So let's talk NXT Season Four
 

Should there be a fourth season, first and foremost? Personally, I like the concept, and I think that the WWE went completely off the track with it when they decided to use the Divas concept this season. The way the WWE treats their women? Yeah, no buys.

The concept is a great way to introduce new talent to the WWE audience, and interact with some top stars very early on into their careers. You just have to make sure you don't call up too many guys that are too green, like Titus O'Neill, Eli Cottonwood and David Otunga.

With Seth Rollins, Xavier Woods, Johnny Curtis, Kenny Li, Jinder Mahal, Tito Colon, Hunico, Damien Sandow, Wes Brisco, Brad Maddox and even Bo Rotundo in development, there are plenty of guys to help a show like that out. Couple them with interesting Pros, and you've got yourself a winning season.

For some reason, the idea of Edge mentoring Seth Rollins intrigues me. LayCool being paired with Sandow could be entertaining, too -- and could eventually lead to Sandow feuding with Kaval. David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd ending up as Pros on NXT 4 could be a great way to continue the tension between them, and get two new guys over, as well.

What sort of stuff would you like to see in a fourth season of NXT?

I'd like to see it back on an actual television station and not just the internet, for one.

I wanna see Mason Ryan, but he will probably squash everyone. Is Richie Steamboat ready yet?

Yeah I never understood why SyFy chose not to keep it because they were getting SmackDown. If SmackDown is your highest rated show, wouldn't you want something else of the same genre that would get the same audience?

Also, NXT probably draws a lot more people than most SyFy shows.

I too would like to see Steamboat. To make it better, Jericho should come back and be his pro.

They get their original and recycled crap for a lot less than it would take to pay WWE to keep it on the network, I'm sure.

I want Sheik to be a pro.

"Brett Dibbiase, me an yur dat we wratsle and fawking hulk hogan an that lil faggot b brian blair I fawking kill them."

We need Booker T to return as a trainer for Tough Enough, if not NXT.

Michael Cole is gonna be a pro next season. If there is one.

Also, it will be an all-midget season of NXT to determine WWE's next breakout mini.

I have not been able to see too many of the FCW superstars in action but here's who and what I would like to see

Rookie: Pro

Seth Rollins: Santino Marella
Johnny Curtis: Curt Hawkins
Jackson Andrews: Beth Phoenix
Hunico: Rey Mysterio
Jinder Mahal: The Great Khali (he's still employed yes?)
Mason Ryan: Drew McIntyre
Xavier Woods: Jack Swagger
Brett Dibiase (if he's 100%): Ted Dibiase

-The "internet darling" mixed up with Santino the comic goof.
-Hunico could be the "next Rey Mysterio" with Rey there as mentor and listens to whatever Rey tells him. However, he eventually turns on him leading to a feud between the two.
-Brett and Ted are pretty self explanatory.
-Khali teaching a rookie of indian heritage
-Swagger as a pro trying to mold Xavier to be like him but to little avail
-Drew and Mason just seemed like a natural fit
-Hawkins and Curtis just seemed like something WWE might do
-And I just thought Beth Phoenix as a pro would be interesting. Team her up with the big Jackson Andrews

So yea what do you think?

So Hornswoggle will be a pro as well? XD

They need to do Tag Teams

Tyler Black as a rookie can be the successor to Daniel Bryan/Kaval.

So then the season would be 3 weeks long?

Im sure they could dig up 12 guys to form 6 tag teams

Sounds like a plan to me! :y: If only season three could have lasted that short.

Is it wrong that season 3 is the only season I have watched in its entirety?

And that I watched it mostly for the commentary?

