NXT
Date:
June 20, 2012
Location:
Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators:
Jim Ross, William Regal
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
It's
FINALLY a new season of this shindig and things are really shaken up.
We're permanently in Florida now with FCW and NXT merging and I
can't say I'm complaining a bit. These will now be up on Thursdays
instead of Wednesdays as they only air internationally at the moment,
so I have to wait for the videos to surface online. I don't know
what to expect from this so let's get to it.
The
opening video is about how each generation has its own stars that
define their era. NXT is about those that strive to make their own
history. Cool video and this looks great so far.
Regal
welcomes us to the show in a voiceover. I really like the arena as
there's a small Titantron which looks like it belongs in a more
intimate setting.
Here's
JR to welcome us to the show. He brings out Dusty Rhodes who
apparently is the new General Manager of NXT. The main event is
McGillicutty vs. Kidd and Dusty is very excited about it. You can
say a lot about Dusty Rhodes and a lot of it is critical, but you can
NEVER say he comes off as bored or dull. The guy always sounds like
he cares about what he's talking about and that makes a ton of
difference.
Video
on Bo Dallas which I believe we saw last week. His dad is Mike
Rotunda, more famous as IRS. He talks about smiling all the time and
being ready to go at any time.
We
get the Vince Hospital clip from Raw.
Bo
Dallas vs. Rick Victor
Regal
and JR are on commentary so I can't complain there. The crowd sounds
fired up already and I'm really digging this so far. It looks
different from the regular WWE setup whih is a nice change of pace.
Dallas controls with some armdrags to start but Victor chops away in
the corner. Snap powerslam puts Victor down and a spear gets the pin
for Dallas at 2:17. I didn't see enough of Dallas here to tell what
I thought of him but it wasn't bad.
Dallas
says you just saw his game plan being executed and that this is just
the beginning. He talks about his smile some more. Dallas is only
22 and looks even younger than that, but that's the point of being in
the minors like this. He has potential at least.
Video
on Seth Rollins who talks about being the change we've been waiting
for. He debuts next week.
Video
on Antonio Cesaro and how awesome he is. He's The Future and will
also debut next week.
Damien
Sandow vs. Jason Jordan
The
announcer messes up Sandow's hometown, calling it Palto Alo. Sandow
does his usual schtick, talking about how this is an unworthy
opponent. Therefore, he won't be wrestling tonight. No match.
Video
on The Ascension, which is a stable I've heard a lot of good things
about. They're standing on a rooftop and say they will rise. There
are only two here instead of the three that I believe they usually
have.
Raw
ReBound is about John vs. John.
The
Ascension vs. Mike Dalton/CJ Parker
Ascension
is Conor O'Brien and Kenneth Cameron. Their entrance is pretty
awesome with music that sounds like something out of a thriller
movie's trailer and blue lighting. They actually look intimidating
and above all else, they look DIFFERENT. That's been missing so
badly on this show as everyone is just out there in trunks wrestling.
Cameron and Parker start things off and the Ascension controls
early. Off to O'Brien who stomps away on Parker in the corner.
Ascension hits rapid fire elbows followed by a jawbreaker from
Cameron into a flapjack by O'Brien for the pin at 1:11. I like what
I see again. The finisher is called The Downcast.
Video
on Bray Wyatt, more commonly known as Husky Harris. He's in a small
town in the south and says that it's time for parents to quit lying
to their children because monsters like him are real. I've heard
rave reviews about this character and I think I can see why.
Derrick
Bateman is looking for Johnny Curtis in the bathroom where Curtis is
brushing his teeth. They leave the room together and Bateman looks
annoyed. Apparently they're the main event next week. Curtis washes
his hands on Bateman's shirt. These two still annoy me.
Tyson
Kidd vs. Michael McGillicutty
Kidd
works over the arm to start as the fans chant USA. McGillicutty runs
Kidd over and counters an O'Connor Roll, only to have Kidd fire off
kicks. Michael bails to the floor for a breather before locking up
in a test of strength. Kidd climbs the ropes to escape and hooks the
armbar again. Kidd throws him over the top and face first into the
apron. That's followed by a suicide dive and we take a break.
Back
with Tyson stomping McGillicutty down in the corner and hitting a leg
lariat for two. McGillicutty sends him to the apron and hits a knee
lift, followed by an elevated neckbreaker for two. We hit the
chinlock but Kidd gets back up quickly. Kidd hooks a sunset flip but
McGillicutty hits a clothesline to the back of the head for two.
McGillicutty puts him in the Tree of Woe and chokes away.
Kidd
gets put in the Tree of Woe again but his baseball slide misses,
giving us his pop's signature crotch shot into the post. Kidd speeds
up and fires off a bunch of kicks including a dropkick to the side of
the head for two. McGillicutty counters a springboard clothesline
with a dropkick for two.
Kidd
comes back with a moonsault press for two. The fans are really
getting into this. Dungeon Lock doesn't work and McGillicutty hits a
Saito Suplex for two. McGillicutty puts on a half crab which is
supposed to be called a Sharpshooter. The Perfectplex is countered
into a small package for two. Kidd grabs the Dungeon Lock for the
tap at 14:07.
Rating:
B. These two continue to have
some excellent chemistry together. Their styles mesh just right and
they have yet to fail to have a good match. Kidd is in that weird
spot where he's not going to be able to be a full time guy on the
main rosters but he's great for something like this. McGillicutty is
about the same but he's not quite as good. Together though they're a
solid combination.
Overall
Rating: B. For a debut episode,
they nailed this one pretty well. Based on this episode, it's a
great upgrade over what I spent a year watching. It's nice to see
some fresh faces and above all else, this show had an energy to it.
I want to see more of this and that's the most important thing for
the first episode of a show like this. Good stuff and I'm excited
about this show.
Results
Bo
Dallas b. Rick Victor – Spear
The
Ascension b. Mike Dalton/CJ Parker – Downcast to Parker
Tyson
Kidd b. Michael McGillicutty – Dungeon Lock
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