WWE News: The NXT Report (2.22.11)

Welcome to the second to last installation of the NXT Report! I’m unsure of whether there will be a fifth season, so let’s enjoy what could be the final two weeks of NXT.

As usual, we are wild and young and this week, we begin with some backstage segments with each pro and rookie pairing getting pumped for the last couple of NXT’s.

Is it just me, or did the camera angle for the Brodus Clay/Ricardo Rodriguez segment make you instantly think of TNA? Weird.

Derrick Bateman and Daniel Bryan are lying on the floor in a locker room. Bryan lets his rookie know that he’s done a great job but if he gets back and finds out Bateman’s been eliminated, he will punch him in the face. Bateman then brings out a cowboy hat out of nowhere and we cut to the theme song.

When we return, we are in the ring as per usual. Striker runs through the immunity point standings and reminds us that tonight, there will be elimination.

The first challenge tonight will be the “Grace Under Pressure” physical challenge. This is worth three immunity points and is an obstacle course with four different stations.

First Challenge: “Grace Under Pressure” Physical Challenge

Johnny Curtis is up first.

Curtis gets the ball into the cup on his first try and races to the block stacking station where he isn’t as speedy. The crowd are booing, obviously not impressed with this riveting action. It takes him three tries to flip the cup, arranges the dominoes and finishes in 1.19.

Next is Bateman, who is slow to get the ball into the cup and to arrange the bricks. He then gives up at the dice station and exclaims that he “doesn’t know what he’s doing”.

Last is Brodus. He seems apathetic about this whole thing and takes his time throughout the stations. He gets booed (loudly) during the cup station but at this point, Curtis has won already.

This may have been the most ridiculous challenge I have ever seen on any of the seasons of NXT and this week, there were no Pros on the stage to make it more entertaining.

First Match: Johnny Curtis vs. Derrick Bateman vs. Brodus Clay

Bateman and Curtis try to take out Brodus but he tosses Bateman out of the ring and takes control of Johnny Curtis.

Bateman gets back into the ring, allowing him and Curtis to pick Brodus apart with elbows and kicks. It’s not long before Brodus manages to push the two rookies off of him and regain control. This is short lived as Curtis and Bateman collaborate again to toss Clay out of the ring.

At this point we get a pretty cool spot courtesy of Derrick Bateman where he turns an Irish Whip from his buddy Johnny into a suicide dive onto Brodus Clay who has just got to his feet. Bateman has definitely been learning from his pro!

Johnny then takes advantage of the two grounded men on the outside of the ring. He panders (shamelessly) to the crowd and performs an excellent senton over the top rope. I’ve heard many good things about Curtis and until just now, I’ve remained unconvinced. If he continues showing off what he can do with spots like this, he would be a great addition to the main roster.

He also gets a great crowd reaction by doing this move; NXT needs more great spots if they want the rookies to get over. Did I mention how he landed on his feet? Whoa.

After a break, we come back to Curtis and Bateman in the ring where Curtis is working Bateman’s arm. He goes for a cover after a suplex but Bateman kicks out.

Josh Matthews makes a great comment here about how Curtis has been left lost in the shuffle due to the antics of Derrick Bateman and Brodus Clay, absolutely spot on. Curtis is a great all round talent but like Naomi from Season 3 and many other talented former rookies; he has been overshadowed by slightly more charismatic rookies and rookies who are over due to their size/look.

Bateman recovers and hits a beautiful running neckbreaker to Curtis and a great dropkick to Brodus Clay in the corner. He hypes up the crowd and goes for a second one. Curtis gets tossed into the corner and Bateman hits it again. He goes for the pin but Curtis grabs the bottom rope.

Clay sneaks in and hits Bateman with a strong forearm. He then turns his attention to Johnny Curtis and picks him apart in the corner. He hits a running hip smash (very similar to Umaga) and does the same to Bateman.

Clay then uses the ropes and stands on Bateman’s chest before hitting a suplex on Curtis and going for a pin. He kicks out at two and rolls out of the way, leaving Clay to attack Bateman again.

He hits a suplex and goes for a pin but Curtis heads to the top rope and breaks it up with his signature leg drop. He tries to pin both men but to no avail.

Curtis and Bateman begin working together again, hitting a nice double suplex. Bateman tries to go for the cover but Curtis suplexes him onto Brodus. Nice!

Johnny Curtis pins Bateman and gets the win.

Winner: Johnny Curtis

While last week was Bateman’s shining moment in the ring, this Triple Threat match was certainly Curtis’! He pulled off some decent spots and made me un-choose him as the pick for tonight’s elimination. All three men are great wrestlers and talkers. Whoever wins this thing, all of these guys (and Byron Saxton) deserve a place on the main roster.

After a very long Raw Rebound, it is time for the Talk The Talk challenge, an old NXT favorite!

Second Challenge: “Talk The Talk”

Up first is Johnny Curtis who does the usual crowd pandering for thirty seconds.

Derrick Bateman talks up Sacramento. He claims he has “it”. He eats it, he breathes it, he sleeps it and when he wakes up in the morning, he takes it. In a surprising first, Bateman gets booed!

Big Brodus Clay gets a surprising pop. He surprisingly goes for the cheap pop and talks about getting his learning on, oh I don’t know. He is the five W’s!

Oh right, Brodus is the hometown boy. Not so surprisingly, he gets the biggest pop and wins the competition and the three immunity points.

Winner: Brodus Clay

That means either Derrick Bateman or Johnny Curtis will be eliminated next. I would be very shocked if it isn’t Bateman.

And it is…

DERRICK BATEMAN?!

He’s right; he is the most entertaining rookie ever. His elimination speech is another good promo by Bateman. I did not see that one coming! Bateman’s been the pick to win since the very first week. I was even getting ready for him and Bryan to become the Tag Team Champions and be the best tag team ever! I would have never thought Curtis would go over Bateman but it just goes to show you anything can happen in the WWE.

I hope we see him again soon because it would be a shame if Bateman was to just disappear after such a good showing throughout NXT.

This just made me think, the final two has always been a little shocking ever since Season 1. David Otunga over Justin Gabriel, Michael McGillicutty over Alex Riley, Kaitlyn over AJ Lee and now Bateman over, well, both of the rookies.

I really cannot call the winner at this point, but if Brodus wins, does anyone see Alberto Del Rio going for the Tag Team Championships? Or would it be Ricardo Rodriguez in his place?

Hold on, is Daniel Bryan going to punch Bateman in the face now?

Well, join me again next week where I will be calling the final episode of NXT Season 4. Thanks for reading!

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