WWE NXT Recap 03.23.10

WWE NXT recap from San Jose, CA:

Josh Matthews and Michael Cole discussed the excitement building as Wrestlemania is 5 days away. They kicked things back to NXT host Matt Striker. He said next week will be the biggest episode because we'll see the standings so far for the NXT competition. There will be a "Pro's Poll" based on wins/losses, strength of opponents, work ethic and the rookie's "It" factor.

Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel arrived out as a tag team to Christian's theme music. Christian and Matt Hardy were not with their rookies for the match.

Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel vs. Skip Sheffield & Wade Barrett

William Regal accompanied his rookie but walked with Wade Barrett shaking his head at Skip Sheffield. Michael Cole said that Sheffield was apologizing on his blog for letting down the WWE Universe last week in his loss to Wade Barrett.

Early into the match, Christian made his way down to the ring as the fans applauded him. Regal shot him a look as Christian took a place at ringside near his rookie. Cole and Matthews debated about who will be the winner of the first Pro poll among NXT rookies, with Cole saying it's the undefeated Slater. Matthews said different rookies stand out in different categories, with Otunga having the "It" factor so far, but Daniel Bryan has the strength of competition category due to matches against Chris Jericho and Great Khali.

In the conclusion of this opening tag match, Slater had major momentum. He jumped off the corner with a flying bodypress but Sheffield caught him. Sheffield prepared for a slam move, but Slater escaped his grasp and slid off behind Sheffield. He tried a schoolboy pin, but saw Barrett coming into the ring. Slater ducked a big boot from Barrett and it hit Sheffield down instead. Gabriel rushed into the action and punched Barrett in the face, then rolled to the outside. Slater scored the winning pin on the booted down Sheffield.

Regal had a look of pure disgust on his face after the match ended.

Winners: Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel win via pinfall over Wade Barrett & Skip Sheffield.

They showed the background interview and highlight reel video on Daniel Bryan. Bryan's goal is to headline Wrestlemania after winning NXT and going to either Raw or Smackdown.

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NXT returned with Cole and Matthews discussing the biggest potential match of Wrestlemania 26, Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker in the career versus the streak. They showed a highlight package video from WM25, and discussed the buildup to the current match. It will be win by pinfall or submission only for them at Wrestlemania 26.

After the video segment aired and commercial break, they put up a schedule of events going on for Wrestlemania Week:

Wednesday - Wrestlemania Art Expo
Thursday - WrestleMania Axxess Opens
& Wrestlemania Reading Rally
Friday - Wrestlamania Pro-Am Golf Tournament
& THQ Superstar Challenge
Saturday - WWE Hall of Fame 11/10C on USA
Sunday - Wrestlemania XXVI - PPV at 7PM EST

They showed a video to profile the feud that built up between Vince McMahon and Bret Hart over the past few months. Bret attempted to bury the hatchet with both Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon on Raw. Shawn Michaels was ok with it, but Vince McMahon wasn't. He disagreed to a match with Bret, but Bret was able to fake a broken leg to bait McMahon into the match. It will all end with the Bret Hart vs Vince McMahon Wrestlemania No Holds Barred Match.

They showed Darren Young's profile video. He'll be in the main event tonight teaming with David Otunga against Daniel Bryan and Michael Tarver.

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They showed a Wrestlemania 21 Recall moment from 2005, which was the Wrestlemanai goes Hollywood themed Wrestlemania. At that particular event, both Batista and John Cena captured championships. Edge won the MITB match to capture the briefcase and eventually become champ.

"Be Yourself" by Audioslave is just one of the Wrestlemania 26 theme songs.

Next up, they talked about the Cena vs Batista WWE Title match for Wrestlemania 26, and then showcased the feud in a highlight video package.

CM Punk, Luke Gallows and Serena accompanied David Otunga and Darren Young out to the ring for the main event. Young kept looking at Punk and yelling stuff at him while pointing fingers. Punk just smirked and walked behind the rookies at a distance.

Cole and Matthews introduced video highlights of the SyFy party in New York City last week, where The Miz and David Otunga attended. Miz said Otunga's a bigger star than Daniel Bryan clearly, and kept talking about how famous Miz is.

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Darren Young & David Otunga vs. Daniel Bryan & Michael Tarver

Carlito accompanied both Daniel Bryan and Michael Tarver to the ring. Tarver wore a "RUN NXT" shirt RUN DMC style. Bryan walked through the two of them with his arm raised up, causing Tarver to stop and look at Carlito asking what was up with that.

Early on, Serena got up on the apron to distract the ref, allowing Gallows to come alongside of the ring and grab Tarver's leg. Tarver immediately went out of the ring and began jawing at Gallows who talked trash back. CM Punk and Carlito came over to back their men away. Darren Young attempted a baseball slide dropkick, but Tarver avoided it to knock Young down, then tossed him back in the ring with the advantage. NXT went to commerical.

At one point during the contest, CM Punk was shown sitting on the steel steps, back to the ring just talking to Serena and Gallows, not watching the match. Bryan used a guillotine submission on Young and transitioned into another submission hold down on the mat. Luke Gallows went over to start jawing with Tarver again, bringing Carlito over. CM Punk and Serena came over again. Daniel Bryan was unable to make a tag out to Michael Tarver due to the ringside commotion. Carlito finally told Tarver to get back up on the apron, but it was too late. Bryan avoided a move by Otunga, and Tarver ended up knocked off the apron. With no partner to tag out to, Bryan went for a move off the corner but Otunga avoided him, then did his finisher to win it. CM Punk looked at Young and then gave a look as if "who cares" about the match and victory.

Winners: Darren Young & David Otunga win via pinfall over Daniel Bryan and Michael Tarver.

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