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**Evil Vito** · 03-08-2015, 05:20 PM

WWF NXT
Week 3: April 17, 2002

After all of the usual pomp and circumstance with the pyro, the legendary nWo theme hits as Scott Hall makes his way down the ring to angry boos to start us off.

Segment 1: Scott Hall/Kevin Haas/Tazz segment

He gets into the ring and says �hey yo�. He does his traditional �survey says� promo before the nWo theme hits again and out comes Charlie Haas under the guise of �Big Sexy� Kevin Haas, wearing the same wig and ridiculous outfit that he wore last week. He climbs into the ring over the top rope and thrusts his arm to the sky�only to collapse to the mat in a heap, clutching his bicep.

Hall looks befuddled as trainers come out to tend to Haas and help him off to the back, still holding his bicep in apparent agony. Tazz informs Hall that his rookie doesn�t appear to be fit to compete tonight, so Hall himself will have to face Haas� opponent�Umaga!

Overall Rating: 75%, and evidently Kevin Haas gained overness for injuring his bicep

Segment 2: Scott Hall vs. Umaga (1-0) w/ Crash Holly

Whatever happened to Haas might have been a blessing in disguise, as the last time we saw Umaga he was bulldozing through the imposing Ron Waterman. Hall does his best to try and get the match under control, but Umaga keeps busting out flurries of power moves. Eventually after a Samoan Drop, Scott Hall rolls out of the ring under the bottom rope to catch a breather. He circles the ring and clotheslines Umaga�s pro, Crash Holly on the outside. Hall climbs back up to the apron, but then thinks better of it and drops back down. Hall channels his inner Dante from Clerks, deciding he isn�t even supposed to be here today. He walks to the back to boos and takes the countout loss.

Crowd Reaction: 68%, Match Quality: 78%, Overall Rating: 73%, Umaga gained overness

Segment 3: Eric Angle video

Continuing the trend from the first two installments of NXT, we have our rookie profile videos and this time the subject is Eric Angle. Angle discusses amateur wrestling background at Waynesburg University. He knows that everybody is going to compare him to his younger brother Kurt, and he helped him out against the Undertaker a couple years back (a video clip of Angle�s assist at Survivor Series 2000 was shown). But he wants to use NXT as a platform to show the world that he�s his own man so he can raise the family legacy to even greater heights.

Overall Rating: 68%, Eric Angle gained overness

Segment 4: Chris Nowinski (0-1) w/ Al Snow vs. Shelton Benjamin (1-0) w/ Rob Van Dam

In a rarity so far on NXT, we saw minimal involvement from the pros in this one�funny what happens when both pros are face. Benjamin used plenty of flashy moves, whereas Nowinski stuck the basics. The Harvard graduate did feel the need to gloat anytime he executed even the most basic of maneuvers, but he did genuinely wow the crowd with a spinning double underhook slam that he calls the Honor Roll. Benjamin got his foot on the ropes at 2, prompting a temper tantrum from Nowinski. By the time Nowinski was finished bitching, Benjamin was back on his feet and turned Nowinski around for a T-Bone Suplex for the win.

Crowd Reaction: 54%, Match Quality: 78%, Overall Rating: 66%

Segment 5: John Cena video

John Cena�s introductory video is next. He talks about being an All-American center for Springfield College before entering the realm of professional bodybuilding. But don�t let the packaging fool you. He may look like the perfect prototype for what WWF is looking for, but he�s not some dumb jock. If he�s going to win this contest he�ll need to stick to his core values: hustle, loyalty, and respect. Hey, that sounds like a pretty marketable catchphrase. Maybe it�ll make him some money someday.

Overall Rating: 69%, John Cena gained overness

Segment 6: John Cena/Edge interview

Yep, we go from one Cena talking segment to another. Somebody in the WWF offices clearly likes this guy. Jonathan Coachman asks Cena his thoughts on Kurt Angle needing to resort to cheating to beat him last week. Before he can say much though, Kurt and Eric Angle are on the scene. Kurt tells Cena to stop being a sore loser and that the better man won. In fact, his brother could whip Cena AND his pro�s ass easily. Eric looks caught off guard by the comment, as Cena and Edge advise Angle to bring it on. Before things can escalate into a fistfight, Tazz steps in to advise them that next week Kurt and Eric will face Edge and Cena in a tag team match (playa?)

