-- 4/6 WWE NXT Reax

Rob Walden of Charleston, S.C., Broadcaster (3.0): Best Match: Kane vs. Slater. Worst Match: Bryan vs. Young. This was the first time that NXT hasn't gone head-to-head with college basketball, and thus the first time I have been able to watch more than a segment or two of the show. I was not impressed. For starters, Matt Striker is absolutely terrible as the "host." Does he have any question to ask other than "What are you thinking?" I think not. Also, I find out this week that the guy who is ranked #1 has lost all seven of his matches. I realize this is wrestling and win-loss records usually don't matter a whole lot, but what is the point of even trying if you can get ahead while being 0-7? And about those standings - how are they determined, again? Supposedly the Pros vote, but based on what weight to the criteria? Speaking of Pros, they were nowhere to be found. And the booking of matches was puzzling. I found out about this David Otunga fellow because he main-evented Raw on Monday, yet I flipped to NXT on Tuesday expecting him to be pushed and instead he lost clean in three minutes to a guy I never heard of. All of the Rookies, with the exception of Gabriel, came across as heels at some point. And finally, the logic behind the keg challenge and the main event was just bizarre. Slater's reward for winning the challenge was getting buried by Kane, while other rookies get to face each other? So, wouldn't Slater have been better of tanking the challenge like Bryan Daniel? And why, on a show that focuses on eight Rookies, does the main event push go to Kane? I realize when I watch wrestling that I'm not going to get the best storylines and writing, and that is fine. But this entire thing, from the overall concept of NXT to the booking of Tuesday night's show, seemed like it was poorly planned and poorly executed.

Henry Jenkins of Seattle, Wash. (8.0): Best: New challenge format. Worst: Barrett-Otunga. I don't remember the last time that a wrestling show looked so unscripted (in a good way). I feel like a sucker saying this, but as far as I can tell the keg carrying challenge was legitimate, and the main event spot was actually up for grabs. If it was, that's good television. Heath Slater looked good in the loss to Kane, too. Daniel Bryan's remark about Jim Ross had my jaw on the floor. My hero! Meanwhile, Michael Cole's loathing for Bryan is bizarre. Most heels play their role for comedy. Cole just sounds whackadoo. ... Darren Young needs to turn heel. Every time he laughs and dances around I just want to smack the taste out of his mouth. There is no one else in the company who irritates me that much. Most heels could learn something from him.

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (9.0): Best: Kane vs. Slater. Worst: commentary lapses. This was a very nice follow-up to last week's activities. The Kane follow-up from Smackdown made sense. David Otunga explained himself very well for why he didn't take the tag title ball and run with it on Raw. His answer fit his character (as well not fearing Batista when he came out to pick up the Cena pieces). I also liked the multiple inset promos and the opening interview segment reacting to the Rankings posted last week. I could tell where I was seated during NXT last week, but for those who may not have noticed, I sided with the WWE.com poll that put Tarver dead last. I brought PASS or FAIL signs for each of the Rookies, and held up just one FAIL: Michael Tarver. It looks like WWE realized they needed to give him something to do so he's not passed over, but I think it's "too little too late" at this point. ... Michael Cole has been a poor man's Jim Ross long before NXT existed. This week, Cole couldn't even get the heel mannerisms on commentary right! His anti-Bryan remarks came out with the same passion--or lack thereof--as his pro-face comments on Raw. I'll give him one, though, for correcting Josh Matthews on Heath Slater's tagline. The line really was "Rock star without instruments" back on Week One before the update to "One man rock band." I'd suggest having Cole switch with Matt Striker, but I don't even think he could get the interview across properly.

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for an "NXT TV Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. Just to add a twist to this feature, include not just your hometown, but also your occupation (mechanic, lawyer, stay-at-home-dad, college student, etc.) so readers get a flavor for what everyone does as "day jobs." To contribute your thoughts on NXT, click here.

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