The fifth edition of WWE NXT came to you from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. One week before the first round of voting for the NXT Rookies commences, all eight NXT Rookies would be in action on NXT in two separate tag matches. The first tag match would see the reluctant NXT Rookie of United States & Unified WWE Tag Team Champion The Miz, Daniel Bryan, team with the NXT Rookie of Carlito, Michael Tarver, as they face the team of R-Truth’s Rookie, David Otunga, and the Rookie of CM Punk, Darren Young. The other tag match would see Christian’s NXT Rookie, Heath Slater, team with the Rookie of Matt Hardy, Justin Gabriel, as the exciting young team would face World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho’s NXT Rookie, Wade Barrett, and William Regal’s Rookie, Skip Sheffield.
Match Results
- Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel def. Wade Barrett & Skip Sheffield by Heath Slater pinning Skip Sheffield following an inadvertant big boot by Wade Barrett.
- David Otunga & Darren Young (with The Straightedge Society) def. Daniel Bryan & Michael Tarver (with Carlito) by David Otunga pinning Daniel Bryan following a modified spinebuster slam.
During the match, Michael Tarver took issue with Luke Gallows on the outside of the ring, which prevented Daniel Bryan from making the much-needed tag to Tarver. This led to David Otunga hitting a modified spinebuster slam on Bryan en route to picking up the win.
Detailed Results
The opening match of the night would see NXT Rookies compete in tag team action as Christian’s NXT Rookie, Heath Slater, would team with Matt Hardy’s NXT Rookie, Justin Gabriel, to face the NXT Rookie of World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho, Wade Barrett, and the Rookie of William Regal, Skip Sheffield. In the end, it was an inadvertent big boot by Wade Barrett that led to Heath Slater pinning Skip Sheffield to pick up the win for himself and Justin Gabriel! How will this tag team victory weigh with the WWE Pros when the first round of NXT voting takes place next week? How will the mistake by Wade Barrett factor in to the voting?
Then it was time for the main event as the NXT Rookie of The Miz, Daniel Bryan, would team with the NXT Rookie of Carlito, Michael Tarver as the duo faces off with R-Truth’s Rookie, David Otunga, and CM Punk’s Rookie, Darren Young. With Michael Tarver taking issue with Luke Gallows of The Straightedge Society on the outside, Daniel Bryan was unable to make a much-needed tag to Tarver and it led to David Otunga planting Daniel Bryan en route to picking up the win for himself and Darren Young! Daniel Bryan continues to be a victim of circumstance and it has resulted in Bryan being on a losing streak since his NXT debut. How will this and other factors weigh in when the first round of NXT voting gets underway next week?