WWE NXT Recap 03.02.10

WWE NXT recap 03.02.10

NXT opened with highlights of last week's show featuring Heath Slater, David Otunga and Daniel Bryan. The show closed with Miz beating up his rookie Daniel Bryan right after Bryan lost in an impressive main event bout to Chris Jericho.

R-Truth lead his rookie David Otunga out to start off the show. Truth did his "What's Up" rap on the way to the ring, while commentators Michael Cole and Josh Matthews hyped up tonight's show. They sent it backstage to host Matt Striker who discussed the show concept with 8 young superstars looking to make it big in the WWE. The WWE rookies will compete against one another and then get votes from the pro's. The pro's aren't allowed to cast a vote in favor of their own rookie though.

Darren Young vs. David Otunga

Cole said Young requested tonight's rematch after losing to Otunga last week on NXT. Young came down with mentor CM Punk, along with Luke Gallows and Serena. During the match, Michael Cole discussed how Otunga is Jennifer Hudson's fiance and went to Harvard Law school. He added that Otunga got text messages from Usher and Cedric the Entertainer congratulating him on WWE. Young gained control after knocking Otunga out of the ring, with Punk giving him a weird long. As Otunga got back on the apron, Young dropkicked him off sending the show to a commercial break.

Young seemed to be dominating the match, but Punk didn't give any sign of being impressed at ringside. Otunga finally started a comeback using a clothesline to smash Young down. Young recovered to go for a neckbreaker, but Otunga shoved him against the ropes. In the closing moments, Otunga was outside the ring, when Gallows came over at him. Truth was there to back up his rookie. The ref was occupied with the whole R-Truth/Gallows situation outside the ring. Otunga got back in the ring to duck a clothesline from Young, but CM Punk tripped Otunga, allowing Young to score the pinfall win. Punk, Gallows and Serena left the scene heading up the ramp to leave Young in the ring celebrating.

Otunga got back in the ring and ended up shoving Truth to the corner, then left the ring with Truth perplexed over what just happened.

Winner: Darren Young wins via pinfall over David Otunga.

They rolled a highlight video and interview piece of Daniel Bryan. Bryan said he's far from a rookie because he's wrestled for 20 years now and was trained by Shawn Michaels. Bryan discussed how he likes using submission moves alot, and that the chance to be in the WWE is the dream he's had for years now. His goal is to headline Wrestlemania. Michael Cole said Bryan has to show he can handle the spotlight in a big match but didn't. Matthews said that Bryan impressed the WWE Universe across the boards with his performance last week. They showed highlights from the match, where Jericho got Bryan to tap out, then Miz attacked his rookie after the bell.

Daniel Bryan was getting checked out backstage by medical staff. The Miz came in and told Bryan even though he's injured he still has to compete tonight against Chris Jericho's rookie Wade Barrett. Miz slapped Bryan hard in the ribs area where he was hurt, then left. The medical staff came back to wrap Bryan's ribs.

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NXT returned to show an interview that happened during break. Striker was asking Otunga about what happened at the match. Otunga said he got jumped, then Punk tripped him up in the ring to cost him the match. Striker started saying these are the things you'll have to deal with, when R-Truth got into Otunga's face. Truth asked if Otunga thinks he's going to make a name off him on NXT, then said it doesn't work that way. The two got in a shoving match then started locking up and rolling on the ground. One ref tried to break it up, until finally three refs got involved to separate them.

Savannah introduced World Champion Chris Jericho, who came out to the top of the ramp with rookie Wade Barrett. Jericho said it's time for all the failures of the WWE Universe to meet his protege, Wade Barrett. They showed Barrett's interview and highlight video footage. He talked about being a street fighter in Europe and England. Barrett said it payed the bills but didn't give him enough money, so he moved to the next level, WWE. Visit Wade Barret's Twitter for his updates. Jericho joined the commentary team at ringside to watch the match.

Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett

Bryan arrived to the ring to Miz' theme music but without Miz. He had bandages around his ribs, which Jericho said were from the brutal beating he gave him last week in the ring. Barrett immediately went for the ribs area of Bryan and started to dominate early. They cut to a backstage locker room camera showing Carlito and The Miz watching the match on a flatscreen. Meanwhile, Bryan staged a comeback as he knocked Barrett out of the ring, then ran and took him down from the apron with one knee. However, Bryan still favored his ribs and botched an attempted springboard move from the top rope. Barrett capitalized and then put Bryan on his shoulders to slam him to the mat for the pin. Jericho said he set this all up last week.

