Scouting Developmental - aka the WWE NXT Thread

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

NXT 6/26

-Big E Langston v. Aiden English - Oooooo, jobber squash. Can't wait. I really wish Big E's grand finale was another epic encounter with Memo Montenegro instead This one lasted a legit 30 seconds. Three moves of doom style.

Emma is wearing an EMMAlution shirt. I want it.

-Aksana v. Emma - Won't fast forward an Emma match...just can't do it. Emma makes all your troubles go away like bubbles. I really would like to have some sex with Aksana with them big ol fake titties and womanly hips. She looks like a budget priced call girl. I'm really just watching this shit so I can see the Muta Lock WITH THE DANCE. Now, I'll have this epic theme song in my head for another week.

-Leo Kruger v. Dante Dash - Dante Dash is former Rutgers likebacker Teon Freeman. Anyway...my nigga Leo Kruger is back after a shoulder injury...you can still see the scaring on his shoulder. I just dig Kruger's style in the ring. He just needs a fucking manager for fuck's sake. Is Kimchi still available? Anyone who uses the London Dungeon as their finisher is good by me. Extended squash.

-Bo Dallas v. Mickey Keegan - I thought this guy's name was Axel Keegan? Did they really change the dude's first name because of Curtis Axel? This will be a squash. I'm fast forwarding. I stop and it looks like my dude Leo Kruger is the next challenger for the title.

Wait...do the Bellas actually have a reality show on E? Oh lawd.

-Kassius Ohno/Corey Graves v. The Unnamed Southern Tag Team - If there is ever a deadend gimmick in the WWE in 2013, its the "Southern Boy"...anyway, Hero is looking pretty flabby these days. You know, I'd probably put over the Southern Boys here. I think the WWE should capitalize on what The Shield has done in that, they went over every pair of established stars they just threw together, putting over the idea of a real team beats random thrown together tag teams. And, The Shield got over because of it. They should try bringing back a real tag team division and try and get some more guys over that way. But I digress. Graves and Ohno win...they'll face the Wyatts and the Wyatts run down for some post match shenanigans. Somehow, Regal ends up in the ring...whatever.

This is an incredibly skippable show. Don't waste your time.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

There has been a ton of squashes from the past few sets of tapings.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

There has been a ton of squashes from the past few sets of tapings.

Read in the Observer this week that the primary NXT writer (not Rob Naylor, who is rumored to be possibly on the way out) got promoted to Smackdown. Seems the company pays attention now and noticed the quality of the show.

This might explain the drop in quality of NXT, although I don't know exactly when the move went down.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

David Kreizman was talked into staying as head writer until mid-August. They talked him into it both because his original direction of things were building to SummerSlam and they asked him to stay until the completion of his direction. Plus, they want him to help train whoever they hire as a replacement. There was a feeling that the new person starting now would have problems with the pressure building to SummerSlam, whereas now he can ease into the role, then be able to get comfortable from September through December before the January pressure starts.

Kreizman, the third head writer so far this year, after Erik Pankowski and Adam Rudman were both fired. Kreizman was described as an organizer who ran the division. He wasn’t working on the road. The lead writer role is about putting together a team and hiring writers, as well as presenting the finished product to Vince McMahon. Stephanie McMahon’s role has been minimized, as she’s only involved when she needs to be. Brian James has been put into creative because they want someone who has a pro wrestling side perspective to be in with the soap opera and TV writers, since Michael Hayes isn’t in the office regularly any longer. Hayes is on conference via phone at the major meetings, but they want a wrestling person at the meetings as well. When it comes to all the rewrites on Mondays and Tuesdays, the person in charge has been David Kapoor (Ranjin Singh), although his position has changed. That didn’t mean Kapoor had great influence. He’s just the guy who delegates the workload to the writers on the road team after Vince McMahon makes all the changes, and also interacts with the TV people, the apps people and the web site people to make sure they all know the new changed direction from the day before.

The 6/24 show for the first time in weeks had minimal changes from how the show was presented on 6/21. Cena and Punk had already gone through and approved their segments before the final script was presented.

There were more changes in the writing crew this week. Kapoor, is now a show runner.