<font color=goldenrod>Here's my guesses, assuming no pros are used from older seasons:

Rookies: Brodus Clay, Derrick Bateman, Hunico, Jackson Andrews, Johnny Curtis, Mason Ryan, Wes Brisco, Xavier Woods

Pros: Big Show, Chavo Guerrero, Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Santino Marella, Ted DiBiase, Vladimir Kozlov

Let's try to pair them up:

Brodus Clay: Vladimir Kozlov
Derrick Bateman: Big Show
Hunico: Chavo Guerrero
Jackson Andrews: Jack Swagger
Johnny Curtis: Dolph Ziggler
Mason Ryan: Ted DiBiase
Wes Brisco: Santino Marella
Xavier Woods: Daniel Bryan

Storylines include Woods being this year's "internet darling" while Cole is all like "oh sure, pair one internet darling with another". He can also bitch that Bryan has no business being a Pro with less than a year's experience. You also have the usual mix of some pros not liking their rookies, some rookies not liking their pros, and compatible pairings. Mason Ryan feels like the obvious winner here, and I envision DiBiase trying to buy him as a bodyguard but Ryan has none of it. Chavo's rookie also speaks only Spanish so Chavo decides to be a dick and ad-lib his promos and put words into his mouth.

All of these guys were filmed at last weekend's FCW show, and 3 of them (Ryan, Clay, Andrews) have been working dark matches so they all feel likely.</font>

Probably not going to be doing another season of NXT....rumors are circulating that WWE is making posts for tryouts and advertising a reviving of the original Tough Enough series. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Tough Enough the Next Generation

TENXTG

So are these the names those potiental NXTers will have? Or are they going to get the NXT Name Generator treatment?

If Mason is paired with Santino I'd piss myself.

Tyler Black.

I've seen quite a bit of Mason Ryan on internet clippings and on UK Gladiators and also live at Butlins where he had a great match with the now 'Brutus Magnus' Nick Aldis.

The thing with him is that he needs to be portrayed as an invincible destroyer who's only goal is winning, He is without doubt the next Bill Goldberg.

He would be better introduced to the 'WWE Universe' in another way. Have him make the save for a face who's on the end of a beatdown, then have him refuse to shake hands with the face so he remains a bit of a loner. Not a heel but nobodies friend. a bit loose cannonish.

I think having him jump through hoops on NXT playing ridiculous games is going to be detrimental to that image, They need to have him refuse to take part in ridiculous things like running round the ring with a barrel. He should just lift it and walk slowly and reluctantly. Would love to see a few of the pro's appear afraid of him, (Santino, Chavo, Ryder etc) Have him lay out his pro on a match on Raw or Smackdown then as the opponent go to say thanks then lay out his pro's opponent aswell.

Agreed 100% with Brigger, Mason Ryan is more suited to make a "shocking" debut at a PPV or even Raw.

Only to break them up throughout the season ending with 1 tag team; the winning team would then break up after being unable to beat Slater and Gabriel for the tag belts the following week on RAW

I'm actually going to start with the Pros. Here are the eight Pros I would choose for next season:

Big Show: A former World Champion with something to promote, could use the extra exposure, and could be genuinely entertaining within the format.

David Hart Smith: Although they seem out of place in this list; I don't mind the idea of DH Smith and Tyson Kidd competing with their rookies, to see who manages to keep theirs in the longest. It also balances things out on the RAW and SmackDown! side, and keeps a balanced face/heel dynamic.

Edge: The usually selfish Edge would lend an interesting coaching dynamic towards whoever he is paired with. Plus, Edge is a former nine-time World Champion (and might be winning his tenth soon). This all adds up to someone who can be taken seriously as a WWE Pro.

Jack Swagger: Another former World Champion who could use some time going over some rookies. Plus, I really want to see the pairing of him and Wes Brisco together. They could play up Swagger being discovered by Wes' father.

Rey Mysterio: Anyone Rey Mysterio is mentoring is going to be instantly over with the fanbase. As a former World Heavyweight Champion and Royal Rumble winner, he also has the credibility to be an effective coach.

Sheamus: I don't know why, but the idea of Sheamus being a Pro is interesting to me. As a former two-time WWE Champion, Sheamus could give a guy credibility, heat, and a continued on-air relationship would be interesting in a Miz/Alex Riley sort of way.

The Miz: Yeah, he's been on it for two previous seasons, but now that he's the WWE Champion it can lend something else to his coaching. There's nothing wrong with having your champion's face pop-up places, either. You've also got the dynamic between Miz and Big Show to play on. He can also send out Alex Riley to wrestle the rookies sometimes, which can be further development for Riley and be a good gauge of where the rookies stand on the credibility ladder.

