What lame contest of the week will I have to sit through?  Would I rather be watching Idol while it is on.   Is R Truth good enough to push Otunga through his best match to date?  (There isn't much to compete with.)  Is this the week that Daniel Bryan makes a turn for the better to stem off elimination?  Will Gabriel compete?  All this and more after the hour when NXT kicks off.

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We start out being reminded that it will be R Truth vs Otunga.  And then we have the NXT rookies outside the ring.  Striker lets us know that next week one superstar goes bye bye.  Daniel Bryan's ribs are taped and I can't recall why if I am supposed to know.  This week is an obstacle course.  At least this week it appears that it will be done by the start of the show.  I hope.  Next week the winner will get an immunity pass.

OK Baitista kicked his ass last night and I didn't see it.  Byran that is.  He is up first.  Is Bryan good enough to to sell the injury during this contest.  He is.  He's taking his time even drinking the beverage.  He is making sure he doesn't win this and I am sure we will need a commercial break before this challenge is done.  I wonder if the immunity challenge will actually come into play?  So Miz comes out, calls Bryan's pathetic time pathetic and sends him to the ring to face off against Tarver with the injured ribs.

Commercial break.

Daniel Bryan (Pro the Miz) vs Michael Tarver (Pro Carlito)

Tarver starts out working over Daniel Bryan Bryan with one of his surfboard variations stepping on the knees.  Now Byran being sent from turnbuckle to turnbuckle.  Daniel Bryan back with a running kick.  Looked great.  Sells his ribs so Tarver can make a come back.  Camel clutch type hold by Tarver and we go to break.

Commerical Break

Back from commerical and a series of kicks by Bryan.  Looks great.  I think they are finally letting him come on his own now.  Arm bar by Bryan.  Tarver impressively powers out.  A slam and not a knockout by Tarver for the win.  Tarver after the match lifts up Daniel Bryan and Carlito delivers a backstabber.  Miz stands by.

We review Darren Young's selling challenge where he pretty much calls out Punk.  I like this.  They are actually reviewing this. Good promo by Punk calling him out.

Next up is Heath Bar Slater.  He has a good chance at this. I wonder what happens if a rookie spills while drinking.  Slater with 1:36 ish.  Took a while drinking.

Darren Young up next.  Making pretty good time.  Bryan is not the only rookie that has to sip soda I guess.  Darren failed badly and didn't do a couple things correctly.  Before break we get reminded again of Otunga vs Truth that is supposed to be next.

Commercial Break.

And they lied.  Gabriel up next.  I hope he wins a contest even though I don't see him being in the bottom two.  Gabriel with 1:29.  Hope that keeps him there.

Now Otunga who doesn't have a prayer.  I'm going on record now. Otunga looking a whole lot slower than Gabriel but comes close but not close enough.  And now while he is winded his match is up.  Boy this will suck more with him winded more than I had expected.

David Otunga vs R-Truth (Pro vs his own rookie)

R Truth with some mic problems on the way down.  Truth slap Otunga to start out.  R Truth back him up at first.  Otunga powering back.  And Cole sends us to break.  Thank god.  Although pre commerical it was not that bad.

Commercial break

We are back and Otunga in charge and working over R Truth.  Sounds like the match is getting some reaction.  Otunga could handle some flash in his moves like R Truth.  Match ends with a corkscrew elbow.  Showing he is not in the same league.

Wade Barrett up next.  He is in no danger of being eliminated.  Barrett refuses to go. Still no intro music for Wade.

Skip up next.  Too big for the ladder. Goes through the course pretty well.  Misses Justin Gabriel's time by two seconds.  Striker confused and thinks Skip won.  Cole and Boy number 5 reminds us that it is not the case.

Commercial Break

Side not totally unrelated to NXT.  A SyFy movie (normally bad) talked up by being a "real life" Destination Truth investigation.  Wow.  Lame.

OK back and as promised Tarver is up next.  Tarver is actually trying this time, for some reason.  I would of went back in character and quit.  Tarver is not even going to come close.

Justin Gabriel is safe for next week.  I think he was anyways so this challenge was pretty damn pointless.

Main event per say is the rookies saying who should be eliminated.

Slater says Tarver.  Tarver says himself.  Skip says Tarver.  Gabriel says Tarver.  Daniel Bryan says himself.  Wade says Tarver.  Young get in every body's face until Barrett and that starts up a little brawl that looked mostly real.  If I missed anybody I don't care really.  If there is someone going home at this point I would love for there to be a shock and have it be Otunga.  It won't be though.  Tarver is a safe bet, even though I think he really should of been given a chance.  Young has grown a little bit where he isn't quite as worthless as I first thought he was.  I am still fine with him going home as well.  And that leaves Skip.  The physique that WWE likes.  He is better in the ring than Kozlov.  He has personality, but I am fine with him going home as well.  I think that would be the bottom four from the first pros poll.  Who on the top 4 would go.  Well we know it won't be Gabriel.  They may tease Daniel Bryan but they are fools if he goes.  Which means he may.  Wade Barrett is not going anywhere.  Heath Slater for some weird reason  they are high up on but I think that is the other shocker of an elimination coming up.  Just not next week.  So off for this week.  Let the final countdown continue.