June 11th, 2006; A sold-out crowd of raucous ECW faithfuls have filled the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City to full capacity. Meanwhile, signs reading "IF CENA WINS WE RIOT", "F*CK THE WWE!" and "ANTI-CENA", among several others, stand out to the average viewer like blood spilled upon the carpet. As Paul Heyman approaches the stage, a thunderous wave of the classic "ECW! ECW! ECW!" intermixed with "HEYMAN! HEYMAN! HEYMAN!" crack through the ballroom like an contained storm wrapped in barbwire. Paul looks as if he can't help but hold back the tears as for one more night, as Extreme Championship Wrestling had been born again once more...

 

The only revolt that would occur from this momentous show would be the revolution within the industry of professional wrestling and namely the WWE after the fact; no riots of anger or displays of violent protest would take place after Rob Van Dam shocked the wrestling world by defeating golden boy John Cena for the WWE Championship in that night's main event match. As a consequence of this, Paul Heyman would also award Rob Van Dam the revived ECW Championship in the process. Unfortunately for RVD, 23 days into his reign it would be leaked to the public that Van Dam had been arrested for marijuana possession, subsequently failing the company's wellness policy. As such, RVD would be stripped of his WWE Championship, as well as his ECW Championship... Or so, we had thought. Precisely one week following Van Dam's suspension from the company, the punishment was just as quickly lifted by Vince McMahon himself, who had Rob Van Dam appear on an episode of Monday Night Raw for the sole purpose of publicly humiliating the former WWE Champion. Midway through the promo, RVD made it clear to everyone watching both in attendance and ever so closely at home: "I know what you're trying to do to me, Vince.. but I also know a little something you don't know.. I know there's about to be a revolution in the WWE, and there's nothing you can do to stop it!" After ignoring RVD's claims and persisting Van Dam join the "Kiss My Ass Club", we would then soon be greeted by the return of none other than "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes in his shocking return to the WWE.

"I too know what ya tryin' to do this boy, Vinny! Same thing ya tried to do to ME! MAKE A JOKE OUTTA 'EM!!! Well I'm BACK, bay-bay, and the Dream's just got the dream job of a lifetime and you don't know a DAMN thing 'bout it, boss!" Before Mr. McMahon could proceed to inquire, a video feed cut through the TitanTron, displaying the face of none other than Vince McMahon's own daughter, Stephanie McMahon. "Hey pops; I hate to be the one to inform you of this, but.... it's become the opinion of both the WWE Board of Directors and myself that it's time for the WWE to expand -- and sadly, you had to disagree with us in our last meeting. Fortunately for us, this company is no longer operating as a dictatorship. You also objected to us bringing Dusty Rhodes back to this company, a legend of our business who has a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer here. You turn us down left and right, and we all really know why: you're trying to stall me from my rightful seats at the table; to mark your territory. Well, consider that territory irrevocably altered, Dad... FOREVER!"

A video package for WWE's new third brand cut into the air like a thin hot knife through fresh butter before the inaugural logo of "NXT" finally made its visage known to the world. The camera then cut directly over to a shot of Vince's mouth completely agape; BIONIC ELBOW! FIVE-STAR FROG SPLASH! A huge pop from the audience at hand as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes then lifted the arm of Rob Van Dam into the air in celebration. A sinister smile still bled from the face of one Stephanie McMahon, lavishing at the sight of her fallen fore-bearer: "You have one week from today, Dad -- and just remember, we didn't have to afford you that luxury; One week to prepare your roster before the Supplemental Draft begins. The Future... Starts NOW!!!"

Mr. McMahon was soon instructed to place protections on 20 WWE Superstars later that week on Smackdown!, with the remaining roster to be drafted by the partnership of one Shane McMahon & Dusty Rhodes on behalf of NXT. Absent from this protection list would of course be "Mr. Monday Night" Rob Van Dam, who had managed to recover his ECW Championship from Paul Heyman shortly before being selected selected #1 overall by the newly debuting third brand.....

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[2006 NXT SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT]

 #1.) ROB VAN DAM 

#2.) BIG SHOW

#3.) BOBBY LASHLEY


#4.) MATT HARDY


#5.) SABU


#6.) JOHNNY NITRO


#7.) WILLIAM REGAL


#8.) TEST


#9.) GOLDUST


#10.) LONDRICK (PAUL LONDON & BRIAN KENDRICK)


#11.) CHAVO GUERRERO


#12.) CHRIS MASTERS


#13.) HARDCORE HOLLY


#14.) CADE & MURDOCH


#15.) CHARLIE HAAS

[PLACEMARK]

EPISODE #1:
08/02/2006

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When asked in interview on Monday Night Raw by a recently injured Lilian Garcia why he would allow the current WWE Champion to be drafted by the new NXT brand, Mr. McMahon would simply reply: "Because Mr. ROB-VAN-DAM *thumb taunts in conjunction* is the WWE Champion NO MORE!!! No one refuses Vincent J. Kennedy McMahon: NO ONE!!! As of this day forward, we will be establishing a new championship in it's stead, and consider the former to be stolen property!" In response, the intro promo of the first NXT episode would feature the silhouette of RVD lighting up what we could only assume to be a joint, before a camera cut closed in to show the champ ash out his spliff upon the WWE logo before spinning the spinner and zooming into the rotating cherry within... 

