WWE NXT Recap 04.13.10

WWE NXT recap from London, England:

NXT opened with highlights from last week's Keg carrying contest which Heath Slater won, just barely edging out Skip Sheffield by 0.4 seconds. Slater's prize was a main event match against Kane, which he later lost to put his record at 4-2. There's just four weeks left to get up in the ranks and avoid elimination as the last man in the Pro's Poll.

Matt Striker was in the ring to start the show where he introduced the NXT rookies one by one as they came out from backstage and down to the ring. The rookies arrived out from last to first in order of their current rankings, with Darren Young coming out first and Daniel Bryan coming to the ring last.

Striker interviewed Michael Tarver about being disqualified in the keg carry. Striker asked David "A List" Otunga about going against John Cena last night on Raw. The crowd chanted "You tapped out" at Otunga. Striker asked Justin Gabriel about defeating David Otunga last week, and how he'd do against Cena. Gabriel said give him a match with Cena and we'll see.

Tonight's NXT competition involved connecting with the WWE Universe audience. Striker said as a WWE Superstar they'll be competing on a global level. Striker said tonight's test is of mentality, with the live crowd being the judges tonight. The winner of the competition will get their own entrance theme music, so they won't have to use their pro's music anymore. Striker then gave a topic to each rookie and 30 seconds to speak on the topic, with the audience getting to just originality and creativity. Striker reminded them "it's not a popularity contest", then added Daniel Bryan is ranked #1 and had him step up to a podium.

Daniel Bryan's topic was flowers, Wade Barrett's was blase and Justin Gabriel's topic was flowers. Heath Slater had to talk about cereal, and Otunga's topic was sleep. Skip Sheffield was given a topic of rainbows but didn't really mention them at all. Michael Tarver was given the topic of itchy, but he put the mic down and walked off from the podium. Finally, Darren Young got the topic of toothpaste and said a lot of the people in England don't use it. Tarver grabbed the mic and went off on Young and the crowd.

Unfortunately, it was a popularity contest despite what Striker said in the begining. Wade Barrett and Skip Sheffield had the biggest crowd votes. They had a talk-off. Skip had to talk about bubble gum and Barrett had the topic of wind. Barrett won the crowd over saying he'd be the first English WWE champion. Barrett now gets his own original theme music.

---

After commercial break there was a Raw Rebound. Highlights were shown of Randy Orton versus Batista. The match was back and forth, with Orton finally able to hit the RKO. As he was about to collect a pinfall win, Jack Swagger snuck into the ring and grabbed Orton to hit him with the Gutwrench Powerbomb. As Swagger backed up the ramp, John Cena rushed down to the ring, knocking Swagger down. Cena got in the ring to put the STF on Batista and kept it locked in until referees pulled him off.

Josh Matthews and Michael Cole talked about the various Extreme Rules matches so far including Cena vs Batista in a Last Man Standing match, a Street Fight between HHH and Sheamus, and the World Heavyweight match between Jack Swagger and Randy Orton.

Matthews and Cole looked at highlights from last Friday's Smackdown when CM Punk was going to shave off Darren Young's hair to induct him into StraightEdge Society. Young knocked Punk down, but Luke Gallows knocked Young down. Gallows held Young back as Punk readied the clippers, Rey Mysterio's music hit and Mysterio hit the ring to save Young.

Young was shown backstage with the Straightedge Society. CM Punk chastised Young for what happened last week, but also commended him for standing up for what he believes in. Young apologized, but Gallows kept giving his own comments. Punk asked Gallows if he thinks he can beat Young and Gallows raised his hand saying "I do". Punk told Young if he loses tonight he will have his head shaved.

---

Wade Barrett vs. Christian

Barrett fought in a rookie versus pro match. Last week he made the winning pin on Christian during a 8 man tag match, thanks to a little outside help from Jericho.

Jericho was at ringside for tonight's match as was Christian's rookie, Heath Slater. Jericho kept yelling at Matthews to say stuff on commentary about his rookie Wade Barrett, as Christian gained momentum. Carlito and Michael Tarver were shown watching the match on a flatscreen backstage. Barrett got up to avoid Christian's move off the ropes, then hit a big boot on him for a near fall.

Christian avoided Barrett in the corner then hit several moves to take him down. He set up for Killswitch, but Jericho got up to distract the ref. Barrett countered Killswitch and had Christian on his shoulders, but Heath Slater grabbed Barrett's leg from ringside. Christian slid off Barrett's shoulders and hit the Killswitch for the win.

Winner: Christian wins via pinfall over Wade Barrett.

Matthews and Cole discussed how David "A-List" Otunga is showing up everywhere and was recently on Access Hollywood. They showed highlight footage from his NXT promo video and Access appearance. Former Raw guest host Maria Menounous interviewed Otunga about being married to Jennifer Hudson and their son David Jr. Maria also talked to Jennifer Hudson about their child and their training. Maria told Otunga to master the staredown for in the ring.

Backstage, The Miz was chastising Daniel Bryan where he called him the Susan Boyle of the WWE with no star power. Miz compared him to Otunga who's a star. Miz said the only reason Bryan got #1 is because of Miz and how the pro's like him. Miz told Bryan if he listens to him maybe he'll somebody. Miz screamed at Bryan to go out there and actually win tonight so he can be a star.

---

Daniel Bryan vs. William Regal

Daniel Bryan's record is currently 0-7. Tonight he got to face pro William Regal in London. Skip Sheffield accompanied Regal to the ring. Matthews and Cole talked about how Bryan wears red trunks as an ode to his mentor William Regal. Early on, Bryan had the advantage with several impressive moves on Regal including forearm strikes and kicks in the corner. Regal gained control briefly, but Bryan jumped up on him and put a guillotine submission on him. Regal suplexed Bryan back then ran and caught with the Knee Trembler for the pinfall win.

Daniel Bryan is now 0-8. The Miz angrily got in the ring and clobbered Regal down from behind, knocking him out of the ring. The Miz helped Bryan to his feet then hit the Skullcrushing Finale on his rookie to leave him face down in the ring.

Winner: William Regal wins via pinfall over Daniel Bryan.

---

Darren Young vs. Luke Gallows

If Young wins this match, CM Punk said he'd forgive him for his transgression on Smackdown. However, if Gallows wins, then Young would have to get his head completely shaved.

During the main event match, Matt Hardy was shown backstage with his rook Justin Gabriel giving him some things to consider about the match they watched. In just under 3 minutes time, Darren Young surprised Gallows and Punk with a roll-up pin to defeat Gallows. Punk got in the ring mulling over what he just saw, then raised Young's hand victoriously. Punk, Serena and Darren Young left the ring together, leaving Luke Gallows behind in the ring looking sad.

Winner: Darren Young wins via pinfall over Luke Gallows.

---