Today on NXT: Redemption, the competition enters week 37. In other words, this is the start of the 10th month of this show, and we still don't have a winner. But they've got to have one at some point, right? Derrick Bateman, Titus O'Neil and whoever else stops by will get their chances to shine and show that they deserve to be featured on Raw and/or Smackdown. Read on for my thoughts on the show as it happens.
Percy and Titus are sharp dressers.
Percy's reminding me a bit of his old pro MVP here.
At least Titus is being presented well.
With Young's suspension, Titus is the only rookie to have been here from the start of the season.
Titus finally showing some fire on the mic.
Hawkins and Reks make good points.
I love this show. People get a lot more leeway to do what they do best. I wish the other shows did that.
Is this kind of thing really that hard to put together? Why do we only see it here?
Bateman vs. Striker?
I like Titus well enough, but he could definitely learn quite a bit from Regal. Then again, pretty much anyone could.
Not so crazy about the Showtime Splash.
Good match. Both men hopefully have bright futures.
Why couldn't we have gotten this Johnny Curtis on Smackdown?
You wouldn't think they'd be talking about doing better than NBC shows since Raw's on a network affiliated with them.
JTGina? I guess it could work.
So, Yoshi went through that serious transformation and they're talking about his action figures and Twitter...
Regal actually had a match with Daniel Bryan the same day NXT was taped last week, so his absence comes from that.
I'm fine with that match and ending.
Hahaha JTG's got the gift of gab for sure.
It took a while after Rock said it for that phrase to trend, but it eventually did.
Enjoyable stuff from everyone backstage.
Brock Lesnar, Mick Foley and Batista are also in WWE '12.
Oh, Regal...
Fun moment with Hawkins and Percy at ringside.
Reks is definitely the more refined and experienced performer here.
Meh, not a bad match. Just nothing extraordinary from Titus.
That surprise attack would have been better if I hadn't heard about it beforehand.
Good stuff from Young. Intense and to the point. I like him best when he's more of a silent killer.
On to this week's rankings: 1 shouldn't even be on NXT, 2 should be dropped from the show/eliminated soon, 3 is good but not great, 4 is on the way to being ready to "move up" but not there yet, and 5 is ready for the main roster.
Derrick Bateman - 5 (Last week:4). I can't believe I'm doing this. I haven't thought a competitor was 5 worthy since Wade Barrett all the way back in Season 1 (though Riley was pretty close). Bateman has been putting on phenomenal work on a weekly basis now and I think he's THIS close to being fully ready for the main roster. He could at the very least be a part of Superstars and/or Smackdown. I'd just like to see more of him competing in the ring before definitively saying he should be moved up. A tentative "check" from me (in the A range).
Titus O'Neil - 4 (Last week:4). Not a good week for Titus, especially in the ring. The other people competing on this show (Rookie, Pro, and Superstar alike) are a good deal ahead of him and it's not doing him any favors. He needs to put on some really good matches in the weeks to come and continue to show drive on the mic if he wants to stand a puncher's chance. B range, leaning towards B- (the other people on the show have kind of "screwed up the curve for him".
Darren Young - 4. (Last week: N/A). I started not to put Young on the
rankings since he didn't do much other than come back, but I figured I'd
at least mention him. My "memories of him" from before the suspension
were partially reawakened, but he's going to have to hit the ground
running to jump back to where he was. Theoretically somewhere in the B area for now, as his comeback was mostly good.
That's all for NXT this week. I'll be back for Superstars and Impact Wrestling tomorrow, and a news post will be up later. Thanks for reading!
Nice insights this week as usual. I admit that it was very great to see Young back in there. He was really back to his old self and it seems he hasn't missed a beat. He still has that fire and determination that he had before his suspension. You can tell someone has that fire in them when they showed so much in just two minutes.
ReplyDeleteTo be quite honest...it takes someone with true talent to be able to shake up a show within just two minutes of air time. Young did that. Honestly, would any of the other two contestants be able to show as much as Young did in those two minutes? I like it. I think it speaks volumes when Regal, who Young had a minor feud with, even speaks his praises. Hopefully he can continue that. He is a true performer, and he knows he has a little bit of ground to make up because of his suspension.