Overall Rating: 79%, John Cena, Eric Angle, and Tazz all gained overness

Segment 7: Ron Waterman (0-1) w/ Hardcore Holly vs. Randy Orton (1-0) w/ Mr. Perfect

The main event was a decent brawl between the two up and comers. The crowd was solidly behind Orton, but the match itself was fairly even. Waterman takes control midway through and works over Orton to build some heat, but then Orton went into fiery baby face mode. Orton topples an interfering Hardcore Holly off the apron and then plants Waterman with his unique backbreaker, now known as the Overdrive.

Before Orton can go for the pin, his pro jumps on the ring apron, screaming at his rookie to use the Perfect Plex to finish off Waterman. As the ref tries to get Perfect to come off the apron, �Above Average� Mike Sanders enters the ring and hits Orton with his own finishing move. Sanders exits as Waterman comes to. Waterman connects with the Water Bomb (sitout powerbomb) and steals away a victory.

Holly and Waterman celebrate the cheap victory�but the announcers can�t help but wonder what business Sanders had interfering in this main event. Sanders backs up the rampway with a shit-eating grin on his face as we fade to black.

Crowd Reaction: 57%, Match Quality: 83%, Overall Rating: 70%

68% Overall Rating for NXT
1.13 rating

3 shows all hovering around the same rating, quite good for a show featuring a lot of unknowns. I�m happy with it. In post-show e-mail notes, Scott Hall bitched about Umaga working too stiff, and he lost around 20 points of morale for having to job to him. It was a fucking count-out, Scott! Quit your bitching!

Chris Jericho asks to face Chris Benoit. Great idea, Chris! Now just go ahead and tell that to the guy actually booking your brand. Similarly, Big Show thinks it would be a good idea to work with Kevin Nash. Somebody better show him their match from Souled Out 1998.

