I assumed NXT would’ve been an hour of corny skits where guys like Bryan Danielson would have to act like they just started wrestling a few months ago and then eat pasta and milk and do push-ups until they puke. Then by the end of the run, Bryan would look like a complete rube, and some bodybuilder would be crowned the next “WWE Superstar” and be given a huge push on RAW, before they fall flat and are cut within a year.
Instead we’re getting an entire show seemingly designed as a vehicle for Bryan Danielson, and I can hardly believe it. He is the ultimate representation of what WWE has traditionally “hated”. He’s short, uncharismatic, average looking, small in stature, works a modern strong style, and has an incredible regional following outside of the WWE. And instead of the usual “treatment” guys like him get, he’s getting the push that dozens of guys should’ve been getting for years. People like CM Punk, Gail Kim, Christian Cage, Vader, Cactus Jack, and countless others who were forced to start (over) at the “bottom” to be completely re-booted, either to fail or to be completely transformed from what they were before WWE.
Not only did Bryan get a strong entry angle being matched “against” the Miz, but he got air time to get himself over on Miz, and was given a “ROH Dream Match” main event with Chris Jericho and looked great in the process. Bryan has a unique charisma that only shines while wrestling, and the longer his match goes, the more charismatic he becomes. Especially after that rib shot he took and kept on going hard, the locker room must be buzzing about him.
My only question is, how the Hell did this happen? Was Vince visited by the ghosts of Lou Thesz, Johnny Valentine, and Bruiser Brody one night, or did I wake up in an alternate universe?
I also like the half-shoot aspect of the announcers, with Michael Cole & Stryker being clueless and almost defiant about Bryan, but Josh Matthews tells the audience how Bryan is actually really good. (which is 100% essential.) We should all hope Bryan gets over in the WWE, because if he doesn’t, I don’t think we’ll ever see a push like this in WWE ever again.
I like the new camera angles, just for the fact that it’s something different from what Kevin Dunn has been doing the past 25 years. The only thing Otunga has going for him is his wife, and I don’t see much of a future for him. Tarver comes across great in the pre-tape interview, but loses all of his charisma in the ring. And Darren Young, with a different haircut and lighter skin, looks exactly like John Cena.
This is easily the best thing WWE has done in a very, very long time, and I don’t understand how the same people that created ECW on Syfy, Tough Enough, Brawl for All, the Punjabi Prison match, the Diva Search, XFL, WBF, and Cyber Sunday created NXT.
-----Steve Te Tai. Inside MMA Correspondant.
NXT was excellently surreal. It was a reality show (inherently scripted) pretending to be real in a scripted world. I think Bryan had a good showing. He did ok verbally sparring with Miz and had a good showing against Jericho. I am glad he was given as much as he did, legitimately having the world champ in a close submission. Otunga took significantly less damage from another rookie than Jericho took from Bryan. The commentating by Michael Cole was very odd…not the kind of message your top straight man should be sending. Hopefully, this leads to the Miz putting Bryan over, or it will be the classic WWE rookie build where they look strong and then have their legs cut out in a “real” showing.
Otunga looked strong, but they gave him the big video package and squash. I’m not quite sure how he’s much different from the original MVP aside from the legit connections, but in the pro wrestling storyline world, what’s the difference?
Darren Young has two paths – He can rebel against CM Punk and do the face rookie-heel mentor conflict that will be done by others and much better by Bryan/Miz. OR, he can embrace StraightEdge, shave his head and make an impact as a heel. That transition would be great.
Michael Bargas
Well I just got through watching the first installment of WWE NXT. I have to say I was looking forward to it and the idea of it, but in execution wasn't so thrilled with it. First and foremost get Michael Cole the hell off of this show. Why does he need to be on the show? The whole show I just kept thinking why can't Josh Matthews just strangle him and be done with it. Granted Cole is doing with Vince tells him to do, but Cole came off as a complete ass in everything that he said. Matthews should be the main announcer on this show. Secondly of all the rookies they featured only Daniel Bryan came off as a babyface. All of the other rookies came off as heels (I am assuming they weren't all supposed to be heels). Also I thought this was supposed to be a new concept. It seemed like just another WWE show, like Superstars. I thought they would do something different than just having the same old booking of regular matches including making their new guys look like duds right off the bat. I guess I was hoping for more of a Tough Enough show and less of just a regular WWE style show complete with the same storylines and such. I mean why is the World Champion wrestling on this show? Granted Jericho vs. Bryan was the best thing on the show and Bryan came off as a star, but the show as a whole didn't make a lot of sense to me. They could have just kept ECW and every so often added one of these new guys in to the mix since they are booking them the same way like that Darren Young losing in a few seconds. Of the guys featured I thought Slater was obnoxious and should be a heel for sure. I think Otunga also a heel. Darren Young, well I don't know what he should be if anything. Wade Barrett seems perfectly suited for hooking up with Regal as his mentor and I thought he seemed like he would fit in with WWE, but not sure about his in-ring skills since he didn't compete. Daniel Bryan was the star of the show and they probably could push a Bryan vs. Miz match for WrestleMania if they wanted to, but maybe it's too soon, since they are supposed to be competing for a Raw contract. We'll see how long this lasts before Vince changes mind again. Robb Block
Dave, I know sometimes people can say things they don't really mean when they are fired up about the opponet, but the bottom line was I saw the 2 fights between Frank and Brock. Brock got caught by Frank the first time, and with little experience, Frank showed him what could happen. The 2nd time, Brock did his homework and didn't make any mistakes. He outclassed Frank and Frank should be a humble man and let that go. But instead he chose to take it very, very personal, and after he said he would "break brock's neck" I lost respect for the man. If Frank can get past Carwin, and that's a big IF, then I hope Brock takes him down and makes him submit. Brock went through a very, very tough ordeal this past year, and Frank should have thought better when he said that because Frank himself went through a tough ordeal getting into a tough autmobile accident. He should know what Brock went through, not knowing if he could fight again. But he went the coward way and instead said something so stupid, that words can't describe it. I say that Carwin takes him out in the 2nd round of that fight, and then Frank can really look dumb. Kevin Gillman Canton, Ohio
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