Would you agree that if Young continues his ruthlessness and intensity over the next weeks, he would have a bright future in this industry? He has some small flaws (I'm assuming he will address more in detail in a promo next week why he attacked Titus and his absense), but then again, there are some stars in this industry that get good air time that have even more flaws. I think with the show being almost over, he didn't have a chance to cut a lengthy promo. At the risk of sounding redundant, I won't talk too much on Titus, with my opinion of his progression remaining the same. I also kept in mind that that promo at the beginning was also assisted by Watson. I would like to see how Titus does by himself. You made a good point that he may not be ready for that.
I respect your opinion of Bateman, but a perfect 5? I think there are many that would argue that solidified stars such as Cena or Orton aren't even at a 5 with them having holes in their game. You are very knowledgable in general, but I have to respectfully disagree.
Bateman has showed a lot and has grown, but a 5 is a bit much. There are still some holes in his game, despite improving. His in-ring talent isn't solidified yet, and I think some of the other intangibles he needs to work on. Maybe part of it is because you're a fan of him from last season? I do like a lot from him, however. His in-ring talent isn't "main roster" worthy, but I agree he has more effort and ruthlessness than he did last season.
Hmm. Generally performers I like I've seen around for a while, so I don't know if anyone can be a huge shakeup in only two minutes unless they're at the level of a Rock. I did like the promo and finisher, though. I'd say that a fair number of people have done good some work in the past couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteI try to always say that I'd like to see someone have a bright future moreso than they will have a bright future, because sometimes there's not much telling who will work out in the long run. WWE can be "ADD" on wrestlers at times.
I'm thinking they only had him do the run-in and not a promo so they can give us something to look forward to for next week ("Today Young addresses his attack on Titus").
I'm not as sold on Titus as I have been in the past. While I think it could just be that he and Reks didn't match up well, this was definitely kind of an "off week" for him in the ring. When there are only a few people on the show to compare him with, he looks better.
Sorry for the confusion: I don't think Bateman's a perfect 5. The scale is for how ready they are for getting a spot on the main roster (and those spots are kind of slim at times). The 5 just means that I think he's ready for a more regular spot on the main roster (with a little more fine-tuning).
I agree that he still has room to grow, especially in the ring. I think he's ready for "tryout" matches and brief appearances on the main roster. Remember when Jinder Mahal debuted on Smackdown and basically got however many weeks of matches that he dominated? That's where I think Bateman can be about now (I don't think he's 100% there, but he's close enough to rank him as ready).
Fair point, but I think what he's doing this season is very different from Season 4. His whole demeanor and character in particular are a big contrast from the goofball comedy character from then. I think that him doing well in this role after doing a completely different role last time makes him look better. If I were seeing him for the first time this season, things would likely be different.
Oh, a final note: main roster worthy doesn't necessarily mean a big part of Raw and/or Smackdown each week. I mean that he's (at least getting close to being) ready for moving past NXT.
I remember you mentioning before that your rankings were based on being ready for main roster, so that's my bad on the misinterpretation. That makes more sense now. I actually heard he's slated to compete in singles action on SmackDown, so it seems some others agree on your stance of him.
ReplyDeleteIf you think about it, around May when the competition had legs, Titus did improve a lot since Season 2. However, I think he's kind of flat-lined since then for the most part, overall. For Bateman to come back in this competition like 15 weeks in and fix some of the issues he's had in the past that quickly, it speaks volumes not only for Derrick, but for O'Neil being mundane as well. That isn't good for Titus lol.
As for Young, he did do well this week in just a few minutes on the show. The next few weeks will be critical, but I think with his determination and will, he can get back in the good graces again.
Regal made a great point (like usual) by saying Young has the tools to win this competition; it's just up to him to show it and make the added effort. I don't necessarily see the same instance with Titus.
A good point you made before is that you're looking for someone who you want to see out there in that you won't flip the remote to a different channel. The main supporting point to back that up is that Titus doesn't prevent that from happening right now. Darren and Bateman are the two that you actually want to see what they will do next and will basically pay to see. Wouldn't you agree?
