NXT's "Genesis" Angle More Similar to Career Genocide As Showclosing Angle Bombs

In what was supposed to be the next installment of an upstart stable inspired by WWE NXT, building off any residual momentum that may or may not be left from the Nexus stable, the WWE rookies more than stubbed their proverbial toes as WWE NXT: Season 2 went out with a whimper. 

What could have been a promising (yet tired) concept played out like a minor league cluster you-know-what on the WWE's minor league show. 

From start to finish, the booking of the "Genesis" angle was handled poorly as Michael McGillicutty cut the second of two boring, uninspiring promos that further exposed the otherwise talented prospect as a one-dimensional dud of a character lacking any semblance of star-power. 

Perhaps WWE NXT really is a shoot as the powers that be may have been banking on Alex Riley cutting the "Genesis" promo to set up what would be a show closing brawl involving the seven previously eliminated rookies. 

But the cringe-worthy promo executed (the operative word being executed) by the third generation superstar, who was booked as the leader of the group after coming in second place to NXT winner Kaval, only did further damage to an angle that was doomed from the start.

It was as if the heavily praised RAW angle, to set up the original Nexus stable, got wasted, was involved in a sloppy brawl with the town drunk, and barely won.

However, even in victory, it still lost. 

The NXT Genesis stable was set up as a gang of disgruntled rookies who were frustrated with their shortcomings in the competition and took out their frustrations on NXT winner Kaval and the WWE pros. 

Not only have we seen this movie before, we're still watching it in the form of the aforementioned Nexus stable. 

What the WWE did so brilliantly to keep the mostly green Nexus stable strong was protect the rookies in Paul Heyman fashion by hiding their negatives and exemplifying their positives.  Members of the Nexus stable were featured in touch-and-go situations as they would hit their respective high impact finishers and do little to nothing else.  This less is more approach—if you will—proved to be effective. 

However, with the Genesis angle, instead of mirroring everything they did correctly with the Nexus, the WWE did the complete opposite as no rookie—in a stable even greener than the first—was protected.

Titus O'Neil, who had no business in that ring at this point in his development, no-sold an unnecessary "Drive By" kick by MVP.  MVP didn't seem to take kindly to this as he proceeded to throw Titus out of the ring in a sloppy spot that was a microcosm of the entire brawl. 

Both of Husky Harris' signature maneuvers looked shaky.  Harris' modified sidewalk slam followed by a dangerous looking running Senton, that saw all his weight land directly on Kaval, came off as awkward even to the most casual of fan. 

All the rookies were letting it all hang loose in the ring as the pros tried desperately to keep the chaotic scene under control to no avail.  In fact, the Genesis stable really only hung itself in this one. 

To make matters worse, Alex Riley, who has received nothing but praise from pro wrestling analysts (myself included), delivered the final nail in the coffin to this angle when he attacked what was supposed to be his own stable member in Percy Watson.

Watson did not do Riley nor the angle any favors by reappearing in the ring, after inexplicably taking Alex Riley's finisher, to celebrate with his stable members a, um, job...well...done. 

What exactly were they celebrating?

Alex Riley was somewhat exposed in last week's rookie trivia challenge as someone who did not exactly grow up watching pro wrestling (and there's nothing wrong with that) when he placed dead last in the contest.  

However, it seems that Riley doesn't take the time out of his day to watch current WWE programing as he would know who was on his side if he did. 

Perhaps whatever booker told A-Ry to "work over the black guy" should have been more specific.  There are five of us on this show, you know?  And they tell me we all look alike.  Say it loud...

Even the announcing was suspect. Snstead of turning their headsets off to sell the seriousness of a brawl of this nature, Michael Cole and Josh Matthews continued to call the action thus contributing a cheesy, cheap aspect to this hot (shot) mess.

Doing another NXT inspired stable was already destined to face roadblocks.  It was to inevitably be received as a rehash of something we literally just saw, and are still seeing. 

However unfavorable booking and mental lapses further hindered this angle as the rookie members of the upstart Genesis stable looked like, well, rookies. 

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