This is #6 because I write the RAW report for EBR. I do both jobs because I like to write, and I think I give very detailed descriptions of matches and segments so people can read without feeling left out or lost.

Anyway, on with the show.

Open up!

We start out NXT with a new announce girl, Ashley Valence, reminding us that we will vote during starting next week at 10/9c on the WWE website. Out come the Pros (Mark with a iGot Lucky shirt), but the Miz and MVP are missing. Miz comes out with his Rookie, Alex Riley, followed by Showtime Percy Watson and MVP, for the first match, a tag-team match.

Percy Watson and MVP vs. The Miz and Alex Riley

First out are MVP and Alex Riley. Riley trash talks to Percy, and in comes Watson. Watson dances into the ring, getting the crowd to clap. Watson takes control early with some big dropkicks. He tags in MVP, and they hit a double arm-drag, then MVP throws Alex out of the ring. Miz and Riley exchange words on the outside. Miz tags Alex and says ‘get your rookie in’ to MVP. Miz goes quickly to work on Watson. He tags in Riley to give him a chance at redemption, and Alex keeps the momentum going. During the match, Watson has his glasses off every now and again. Watson fights out of a head lock and gets the hot tag, as MVP comes in and takes Riley to school, hitting him with the Ballin’ elbow drop. Riley gets the tag to Miz, while MVP gets the tag Riley hits a turn-in-air senton of some kind. Watson pins, but Alex breaks it up. MVP comes in and knocks Riley out of the ring. Miz takes advantage and hits the Skull Crushing Finale for the 1-2-3.

Winner: The Miz and Alex Riley

Match Rating:  B+

Solid match up and, I have to say, Watson impressed me a little. Alex played a great ‘second biller’ to The Miz, and they had great chemistry.

Video package of Titus O’Neil. After the video, O’Neil comes out for the next match as we go to commercial.

Titus O’Neil vs. Michael McGillicuty

We come back with Michael McGillicuty. Mike has a message played talking about his chances on NXT and his mother. McGillicuty starts out in control, but Titus shows his strength and starts to hit some powerful moves on Mike. Titus keeps control, as the crowd for the third show running start chanting Daniel Bryan.

WWE… PLEASE bring him back!

Titus O’Neil goes for a body splash, but Mike counters it. He hits a swinging neckbreaker out of nowhere for the 1-2-3!

Winner: Michael McGillicuty

Match Rating: B-

Again, O’Neil is impressive, despite being 0-2. Another fast ending by McGillicuty. WWE is making him out to be a one-hitter-quitter with that swinging neckbreaker of his. Good job by both men.

Kaval vs. Cottonwood

A friend in chat says “I really hope they don't book Kaval like they book Mysterio as the little man.” As soon as I read that, I looked up and saw a David vs. Goliath reference. Thank you WWE….

Anyway, Kaval is out (to LayCool’s music, which sounds so weird), and Cottonwood comes out with Morrison. Kaval starts quickly with kicks, but Cottonwood plays the giant and tosses Kaval around a rag doll. Kaval puts an armbar over the ropes. Cottonwood tosses Kaval across the ring, but Kaval hits a springboard enziguri, and then hits a Warriors Way on Cottonwood’s head. Kaval goes for the pin, but Cottonwood kicks out, and hits his one-arm faceplant for the 1-2-3.

Winner: Eli Cottonwood

Match rating: B-

This stays in the ‘B’ range because both men played their parts very well. Kaval is still one of the most talented Rookies, but his size will work against him.

 Lay-no…

We come back from commercial to Kaval in pain. LayCool chews his ear off, and gives him a pink shirt that says ‘property of LayCool’. Kaval, not pleased, has an irritated look on his face, as LayCool tries to force him to smile….

We have a look back at the Vince beat down on RAW, which is resembles the beat down they put on Cena during the first attack. No comment from the McMahon family on how Vince is, but the new GM (Mr. Anonymous) says that the actions ‘will be met with appropriate consequences’.