Tyson Kidd: Essentially the same sort of deal as with DH Smith. This could also allow Kidd to really show off his skills with former World Champions, and put himself over as "Bret Hart's protoge" and "The Crown Prince of the WWE." Having both members of the former Hart Dynasty there could also allow for some Natalya appearances on NXT. And that wouldn't be a bad thing.

Now, as for who their rookies could be?

Big Show: Xavier Woods
David Hart Smith: Johnny Curtis
Edge: Seth Rollins
Jack Swagger: Wes Brisco
Rey Mysterio: Hunico
Sheamus: Conor O'Brien
The Miz: Jackson Andrews
Tyson Kidd: Richie Steamboat

Big Show is paired with a guy he puts over as having perhaps an even larger heart than himself. Plus, the idea of having them in tag team matches would be Woods absorbing the punishment and then tagging in Show who dominates, tags in Woods, who gets the pin.

DH Smith can be paired with Johnny Curtis. This is just a random one, but Smith could put over that Curtis was trained by the legendary Killer Kowalski, and that now he gets the secrets of the Hart and Smith family passed onto him.

Edge and Seth Rollins would be an interesting partnership, and Rollins could get quite over from it, as he really has the talent to succeed. A match I saw between him and Richie Steamboat from FCW recently was really quite amazing.

Jack Swagger taking on Wes Brisco is one that I really want to see. Gerald Brisco, Wes' father, discovered Swagger. It'd be an interesting dynamic that could either cause tension or allow them to get along well.

Rey Mysterio and Hunico being paired up because the two are both masked is pretty cliche, but they would get over so well, and you know this. Plus, I've given up on the WWE trying to form tag teams, and Tito Colon can just be used as Primo's tag team partner, anyway, since Primo isn't really doing anything.

Sheamus could say that Conor O'Brien is descended from Irish lineage, and that can fill him with pride in his rookie. The former Ryan O'Reilly is not a worker I am too familiar with, but there are plenty of solid workers in the season to help carry him if he's shitty.

The Miz has had an indy darling, a guy like him, so why not stick him with a massive guy? That guy can lose and then still show up under "personal contract" to The Miz, and continue to help him dominate RAW. Plus, Andrews has been working dark matches, so the WWE should be looking at him pretty closely. I know Mason Ryan has been doing the same, but I agree that him debuting straight away on RAW or SmackDown! might be more effective, and hide his shortcomings better.

Tyson Kidd being paired with Richie Steamboat could build Kidd's heat. Especially if he looked down on the Steamboat legacy, and even wrestling families, and developed a persona where he claims he had to work for everything he had because he wasn't born into a famous family of wrestling. It could lead to a feud between rookie and Pro, with the matches being quite amazing.

Some changes I would like to see to NXT 4:

* A reward for the Pros as well as the rookies. It would just go a little further into explaining why they are creating new Superstars, and thus more competition for themselves.

* Perhaps when the guys are eliminated, you can have some sort of stipulation where if they manage to defeat their Pro, they get a spot on the same roster as them. It allows them to call up guys if they are ready, or send them back down to FCW if they are not. It also gives them a big win to ride if they do get it, and doesn't mean that the emotional attachment people develop in these guys is for nothing. If they are good enough, they get contracts.

* Less of those shitty challenges. More of a focus on the guys' wins and losses. Give immunity out in Beat the Clock Challenges, Battle Royals, etc. if you need to have a hook, whatever. People don't want to watch kissing competitions, though.

* Allow the NXT guys to get extra exposure on RAW and SmackDown! by consistently appearing with their Pros. The WWE did a good job of this with the season three girls. But it would do wonders for Conor O'Brien if people saw him on RAW for the duration of his stint in NXT. Hell, they might even get used to it.

Why is everyone ignoring Tyler Black? Except for St. Jimmy clearly.

Edit: LOL never mind, I had no idea he was Seth Rollins. The NXT name generator struck again!

Season 1 and 2 were awesome, I haven't watched a second of Season 3, because a program dedicated to divas seems pointless, especially with all the jobber pros they've got, who cares?

Bring back an all male season 4 with decent mid-card pros like in the first seasons.

Yeah, Droford. I'm sick and tired of Vince trying to make temporary teams out of singles stars. Get some LEGITIMATE TAG TEAMS with team names, identical ring gear, and fluid double-team moves with no hesitation from either man.

