NXT opens with Striker bringing the Pros out to the stage. Striker asks each of them what they are looking for in the rookies.
Miz: Looking for someone who can increase the size of the WWE’s audience.
William Regal: Agrees with Miz, but says he is also looking for adaptability.
CM Punk: Doesn’t feel that the people deserve to hear what he looks for in the rookies.
Christian: Wants someone who will show him the “IT” factor.
Matt Hardy: They have to have the complete package, but also must be able to survive in the WWE Locker Room.
Chris Jericho: Looking for the rookie who will make the fans want to buy tickets to the shows.
The first match is Darren Young taking on Wade Barrett. Barrett and Young trade blows with Young showing a lot of aggression. Barrett rolls out of the ring and when Young goes after him, Barrett clips his leg and he lands hard on the apron. Barrett slams Young into the apron and brings him back into the ring. Barrett nails Young with a big boot for a 2 count. Bow and Arrow Hold from Barrett. Young fights out, but Barrett slams him to the mat. Barrett misses an elbow drop on Young, and Young follows up with a back elbow and a couple of big right hands. Young hits a flying forearm shot. He nails Barrett with an inverted atomic drop and follows up with another right hand. Young hits a scoop slam for a 2 count. Barrett fights back with a jawbreaker, but runs into another big right hand. Young looks for the Full Nelson Flapjack, but Barrett fights out and picks Young up for the Fireman’s Carry Slam. Young uses the ring ropes to escape and looks for a tornado DDT, but Barrett uses his power to put Young on the apron. Young fights back and hangs Barrett up on the top rope. Young goes up top, but Barrett hangs him up on the ropes. Barrett nails Young with a kick and picks Young up on his shoulders. Barrett hits the Fireman’s Carry Slam and covers for 3.
Move of the Match: There were a handful of notable moves. Young really brought it in this match, but I’d give the move of the match to Barrett’s big boot from early on.
The pros give their thoughts on David Otunga. The general consensus is that Otunga has star quality, but doesn’t have as much in ring ability as the others and is only here because he is engaged to Jennifer Hudson. They talk about him improving his skills and if he can do that, they believe he can win NXT.
Matt Striker is in the ring with Michael Tarver and Daniel Bryan. Striker asks them about their thoughts on their eliminations. Tarver calls WWE Management easily intimidated pencil pushers. He says they were threatened by him and that is why he was eliminated. Striker asks about Tarver’s attitude on NXT and Tarver says he was trying to stand out. Striker asks Bryan about his elimination. Bryan says when he came to WWE he heard about the politics. Bryan says they didn’t like him because he was a self made man. Striker asks about Bryan eliminating himself with his comments. Bryan calls out the pros telling them that they all know how good he is. He says Miz doesn’t want to admit it because Bryan is better than him. Miz gets mad and asks Bryan what he has done. Bryan tells Miz that if he thinks he’s so good, he should come to the ring and prove it. Striker stops him telling him he’s not able to wrestle anymore. Bryan tells Striker that one thing he doesn’t miss is Striker interrupting him. Bryan says there is one person who refuses to acknowledge how good he is. Bryan calls Michael Cole a parrot and says that Cole has been talking down about Bryan because Vince McMahon is in Cole’s ear telling him to. Bryan says he has more personality in his little finger than Cole has in his whole being and that Cole is a poor man’s replacement for Jim Ross. Bryan attacks Cole and Striker holds him back. 2 referees come out and take Bryan out of the arena. Back from break, Cole says Bryan should be arrested.
Next is Justin Gabriel vs. Heath Slater. Gabriel and Slater hook up. Gabriel shoots Slater off, but gets caught with a shoulder block. Gabriel tries to hit Slater with a flying attack, but Slater counters with an inverted atomic drop and a flying clothesline. Gabriel counters another attack with an arm drag. Meanwhile, Michael Cole leaves saying he needs to take care of the Daniel Bryan situation before he can focus. Back at ringside, Slater and Justin Gabriel are fighting by the announce table. They show that Gabriel tried to spring onto Slater, but Slater answered with a kick to the ribs. Back in the ring, Slater gets a 2 count. Slater goes to a grounded abdominal stretch. Gabriel kicks his way out, but gets caught with a series of punches. Gabriel rolls over Slater’s back and follows up with a spinning kick. Gabriel goes after Slater again, but Slater counters a move into a flapjack and covers for 2. Gabriel fights out of the corner with a kick, but gets caught with a spinebuster. Gabriel fights back with a series of kicks. He goes after Slater in the corner, but Slater elevates him to the apron. Gabriel nails a roundhouse kick to Slater from the apron. He goes up top and hits the 450 splash for the 3 count.
Move of the Match: There were a handful of great moves in this match, but this has to go to the 450 Splash.
After the match, Gabriel helps Slater to his feet and Christian and Slater congratulate Gabriel on his win.
Skip Sheffield is in the back to talk about being eliminated. Sheffield says the Pros viewed him as a threat. He says they took him out because he was the biggest threat to the Pros.
Michael Cole is back at ringside. They run down the matches for Over the Limit.
We get Pro Comments on Darren Young who was next to last in the Pro’s Poll last week. Some of the Pros say that it doesn’t help him having to deal with Punk as a mentor. The Pros say there’s something about him they like, but they haven’t seen much of it yet.
The Pros will now convene for the Pros Poll and after the break, someone will be eliminated. Back from break, they reveal the new Pros Poll.
1. Wade Barrett
2. David Otunga
3. Heath Slater
Either Darren Young or Justin Gabriel is at the bottom of the poll and will be eliminated. Gabriel is 4th and Young is 5th, so Young is eliminated. Striker tells Young to tell the Pros what he thinks of their decision. Young thanks the fans. He says he respects the pros. Young says he’s not going to cry, but he wants to say “thank you.” Young says this is not the last we’ll see of Darren Young and leaves.
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