The SmarK Rant for NXT – 09.12.12

The SmarK Rant for NXT – 09.12.12

The FCW doc made me want to go back and pick up the thread with the old NXT stuff again, and these days I think we all just need a light and fluffy show to discuss.

At this point we’re a couple of weeks removed from Seth Rollins winning the NXT title in a tournament final over Jinder Mahal and the show was still mostly just aired in Florida and some international markets.

Taped from Orlando, FL

Your hosts are William Regal & Bryon Saxton

Kenneth Cameron v. Jey Uso

This stems from the main event of the previous week where the Ascension faced the Usos.  So for those keeping track, Kenneth Cameron is the guy who is currently known as Thomas Latimer on NWA Powerrr.  Uso chases him out of the ring to start, but misses a charge in the corner and Cameron chokes him out on the ropes to take over.  Cameron with a chinlock, but Uso fights out, so Cameron hiptosses him into the turnbuckles for a dangerous bump that gets two.  Cameron slugs away on the mat for two, but misses an elbow and Uso fights back until Conor O’Brien trips him up.  Cameron gets a suplex for two off that.  Uso comes back with a superkick to finish at 5:30, however.  This was thoroughly OK.  **

Meanwhile, Rick Viktor barges into Dusty Rhodes’s office and complains that he wants a title match with Seth Rollins, but Dusty doesn’t just give away title matches!

Big E Langston v. Chad Baxter

Funny to see wacky pancake purveyor Big E playing the super-intense weightlifting heel at this point.  Not familiar with Chad Baxter but I doubt he amounted to anything.  Big E pounds him down and blocks a sunset flip with his freakish strength, then presses him into the backbreaker like Nikolai Volkoff used to do.  On a personal note, Regal appreciates watching Big E torture this geek.  Big Ending finishes at 1:55, and then E does it again and demands a five count this time.  Regal thinks this is delightful!  Sadly that whole five count gag got lost once E made it to the main roster.  And then after Big E does his victory promo, he turns around hits the jobber with a THIRD Big Ending, spurned on the crowd chanting “One more time”.  So he got a total of a 13 count on the guy, for those keeping track.

Meanwhile, Kassius Ohno announces he’s having the first ever sparring session next week, with Ricky Steamboat invited.

Meanwhile, everyone wants to know WHERE’S TRENT?  Turns out he was sitting in a broom closet and he returns next week. This was pretty wacky.

Garrett Dylan v. Damien Sandow

Dylan is a doing a blatant Stan Hansen impression and I guess he’s the son of Kris Kristofferson in real life.  Wonder why he washed out?  Apparently he’s still hanging around various indies, too.  Dylan pounds on Sandow in the corner, but Damien hits him with shoulderblocks and throws him down to take over.  Dylan comes back with a Hansen lariat for two, but Sandow hits the legsweep and drops an elbow on him to set up a neckbreaker for the pin at 2:28.  Dylan looked interesting here, I’m surprised they never pushed him.

Meanwhile, Seth Rollins is doing a promo that is rudely interrupted by Rick Viktor’s SLAP.  Apparently them’s fighting words.

RAW REWIND:  John Cena and CM Punk jibber jabber to build up yet another title match between them at Night of Champions 2012, a show I never actually watched.

Meanwhile, Seth Rollins goes to tattle on Viktor, and he demands a match from Dusty OR ELSE.  Apparently the only one who will regret signing the match is RICK VIKTOR.

Tyson Kidd v. Michael McGillicutty

Saxton’s WWE speak for Michael: “An intense third generation athlete who loves an environment of chaos”.  What does that even MEAN?  Apparently the winner of this match moves up the ladder for the coveted championship opportunity.  Anyway, I’m glad he changed his name to Curtis Axel because it’s way easier to spell.  They trade armbar attempts on the mat and Michael goes to the ropes to escape.  Kidd flips out of a wristlock and takes him down with his own, then dropkicks him to the floor.  Back in, McGillicutty slugs away and chokes him out in the corner.  Kidd heads to the apron, but Michael brings him back in with a neckbreaker and we take a break.  Back with a suplex from McGillicutty for two.  He grounds Kidd with a chinlock, but Tyson comes back with a sunset flip for two.  McGillicutty uses the dreaded CLUBBING BLOW for two as the crowd sarcastically chants along with his punches.  A whip to the corner gets two.  They fight on the apron and Kidd kicks him back into the ring and makes the comeback with a low dropkick for two.  He dumps McGillicutty and follows with a PK from the apron, and back in for a springboard elbow that misses.  The MCGILLICUTTYPLEX gets two.  Michael goes up and gets crotched (“Yes.  He ruptured his custard,” notes Regal dryly) and Kidd gets two.  Kidd misses an enzuigiri and McGillicutty finishes with a neckbreaker at 11:21.  Can’t wait to see THAT title match.  **1/2

Pretty dull show this week with a weird mix of guys on their way up and guys on their way back down from the main roster.  We don’t really get to the NXT we’re more familiar with until 2013, unfortunately.