Heath Slater had a short moment in an "Earlier Today" vignette showing him working out with Christian. Christian tells Slater that he’s too over confident and that the crowd cheers from last week were all Christian’s Peeps cheering for just Christian. He says he likes Slater, only a little, but he still likes him. Slater has one more spot at the end of the show, which you’ll read more about in the end of the review.
Now we finally meet Justin Gabriel and Skip Sheffield. Matt Hardy proclaims that Justin Gabriel reminds him of a young Matt and Justin calls Matt "Sensei." Skip, on the other hand, is hated by William Regal, and for good reason. We can’t really tell yet what Justin’s character is, but Skip’s is easily noticed. Skip is a "cornfed meathead" cowboy, full of odd, seemly random, and corny catchphrases such as "Muscle with Hustle" and what he says is his official catchphrase, "Yep Yep Yep, What it do" which he shouts during the opening of the match. He also sticks out like a sore thumb in his bright yellow trunks with bright red letters on the back that read "CORNFED." The only real thing I’ve written down worthy to write about Skip is his Ric Flair walk (to which Michael Cole says "VINTAGE…Skip Sheffield" haha, fail) that he leaps from into a splash. For this, Regal yells at him "Dont mess around and do stupid things." I’d probably write more about Skip, but it seemed Regal wanted him more on the outside of the ropes than inside. But Hardy and Gabriel gave us a Hardy Boyz flashback when Hardy got on his hands and knees and Gabriel runs and jumps off his back, but instead ramming his side and legs into the corner like Poetry In Motion, Gabriel does a flying corner splash. Gabriel lands awkwardly on his side from Regal’s butterfly suplex, but regains control and whens with a top rope 450 frog splash! Definite potential there!
As for the end of the show, Matt Striker is talking around the NXT stars when Carlito walks into the scene. First he walks to the 6ft 5-7in Wade Barrett and stands on his toes to reach his height, then turns and looks almost at every NXT rookie. Then bites an apple, we know what’s coming. He takes a step towards Wade and turns quick to spit the apple at Heath Slater. Carlito says "Ha, now that’s cool." As he’s walking away Slater turns in his direction and says "Is that all you have to say? ‘That’s cool’!?" and Strike gets in the final word with "And that’s NXT."
Side-notes: Syfy, while finishing Star Trek, said "Next Up, ECW"
The announcer girl, Savannah had, to me at least, an annoying scratchy announce voice.
I personally love the camera angles. It feels refreshing to have a cameraman on a corner getting the up-close and personal shot.
Another NXT Report to come next week!
-Cody Hauri
