WWE NXT: Welcome to the Universe, Daniel Bryan

NXT in Review

Tonight was the debut of WWE NXT, billed as the next evolution in wrestling.  It did some different things - not using a hard camera, interviewing a rookie during his pro's match and utilizing a host (who did nothing more than act as a backstage correspondent).

As far as momentum, only one rookie got it as far as I'm concerned.  Clearly, Daniel Bryan will be the star of this show.  He had maybe not memorable, but definitely intriguing interactions with the Miz and a fun match with Chris Jericho.  I'm not complaining though, as I think given his cult following already, WWE made a wise choice in picking Bryan to be the face of NXT. 

Evolution?  A little hyperbole.  But it did the job in introducing a few new talents tonight, with the rest presumably debuting next week. 

One thought I'm left lingering with is how NXT is a competition.  They referenced it a few times but never specified what the competition was. 

Anyway, here's what I thought as I watched the show. 

NXT Shot by Shot

All the rookies stand backstage and the Miz pulls out Daniel Bryan, the former ROH sensation "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson.  Miz peps up Bryan, who comes out to Miz's theme.  As Bryan walks to the ring, Miz threatens Bryan to the audience. 

Michael Cole is calling the action next to Josh Matthews, with the NXT host being Matt Striker.  They're all really hammering Bryan's supposed lack of personality.  Remember another guy who didn't have personality?  Bret Hart, maybe?  I've never heard Bryan speak, so I'm not sure about that.

I like how they put the most well known wrestler out first with one of the better men on the mic, the Miz.  So far online, this has been the most talked about pairing.  The crowd seemed to be into this.  I doubt that many WWE fans know about him, especially the young ones, but maybe they're just so anti-Miz that they'll cheer anybody.  WWE acknowledged how things actually happen outside the WWE Universe, with Bryan saying he was sorry his mentor wasn't William Regal. 

Even after commercial, Bryan is still the focus, saying he won't get along with Miz.  It's cool they acknowledge he's wrestled twice as long as the Miz, but Striker is quick to point out that he has never wrestled for the WWE.  But tonight he wrestles Chris Jericho?!  Awesome!

Carlito introduces a video package on Michael Tarver, portrayed as a dangerous MMA specialist.  I guess the rookies don't even get music.  Christian comes out with Heath Slater and we see a video about Slater, a charismatic "rock star without the instruments."  This guy seems like a douche.  The jury's still out on Tarver.

The experiment with the boom camera is interesting.  Since it's an evolution, it at least looks a little different. 

The tag team match with the rookies and pros was okay, but I really wish the roles would've been reversed with Christian and Slater.  I think if this is about younger guys, Christian should've caused the distraction on Tarver, and Slater pick up the pin on pro Carlito. 

The look Punk had on his face with Darren Young was priceless!  I wonder if he'll try to convert Young to the Straight-Edge Society.  What is this guy, a Dragon Ball Z character?  The story is that Young is a party boy from South Beach.

David Otunga, boyfriend of Jennifer Hudson, is profiled as a Hollywood guy.  He compares himself to The Rock, Triple H and John Cena.  We'll see. 

This match is a 1-on-1 match between the rookies, but it doesn't last long.  Otunga uses a sloppy modified spinebuster to get the win.  Punk leaves and isn't happy. 

Wow, Michael Cole busted out the Tough Enough reference on Josh Matthews? 

After the RAW recap, Cole said he's something like Matthews' mentor.  Matthews acted insulted, saying JR still was mentoring Michael Cole via Twitter. 

Next week, we'll see more rookies. 

Jericho says Wade Barrett must introduce him.  Barrett is a European bare-knuckle fighter. 

Wow, Daniel Bryan's first WWE match is with Chris Jericho.  That's gotta be awesome for him.  Cole said he hadn't heard of him before he showed up to NXT.  C'mon Cole, at least try to win over the fans that hate you.  Man, he sounds like an idiot talking about how lame the independents are. 

Striker interviews Barrett about what he's learning from Jericho during the match.  That's something I haven't seen before - and if I have, it's been awhile. 

MAN that bump Bryan did into the chair looked sick!  They show all the rookies watching in the back and I'm not sure why.  Matthews references the competition, but I don't get it.

After the Codebreaker, the Champ wins.  But Bryan looked good in defeat, reversing the Walls of Jericho.  The Miz jumps in to start beating up Bryan.  They recap the match, and Cole said he equates watching Bryan to watching paint dry.  Is Cole doing a heel turn tonight or something?  He just hates Bryan.

The show ends with a recap, a la how TNA used to recap Impact.