03-08-2015, 05:20 PM	#2458
Evil Vito President of Freedonia Posts: 58,167	WWF NXT Week 3: April 17, 2002 After all of the usual pomp and circumstance with the pyro, the legendary nWo theme hits as Scott Hall makes his way down the ring to angry boos to start us off. Segment 1: Scott Hall/Kevin Haas/Tazz segment He gets into the ring and says �hey yo�. He does his traditional �survey says� promo before the nWo theme hits again and out comes Charlie Haas under the guise of �Big Sexy� Kevin Haas, wearing the same wig and ridiculous outfit that he wore last week. He climbs into the ring over the top rope and thrusts his arm to the sky�only to collapse to the mat in a heap, clutching his bicep. Hall looks befuddled as trainers come out to tend to Haas and help him off to the back, still holding his bicep in apparent agony. Tazz informs Hall that his rookie doesn�t appear to be fit to compete tonight, so Hall himself will have to face Haas� opponent�Umaga! Overall Rating: 75%, and evidently Kevin Haas gained overness for injuring his bicep Segment 2: Scott Hall vs. Umaga (1-0) w/ Crash Holly Whatever happened to Haas might have been a blessing in disguise, as the last time we saw Umaga he was bulldozing through the imposing Ron Waterman. Hall does his best to try and get the match under control, but Umaga keeps busting out flurries of power moves. Eventually after a Samoan Drop, Scott Hall rolls out of the ring under the bottom rope to catch a breather. He circles the ring and clotheslines Umaga�s pro, Crash Holly on the outside. Hall climbs back up to the apron, but then thinks better of it and drops back down. Hall channels his inner Dante from Clerks, deciding he isn�t even supposed to be here today. He walks to the back to boos and takes the countout loss. Crowd Reaction: 68%, Match Quality: 78%, Overall Rating: 73%, Umaga gained overness Segment 3: Eric Angle video Continuing the trend from the first two installments of NXT, we have our rookie profile videos and this time the subject is Eric Angle. Angle discusses amateur wrestling background at Waynesburg University. He knows that everybody is going to compare him to his younger brother Kurt, and he helped him out against the Undertaker a couple years back (a video clip of Angle�s assist at Survivor Series 2000 was shown). But he wants to use NXT as a platform to show the world that he�s his own man so he can raise the family legacy to even greater heights. Overall Rating: 68%, Eric Angle gained overness Segment 4: Chris Nowinski (0-1) w/ Al Snow vs. Shelton Benjamin (1-0) w/ Rob Van Dam In a rarity so far on NXT, we saw minimal involvement from the pros in this one�funny what happens when both pros are face. Benjamin used plenty of flashy moves, whereas Nowinski stuck the basics. The Harvard graduate did feel the need to gloat anytime he executed even the most basic of maneuvers, but he did genuinely wow the crowd with a spinning double underhook slam that he calls the Honor Roll. Benjamin got his foot on the ropes at 2, prompting a temper tantrum from Nowinski. By the time Nowinski was finished bitching, Benjamin was back on his feet and turned Nowinski around for a T-Bone Suplex for the win. Crowd Reaction: 54%, Match Quality: 78%, Overall Rating: 66% Segment 5: John Cena video John Cena�s introductory video is next. He talks about being an All-American center for Springfield College before entering the realm of professional bodybuilding. But don�t let the packaging fool you. He may look like the perfect prototype for what WWF is looking for, but he�s not some dumb jock. If he�s going to win this contest he�ll need to stick to his core values: hustle, loyalty, and respect. Hey, that sounds like a pretty marketable catchphrase. Maybe it�ll make him some money someday. Overall Rating: 69%, John Cena gained overness Segment 6: John Cena/Edge interview Yep, we go from one Cena talking segment to another. Somebody in the WWF offices clearly likes this guy. Jonathan Coachman asks Cena his thoughts on Kurt Angle needing to resort to cheating to beat him last week. Before he can say much though, Kurt and Eric Angle are on the scene. Kurt tells Cena to stop being a sore loser and that the better man won. In fact, his brother could whip Cena AND his pro�s ass easily. Eric looks caught off guard by the comment, as Cena and Edge advise Angle to bring it on. Before things can escalate into a fistfight, Tazz steps in to advise them that next week Kurt and Eric will face Edge and Cena in a tag team match (playa?) Overall Rating: 79%, John Cena, Eric Angle, and Tazz all gained overness Segment 7: Ron Waterman (0-1) w/ Hardcore Holly vs. Randy Orton (1-0) w/ Mr. Perfect The main event was a decent brawl between the two up and comers. The crowd was solidly behind Orton, but the match itself was fairly even. Waterman takes control midway through and works over Orton to build some heat, but then Orton went into fiery baby face mode. Orton topples an interfering Hardcore Holly off the apron and then plants Waterman with his unique backbreaker, now known as the Overdrive. Before Orton can go for the pin, his pro jumps on the ring apron, screaming at his rookie to use the Perfect Plex to finish off Waterman. As the ref tries to get Perfect to come off the apron, �Above Average� Mike Sanders enters the ring and hits Orton with his own finishing move. Sanders exits as Waterman comes to. Waterman connects with the Water Bomb (sitout powerbomb) and steals away a victory. Holly and Waterman celebrate the cheap victory�but the announcers can�t help but wonder what business Sanders had interfering in this main event. Sanders backs up the rampway with a shit-eating grin on his face as we fade to black. Crowd Reaction: 57%, Match Quality: 83%, Overall Rating: 70% 68% Overall Rating for NXT 1.13 rating 3 shows all hovering around the same rating, quite good for a show featuring a lot of unknowns. I�m happy with it. In post-show e-mail notes, Scott Hall bitched about Umaga working too stiff, and he lost around 20 points of morale for having to job to him. It was a fucking count-out, Scott! Quit your bitching! Chris Jericho asks to face Chris Benoit. Great idea, Chris! Now just go ahead and tell that to the guy actually booking your brand. Similarly, Big Show thinks it would be a good idea to work with Kevin Nash. Somebody better show him their match from Souled Out 1998.