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Punk was the surprise commentator tonight on NXT. He definitely brought life to the show, with his funny one liners. He also said he’d be back next week for NXT, so be sure to watch!!
Hover below to read:
* CM Punk is with Josh Mathews on commentary as Michael Cole “quit” the show last week. There was a major seating snafu at ringside which delayed things.
* CM Punk is wearing a brown sports coat with his ring gear. They air a vignette for Aksana.
* All of the Rookies come out for a “Talk the Talk” challenge. Jamie’s topic is teeth. The segment is a filler where they all cut promos. Cole and Punk stand up and mock each Rookie when they finish.
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The pyros hit and we’re live in the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Amazingly, the ring apron is changed and we’re off. Matt Striker opens the show in the ring. He introduces the five eliminated Rookies – Michael Tarver, Daniel Bryan, Skip Sheffield, Darren Young and Heat Slater sitting ringside in street clothes. Striker calls out the WWE Pros – Chris Jericho, The Miz, Matt Hardy, WWE United States Champion R-Truth, William Regal, Christian and CM Punk (with mask).
Striker then introduces the three NXT finalists. Ranked #1 Wade Barrett, "A List" David Otunga (ranked #2) and Justin Gabriel (ranked #3). The Pros sit in chairs at the top of the ramp while the three finalists join Striker in the ring in their street clothes.
Striker congratulates the three of them for making it this far. He says they have cultivated a dream for the past 15 weeks. He says two will go home but only one will become the next breakout star and get a title match live on pay-per-view. Striker says since there are only three left there will be two Pros polls tonight. Essentially what that means, they will be double scrutinized by the Pros. It’s announced they’ll face off in a triple threat match up next.
Chris Jericho celebrates with Barrett in the ring. We got to the top of the ramp where Matt Striker instructs the Pros to cast their first poll of the show. While they huddle, we go to Mathews and Cole. Time for another introduction.
Pro’s Poll #2 Results
Before the results are read, William Regal starts to congratulate Chris Jericho. He then congratulates Barrett for being an Englishmen. R-Truth cuts him off then gets in his face. Regal says he’s been stuck on this show for 15 weeks without a live microphone and tells someone to do something. He takes off his coat and challenges Truth. Truth does a weird, creepy hip thrust. Jericho tells him to sit down he hasn’t won a fight in a year. CM Punk says he’s seen enough of everything NXT and goes to the back.
Source: pwmania.com
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Wade Barrett def. Darren Young
With his encouraging WWE Pro, Chris Jericho, at ringside, Wade Barrett dominated fellow NXT Rookie, Darren Young. The British bareknuckle brawler heeded Jericho’s advice and defeated Young with his devastating finisher, while The South Beach Party Boy received no support from his WWE Pro, CM Punk, who watched the match from the stage. Barrett’s record increased to 7-4, while Young’s dropped to the same – 7-4.
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CM Punk confronts Darren Young
During last week’s Seal the Deal Challenge, NXT Rookie Darren Young tried to convince the WWE Universe to purchase WWE merchandise so he’d be able to face his own WWE Pro, CM Punk. But Young’s bold words weren’t what Punk and the Straight Edge Society wanted to hear.
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CM Punk talks about the rookies
We have a video package for Michael Tarver with the pro’s comments. Punk says that Tarver runs the spectrum where some see a lot. Punk says that Tarver has been saddled with a less than stellar pro.
It is time for comments about Justin Gabriel. Punk says that Gabriel’s biggest detriment is his pro but Hardy can teach him how to go on the internet and Twitter.
We go to commercial and it is time for comments about Daniel Bryan. Punk says that Bryan is right to be number one.
Source: pwinsider.com
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Darren Young def. Skip Sheffield and Michael Tarver
Tired of being overlooked by the WWE Pros and the WWE Universe, NXT Rookie Michael Tarver proclaimed himself a “bulldog off the leash” and offered an open challenge to anyone in the WWE NXT locker room. This came after an angry Tarver refused to compete in the weekly NXT Rookie Challenge, and “dance on a balloon like a little monkey for your entertainment.”
Hoping to impress his WWE Pro, William Regal, who was stuck in Europe due to the Icelandic volcano eruption, NXT Rookie Skip Sheffield accepted the dare. Then, WWE Pro CM Punk offered his NXT Rookie, Darren Young, who earned a huge victory over Luke Gallows last week.
Clearly still troubled by his loss to Young, the Straight Edge Society’s Luke Gallows tried to interfere in the Triple Threat Match. His efforts to sabotage Young backfired, as the South Beach party boy pinned Tarver. With the victory, Young’s record increased to 6-2 – the highest of any NXT Rookie after week nine, while Sheffield’s dropped to 0-5 and Tarver’s fell to 0-6.
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NXT Rookie Darren Young def. Luke Gallows
In one of the biggest matches of his NXT Rookie career, Darren Young defeated Luke Gallows, not only proving his worth to his WWE Pro, CM Punk, but also saving his hair.
Earlier, Young apologized to Punk for his actions on SmackDown, and pleaded with him not to cut his hair. While Punk told Young he thought he showed guts, Straight Edge Society disciple Gallows took offense. Punk ordered his NXT Rookie to face the menacing Gallows with his hair on the line. When it mattered most, Young delivered, impressing Punk and the WWE Universe by pinning Gallows. Afterward, Punk raised Young’s hand in victory as a stunned Gallows looked on.
The South Beach party boy proved he could defeat a WWE Superstar on his own, without compromising his own wild personality and style. With the victory, Young’s record improved to 5-2.
NXT Rookie Darren Young was interviewed by WWE.com. Young’s Pro, CM Punk, was mentioned a few times.
WWE.com: You’ve had a few days to think about the results of the Pros’ Poll. What are your thoughts now about ranking 8th?
YOUNG: When I was out there in front of the WWE Universe, I was quite surprised when I was ranked No. 8 out of all the Rookies. All of the other Rookies, along with me, are talented. But I hope the WWE Universe realizes my situation, that I haven’t been myself lately. I’m kind of torn between wanting to be saved by Punk and just doing my own thing, being the South Beach party boy. Which will get me to the top? I was shocked, though, when I found out I was No. 8 among the Pros.
WWE.com: How do you plan to prove to the WWE Pros that you should move up in the Rookie rankings?
YOUNG: I think it’s about time for just myself – Darren Young – to create my own buzz, you know, so in the next few weeks, who knows what’s going to happen? It’s up in the air.
I’ve talked to other WWE Pros, just to get their opinion on the entire situation. They pretty much say that the decision is up to me, that if I want to succeed and be a WWE Superstar, I might have to turn Straight Edge. But a part of me wants to do my own thing. I might just have to learn the hard way. That may mean not turning Straight Edge, continuing to party, promoting parties, and eventually entertaining the WWE Universe my own way.
Right now I’m limited. I haven’t been able to really get in front of the WWE Universe and do my own thing. Because my mentor is Punk, and I come out to his music, the Darren Young energy isn’t really there.
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R-Truth, Matt Hardy, CM Punk & Wade Barrett def. Christian, Carlito, William Regal & The Miz
The WWE Pros from Raw and SmackDown battled each other in an Eight-Man Tag Team Match on WWE NXT this week. But the SmackDown Pros were down a Superstar, as World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho was unable to compete after being hit with Edge’s devastating Spear off the announce table and into the barricade at WrestleMania. Jericho’s Rookie, Wade Barrett, stepped in, and proved to be plenty of competition for the Pros. After an assist by Jericho that the WWE official didn’t see, Barrett pinned Christian, upping his record to 3-2.
