WWE NXT
July 27, 2010
Corpus Christi, TX
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event…” The WWE video leads us into the show.
A video plays hyping up tonight’s elimination. The NXT video plays and we’re brought into the arena with some fireworks. Michael Cole and Josh Mathews welcome us to the show. The WWE Pros are already on stage and Matt Striker is in the ring. He welcomes the NXT Rookies to the ring. Eli Cottonwood comes to the ring wearing a shirt that simply says “Moustache”. That’s brutal.
Matt Striker reminds them that the NXT Poll will be revealed tonight. We’ve heard it all season: half the vote to the fans and half to the WWE Pros. Tonight they’ll have an opportunity to prove themselves verbally. They’ll have a minute to talk about anything they want except why they shouldn’t be eliminated. Their job is to impress everyone. There seems to be an audio problem as there’s a buzz.
Lucky Cannon is first and he picks the topic of “nobody”. He said he had no friends and had nobody. The crowd boos him for being a complete loser. This was terrible. He’s talking about how everyone cheers him and the crowd is booing. Thanks to his childhood friend nobody he is now somebody. Good, good lord…
Eli Cottonwood picks the topic “eyes”. There’s something no one else can do (he tried to say WWE Universe but instead said WW). He can look in the eyes of a giant, the WWE Champion, and the Undertaker. That sucked big time.
Husky Harris picks the topic “husky”. Harris cuts a great promo about how the other competitors look like Tarzan and fight like Jane. He, on the other hand, isn’t like that. He calls MVP out, reminding that he pinned that WWE Pro last week. He doesn’t look like Tarzan or fight like Jane. He just looks like Husky and he fights like an army tank with a Ferrari engine. Nice!
Kaval picks the topic of “dreams”. Kaval talks about his dreams from when he was young to perform on a great stage. People told him he didn’t have what it takes so he competed for over a decade as Low-Ki to prove the size of the fight in him. Cole and Mathews crapped all over it.
Michael McGillicutty doesn’t pick a topic. He says he won the challenge last week and there was also a video package that aired. Everyone had something good to say except The Miz. McGillicutty asks if Miz really called him mediocre. Miz says he did and he is. McGillicutty says he’s 4-0 and better than mediocre. McGillicutty says he’ll personally show him that he’s mediocre and he’s awesome. The Miz says to get a contract and then they can talk. Until then he’s a rookie and a wannabe.
Alex Riley picks the topic of Starbucks. If it was up to the WWE Pros or anyone with an education then he’d win this by a country mile. But since it’s left up to the democracy of dorks then we might be entertained by someone auditioning for a Morgan Freeman film (Kaval) or a poor impression of Eddie Murphy (Percy Watson). Good call on those comparisons. Unlike some people he refuses to change to cater to the fans. If this is the WWE Universe then he might as well be the sun since everything revolves around him. There are no other stars to be found: just Starbucks employees. That was good.
Percy Watson picks “having a good time”. Watson talks about life being hard and you have to keep working hard. Watson gets some decent reactions from the crowd. He talks fast but says nothing.
A video airs with the pros talking about “Showtime” Percy Watson. They like his personality but don’t get the glasses. They love his athleticism. Zack Ryder doesn’t get his dances and neither does The Miz. Percy Watson will be in action next against Zack Ryder.
-Commercial Break-
“Showtime” Percy Watson (1-3) vs. Zack Ryder
The bell rings and Ryder takes exception to MVP coaching on the apron. Ryder quickly attacks Watson and shoulder blocks him. Watson quickly takes him down with a back elbow. Ryder takes him down and punches away. Ryder kicks him down in the corner and hits a running kick to the face for a near fall. Ryder hits a neckbreaker and drops a knee for a two count. Ryder applies a chin lock and Watson has lost his glasses. The crowd gets behind Watson and he fights up. Watson punches but quickly gets driven into the turnbuckle.
Watson avoids a running kick and hits some dropkicks. Watson has a whip reversed but he hits a leaping clothesline. Ryder stuns him on the top rope and goes for the Rough Ryder but Watson counters. Watson hits a float over DDT and a 180 big splash for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: “Showtime” Percy Watson (2-3)
Match Rating: 3/4 *
John Morrison is backstage with Eli Cottonwood. Morrison gives him some tips and says he’s doing great. The best way to improve is to watch tape. Morrison shows Cottonwood’s performance in the obstacle course which was less than stellar. Morrison is holding back laughter and Cottonwood says he’s not an acrobat. Morrison says some guys are calling him Eli Rottonwood but he has an opportunity tonight to beat the undefeated Michael McGillicutty. Cottonwood isn’t worried about him and has just one word to say: moustache. Yeah…
-Commercial Break-
They show a video package of last week’s obstacle course challenge. Michael McGillicutty won immunity.
Michael McGillicutty (4-0) vs. Eli Cottonwood (2-1)
Cottonwood shoves him in the corner and McGillicutty immediately fights out and punches away. Cottonwood hits him with a shoulder block and elbows him in the corner. Cottonwood sends him hard into the corner and hits a sidewalk slam for a two count. Cottonwood chokes him with his foot and then steps on the ankle. Cottonwood hits a short-arm clothesline and gets a near fall. I hate typing their last names. They’re way too long. Cottonwood applies a neck vice and McGillicutty fights up. Cottonwood quickly takes him down and drops a leg. Cottonwood hits a big body slam and gets another near fall.