Killer Bees <s>2</s>3000

Of course the best way to create legitimate tag teams is by sticking random FCW guys together and throwing them straight onto NXT where they will expose all of their flaws and lack of experience working as a team.

really i think wwe need to have some of u guys on there creative team cause yall have some good ideas wrestling in wwe have been so so i member when i was younger i was pissed if i missed wwf or wcw or ecw now if i miss something iam like watever pg wwe sucks ass

Is Conor O'Brien supposed to have another late night talk show host gimmick?

Not to my knowledge. He's Ryan O'Reilly (far better name, although I'd want to see his kayfabe brother, "Cyril" called up at some point), who was at one point signed to a WWE development deal, but he and his girlfriend walked from the company just after she debuted on WWE television. It was a shame, too, because she was quite hot.

http://imagecache6.allposters.com/LR...3/K8MEF00Z.jpg

This is Conor O'Brien. Not sure if he still has the same look about him. But he and Sheamus just seem like a natural fit.

http://carolinaindependentwrestling....an-OReilly.jpg

Is his finisher some kind of RKO/Jackhammer fusion? If not, it should be.

Wow he is a monster.

He is a beast. I don't know if its the camera angle or if he is legitimately ducking from the ceiling. But aside from that.

I don't know if anyone agrees or has this train of thought, but doesn't it demean the NXT rookies if they go through this program with their pro, the tasks, events etc. just to have WWE debut another FCW talent on the main roster?

Hypothetically speaking, if they go with this Mason Ryan or another talent, doesn't it say "yeah you 6 on NXT are good and all, but he's way better"

I'm kind of rambling because I'm tired and at work, but yeah.

The format won't work to establish some guys. If they wanna put a guy like Mason Ryan over as a monster, NXT is a difficult place to do it (as they spend most of their time doing stupid games).

Who was/is she?

Hmmm.. Source? It's right so far in that there are 5 rookies and R-Truth mentors Johnny Curtis.

Lol. Chris Masters as a pro of a guy who was an announcer at one point? Oh lord season 4 is going to be terrible.

Alright, Im happy with this decision.

Ok so an overall good bunch, but I would have rather had 8 including Hunico and Richie for some variety.

The reports of Seth Rollins (Tyler Black) being upset are false as he reported on his twitter this morning. The original tweet was a re-tweet from Xavier Woods that has since been deleted.

I just watched FCW from last week and they have Saxton in a feud with Abe Washington.They were the commentary team and have since begun wrestling and have both been hitting the gym. Saxton has been doing really good promo work.They also have two batistas,two Mcintyres,and Brodius Clay is husky-er then Husky is.Ritchie Steamboat is looking like a future star.Oh yea!...Percy Watson is down there too.lol

Yeah, I've heard that Byron Saxton has been doing phenomenal work down in FCW. Personally, I wish they'd call him up as a male manager, and let him grow into a great worker in his own time; but saw him in the ring recently and he truthfully didn't look too bad.

I love the way the WWE has saved some big hits for later. Seth Rollins, Xavier Woods, Richie Steamboat, Peter Orlov (Alex Koslov, motherfuckers) and even Wes Brisco could be great for later seasons.

Krissy Vaine. She showed up attacking some babyface Diva once on SmackDown!. She's been in the business for the last seven years.

http://15.forumer.com/uploads/roaddo...1153940419.jpg

http://fast1.onesite.com/fans.wwe.co...1.jpg?v=114750

http://cache2.allpostersimages.com/p...issy-vaine.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZQyKtJEvHy...issy_vaine.jpg

<font color=goldenrod>I'm interested in all 6 rookies in one way or another.

Derrick Bateman definitely won me over with his promo and use of the word "mantastic". Giving him Daniel Bryan as a pro only adds to it.</font>

I'm yet to see NXT this week, but Derrick Bateman has always been a guy I've wanted to see succeed. I don't even know why. Him being paired with Daniel Bryan is definitely a good thing.

Here is what I hope from the Pro/rookie relationships:

Alberto Del Rio & Conor O'Brian
Del Rio is nothing but a selfish character. He should be using Conor solely as a tool to his own success. O'Brian should be wary of that, but want to learn from Del Rio's vast experience and skill-set. I'm not sure how healthy or unhealthy Rey is at the moment, but if he needs to take time off, it would be a great way to get heat for O'Brian by having him take out Rey. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing O'Brian work some SmackDown! events under the pay of Del Rio.

