NXT: Overview

Tonight, we found out that Showtime Percy Watson gets his own talk show segment next week on NXT.

At the end of the show, we found out that the Nexus is “coming home” to NXT next Tuesday. WWE teased that the pros should feel unsafe. After this week’s show, adding that spice should be a nice way to get people to tune in next week.

Other than that, we had three short matches. The Miz vs. Kaval was the best of the three, but even with a commercial break, it was still short.

Nothing on this show was “must-see” to me, and viewers will likely get a better show next week with Nexus on.

NXT: Shot by Shot

NXT is live in Atlanta, Georgia, the home of WrestleMania 27.

Since when did Matt Striker start introducing all the WWE pros before the show?

I’m okay with “Dashing” Cody Rhodes as long as he is still referenced as the “Uncommon Son of the Common Man.” Long, but awesome, nickname.

Michael Cole marks out like crazy for The Miz, who John Morrison says he wishes would’ve been voted off last week instead of Titus O’Neill.

The rookies trade barbs at each other over the rankings that came out last week.

The Talk the Talk Challenge on NXT happens, where the rookies get a random topic to talk about for 30 seconds, with the winner getting a talk show spot next week. Showtime Percy Watson ends up winning after the rest stumble. Some made connections to their topic, but others barely mentioned it. This isn’t really worth covering – unless you’re a diehard NXT fan and want to seek this out on Hulu or YouTube.

I do NOT like this ring announcer. She looks devoid of any personality and sounds like she’s making fun of the ring announcer position.

MVP and Kofi Kingston are on the apron for their pros Showtime Percy Watson and Michael McGuillicutty. Kinda weird. Michael Cole and Josh Matthews really put over McGuillicutty’s 3-0 streak and Watson’s Talk the Talk win. After a few minutes, McGuillicutty does a sunset flip over Watson and pins him clean. Real short, real bland.

NXT shows a “highlight reel” on Titus O’Neill, who was eliminated last week. Why bother talking about him if he’s gone? The WWE Pros talk a little about what they like, then rip on his promo skills and wrestling ability, and personal hygiene.

Laycool have quickly become my favorite WWE Divas – their mostly matching attire, their attitude, and their dressing of Kaval in a pink t-shirt saying, “Property of Laycool.”

The Miz has also become one of my favorite WWE Superstars because of his actions last night on RAW, his promo work, and his in-ring ability. I remember hearing about the Miz being signed having seen him on a few episodes of the Real World/Road Rules Challenges and laughing him off. But he has worked incredibly hard to be a real company guy.

Miz defeated Kaval in a match that the announcers portrayed as the rookie weathering the storm against the veteran, even though the Miz got the win anyway. There was a cool spot with Kaval doing a sunset flip over Miz, trying to pin, then turning it into a mini Warrior’s Way footstomp. That backspring into the roundhouse kick is really cool to see in the ring. I’d love to see these guys feud down the line and have a long, pay-per-view quality match. I think it’s strange that WWE calls Miz the veteran, but Kaval probably has more experience as Low-Ki. Keep in mind Low-Ki wrestled in the first NWA:TNA X-Division title match in 2002.

The WWE pros put over Eli Cottonwood’s look before burying his ability and promo skills. They want to have hope, but after their comments, it seems a little dim. I wouldn’t be surprised if him or Husky Harris go next.

I said it in a Twitter post last week and I’ll say it again: Husky Harris needs to show his athleticism in the ring, not talk on TV until he’s used to it at house shows or FCW, and get a Samoa Joe-style mean streak. I think this guy has all the potential to be WWE’s Samoa Joe if they allow him, but he needs to be repackaged from his current incarnation. Harris is the son of IRS…okay, that makes sense now. Isn’t he the grandson of a Blackjack, too?

And they REALLY shouldn’t allow anybody in the company to call him “fat” at this point.

The Nexus is coming back to NXT next Tuesday night.

Dashing Cody Rhodes and Husky Harris pick up the win on Mark Henry and Lucky Cannon when Rhodes hit the Crossroads on Lucky. Rhodes and Lucky seemed out of sync on a couple of spots. The match just wasn’t very good.