That's good to hear! Explains why he was talking to Long on the phone. He's working hard. They've used him in backstage segments and the battle royal so they at least pay attention to the show.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Titus hasn't improved as much as Bateman, but Titus has a lot less experience pre-WWE. Not that I'm saying that's a good thing for Titus. I think he's ok in places, but if I had to choose between him and some of the others on the show (The Usos, Hawkins, Reks, Curtis, Watson, etc.), his odds of being my choice to win wouldn't be good at all.
Regal's a very smart guy. I definitely sided with him in the conversation he was having with Titus.
In essence, that is the argument. Bateman's definitely on the "tune in next week" list. Titus I'm not really sold on in that regard (maybe as a team with Percy).
Young I like, but I'd like to see him get more of an "edge" like he's shown in the past. To me his character's a hard worker, but not really someone for fans to boo like when he was when he was attacking people (he got more like that this week). Fighting announcers and smaller performers, and using sneak attacks and that kind of thing is more what I like as a bad guy.
I like his character, but not having days off and wanting to win NXT could just as easily be the basis for a good guy character. Being arrogant/confident about his chances of doing so is nice, though.
Fair point about Young. He is in a tough spot with the fan vote, though. I've already mentioned my dislike of the fan vote being a marketing ploy, but I think it can kind of hold him back.
ReplyDeleteLet me put it this way: Alex Riley and Lucky were just pure evil to the fans. While that is a good way to stand out, in a competition like NXT it's not the best route with the fan vote. I'm not saying Young should pander to the crowd, but I'm saying I don't blame him if he doesn't diss the crowd or go "super heel" like Cannon did. It ended up with Cannon finishing in the bottom three, when if this was Season 1 WITHOUT a fan vote, he probably would have been in the finals.
Don't get me wrong: I like it when Young shows his ruthlessness side. But, I think it's wise when he simply does it to his opponents and doesn't go "super heel" by dissing crowds or disowning Chavo, for example. I think it's a wise strategy in a competiton like this to show your aggression and determination to your opponents and not others. Do you get what I mean?
I think if and when he makes it onto the main rosters, things would be different and he would be more of a "super villian". It's kind of like Riley or Orton being made to be "face" characters. They have proven they are better as "heels", but that's not the route they've been given, so they hold back on what they're best at. You get my point?
I don't think it will cost him, though. It's just wiser to go that route. As long as he doesn't cross that "imaginary line" by going awol on the crowds and everyone else, I think he'll still show how determined and agressive he is. For now, it's just not a wise strategy go "super heel", so I can see how he may hold back at times. Let me know if you agree.
aggressive*
ReplyDeleteI also think that the "No Days Off" gimmick can work both ways. I don't think it really matters if he's a good guy or a bad guy, because it reigns true. He advertises himself as a hard worker who puts in the time and effort, and there's no reason a heel can't do that.
ReplyDeleteI actually kind of forgot about the fan vote for a while there because it's been so long since it's been brought up on the show. Whoops. That does change things. Very good point, though given how the competition has been lately (with no eliminations), it might end up a moot point to a degree. In the end, they'll probably just "pick who they want" to use like they always do.
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting question: try to last longer in the competition because of fan votes or try to be a very evil character that management will be impressed with. Obviously not everyone on the show can be a good guy. Pretty notable flaw to the concept!
I like the idea that fans' opinions matter, but I wish there was something that balanced that out more. I can't really think of a way that would work with the fan vote that wouldn't either diminish its percentage or "manipulate" it.
I really liked Cannon's gimmick for a while, but it kind of wore thin in time and I don't know if his ring work was enough for me to say he'd be a finalist. Obviously WWE didn't see too much in him after his second elimination because he was released not too long afterward.
I definitely see what you mean now. I just totally forgot the fan vote aspect.
I agree that Riley's a natural bad guy, though he was in a good position to be a face after the Miz angle. I think with Orton the fans started cheering him so much that they kind of gave up and turned him. Other than playing to the crowd more, he's still got quite a bit of edge to his character.
