Seth Rollins def. JiroWhen I saw Rollins for the first time, he immediately reminded me of CM Punk with his unorthodox style, just with much more energy. He was able to win over the audience in this brief bout, though I'm sure a number of fans were already familiar with him from his FCW/Ring of Honor days. I also liked the subtle tease of a future feud between Rollins and Mahal, which would come to fruition that summer. Jinder Mahal def. Jason JordanJim Ross played up Jordan as a "top prospect" before the bout, so I glad he wasn't totally squashed here by Mahal. Whether it's 2012 or 2017, Mahal does absolutely nothing for me. It made sense to bring him back down to developmental when they did because his gimmick just wasn't getting over on the main roster, but why would you do that without tweaking it a bit? He bored fans in Full Sail University as much as he did on SmackDown.
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Jim Ross Welcomed Interim NXT General Manager Dusty RhodesI think many fans tend to forget, or might not even be aware, that JR served as the commentator for the first several episodes of NXT and truly brought some legitimacy to the show alongside William Regal. Meanwhile, Dusty was perfect in the role of general manager for NXT. He was announced as the interim GM, though he would run the show for the next year and a half. Bo Dallas def. Rick VictorThis early incarnation of Dallas was a happy-go-lucky babyface that appeared to have a ton of promise. He has never been the most amazing wrestler, but he shined in short matches such as this and knew his limitations. He used the Spear as his finisher when he debuted, but that wouldn't last long. It's both interesting and fitting that he was the first NXT newcomer to be showcased considering he was a major cornerstone of the brand for the next two years.
Raw General Manager Vickie Guerrero Interrupted WWE Champion Triple H, Batista and Shane McMahonBatista was fresh off his return the week prior and desperately wanted to get his hands on Randy Orton, along with Shane and HHH. Thus, this segment was successful in setting up the main event where whoever won from the babyface side would earn themselves a one-on-one match with Orton the following week. This wasn't a waste of time, but you would think that they would have opened the evening with a draft pick considering, you know, that was the main draw for this show. Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio def. Evan Bourne (Non-title; Raw vs. ECW Draft Pick Match)This was the perfect match to kick off the draft with as their similar styles in the ring meshed very well and they produced a really fun match. It wasn't long at all, mind you, but they made the most of the time they were given. Mysterio and Bourne also had an established alliance by this point, so it was a meaningful match. MVP bringing the United States Championship to Raw provided him with a nice change in scenery, but he was never given the proper push on Monday nights.
Reno Scum def. Decay and Laredo Kid & GarzaJr in a Three-Way MatchThis felt more like a showcase of the tag team division than anything else, though it was well-wrestled and it gave Reno Scum a nice momentum boost. They have gradually been winning over the audience since arriving in Impact Wrestling and they have a cool tandem finisher to boot, so it makes sense that they're likely next in line for a title shot against LAX. Kid and Garza will be just fine, but I really hope Decay aren't lost in the shuffle because they're an excellent act. Ethan Carter III Confronted Bruce PrichardThe slow-burn build to EC3's eventual (much-needed) heel turn continues. I'm not even sure where this fan vote to determine who would be next to challenge Lashley for the Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship took place (lest we forget this was taped over one month ago), but that's neither here nor there. EC3 showed signs of his heelish side in this segment and it's only inevitable before he snaps and turns on the fans.
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