I’m going to do something a little different with my review of the NXT season finale, because I’m going to make some notes and comments regarding my thoughts on certain topics.
Matt Striker introduces the eliminated rookies who are at ringside. He then introduces the WWE Pros. Finally, he brings out the 3 rookies who are still in the competition. Striker announces that there will be 2 Pro’s Polls tonight.
They introduce the first Rookie for Season 2, Husky Harris. Husky Harris is the grandson of BlackJack Mulligan and the son of Mike Rotunda (IRS). Third generation superstar, Harris will be paired up with second generation superstar, Cody Rhodes. I honestly like this pairing. I’m not sure how well they’ll get along because Harris seems to be a lot more modest than Rhodes, but I think pairing the third generation superstar with a second generation superstar who has been successful will give them a chance to truly develop the character.
John Morrison will be a Pro on Season 2 and his Rookie is Eli Cottonwood, a 7’1’ superstar. This guy has a physique similar to that of Khali, but from the video of him, it looks like he’s got more agility than Khali. I think that if he truly has agility, a guy of his size could definitely succeed in the WWE. He also seems to have an aggressive attitude, which could put him at odds with his Pro.
Justin Gabriel vs. David Otunga vs. Wade Barrett in a Triple Threat Elimination match is next. Barrett and Gabriel go at it. Gabriel ducks an attack and Barrett takes a punch from Otunga. Otunga kicks Barrett and he rolls out of the ring. Gabriel rolls up Otunga for a 1 count. Gabriel kicks Barrett to the outside, but runs into a punch from Otunga. Otunga sends Gabriel into the corner and hits a clothesline. Otunga hits another clothesline and covers for 2. Barrett comes back in with a kick to Otunga and tosses Gabriel out of the ring. Barrett backs Otunga into the corner and takes some shots at him. Barrett knocks Gabriel off the apron and goes back to Otunga. Barrett goes for a suplex, but Gabriel comes in with a sunset flip for a 2 count on Barrett. Otunga sends Barrett out of the ring and goes after Gabriel. Otunga sends Gabriel out of the ring onto Barrett. Otunga follows and brings Gabriel back into the ring for a 2 count. Otunga hits a powerslam, but gets hung up on the ropes by Barrett. Gabriel kicks Barrett of the apron and hits the 450 Splash on Otunga. Barrett pulls Gabriel out of the ring and pins Otunga. Back from break, Barrett is controlling Gabriel in the ring. Barrett locks in an abdominal stretch. Gabriel fights back, but Barrett takes him down and hits an elbow drop. Gabriel avoids the attack in the corner and brings the kicks to Barrett. Gabriel hits his spinning kick and follows up with the rolling elbow. Gabriel hits a cross body in the corner and follows up with a springboard cross body for a 2 count. Barrett fights back and goes for his finisher, but Gabriel rolls him up for 2. Gabriel hits an STO and goes up top. He goes for the 450 Splash, but Barrett gets his knees up. Barrett rolls Gabriel into a small package for the 3 count and the win.
Move of the Match: This has to go to the 450 Splash on Otunga.
Striker is up with the Pros and tells them it is time for the first Pro’s Poll.
MVP will be a Pro for season 2. His rookie is Percy Watson. Percy Watson is quite energetic and slightly over the top. According to Michael Cole, Watson is also a self professed “ladies man.” I think there’s the potential for MVP and Watson to get along if Watson is willing to work hard.
Zack Ryder is also a Pro for season 2. Ryder’s rookie is Titus O’Neil. O’Neil definitely seems to be the soft spoken, hard hitting type. He definitely looks like he has the potential to be a superstar similar to Bobby Lashley and Monty Brown. His being so soft spoken may cause friction between him and Ryder.
Matt Striker asks Daniel Bryan who should win. He says David Otunga can’t wrestle and Justin Gabriel can’t talk, so Wade Barrett should win. Striker asks Sheffield and he says he doesn’t care who wins. Darren Young also picks Wade Barrett. Heath Slater says Wade Barrett proved tonight that he deserves to win. The first Pro’s Poll has Barrett first, Otunga second, and Gabriel third, so Justin Gabriel is eliminated. Gabriel says he will keep coming back until he makes it in this company, and someday he will be the World Champion. Hardy meets Gabriel on the ramp and says that Gabriel is a lot like him. He’s sure Gabriel will eventually make it because like him, Gabriel will not die.
Team Lay-Cool will be Pros on Season 2 of NXT. Their Rookie is Kaval. Kaval is better known as Low Ki in the independents, or Senshi in TNA. A former ROH Champion, TNA X Division Champion, and NWA TNA Tag Team Champion, Kaval can definitely shine in WWE. He also brings the martial arts style along with his technical skill which makes him different from a lot of competitors.
Mark Henry will be on next season, paired up with Rookie, Lucky Cannon. We don’t know too much about Lucky Cannon. He looks like he could have some promise. Michael Cole says Lucky has an interesting story we’ll want to hear, so I’ll be waiting to see what his story is.
Wade Barrett and David Otunga are in the ring. Striker says that they will have 60 seconds to tell the other Rookie why they should be eliminated.
David Otunga takes the mic. He says that Barrett is ugly. He says that Barrett doesn’t intimidate anybody. Otunga says he has a “Cover shot” face and Barrett does not. Otunga says Barrett doesn’t have the “It” factor.
Barrett takes the mic. He says his nose is crooked because it was once broken. He says that Otunga has a great physique, but doesn’t have the first clue how to use it. Barrett says that if you add 2 letters in front of the “It” factor, you’ll have a good idea of what he thinks of Otunga.
Kofi Kingston is a season 2 Pro and his rookie is the son of WWE Hall of Famer, Mr. Perfect. His rookie is Michael McGillicutty. McGillicutty seems to have the attitude, like many of the other second and third generation WWE superstars, that he doesn’t have to earn his spot because he comes from a wrestling legacy. This will likely cause him to have issues with Kofi.
They announce that in Season 2, the Pros will only have a 50 percent say in who wins the competition. The other 50 percent of the vote will go to the WWE Universe. Matt Striker is in the ring with Otunga and Barrett.
Striker is interrupted by the Miz. Miz announces that he will be back as a pro for season 2. Miz says that he won’t be stuck with an “egotistical, arrogant loser” like Daniel Bryan. Miz introduces his rookie, Alex Riley. Alex Riley’s personality really reminds me of the Miz and I think they should get along well.
They prepare to reveal the Pro’s Poll. Regal congratulates Jericho. Truth says Jericho’s man hasn’t won anything yet. The rookies all start to argue. Punk says, “I’ve heard and seen enough of everything on NXT” and walks out. Striker finally cuts the Pro’s off so he can reveal the results of the Pro’s Poll. Barrett is first and therefore the winner of the first season of NXT. Otunga looks disappointed while Barrett celebrates. Striker asks Otunga about his thoughts. Otunga says he has to be being punked, but he knows that whether he wins or not, he is the breakout star. Barrett takes the microphone and says that he said from the start he would win and he was right. Barrett warns the Pro’s that this is the era of Wade Barrett. Barrett says he will be the World Champion. I like Barrett as the winner of this season. I think he has the potential to be a big name superstar if he is used correctly.
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