NXT Season One Finale (recap)

NXT opening montage, highlights from the entire season. Slater pins Jericho, Bryan attacks Cole, Tarver is eliminated. 5 Star video package. The three finalists get their solo shine at the end of the clip.

Cue NXT "8 rookies 8 pros 1 dream" theme.

Fireworks blazing. We're live from Dallas TX for the Season Finale! Cole and Matthews at ringside, they throw it to the host MATT STRIKER in the ring. He welcomes the audience and promises "tonight one rookie's dream comes true". Introduces the 5 eliminated rookies who are sitting peacefully (in street clothes) in the front row. Each get a name introduction.

Next, MATT STRIKER introduces the pros who come out to the NXT theme and line up on the stage (minus Carlito who was recently released for a Wellness policy violation). R-TRUTH proudly brandishes the US championship. CM PUNK comes out with his new black mask (the result of him losing a hair match at the last PPV, "Over the Edge")

Finally Striker intros the 3 finalists - WADE BARRETT (ranked #1), DAVID OTUNGA (ranked #2) and JUSTIN GABRIEL (ranked #3). They make their way inside the ring alongside MATT STRIKER.

Striker congratulates them and recaps their journey on the show. More Ryan Seacrest-type anticipation building. There will be two pros polls tonight, one for each elimination. "The pressure truly increases". He then announces a triple threat match between the finalists next! Back to Cole and Matthews at the announce table. They're hyping up NXT Season 2, starting next week.

Introducing HUSKY HARRIS (3rd generation superstar, BLACKJACK MULLIGAN is his grandfather and IRS is his father). He's 6'2" and 295 lbs. Fat boy with back tats. His Pro will be CODY RHODES. Back to the ring where JERICHO, R-TRUTH and MATT HARDY all make their way ringside to second their rookies in the upcoming triple threat match.

Commercial break.

Outside the arena shot. NXT Season 2 pro JOHN MORRISON is interviewed backstage. He touts his rookie as "a giant redwood tree". Introducing ELI COTTONWOOD. 7'1'' over 300 lbs. Cole says he is a "very strange dude".

Bell rings and we're off in the triple threat elimination match between the 3 NXT Season One finalists. They all size each other up. OTUNGA has silver glitter designs on the back of his skull. OTUNGA gets hit allowing WADE to pursue GABRIEL. Until OTUNGA quickly reenters the mix and stomps BARRETT out of the ring. Now OTUNGA has GABRIEL all to himself in the ring.

OTUNGA whips GABRIEL and clotheslines him twice before going for the pin. Only 2, and BARRETT is back in the ring. He tosses JUSTIN GABRIEL over the top rope and attacks OTUNGA with head butts and turnbuckle slams.

OTUNGA whips GABRIEL and clotheslines him twice before going for the pine. Only 2 and Barrett is back in. Tosses Justin over the ropes and attacks David with head butts and turnbuckle slams. Keeps Justin outside the ring. JERICHO is back at the announce table, screaming at Cole and Matthews to recognize the greatness of his rookie WADE BARRETT. Inside the ring, BARRETT sets up a suplex on OTUNGA but GABRIEL springboards over the top rope for the sunset flip cover. Only 2. Now Wade is tossed by OTUNGA and its Justin and David again. "The A-Lister" David Otunga backdrops Justin over the top rope onto Wade Barrett, who stands outside the ring. David follows them both outside and rolls Justin back in the ring. Only 2.

Justin on offense, kicks Wade again to make sure he stays outside of the ring. Scales the ropes to great anticipation from the crowd and absolutely nails David Otunga with the 450 splash!!! But Wade grabs Justin's ankle from outside the ring as he goes for the pin, and pulls him off Otunga and to the floor. Wade then quickly reenters the ring and PINS David Otunga!!! The A-Lister has been eliminated from the triple threat match!!!

Commercial break.

WADE is pounding on Gabriel in the ring, Abdominal stretch as the announcers recap their individual accomplishments during the season. Pros watch intently from the ramp. Big elbow drop from WADE. Whips Justin to the buckle but misses the running splash. Kicks from Justin soften Barrett up, and he hits the big man with his back roll counter into a spin kick. Justin tries to get the crowd engaged before hitting a Stinger splash in the corner and a springboard body block. Only 2. Barrett fights back and goes for his finisher, but Justin counters into a sunset flip. Jericho on the apron but Wade kicks out. STO from Justin, setting the big man up for the 450. Climbs ropes... launches the 450... but lands directly on Barretts knees! A spectacular counter to Justin's already injured ribs. Small package by Barrett gets the 3!!! WADE BARRETT wins the rookie triple threat match!!!

Jericho in ring to celebrate while the rest of the pros give modest applause and take notes. Wade Barrett wins the match!

Matt Striker on the ramp with the pros, calls for the huddle and asks for the first pros poll of the night. The pros congregate. Back to the announcers Cole and Matthews. More NXT Season 2 hype.

They throw it backstage to NXT Season 2 pro MVP who will be mentoring PERCY WATSON. Flamboyant bald headed black guy who acts fruity and obnoxious. A "self professed ladies man" who wears goofy red spectacles. Meanwhile the props ares still discussing the first elimination.