Chris Masters & Byron Saxton
Saxton's mic skills will carry this combo. Masters has gotten a lot better in the ring, but besides maybe his one tag team win every now and then, people don't really invest much in him. Saxton should put over his Pro, by mentioning that he has headlined PPVs and competed against great former Superstars like Shawn Michaels, Triple H and John Cena. It can become apparent that Saxton is sucking up to Masters, but as I believe his strengths may be as a heel, I don't see a problem with Saxton eventually stepping over Masters to benefit himself -- perhaps even leading to a feud between the two on SmackDown!.

Daniel Bryan & Derrick Bateman
I think this will be my favourite pairing. I'm not quite sure how Bateman is in the ring, but Bryan can work for three men or more, and their interactions should be quite amusing. I'd love it if Bryan set Bateman tasks like facing his old mentor, William Regal, and stuff like that. I think Bateman has the potential to get the most over.

Dolph Ziggler & Jacob Novak
I don't know much about Novak, but then again, I didn't know much about Wade Barrett when he showed up, either. Being paired with Ziggler will help him, and I hope we get to see Novak involved on SmackDown!. Have Novak help Ziggler retain the IC Title, and then have whoever he helps Ziggler against beat him in a match. Novak could get quite over as a lackey this way. It'd also be interesting to see a guy play against the heel status of his mentor. Or see Novak try and seduce Vickie Guerrero out from under Ziggler. So many possibilities. Seeing the Bryan/Ziggler rivalry revived and passed onto their rookies could be a great story for NXT 4, too.

R-Truth & Johnny Curtis
A few things interest me about Curtis: He's been wrestling for eleven years. He was trained by Killer Kowalski. He's been with the WWE in developmental for four years, crossed over from DSW to FCW and has survived all the talent cuts. Also, he's being allowed to use what is essentially his real name. Since he seemingly bills himself from being from Maine, and R-Truth is his mentor -- I hope they're not going to try and turn this guy into another Scotty 2 Hotty. I haven't seen his NXT promo yet. Let him be serious, and learn from R-Truth how to have fun, while Curtis wants to remain serious. Truth can also have wounds from his old rookie, David Otunga. Perhaps Curtis joining the Nexus after this season could confirm R-Truth's fears?

Ted DiBiase & Brodus Clay
I'm not too sure if Clay is any good. He's a second generation star or something, isn't he? His pairing with DiBiase makes sense, though. It adds a needed something to DiBiase, and it gets Maryse on NXT (nice) and Clay can graduate into an awesome bodyguard for DiBiase, if nothing else.

After viewing the intro promos, I gotta say Bateman and Curtis are my two favorites.

Looks like we get the good ol Bryan vs Cole storyline again. More fun ahead!

I hope they add CM Punk to the commentary team. Just throwing that out there. Also, I hope Ashley Valence does the ring announcing naked.

How I would book the first week of NXT 4:

* The Pros all introduce their rookies. They all get to say what they think about their Pros. Matt Striker informs them that they will be having two Triple Threat Matches tonight -- one involving the guys with RAW Pros, and one involving the guys with SmackDown! Pros. The winners will then face off in the main event, with the winner getting a point towards immunity.

* Johnny Curtis defeats Derrick Bateman and Brodus Clay in a Triple Threat Match. Curtis & Bateman work together, as Mathews remarks they used to be a tag team early in their careers. Michael Cole says this is a singles competition, and basically gets on both guys for working together. Clay gets to look good by suplexing them each a few times, and maybe even a spot where he suplexes both. Curtis and Bateman hit some nifty double-team moves to keep Clay out. Eventually, Clay knocks Curtis out of the ring and looks to finish off Bateman. Curtis enters with a steel chair and slams it into Clay's back a few times and pins him after a DDT onto the steel chair for the win.

What this accomplishes: Johnny Curtis gets a win moving forward, in a way that protects his opponents. It also plays into his "loose cannon" gimmick. Brodus Clay gets to look like a beast, and Bateman can have his shining moments and doesn't take the fall.