Jericho got in the ring and started beating on Bryan's ribs, then went for the Walls of Jericho with Wade Barrett watching it all smiling. Jericho let go of the hold then raised his rookie's arm up triumphantly.

Winner: Wade Barrett wins via pinfall over Daniel Bryan.

Matt Hardy & Justin Gabriel will face William Regal and his rookie Skip Sheffield in tag action tonight. It's the debut match for both rookies on NXT.

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Raw Rebound covered Shawn Michaels and the buildup to his match against The Undertaker. Michaels came out and asked anyone from backstage to come tell him if they doubt he can beat Taker. HHH came out but said he knows HBK can beat Taker at Wrestlemania. HHH said he arranged for them to have a rematch for the tag titles on Raw, because he believed Michaels would be back on Raw after Wrestlemania to defend them. DX went out for the main event later on, but ended up losing when Undertaker appeared on the Titantron. The distraction allowed Miz to avoid Sweet Chin Music and capture a pinfall on Michaels. After the match, HHH went over to HBK in the ring. HBK was upset and left the ring. HHH was attacked by Sheamus in the ring from out of nowhere. Sheamus knocked HHH to the outside, then gave him two boot kicks, one of which sent him over the commentary table. Sheamus posed with his arms raised as he stood on the table looking at HHH.

Cole and Matthews discussed how some pros get along with their rookies, like Christian and Heath Slater. They showed highlights of them defeating Michael Tarver and Carlito in a tag match last week.

The camera cut to Heath Slater in a workout room with Christian. Slater was talking about how great he did in week one, prompting Christian to stand up and give his rookie a lecture. Christian said Slater's got big potential, and he likes him, not a lot but somewhat. Christian told Slater he'll get there eventually, then had him do reps on a weight machine.

Backstage, Matt Striker interviewed Matt Hardy and his rookie Justin Gabriel. Gabriel called Hardy the best mentor he could ask for, his sensei. Hardy said he sees his rookie as a young version of himself, and expects Gabriel will bring high-flying moves to the ring. Hardy said now it's time to go show them off. Skip Sheffield and William Regal made their way to the ring for the main event before a commercial break.

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When NXT returned Regal was in the ring giving weird looks to his rookie. They showed a video package about Sheffield "The Cornhead Meathead" who has a bit of a Cowboy gimmick. He said WWE is an opportunity of a lifetime for him.

Justin Gabriel & Matt Hardy vs. Skip Sheffield & William Regal

Cole and Matthews jawed at each other a bit during the main event, with Cole calling Matthews a rookie as a commentator. Early in the match, Hardy and Gabriel had a nice doubleteam to take control against Sheffield. Cole said it reminded him of Hardy Boys. NXT went to commercial break with Hardy/Gabriel in control.

When NXT returned, William Regal had gained the advantage against Gabriel. Regal pounded away on Gabriel in the corner for a bit before the ref stopped it. Regal went over and gave his rookie a few lectures during the match. Sheffield started to yell at Regal, after Regal knocked Hardy out of the ring. Both Hardy and Gabriel were down outside the ring, and Hardy barely beat a count to get in. Sheffield tagged in and started taking it to Hardy. Sheffield hit a splash move which Matthews called "Vintage Skip Sheffield" to mock Cole.

Sheffield and Regal continued their doubleteam attack on Matt Hardy. Gabriel was back on the apron trying to rally the crowd behind Hardy as Sheffield locked in a headlock. Hardy fought to his feet, but Sheffield tried to cut him off. Hardy countered a move for a neckbreaker, but Regal tagged back in and prevented Hardy from getting a tag. After taking more abuse from Regal, Hardy finally managed to drop Regal down with a DDT style move, then tagged Gabriel in. Gabriel quickly climbed on the corner and hit an impressive flip move (similar to Kidman's) to splash down on Regal for the win.

Winners: Matt Hardy & Justin Gabriel win via pinfall over William Regal & Skip Sheffield.

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