OK! Just caught the web premier for NXT today. A week late, I know, but I had the day off so I got to watch it. I'll be watching the new episode tonight, too. I do hope WWE finds a tv network to carry the show again, however, because I hate watching on the computer.
That was a surprisingly solid show, though. Aksana and Maxine showed a LOT of improvement from earlier matches, and Kaitlyn v Vickie served it's purpose very well.
While they still need some basic polish, you can tell that Aksana and Maxine have gotten well into selling and building a basic repertoire, which is important. An interesting finish, with Aksana reversing a pin to win.
Kaitlyn v Vickie was certainly going to be a disaster, but it was a fun disaster. Vickie is just so bad that you can't help but laugh, and Kaitlyn's definitely not good enough to carry a match alone, but she did what she could and delivered a basic body slam circa 1984, then won with a basic school boy roll-up. I did notice Kaitlyn has been working on her selling of moves since she fell and flowed with the attacks she took much better than in previous weeks.
The girls are getting much better all around, so it is obvious they are all working hard, which is a good thing.
The bullriding was pretty fun. Aksana had a serious death grip on the strap! She went from riding the bull to just swinging horizontally on the side, but it took a while to shake her. That was really impressive. The other girls got tossed fairly easily, so Aksana showed some major athleticism by staying on for as long as she did.
Talent competition was quite entertaining and the definite segment of the night.
Aksana started it off with her talent being push ups. I heard that and thought, "Push ups? Really? What a waste!" Then she slides and puts her legs over her shoulders and has her whole freaking body bent backwards in the air as she does a set of push ups! I was solidly shocked at seeing something like that and it was really impressive.
Naomi did a rap freestyle which wasn't bad, and actually gave me some laughs. I liked it myself (not more than some of the other talents but I did like it), but I don't think Kansas was the best place to choose rap as your talent in a fan's choice competition. Perhaps I'm being stereotypical, but it did seem a bit funny.
AJ did a sexy display of flexibility, but while it was nice to watch, it wasn't anything too fantastic. It was definitely downplayed in my mind since it followed Aksana having insane flexibility along with her strength in those ridiculous push ups.
Jamie made out with Matt Striker. Don't know how that is supposed to make people like you, but that's what she did. Striker having the high-pitch voice afterwards and Kaitlyn mocking a kiss with Striker were pretty funny, though.
Kaitlyn drew for her talent. I have to admit, it didn't deserve to win, but since people HATE Vickie and Kaitlyn is smoking hot, she was a lock to win. Kaitlyn drew a stick figure woman with a big, smelly butt, armpit hair, and a quote saying "Excuse Me!"
Maxine brought out a pie and said it was for Hornswoggle as an apology for dumping him out of the wheelbarrow last week (well, two weeks ago now). The outcome was obvious the second she said "pie" but I still enjoyed it. Hornswoggle really winged that pie at her though! Savage little leprechaun!
I was surprised at the tie-breaker vote from the fans for who deserved immunity between AJ and Kaitlyn. I figured Kaitlyn might win, but it was a big difference in cheers for Kaitlyn. It really didn't matter either way, though, since neither one would be in any danger of elimination this early on.
Jamie did get the boot this week, and I understand that. She didn't really stand out, wasn't too good on the mic, and was way too green in the ring. I'm totally bummed that they didn't have the rankings like the men would get though! All it showed was Jamie was eliminated, but nothing of how the other 5 girls were ranked.
Personally, I'd put them in this order:
1. AJ - She's the best in the ring, cute as a button, and good on the mic.
2. Kaitlyn- Heavily featured due to Vickie, hot chick, and improving greatly.
4. Maxine- Good looking, serious, and improving.
4. Aksana- Sexy, and had a MAJOR improvement this week. She seems much more comfortable now.
5. Naomi- She's very athletic, but still not very good at anything in particular.
6. Jamie- And she's gone now.