McGillicutty fights up from a submission and goes for a clothesline but Cottonwood doesn’t budge. Cottonwood gets hung up on the top rope after missing a big boot. McGillicutty DDTs his foot and dropkicks him in the face. McGillicutty hits his nice neckbreaker to pick up the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Michael McGillicutty (5-0)
Match Rating: 3/4 *
Ashley Valance is backstage and she reminds us that the elimination is coming up tonight. She leads us to a video with the pros talking about Kaval. The Pros love his talent but say he takes himself too seriously.
Kaval is backstage with Lay-Cool when Husky Harris bumps him. Lay-Cool defends Harris but Kaval says all the talking he needs to do will be done in the ring. Lay-Cool was pretty funny in this. That’s the first enjoyable segment I’ve seen from them.
-Commercial Break-
Kaval (1-3) vs. Husky Harris (2-2)
Kaval gets Harris with a few quick kicks but Harris powers him to the corner and punches away. Harris tosses Kaval but runs into some boots. Kaval hits a running front kick for a one count. Kaval kicks him a few times but Harris comes back. Harris sends him to the ropes but lowers his head and eats a kick. Kaval gets out of a back suplex but can’t escape a short-arm clothesline for a one count. Harris applies a bear hug but Kaval fights up and elbows out. Kaval kicks and chops away. Kaval avoids a tackle and hits a crescent kick. Kaval charges but Harris kills him with a clothesline for a near fall.
Harris sends him to the corner and catches Kaval attempting a slingshot. Harris shoves him to the apron and inadvertently knocks Lay-Cool off the apron. Kaval checks on them so Harris sends him into the ring post. Harris hits an inverted suplex to bring him into the ring and hits his Senton Splash for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Husky Harris (3-2)
Match Rating: * 1/4
Matt Striker comes out and says the NXT Poll will be coming up next. Someone’s dream will die next!
-Commercial Break-
The Raw Rebound plays. That package took forever to complete. They then run down the Summerslam card.
-Commercial Break-
The NXT Rookies are standing ringside looking at the screen. Matt Striker says only one can win NXT and earn a championship match on PPV. Whichever rookie is ranked last will be eliminated unless it’s Michael McGillicutty, who has immunity.
#1 Michael McGillicutty (5-0) (Last: #3)
#2 Kaval (1-4) (Last: #1)
#3 Alex Riley (3-2) (Last: #4)
#4 Percy Watson (2-3) (Last: #2)
#5 Lucky Cannon (2-4) (Last: #5)
#6 Husky Harris (3-2) (Last: #7)
# 7 Eli Cottonwood (2-2) (Last: #6)
Eli Cottonwood has been eliminated from the NXT Competition. Striker gives him the opportunity to say something to the WWE Universe but he instead attacks Husky Harris. Cottonwood fights off the NXT Rookies as they try to break it up. Cottonwood shoves his pro John Morrison as he walks off.
Striker asks Husky Harris if there’s something that’s not connecting with the WWE Universe. Harris says they’ve seen the warpath he’s been on. If they haven’t seen anything yet then he doesn’t know. This is his dream and he deserves it.
Michael McGillicutty is asked about being #1. He talks about being undefeated and on the right path. His record will be undefeated at the end and he’ll go on to be the world champion. Alex Riley talks about being better than Eli Cottonwood. Riley says he knows he’s better than the two above him and he’ll be #1 at the end of this. McGillicutty and Riley go face to face and they brawl. Cottonwood returns and beats on everyone. It’s a mess to end the show.
Quick Match Results
“Showtime” Percy Watson (2-3) def. Zack Ryder
Michael McGillicutty (5-0) def. Eli Cottonwood (2-2)
Husky Harris (3-2) def. Kaval (1-4)
Bump of the Night: Harris’s senton
Match of the Night: Husky Harris vs. Kaval * 1/4
Mike’s Thoughts
This wasn’t that great of a show tonight. We started out with a pretty bad segment with them trying to promote themselves. I hate scripted promos but if there were ever a time they were needed it was here. These guys can’t talk. I believe that guys like John Cena and Chris Jericho can and should go with just bullet points but not these rookies. They need a lot of help and polishing. Maybe it’s just the crappy, generic characters they were all given. Alex Riley and Husky Harris were the only two standouts in my opinion.
The matches were just ok. Kaval and Harris was good and could be a great match up in the future. They can both go. Kaval is obviously a proven competitor but I have been really impressed by Harris. He’ll be around for a while if not in the competition then on the main roster.
So long, Eli Cottonwood. That guy was an epic fail. I thought he had a good look in the beginning but I’m man enough to admit my mistake. They tried to make him seem intimidating but his mic skills and athleticism quickly destroyed that image. He was way too awkward and was not ready at all for this. The guy needs a lot of work. I hope they don’t put him on the roster just because of his size. He’s a release waiting to happen.
Final Rating: * 3/4
E-Mail – MikeyT817@hotmail.com
Be sure to check out Friday’s Smackdown recap:
http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1279995319
Thanks for reading!