NXT in a Nutshell 29/08/12

It's all about the championship.

When creating a new championship, it is important to tick all the right boxes so to convey the importance of someone being the first person in history that will hold onto the title. You need to give fans time to digest the thought of who will be champion and, in turn, force them to think about what it means to be the first champion of any promotion. You do this by producing video packages that have relative superstars talk about the prestige and honour that accompanies the wining of a major championship. Finally, the eventual match up that decides the champion needs to be treated as the most important match in the promotion's history.

Even before the NXT "Gold Rush" tournament decided its last two competitors, i envisioned that this should be the way the final championship match is promoted. Surprisingly, WWE agreed with me on every single point. As a result, the lead up to this week's NXT Championship match between Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal has been nothing short of PERFECT. Let me explain.

Usually, when tournaments reach their final match, this battle is rushed to the following week's episode with little to no fanfare. The Intercontinental Championship tournament involving CM Punk and William Regal in 2008 immediately comes to mind. However, this was NOT the case on 2012 NXT. Realising the importance of the match, WWE decided to hold off this bout and produce an episode that focused on a final "face to face" interview between Rollins and Mahal explaining their desire to be the first NXT Champion. Furthermore, this episode was littered with several tremendous video packages involving major league WWE superstars (John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler etc) talking about how winning the NXT championship is the next step to getting into the WWE and how IMPORTANT it is to be the first NXT Champion in history.This was exactly what NXT needed: a show based around the blending of current/relevant WWE Superstars with the happenings of NXT episodes. When fans interact with segments/videos involving guys like John Cena and championships such as the WWE Title, the word "relevance" immediately rings true.

This week, the main event segment involving Seth Rollins defeating Jinder Mahal was one of the most perfectly constructed segments i have seen all year on WWE television. With the buzz word being "importance", WWE pulled out all the stops to make this match the most important match of the week AND the most important match in the history of NXT as a brand. How did they do this? First, the entire NXT locker room was positioned on the entrance ramp so that all of them could witness the crowning of a brand new champion. Secondly, NXT General Manager Dusty Rhodes walked the isle, shook hands with both Rollins and Mahal (well, ATTEMPTED to shake Mahal's hand!) and oversaw the match from the outside. Thirdly, Jim Ross joined the commentary desk to add a main event aura that only Good ol' JR can add. Finally, Howard Finkle, the hall of fame ring announcer of thousands of historical matches, came out of retirement to deliver his passionate introductions for both Mahal and Rollins. I cannot tell you the joy i felt when The Fink announced Rollins as the "NEEEEEEEEEWWWWW NXT CHAMPION!".

 

The inclusion of historical figures, the blending of traditional modes of championship match booking and the enhancement of the old "big fight feel" made the lead up and the eventual presentation of this week's NXT episode feel like major historical event in the annals of WWE Folk law. This is something that i definitely thought was a lost art outside the lead up to Wrestlemania. When you take all these important aspects involved in booking a main event and give each one of them time to breathe, you are destined for something special. This is not brain surgery. This doesn't need to be complex. Thankfully, the people down at Full Sail University realised this and produced a build up to a match that was easy to follow and easy to engage with. The story was simple: two men will enter, one will leave with the glory and pageantry that is attached to winning the first NXT title. All involved (including Triple H, the overseer of NXT) should be commended for their attention to details and for choosing the former ROH World Champion Seth Rollins to lead NXT into the future as the first NXT Champion. By default, i cannot wait to see what the next episode of NXT will bring. Tremendous job WWE!

Match Result Express:

1: Mike Dalton & Jason Jordan def by Hunico and Camacho (**1/4):

• Was great to see a return match between these two teams. Furthermore, i am liking how NXT are connecting previous matches together into a coherent, simple storyline. This week, Hunico and Camacho were determined to overcome a team that etched out a "fluke win" over them. Great!