* Matt Striker asks the rookies' Pros what they thought of the match. R-Truth says that Johnny Curtis proved that he is resourceful, but wants to know if he can beat someone without using a weapon. Daniel Bryan said that his rookie showed guys, and that he didn't win his first NXT match, either. Ted DiBiase says that there should be disqualifications in Triple Threat Matches, and Johnny Curtis should not be going forward into the finals.

* We get a hype video for Brodus Clay (the first rookie alphabetically).

* CM Punk, Josh Mathews & Michael Cole give their early predictions about who they think will win. Cole predicts Conor O'Brian, because he has the best Pro. CM Punk goes with Derrick Bateman, because Daniel Bryan is the best mentor to have. Cole and Punk get into it about that. Josh Mathews says that he wants to see his old broadcast partner, Byron Saxton get the win and not forget his humble ECW roots.

* The Miz is shown backstage talking about this season of NXT 4, with his predictions being wanted. He expects the winner to not be as stupid as Kaval and actually challenge for the WWE Title, but none of the rookies are going to be any good because he is not a Pro this season. The best thing to ever come from NXT was Alex Riley, and that Daniel Bryan has no business being a Pro on this show. He predicts that Conor O'Brian will win, because Alberto Del Rio is the best Pro in the bunch.

What this accomplishes: These segments put over some of the NXT guys more, allows for some fun banter between the commentators, and gets The Miz on NXT. It positions the fans in certain ways, which is what the WWE loves in these worked competitions (and pretty much why Kaitlyn won NXT 3).

* Conor O'Brian wins the second Triple Threat, beating Byron Saxton and Jacob Novak. O'Brian gets the pin with an F-5 on Novak. Why not bust out that move? Basically a standard Triple Threat.

What this accomplishes: Conor O'Brian gets out the gate first. He doesn't have the most out-there personality, and a guy his size relies on credibility. He's a menacing threat for Johnny Curtis in the main event, and it allows Alberto Del Rio to gloat about his rookie. Saxton & Novak can bounce back.

* A video airs on Byron Saxton.

* Chris Jericho has a taped segment aired (I wish), that has him talking about which Pro he thinks will win. He says that Daniel Bryan earned his respect in their first outing, and he really thinks that he has what it takes to crown a winner -- that being Derrick Bateman.

* R-Truth is shown talking to Johnny Curtis backstage. He tells Curtis to go out there and prove he is by far the best rookie on NXT. Curtis says he is the best. R-Truth brings up David Otunga and says that Curtis better know his place in the WWE.

What this accomplishes: The Chris Jericho bit is a reach, but his input would be worth something as the man who took Wade Barrett on in the first season. We also get to know more about Saxton, and personal issues begin to pop-up between R-Truth and his rookie this season based on what went down with the Nexus.

* In the main event, Conor O'Brian defeats Johnny Curtis with his Roof Top Drop (Full Nelson Slam) to go 2-0 on NXT and score on immunity point. He and Alberto Del Rio celebrate, as R-Truth looks a little discouraged.

What this accomplishes: Conor O'Brian gets out the gate strong, with perhaps the most loathed Pro in the contest (oh, besides Vickie Guerrero). O'Brian is going to need credibility to work, in my opinion. Curtis gets to look heroic by facing two big men that night.

Once a year

I think I would make a descision to make the pros more interested in getting their rookies to win NXT.

I would offer the same prize that the winner of the season gets to the pro himself. If the rookie wins NXT then they both receive a future championship opportunity on pay per view. They could book it like that so they can cash their shots in together in a triple threat match against the champion. They can then tease that they will work together to get the pro the championship or the other way around.

It either blows up in their face or one of them becomes the heavyweight champion of Raw or Smackdown. I think it would be a good way to make sure that the wrestlers are actually trying their best to help out their rookie. It will be a kayfabe way to make the pros more accountable for their rookies future and how it will benefit them in the future. The way I see it NXT seems to be 50 percent audience approval, so a pro could make it way into a PPV main event the popularity of his rookie.

I would also try getting NXT back on television or at least as a replay on Universal HD.

Am I the only one who really wanted to see Cole be Seth Rollins' pro? It would build a great rivalry between Cole and Daniel Bryan and then you throw Rollins in there saying they were friends from the Indy days.

:y: