411's WWE NXT Report 12.29.11

Posted by Tony Acero on 12.29.2011

NXT Alumni Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater face off, Percy Watson gets a rematch against Tyson Kidd, Derrick Bateman and Johnny Curtis fight in the main event as Maxine watches on and more! Check out the report for full details!



It was only just over a year ago when NXT was an exciting and invigorating show full of excitement and vigor (duh...) but soon fell to the wayside of other WWE C Shows and found itself into the land of the lost. Join me tonight as I recap the last episode of 2011! The proposed awards show has been moved to next week!


I miss you too, big boy...

We begin the show with Matt Striker in the middle of the ring, welcoming us to the show. He says that he has a huge announcement that involves all of us. In 3 weeks time, we will be celebrating NXT's 100th episode! (With half being this current season, I'm sure...). Since this is a special moment, being the 97th episode and all, Striker has brought back some former NXT peeps. First up, Justin Gabriel! Striker asks how it's felt being on the big time shows, and Gabriel jokingly says he hasn't (although, not in those words). Before he can truly get anything of importance out, Heath Slater is here. He says that Gabriel hasn't done jack since he left NXT. Slater says Gabriel carried Gabriel through NXT, during their tag reign and while they were drinking Appletini's. Gabriel says Slater is really good at telling stories. He wants to know what a one man Southern Rock band is. Slater lists some instruments and these former rookies talk over one another as if it were their first episode. Of course, Striker makes the match.

Match 1: Justin Gabriel vs. Heath Slater
Slater starts with a push then runs to the corner as Gabriel wants him center ring. Gabriel works the left arm until Heath reverses it, then Gabriel reverses only for Heath to hit a right hand to the face of Gabriel then twerks the arm. Gabriel backflips out of it then hits an arm drag and a drop toe hold before working the left arm. Gabriel turns it into a side headlock then cartwheels over Heath before tossing Heath into an arm drag and pulling back the arm. Heath reaches for the ropes but Gabriel pulls away then hits a side headlock before hitting the ropes and hopping over Heath. Slater meets boot as Gabriel kicks him then tosses him over for another arm drag into the arm hold. Gabriel drops the knee onto the arm of Heath. Heath with a body slam into Gabriel twerking the arm...how did that work out? Gabriel with a nice back suple and a cover for 1 as he continues to work the left arm. Heath rolls forward, trying to break the hold but Gabriel turns it into a wrist lock above the head. Gabriel finally releases the hold and after some rope work, Gabriel sends Heath to the outside with a clothesline. Gabriel is smiles as he hits the ropes then flies over em towards Heath.

Back to the match and Heath is getting the rights and the lefts, completely no selling the first three minutes of the match. Gabriel with an STO outta nowhere then goes up top, looking for the 450. Slater is up quickly though and pushes the legs, crotching Gabriel. Slater with some stomps and a baseball slide, sending Gabriel to the outside. Heath goes to the outside to press Gabriel then slam him on the apron. He berates the announce table then tosses Gabriel back in the ring for a pin. 1...2..NO! Heath with a stomp to the face then a kick then a right. Heath with a knee to the back and a cravat from behind. The red hair is totally clashing with Gabriel's growing fauxhawk. Gabriel with a kick to the leg of Slater, hits the ropes. Up and over from Heath. Pin 1...2...NO! Heath with a kick to the back of Gabriel but Gabriel with some hard kicks from below! It's short lived as Heath goes for a suplex, but Gabriel turns it into a roll up. Heath flies out of the corner with a clothesline then starts in with the right hands to the fallen Gabriel. Gabriel is up with some chops as Heath was busy yelling at the ref. Heath with a right hand directly to the forehead of Gabriel, though, before stabbing the knee in the back and locking in another cravat...you know, the exact same thing he did a minute ago. Gabriel tries to use an elbow to fight out but Heath hits a back suplex and a pin for 1...2..NO! Heath sends Gabriel to the corner and starts hitting some hard rights but the ref breaks it up. Heath goes for a back elbow but Gabriel moves and hits the three kick combo, ending with a back kick. He rolls over heath then we get a spinning heel and a back elbow. Gabriel with a splash into the corner followed by a spring board press and a pin for 1...2..No dice! Gabriel with a Side Russian Leg Sweep. Gabriel is going up top. 450 Splash but Heath is up yet agaon and this time hits a scoop slam! That was nice, admittedly. Pin for 1...2...NO!!! Heath and Gabriel trade rights on their knees before standing and Gabriel throws a weak looking spinning kick before Heath hits the ropes. Gabriel turns it into a dragon sleeper into a cutter and a springboard moonsault and a pin for 1...2...NO!!!! Heath with a spinebuster and a pin for 1...2..NO!! Heath takes Gabriel to the corner and places him on the turnbuckle. Heath with a right but it is recalled by Gabriel as he hits a right then hangs Heath up on the ropes! Gabriel on the apron...he uses the ropes for a springboard 450 splash! Wowza!
Winner: Justin Gabriel
I saw what they were trying to do, and kudos for their efforts. What started off as the epitome of a rookie match, ended on a high note. Heath totally no sold the first 4-5 minutes of work that Gabriel put in and there was far too much repetition as well as restholds, but like I said, it got a bit better near the end.


Derrick Bateman is in the back and stops Maxine. He says that he knows she doesn't want to see or hear him but she is crazy and so is he. The love that they share is crazy. Maxine says that their weekends consisted of pillow fights and Titanic viewings. Bateman says that Maxine doesn't listen to her. Bateman says he loves her for this! She keeps his eyes on the prize. After he beats Curtis tonight, they will be the power couple that WWE needs. He then kisses her into submission and she slaps him...we get some cheers from the crowd that appear extremely, extremely fake...afterwards, we see Johnny Curtis around the corner looking weird as fuck.

Match 2: Percy Watson vs. Tyson Kidd: The Rematch!
Darren Young is on commentary for this match and I'm so looking forward to him boring me with his cliche character and horrible haircut. Lock up to start into a side headlock from Percy. Kidd sends Percy to the ropes and Percy comes back with a shoulder block. They trade arms and Percy hits the arm drag into the body slam. Percy works the arms and turns it into a Northern Lights and a pin for 2. Young tries to ref the match from the outside. Percy is distracted and Tyson kicks Percy in the face. Kidd with a kick to the back. Kidd chokes up Percy with the boot then snapmare into a kick to the back and a pin for 1...2..NO! Kidd with an elbow dropping onto the shoulder of Percy. Kidd with a few kicks before ending it with aa hard one to the gut. Kidd with a side headlock onto the mat, and it looks great. Percy fights out with a back suplex, but Kidd flips out of it only to be met by an Enziguri! Nicely done, Percy. Percy with a right then a dropkick. Another! Percy sends Kidd to the ropes, and comes back with a clothesline, landing on the cheeks. Percy sends Tyson to the corner then Kidd turns and gives an elbow to Percy. Kidd jumps off and Percy hits a nice looking dropkick. Percy with his Downtown Atheletic Club Splash! he is about to pin but Darren Young stands up and distracts Percy, allowing Kidd to hit the credenza and pin for the 1...2...3!!
Winner: Tyson Kidd

Cut short, but not bad considering the time. Percy was made to look rather unintelligent, though.

After the match, Young comes in and hits his gut buster onto Percy.

In the back, Maxine is walking through a hallway and Aksana is standing there, randomly...maxine really should never wear her hair like this again. Anyways, Aksana says she was looking through Teddy Long's phone for her pictures and she found something that Maxine should look at. Maxine reads aloud "I'm looking forward to being a Smackdown superstar, but Maxine is bringing me down and riding my coattails, so I'd appreciate it if you kept her on NXT. From Derrick." (I kinda paraphrased). Maxine questions the validity then storms off as Aksana stands there...awkwardly.

Match 3: Johnny Curtis vs. Derrick Bateman
Bateman tries to run right into the match but the ref ain't having it. The ref looks awkwardly small in there. Curtis with a hard right in the corner, then another before sending him hard into the corner. Bateman struggles to get up so Curtis locks him in for a nice looking suplex before pinning but barely gets a 1. Curtis sends Bateman to the ropes and Bateman comes flying back with a hard clothesline then starts in with the rights and lefts into the corner and booting Curtis. Bateman with a hard chop! Bateman sends Curtis to the ropes then hits a dropkick and Bateman pins for 1. Bateman pulls Curtis up through the ropes and chokes him up a bit. Bateman sends Curtis to the ropes but Curtis reverses, hits the ropes and comes flying, onlyy he is sent over the ropes as bateman pulls down the ropes. Bateman on the apron and hits a dropkick from there to the outside! Bateman sends Curtis to the inside then rolls in after, but Curtis rolls all the way to the outside and Bateman follows for Curtis to hit him with a right thne comes off the top of the tunbuckle to hit Bateman right in the face. Here comes Maxine.

Back from the break and the boys are trading blows until Curtis locks in a side headlock. Maxine looks like a Predator. Curtis with a side headlock still until he hits a right onto Bateman. Bateman is choked up on the ropes a bit as the ref counts and Curtis does the Hogan pose. Curtis with a snapmare into a side headlock...again. Bateman is up, though, and we get a back suplex. Curtis goes for an axe handle but bateman with some chops to the neck then a clothesline, sending Curtis to the mat. Bateman flies from one corner into the other with a dropkick then hits a running, neckbreaker and a pin for 1...2..NO! Bateman runs to Curti but Curtis with a back elbow then a spin into a clothesline and a pin for 1...2...No! Curtis with a suplex, but Bateman slips out of it and sends Curtis to the corner. Roll up with a pin for 1...2....3!!!! That came out of nowhere.
Winner: Derrick Bateman

This was supposed to be hard hitting and exciting. The first 10 seconds were. After that, it kind of fell into basic territory with no real umph, even with the storyline involved. .

Bateman turns to look at Maxine then gets down on one knee. The right one. Maxine is coming into the ring slowly. She looks down on Derrick then walks out on him. Derrick stands and watches as she walks out, making her way towards the back. Curtis is there at the top of the ramp, though. Now, she is standing in between both...she walks up the ramp, up to Curtis, looks at Bateman then slaps Curtis and locks lips with him.

See ya next week as we continue to objectify Maxine and watch as everyone else goes nowhere!

Tony
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