• While the fans aren't completely into him as of yet (maybe due to the fact he hasn't been featured on NXT as much), i am already a big fan of Mike Dalton. Every time he got into the ring, he oozed professionalism and fluidity in his work. Quick and slick, this youngster from Lance Storm's wrestling academy is definitely someone to keep an eye on.

• The match itself was a perfectly fine opener that was straightforward and well executed by all involved. Hunico, especially lead an impressive heat sequence on Jason Jordan, using a flurry of innovative Suplexes and dives to keep him grounded (ie the School Boy into the corner that floated into a Gut Wrench Powerbomb brought the fans to their feet.) 

• Dalton's hot tag got a luke-warm reaction from Full Sail, but to his credit, Dalton kept on track and didn't let the fans swerve his momentum. I especially liked how Dalton went back to the finish of their previous match (ie the Hurracurrana into a pinning attempt) to give the fans the false impression of a second "upset".

• While the established team of Hunico and Camacho got their "win back", the announcers gave us the impression that these two teams will fight again. I certainly hope so, as it is Dalton and Jordan who should eventually get the better of the Smackdown regulars in the end of this mini-rivalry. Great start to the show.

2: Big E Langston def Chase Donivan (SQUASH)

• This was a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" squash match with absolutely nothing to it: Running splash leading into a overhead Gut-Buster into a chest-first Diamond Cutter.

• There was so little in this match that it was one of the worst examples of a squash. Sure, Big E Langston looks like a cross between Bobby Lashley and Mark Henry. However, you should never book a match where the guy doesn't get to showcase his entire arsenal. This was a case of Langston coming off as just another meat ax who can't wrestle all that well and is limited to two power moves. We need to see more out of Langston than two moves every week for this guy to get anywhere near as over as WWE want him to be.

• Regardless, it was smart to begin to build up a monster for the NXT Champion to fight/defend against. If there is one thing that is lacking in NXT, it is brute, powerhouse Heels. If Langston has the skill to carry a longer match, he could definitely be one to watch. The look is there. The intensity is there. However, with 30 second squash matches, its hard to see if the skill is there.

3: NXT Championship Match: 

Seth Rollins def Jinder Mahal to become the first ever NXT Champion. (***1/4)

• Going into this match, both characters had a defined archs: Mahal was the undefeated, arrogant Heel that had used his Camel Clutch to secure definitive victories over NXTs best. Rollins had scratched and clawed his was to the finals as the "never say die" Babyface, but in doing so, had upset many WWE mainstays such as Drew McIntyre and Michael Migillicutty. The stage was set for something special.

• With the fans hot as hell for this one, Rollins and Mahal put on a great 20-minute main event that went back a forth. Rollins' savvy shone through early as he avoided the Camel Clutch numerous times. However, the transition point that lead into Mahal getting heat on Rollins looked painful and came off perfectly (ie a leg trip on the apron that sent Rollins face-first into the corner of the mat, followed by Mahal Gorilla Pressing Rollins off the apron to the stage).

• With more time given to this main event match, Mahal's offence, at times, came off as basic and text-book like. Furthermore, his selling, especially for the Babyface fire sequences came off as slow and lacking impact. We could talk forever as to weather Mahal deserved to be in this final match. regardless, he was a well booked Heel and was able to keep up with Rollins throughout.

• Rollins continued to showcase his amazing ring work via moves such as an attempted heel take down that was reversed into a spinning Pale' kick. The crowd couldn't help but come alive as Rollins contrasted Mahal's "ground and pound offence" with a flurry of dropkicks and dives. This guy knows how to provide fans with an entertaining Babyface fire sequence!

• The finish saw great near falls that tied into Mahal's working on Rollins back (ie via a picture perfect Top Rope Super-plex) while Rollins countered this with his Stomp finisher from the top rope. As the crowd became absolutely unglued, the story of Mahal never being able to lock in the Camel Clutch came to fruition, as Rollins reversed the clutch into Rollins' trademark Powerbomb into the corner that followed into his Stomp for the decisive pin. A fantastic finish to a match deserving of being the first NXT Championship match.

Thanks for reading folks!

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