Main Event: Cody Rhodes vs. Lucky Cannon:

So Rhodes changes the match to a five-minute challenge, playing off the comment from last week of Cannon being “lucky to last five minutes. Rhodes takes control at the beginning, and holds it throughout most of the match. Rhodes puts Cannon in an upside-down Backbreak submission, but Cannon gets a roll up, and from there Cannon keeps the momentum his way. Cannon hesitates, and Rhodes takes the advantage, and hits him with the Cross-Rhodes, and losses the match at 1:02 left in the challenge.

Winner: Cody Rhodes

Match Rating: C++

This ALMOST made it to a B-, and if Cannon had won it would have made it. The match was short, but made a big statement as to who’s in charge this season.

:45 Man

At the end, the Rookies take time to give there closing arguments as to why the WWE Universe should vote for them. Each had 45 seconds to talk.

Riley says he doesn’t need 45 seconds after all he’s done, but he’ll take the TV time. He asks if we recognize him because he’s the guy that pushed us into our lockers and beat us up in school, except now he’s getting paid to beat on people.

Kaval says he’s been trying to do this for 10 years, to get into the door. He states that WWE said he was “too small”, but that now, he has his chance to shine.

Titus says that unlike people who think their better then you, he’s just like us because he’s had to work for everything he has. And, by the end of this contest, he’ll make it a win.

McGillicuty says he’s already made it a win tonight. He says he should be the next star because he has no weaknesses and because he’s undefeated.

Cottonwood comes on and says he should win because he’s willing to do something the others aren’t; wait. Wait in the shadows, wait in the grass, and when he strikes, it’ll be with vengeance. He says it means nothing because his actions will speak louder then any of his words.

Watson says he’s ready to have a good time, any time.  He says he may have lost tonight, but he’s getting better and better. And he’s got two words for us… “Oh yeah!”

Lucky says he didn’t earn his name by guessing ages or getting the best cards. He’s lucky because he can stand on his own two feet, because he gets to come every week and do what he loves to do, and because he’s in a country that he can do it in freely.

Husky says he doesn’t need 45 seconds, and knocks out Striker, which gets him praise from his pro, Cody Rhodes, who did the same thing last week.

Segment rating: B

Good job by the rookies, as none of them really stuttered. Each rookie gave their responses in a good fashion, and no one tried to make any stupid jokes.

NXT Rating: B-

The overall show was very good, but I was expecting something a little more definite coming into the week of voting. Still, good job by the Rookies tonight.

Laz’s Ranking

Rank – Name - (old ranking) – W-L – Reason

#1 – Alex Riley (1) – 2-0 – If the record doesn’t do it for you, his mic skills should. The man has shown a lot since his ‘allergic to you’ fail, and the cocky bully gimmick will take him places.

#2 – Eli Cottonwood (3) – 2-0 – Another record strength, Cottonwood is playing his giant role very well. However, for his look, he is almost TOO good on the mic. However, I don’t see many people who will beat him in the future.

#3 – Kaval (2) – 0-2 – Kaval may not have a win, but he’s still the better prospect. However, he falls because of his losses so far. He was impressive in both, but his size difference played the factor, and he needs to prove soon that, at the end, he can get the win he needs.

#4 – Titus O’Neil (5) – 0-2 – Yes, I know he lost again, but his strength is still very impressive. I think in the coming weeks we’ll see that come out more and more and he’ll pick up the wins he needs.

#5 – Lucky Cannon (4) – 0-2 – Wasn’t Lucky against Rhodes, but still put on a good match in the time given to him. His speech during the 45 seconds was brilliant and well performed.

#6 – Michael McGillicuty (6) – 2-0 – If WWE is going to push him as a one-hitter quitter, I’ll take it. But if that’s going to happen, I want to see it happen against a Pro one time. I see potential to shoot up the ranks.

#7 – Percy Watson (7) – 1-1 – He did put on a good match, but there’s something about him I just can’t get behind. He’ll have to do a lot for me to move him up my rankings.

#8 – Husky Harris (8) – 0-1 – His pro won, and he knocked out Striker. At the end, that means nothing to move him this week.

Next week is the first voting, and this will be how I rank these men. To make it clear, none of these men are ‘bad’ as much as they’re not as good as others. Someone has to be last and first, and that’s how it is. Next week, I’ll give my rankings, and match them up against the fans and the Pros.

Until then, this has been the NXT report!