, I still am unable to tell them apart from one another. The Ascension take over, which means we get body scissors and headlocks. The Ascension are working this match as if they are doing a Broadway. Usos finally get the hot tag, but the Ascension killed the crowd, so the response is a little timid. Jimmy Uso jumps over the rope to hit Conor, but Kenneth Cameron hits his modified Code Breaker for the victory. That was pretty disappointing.

Match Rating: *1/4

They show a video package of Seth Rollins winning the NXT Championship last week. Jim Ross then introduces Rollins. Rollins said he wants a bullseye on his forehead, because he will hit the Blackout on everyone who challenges him.

That was not a particularly exciting show and not the best follow up to crown your new champion. I do like the idea of a Ohno/Steamboat feud and am interested in seeing that. The Ascension were a major letdown tonight in their first true chance to show off what they can do. If you can't have a good match with the Usos, that's not really promising.

Overall Rating: 28%