Ed Koskey has become the lead writer for Raw. Ryan Ward, who got rave reviews for his work as the writer for NXT, has been given a promotion to lead writer of Smackdown.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Read in the Observer this week that the primary NXT writer (not Rob Naylor, who is rumored to be possibly on the way out) got promoted to Smackdown. Seems the company pays attention now and noticed the quality of the show.

This might explain the drop in quality of NXT, although I don't know exactly when the move went down.

There has been an abnormal number of squashes (not necessarily a bad thing) and you can tell the direction is in a bit of a holding pattern. The goal was to get the titles off Big E and the Wyatt's because those four guys are going to be full time roster guys going forward. There just hasn't been the normal building that NXT normally does. The quality overall, not necessarily down...I mean, you got some matches in there that are fine, its just an abnormal number of squashes make for the shows to be ones that aren't "must watch".

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Ohno wasn't at the tapings and Neville took his spot in the Graves tag team.

Big Dave says there is some backstory for this but he's still trying to find out. I hope it's just a matter of the guy was sick or had an excused day off or something.

He's getting long in the tooth for Florida, for his sake I hope they figure something out for him soon.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Ohno wasn't at the tapings and Neville took his spot in the Graves tag team.

Big Dave says there is some backstory for this but he's still trying to find out. I hope it's just a matter of the guy was sick or had an excused day off or something.

He's getting long in the tooth for Florida, for his sake I hope they figure something out for him soon.

He's been there for a long time. Hasn't been involved with an actual program since Regal.

He's getting a bit flabby, too.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Head writer off to Smackdown, Naylor gone.

Lots of changes. Hopefully the dry set of tapings is a holding pattern until they get back in a groove with more quality creative.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

WWE NXT has a live event tonight at the Palatka Armory in Palatka, FL. It will be the last event before the Performance Center opens.

As noted earlier today on PWInsider.com, NXT Creative team member Rob Naylor officially left the company yesterday with the shift to Orlando. His position at NXT was dropped/shifted to a new hire with the move to Orlando. The company did look into bringing him to Stamford for another position, according to sources, but not within the creative side of the company. The departure is amicable and the door is open for him to work with WWE down the line. Naylor's gotten a lot of high marks for his work with NXT and was singled out by Dusty Rhodes for his work at last week's NXT taping. Naylor was universally liked and a lot of the developmental crew were upset when they found out he wasn't coming along to Orlando. He was given a big send-off party yesterday in Tampa.

In an update from earlier, PWInsider.com has confirmed that Norman Smiley has stayed on with WWE developmental and will be heading to Winter Park, FL with the NXT talents.

Steve Keirn is not making the move to Winter Park, FL.

 

[BigBiss]

Some one should look at the first group of NXT guys and were they are now ...

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

NXT 7/4

We open with a Bo Dallas promo. Wow, this cat sounds like a homo. Cesaro with the save.

-Paige v. Alicia Fox - I fast forwarded through this match. Paige wins.

-Andy Baker v. Conor O'Brian - This will surely be a squash. This one is over in about a minute. Ol Andy got in maybe four punches.

Graves and Neville promo. They ask Regal to take Ohno's place in the six-man tag since Ohno is not at the taping.

-Scott Dawson v. Xavier Woods - ITS MORPHIN TIME! Solid segment-long match. Woods wins.

Wyatt Family promo segment. They really are going to make Erick Rowan wear that sheep mask all of the time, aren't they? LOL.

Regal agrees to join the six-man next week because he's no lemon.

Mason Ryan v. Enzo Amore - Oh lawd. Loud mouthed Enzo Amore runs his yap for two minutes, Mason Ryan punches him once and he's done.

But he "wasn't ready yet"...so Amore has his muscle, Colin Cassaday take another match with Mason Ryan...and here we go. This one lasts about 45 seconds. Terrible.

Bo Dallas v. Antonio Cesaro - The crowd is hot. This ends up being a very solid match. Cesaro was dominant throughout. Leo Kruger comes down to the ring to "observe" and then a shitty little go-home sequence with Kruger trying to interfere but puts Cesaro in a bad spot, leading to the Bo Dallas win. Post match shenanigans has the faces (seriously, the crowd is cheering the heels putting the boots to Bo Dallas) and Sami Zayn makes the save.

The Dallas/Cesaro match was quite good and the Woods/Dawson match was fine. I just really have no interest in guys like Mason Ryan, Conor O'Brian, Bo Dallas, and Scott Dawson and they are seemingly on TV every week now. You can watch if you want, but just tune in for the main event.