Like I said earlier, that really does put him in an odd situation. He (presumably) wouldn't get as far with the fans by being a "super heel", but the higher-ups (and Pros) might really like his work in that way and keep him in mind for doing the main roster once the show's over.
Derrick Bateman is in a similar spot. He wasn't clicking as well as a good guy earlier this season, so he made the switch-over. I'D certainly rather see a good heel than a bland babyface, but it's beneficial for Titus to stay as the latter (and the show needs SOME good guys to work I think).
I see the point about the "No Days Off" gimmick, too. It's just kind of a matter of is he not taking days off because he wants to see the fans (good guy) or because he wants to be there to attack/get by anyone who gets in his way in any way possible (bad guy). In of itself, it's kind of neutral.
I may have overexaggerated about Lucky. I think he had a lot going for him, but you're right in that even though his gimmick was good, he wasn't great in the ring. But, the general point is there in that being a complete villian will ultimately cost you.
ReplyDeleteI know the WWE is a business, but I honestly think that just a pro's poll would be best. You and I have talked about this before, but I just think that it complicates things too much to have a fan vote. Most of the time, fans just vote for who panders to them, regardless of in-ring and intangible-based skills. I could be a little off, though, because Riley made it to the finals in Season 2 even with the fan vote. Surely, Lucky would have finished over Conor O'Brien if this was just a pro's poll competition, though. Same with Riley finishing over McGillicutty.
Also, I think it's best for the stars of today who have been in and out of that ring to decide the contest. I just think they know what it takes to have the tools to make it in the company, in which the fans don't.
It is truly kind of a damned if you do and damned if you don't kind of a thing with Young and Bateman in terms of being a heel. I try not to harp on either of them too badly, because of the fans' vote being 50 percent. If this was one of the main rosters, I would definitely change my tune, though. I say that, because it wouldn't be a contest anymore, and they have fewer reservations and reasons to hold back.
Hmm... it's a tough call. I like the fan vote on the grounds that it gives viewers input. It's a little like American Idol in that sense. In theory, people are more likely to watch if they think (know) that their opinion matters. I'm not really sure what people wanted with NXT that led to them tuning out, other than the Season 1 cast in my opinion being the best and other seasons not being able to reach that level. But that could have been because it was a new idea at the time and there was a lot more effort put into everything. Seasons 2-5 have had at least 1 competitor who was really unpolished (O'Neil/Cottonwood in 2, Novak in 4 and 5, and I had Maxine and Aksana in that label for a while in Season 3). Those were the hypothetical 1s and 2s since I didn't have the blog then.
ReplyDeleteI think pandering only goes so far. Bateman kissed up to the hometown crowd a LOT in Season 4, and some have argued that AJ pandered a lot in Season 3. It's really tough to say. The Pro they're with and how they play off of them could be a big deal too . Kids loved Hornswoggle when he was with O'Neil, they disliked LayCool (and so supported Kaval when he wasn't much like them), and of course hated Vickie so they rooted for Kaitlyn.
To some degree, to make it in the company (as a good guy) you need to get the fans behind you, so there's that argument.
Maybe the vote should just count less? Even then, it's biased towards the faces. The only compromise to come to mind would be that fans can vote for someone or against someone, and those "against" votes would be seen as possible signs that they're doing well as a heel. But of course, people will also vote against because they think someone is just bad at wrestling.
I guess they could say that they "take fan votes into account" but it isn't officially 50% to counter it some. But some fans would dislike that and (theoretically)not watch the show.
Either way, I agree that the pros are more likely to know who will be successful in the long run than the fans. People's tastes are fleeting sometimes. Otherwise American Idol finalists would be doing a good deal better than they are.
And I see that point, too. Though I don't think Bateman's really holding back as far as how he addresses the fans. Maybe he's thinking that the competition doesn't really matter as much in the long run since management will use whoever they think will work best anyway?
Note: This week's NXT thoughts will be up later in the day (11/24) due to Thanksgiving-related activities on the 23rd and 24th. I was quite busy offline and had to postpone covering it. Sorry!
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