With the first NXT elimination just a few weeks away, the 9th edition of WWE NXT came to you from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. As the first NXT elimination rapidly approaches, the eight NXT Rookies would take part in another challenge as they try to keep themselves out of the number eight spot in the competition. Plus, in his biggest match to date, NXT Rookie Heath Slater will go one-on-one with former World Heavyweight Champion and WWE Pro, Chris Jericho!
Match Results
- Justin Gabriel def. David Otunga by roll-up.
Justin Gabriel was about to roll up David Otunga, but Otunga reached out to his WWE Pro, R-Truth, for the unfair advantage, but, after Truth refused, Gabriel successfully rolled Gabriel up to win the match.
- Triple Threat Match: Darren Young def. Skip Sheffield & Michael Tarver (with Luke Gallows) by pin following a modified full nelson slam.
Darren Young climbed to the top rope, but Luke Gallows came out and knocked Young off of the top rope and also took Skip Sheffield out of the equation; leaving the door open for Michael Tarver to pick up the win, but Tarver took too much time and Darren Young was able to hit the full nelson slam en route to picking up the win.
- WWE Pro Vs. NXT Rookie: Heath Slater def. Chris Jericho by roll-up.
Detailed Results
The show kicks off with NXT Host Matt Striker, who introduces the eight NXT Rookies as they prepare for their latest NXT challenge! This week’s challenge was a physical test of strength of balance called “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Rookies” where two NXT Rookies will stand on pedestals and battle with barbell-style sticks with cushions on both sides and whoever knocks their adversary off of the pedestal will be declared the winner! The first two Rookies to take part in the challenge was the number four Rookie, Heath Slater, and the number five Rookie, David “A-List” Otunga with Slater being able to knock Otunga off of the pedestal to advance! Next up were the two big men of the NXT competition as Wade Barrett and Skip Sheffield and, in a close battle, it was Skip Sheffield narrowly beating Wade Barrett! Next up was Daniel Bryan and Michael Tarver with Daniel Bryan winning after Michael Tarver willingly forfeited the contest! Then it was down to Justin Gabriel and Darren Young with Young knocking Gabriel off of his pedestal to be the final Rookie to advance to the semi-finals! With Heath Slater, Skip Sheffield, Daniel Bryan, and Darren Young in the semi-finals, who will win the “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Rookies” competition to get their own feature on WWE.com?
The number five NXT Rookie, David “A-List” Otunga, was in action on NXT as he went one-on-one with the number three NXT Rookie, Justin Gabriel! After his WWE Pro, R-Truth, refused to help his NXT Rookie David Otunga get the unfair advantage on a roll-up counter, Justin Gabriel was able to roll Otunga up to pick up the win! How will David Otunga respond to R-Truth’s refusal to lend the unfair assist?
Then it was time for the semi-finals of the “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Rookies” competition as Skip Sheffield was able to knock Heath Slater off of his pedestal to advance to the Finals! Next up was Daniel Bryan and Darren Young with Darren Young knocking Bryan off of his pedestal to advance to the finals of the competition!
After forfeiting the “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Rookies” competition, Michael Tarver made an appearance in the ring and issues an open challenge to any NXT Rookie or WWE Pro! The challenge was answered by Skip Sheffield and the match was set to begin, but CM Punk, Luke Gallows, Serena, & Darren Young come out! Punk states that Darren Young is also looking for “competition” before announcing that he is adding Darren Young to the match between Skip Sheffield and Michael Tarver to make it a Triple Threat Match! In the middle of the match, it looked like Darren Young was set to pick up the win as he ascended to the top rope, but Luke Gallows came out and knocked Darren Young off of the top rope and took Skip Sheffield out as well, which left the door open for Michael Tarver to pick up the win! However, Tarver wasted too much time and Darren Young was able to catch Tarver with a modified full-nelson slam en route to picking up the win! How will CM Punk respond to Luke Gallows trying to cost Darren Young the match?
In the finals of the “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Rookie” competition, it was Skip Sheffield, after a too-close-to-call competition, who won the rematch over Darren Young to win the “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Rookie” competition and earn an exclusive feature on WWE.com!
Then it was time for the WWE Pro Vs. NXT Rookie main event as NXT Rookie Heath Slater would compete in the biggest match of his young career as he went one-on-one with the former World Heavyweight Champion, Chris Jericho! In a monumental upset, it was the NXT Rookie, Heath Slater, who countered an attempt at the Walls of Jericho to roll-up the six-time World Champion and pick up the victory over Chris Jericho! After the shocking loss, an enraged Chris Jericho rampaged the ringside area by dismantling the announce table and the ring steps and shouting at the referee of the match! Defeating an elite Superstar like Chris Jericho will no doubt give a major boost to the rise of Heath Slater in the NXT competition. Is Heath Slater well on his way to unseating Daniel Bryan as the number one Rookie in NXT?