 

[Leftwich]

I watched the entire Paige match. I think i'm in love.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

NXT 7/10

-Summer Rae v. Emma - EMMA DANCE!!!! BUBBLES! Emma wins, but not with the Muta Lock...I am disappoint.

Bayley acts like a weirdo with Dusty when WOOOOOO, Ric Flair shows up. He introduces his daughter, Ashley. Her ring name will be Charlotte...that is kind of awesome.

-Sami Zayn v. Leo Kruger - Your boy is hype for this one. I don't know what it is about Leo Kruger...but I like'em. Chants of OLE all over the place. Brad Maddox makes reference of why they chants OLE when Zayn is Canadian...and Tony Dawson says "...he can speak French, Arabic, and even a little Spanish!" Lulz. This match ends up being quite good. Nice clash of styles. Kruger wins. Appropriate considering he's got a title shot. Zayn hasn't had a bad match in the WWE yet.

William Regal with some European Racism. Regal puts both Neville and Graves to shame in the promo. He's a man...a man's man.

Another fucking Mason Ryan match. Come the fuck on.

Mason Ryan v. Enzo Amore and Colin Cassidy - Fuck this. At least Mason Ryan loses. BA DA BOOM...THE REALEST GUYS IN THE ROOM.

Dusty announces the #1 contender match, Cesaro, Kruger, and Zayn next week.

Regal/Neville/Graves v. The Wyatt Family - Rowan still wearing the fucking sheep mask. I do love a nonsensical Bray Wyatt promo. Heels win. This match ends up being pretty good. The Sister Abigail finisher by Wyatt is actually a really good finisher for him. The kiss of death will set up a ton of cool spots.

Anyway...this was a good episode. You should watch it. However, get fucking Mason Ryan off my TV.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Ohno wasn't at the tapings and Neville took his spot in the Graves tag team.

Big Dave says there is some backstory for this but he's still trying to find out. I hope it's just a matter of the guy was sick or had an excused day off or something.

He's getting long in the tooth for Florida, for his sake I hope they figure something out for him soon.

Did Big Dave ever figure out the backstory.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Did Big Dave ever figure out the backstory.

Unless I missed it, no. I don't listen to the audio every day.

The bad news, is Ohno didn't work the tapings again. Unless he's hurt and nobody knows, I get the feeling he's on thin ice.

The good news, is Cesaro/Zayn supposedly had a MOTY contender. Best of three falls, went over 20:00.

 

[Big Papi]

Unless I missed it, no. I don't listen to the audio every day.

The bad news, is Ohno didn't work the tapings again. Unless he's hurt and nobody knows, I get the feeling he's on thin ice.

The good news, is Cesaro/Zayn supposedly had a MOTY contender. Best of three falls, went over 20:00.

I don't think that he is on thin ice i just think he is getting ready to come up. Apparently in a taping the Shield did a promo about him.

 

[FedEx227]

Unless I missed it, no. I don't listen to the audio every day.

The bad news, is Ohno didn't work the tapings again. Unless he's hurt and nobody knows, I get the feeling he's on thin ice.

The good news, is Cesaro/Zayn supposedly had a MOTY contender. Best of three falls, went over 20:00.

I listen to the audio daily. There hasn't been a mention of Ohno or anything about this particular story.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Unless I missed it, no. I don't listen to the audio every day.

The bad news, is Ohno didn't work the tapings again. Unless he's hurt and nobody knows, I get the feeling he's on thin ice.

The good news, is Cesaro/Zayn supposedly had a MOTY contender. Best of three falls, went over 20:00.

There is supposedly someone else (other than the Wyatt's) "ready to come up" but made no mention of whom. I thought maybe it'd be Ohno.

Ambrose went dark from FCW/NXT for a while before The Shield debuted.

 

[XavierDZ]

Anytime you put Cesaro and Sami Zayn in the ring together it is guaranteed to be great. Sami Zayn vs Antonio Cesaro 2/3 falls match is getting hype as Match of the year. I feel like WWE is screwing themselves by not having these matching on Raw or Smackdown TV. This match will probably air in 4 weeks, so when it does I will be back here to show them some more love and tell you how much I enjoyed their third FCW encounter.