WWE News: The NXT Report January 26, 2011

It’s Tuesday night, “Wild and Young” by American Bang is blasting and the arena is covered in yellow, which can only mean one thing: it’s time for NXT!

We start out with Matt Striker, as usual, and the remaining four rookies in the ring with him. He lets us know the season is heating up and mentions the prize—a shot at the Tag Team Championships.

Tonight, there will be a fatal-four-way match between the remaining rookies, and the winner gets the opportunity to switch pros.

Pretty big, huh?

Striker then tells us that last week, there was a violation of the rules on Derrick Bateman’s part. We cut to some black and white security footage which shows Daniel Bryan taping up his wrists.

Bateman jumps into the shot from out of seemingly nowhere, dressed entirely in black and shares the usual hilarious banter with his pro, the American Dragon. He hands him a sheet of paper which reads “Tulsa, Oklahoma; Steve Blackman and Chicks and America” which evidently helped the pair win the “How Well Do You Know Your Pro” challenge last week.

Busted.

They discuss whether or not they are cheating, to which Bateman responds “Does it even matter?  Dude, it’s NXT. Are there rules?!”

I actually laughed out loud at the reaction, where Daniel Bryan exclaims that the man in black cannot possibly be Bateman, as he doesn’t wear face paint. It has to be the Ultimate Warrior!

Their chemistry is incredible. I really hope the pair become a tag team, whether Bateman wins the competition or not. Something about the rookie really brings out the best in Bryan.

“Carson Palmer is more popular than you right now.” How on earth can King and Michael Cole hate Striker? This guy is hilarious!

The next challenge is named “Out Think the Fink”, in which the rookies have 30 seconds to answer their questions.

And here comes Howard Finkel! On NXT?!

This is crazy!

He shakes hands with everyone in the ring and Striker tells the rookies how much he hopes they appreciate exactly who they are standing with.

And out rings the famous voice of The Finkel.

First Challenge: “Out Think The Fink”

Striker asks him a list of questions, and he only answers two correctly.

Johnny Curtis is the first rookie to compete. He gets one question right.

Bateman is next, but only after some cheap popping. One question.

“Striker, you’re too slow!”

Byron Saxton gets one question right. Wow, haha.

Brodus has to beat one to win. He gets one.

The rookies get a four-way tie with one point, which means no one can out think the Fink!

Winner: None

This challenge was mostly on par with the ones we’ve seen in the past. Entertaining but fairly slow at times.

When we come back, Ted DiBiase, accompanied by his rookie Brodus Clay and his gorgeous girlfriend Maryse is in the ring preparing for a match with Raw’s resident ladies' man, Daniel Bryan.

Footage is shown from his unbelievably funny segment on Raw with Gail Kim and The Bella Twins.

First Match: Daniel Bryan vs. Ted DiBiase

The beginning of the match is mat-based, with the two men exchanging some headlocks and arm wrenches. Outside, Maryse is canoodling with Josh Matthews and Todd Grisham at the announce table. She turns away from the ring completely and autographs a sheet of paper for Matthews, making sure to kiss it before turning her attention back to the match.

Daniel Bryan takes control, working on the arms and back of the (un)Fortunate Son, Ted DiBiase.

Just as DiBiase gains a little control, Bryan switches the roles again and DiBiase ends up rolling out of the ring in frustration.

After a break, we find DiBiase in the corner being kicked in the face by Bryan. He gets tossed to the opposite corner, but gains the upper-hand when Bryan launches himself into the corner and misses.

“You know he’s a vegan right? Don’t clap for him; let him lose on his own!”

Am I the only one who loves this open mic thing on NXT? Especially in Dolph Ziggler’s case, this season has given me a whole new appreciation of him. For anyone that thinks he isn’t charismatic or a good mic worker, watch an episode or two of NXT, Season Four.

Ted DiBiase has a great dropkick.

R Truth steps up on the stage and trades verbal blows with Ziggler, before getting “Dan-iel Bry-an” chants going. Ziggler chimes in at the end of every “Dan-iel Bry-an” with a hearty “Sucks”.

The match spills to the outside, where DiBiase continues working on Bryan’s back. He then rams his face into the apron and the announce table and rolls back into the ring while the referee begins the ten-count.

Bryan gets back up in little time and throws some uppercuts. He ends up on the mat after a strong clothesline.

“Maybe if he didn’t just eat plants, he’d have more strength.”

Hah!

R Truth gets the crowd involved with another hearty “When I say Daniel, you say Bryan!” to the disdain of the No. 1 contender for the World Heavyweight Champion, Dolph Ziggler.

Daniel Bryan takes control again and gets onto the top rope, giving DiBiase a beautiful missile dropkick before going down for a pin.

Two-and-a-half!

DiBiase goes for a Dream Street but AmDrag reverses it.

Maryse begins taking more interest here, even cheering on her man.

Bryan almost gets the LaBell Lock in, but DiBiase reaches the ropes. Bryan then dropkicks him as he’s on the apron and attempts a suicide dive, which DiBiase prevents with a sharp elbow.

He then gets back into the ring, applies the Dream Street and win his first singles match in how long?!

Even Maryse is shocked!

Winner: Ted DiBiase

Great match from the two men, which really proves that DiBiase does indeed deserve a push.

To read the rest of article and my thoughts on the main event, the rookies and the overall show, head to blakeipedia.wordpress.com/

-Leva Lies