Commercial break.

ZACH RYDER Season 2 pro. Introducing TITUS O'NEIL. Big deep-voiced bald headed black guy who speaks cordially and looks like a WWE-styled beast. Back to host MATT STRIKER who has the three finalists lined up in the ring. He hits ringside where the eliminated rookies are sitting and ask them who they think should be eliminated.

TARVER chooses himself again. Striker then flips the script and asks them who they think should WIN.
DANIEL BRYAN (big pop) thinks Otunga can't wrestle and Justin can't talk, so WADE BARRETT should win.
SKIP SHEFFIELD "doesn't care" who should win NXT. Good pop for that.
DARREN YOUNG says WADE will win cuz he's built for it mentally and physically. He then heels on Dallas TX real quick and cheers on Wade to a chorus of boos.
HEATH SLATER (minor pop) says WADE will probably win (though he apologizes to the crowd for his answer). Finally it's pro poll time...

WADE #1
The bottom two step forward. More Striker/Seacrest hype. Dramatic pause. Drumroll...

OTUNGA #2!!!!

That means Justin Gabriel has been eliminated!!! He's given the mic where he says he's "Just a kid from South Africa living his dream". But this dream isn't over, so Justin promises to "keep coming back and keep coming back" till he makes it in this country. Showed some passion there. Promises to be world champion someday. Good pop. MATT HARDY gives him his props and Justin is ushered off the show.

Introducing LAY-COOL (first ever female pros). Their rookie is so "teeny tiny". Introducing KAVAL!!! Low-Ki!!! BROOKLYN BABY!!! Will love to see LAY-COOL try to make him "carry their belts". Exciting!

Commercial break.

NXT has been the #1 show on SyFy since it's debut.

Back to Mark Henry, Season 2 pro. Introducing LUCKY CANNON. Looks like Curt Hawkins with darker hair and a shoulder tat. Has a "very interesting story" we're going to want to hear about, promises COLE.

Back to the ring where WADE and OTUNGA are flanked by STRIKER. He announces a final rookie face off. 60 seconds to tell the other rookie why they should be eliminated, and why you should be the winner.

OTUNGA goes first and calls Wade ugly. "You don't intimidate anyone but your dentist". The only triple threat match Otunga wants to see is between Barrett "Aquafresh and Listerine" (minor chuckles from the audience). OTUNGA is the pretty boy. He's not so hot in the ring, but that can be taught. Not charisma.

It's Wade's turn, and he laces into him, saying he's a ratings killer. "I'm a fighter that's why I've got a broken nose". Disses Otunga's flexibility and agility. Add two letter in front of "IT factor" and that's Wade's opinion of OTUNGA. STRIKER calls for the final pros poll..

Introducing Season 2 pro KOFI KINGSTON. Son of WWE hall of Famer MR PERFECT. This man is gonna make his own mark. MICHAEL MCGILLICUTTY(???) Wrestling royalty. Ruthless aggression is back.

Commercial break.

Back to Cole and Matthews who say the voting for NXT Season 2 will be a little different. 50% pros 50% WWE universe. Back to the ring with Striker and the two finalists as the rest of the eliminated rookies look on glumly.

But the MIZ interrupts with a "very important announcement". He's back for Season 2!!! Takes another shot at Daniel Bryan. Introducing ALEX RILEY. Goofy preppy white boy. Looks like another Spirit Squader.

Finally STRIKER announces the last pros poll.

Regal suddenly starts congratulating Jericho, but R-Truth cuts in. Regal disses Jennifer Hudson! Punk agrees but Truth shuts him up. Regal congratulates Barrett again. Pros argue among themselves. Truth gets in Regals face. Regal begs him to do something. Truth jukes and jives and thrusts his hips toward Regal. now Christian jumps in and says Regal hasn't won a fight in years. Jericho tries to calm Regal down but they're talking over each other. Punk walks out. Jericho wants props for being the winning pro. Striker calls for order but Regal shouts him down again.

Back to the results...

....

WADE BARRETT is the winner!!! Announced at 11:01 EST. OTUNGA looks dejected. He gets the first interview. Thinks he's getting punked by Ashton Kutcher. Credits his wife for losing American Idol but being the biggest star that show ever saw. So OTUNGA is still the biggest break out star. Mic to BARRETT for his congratulatory promo. "The era of WADE BARRETT" is beginning. Cue Jericho's theme (Barrett never got the original theme song he "won" on one of the NXT competitions).



Replay of the intro package from the top of the show.

There was only one match (the triple threat) and it was sloppy and poorly timed. The build up for Season 2 was exciting and I'm already wondering where they're going with some of these new guys. I hope the Season One rejects don't get lost in the shuffle, as I'm a big fan of all of them - especially Michael Tarver. The dynamic between the pros was awesome, even though the pros line-up for Season 2 seems a little weak on paper. I thought of the three finalists DAVID OTUNGA "needed" the win the most, so it will be fun to see where things go from here now that Wade Barrett is the chosen one. Can't wait to see Kaval and Joe Hennig next week!!!