It would later be revealed through an opening ceremony on behalf of one Stephanie McMahon that Dusty Rhodes himself would soon be appointed as the inaugural General Manager of the brand. Before "The American Dream" could accept though, the promo would quickly become interrupted with the intrusion of Paul Heyman, who was received by the small but passionate Full Sail studio audience with as big of a pop as they could muster. "It's nothing personal, Dusty, but... you seem to be in my way," Heyman would start with a crowd response that was quite conflicted, "Yet it's not you I blame... No, I think it's more so the blame of Satan's Spawn standing beside you. She's putting an act ladies and gentlemen and more importantly YOU, Dusty! She's USING YOU, PAL! You'll only be a pawn in her game to get what she wan--" Swiftly and ever so suddenly, Paul Heyman would find his microphone to be cut off. After moments of tapping upon it in a feeble attempt to get it to work (yet receiving only feedback in return), a small security crew would then appear to apprehend Heyman from behind, ultimately removing him from the premises. 

Acting as if nothing had ever happened, Stephanie would go on to explain to both Dusty and those watching that despite how she may feel, she had no choice but to strip Rob Van Dam of the WWE Championship per order of the Board of Operations. Steph would rebut the jeers of those in attendance by proclaiming that RVD would be allowed to retain the ECW Championship in return, as well as receiving an opportunity in the night's main event: a Six-Man Elimination match for the NXT Championship. From this point on, Stephanie vowed before the new GM and the entire audience that all decisions concerning NXT were in the hands of Dusty Rhodes, yet when Rhodes began to respond to all of us in return it would be the only daughter of Vincent and Linda McMahon who would proceed to rudely walk away. As if she was wearing a mask that night and had now suddenly forgotten that she had removed it within our sight, our last visage of Stephanie and the opening scene itself would become the cold and callous look left upon her face.

The main event participants would end up being hyped by fan favorite announcer Joey Styles and the obviously less talented color commentator: Matt Stryker. We say that the participants were announced, but only five would end up being revealed in actuality: the aforementioned ECW Champion Rob Van Dam, Big Show, Bobby Lashley, Johnny Nitro and Matt Hardy, as a well as a mystery sixth opponent to be revealed during the match. RVD would of course be greeted to the biggest entrance pop of them all once the bell rang, with the subsequent entrants receiving less and less fanfare as we soon fast-forwarded to the heel Big Show's slow trot to the ring. For nearly twenty seconds, all five men and the sold out 1,500 in attendance were hushed enough in confusion as if to hear a pin drop... slowly but surely, a familiar sound of slow beating drums and strings began to sound through studio speakers before a war cry would rally the people to stand and yell in adoration before their very feet:

..... Hoisting the alien ROH World Championship high above his head, the indie darling CM Punk would shock everyone before him; a determined smile glazed in his expression before jolting himself head-forward at top speed to the ring, ensuing a brawl between all six competitors to rapidly kick off our main event. The now veteran Matt Hardy would unfortunately be the first to be eliminated, falling at the hands of Johnny Nitro's Moonlight Drive (Corkscrew Neckbreaker). In sequence, Nitro would be vanquished by Rob Van Dam's Van Daminator following a ref bump involving Big Show and Bobby Lashley. Speaking of Lashley, he too would end up eliminated by way of Big Show's Chokeslam. With dust now settling, this left just ECW Champion Rob Van Dam, Big Show and ROH Champion CM Punk as the last three left standing, with this tenacious triad now encircling one another in preparation for the waiting of which was to make the first move. This would prove to be none other than RVD, who chose to roll on his back before springing up and hitting Punk with a side kick. Running towards and off of the ropes with a springboard cross body, RVD would unfortunately find himself in the clutches of the giant before becoming the victim of the heaviest side slam in the business. Yet Van Dam and Punk would soon rally, teaming together for a brief moment to try and bring the big man down before finally removing Show from the ring via way of a running double clothesline.....

As CM Punk and Rob Van Dam soon turned to look at one another and resume their stance, both would find themselves interrupted by the return entrance of Paul Heyman, now surrounded by a band of ECW originals. Helplessly referee Charles Robinson would yell for Heyman and the crew of Balls Mahoney, Justin Credible, Rhyno, Sabu, Super Crazy, Tommy Dreamer and even Terry Funk & The Sandman to vacate from the foreseeable ringside. This would ultimately distract Robinson from conducting his ringout count on Big Show in the process as well, providing the giant enough time to regain his strength and reenter the ring as both CM Punk and RVD now joined the ref in protesting the group's presence outside of the squared circle... BOOM, BOOM!! Show would proceed to knock both men down with consecutive ripping hammer elbows to each man's neck. Proceeding this, Show would lift RVD high into the air before throwing him directly in the way of Heyman and his merry band of misfit extremists by way of a ringout military press. Then, before we were even prepared, the staggering CM Punk did the unthinkable: lifting Big Show high above his shoulders after several misfired attempts earlier before succeeding and wowing the crowd with a miracle GTS to FINALLY eliminate Show from the contest.....

With the assistance of his fellow ECW alumni, RVD managed to find his way back up to stand before confronting his lone adversary back inside the ring; the NXT Championship now just three counts away from a reality. During this time, WWE security would finally respond in force to the presence hovering over the match, yet not without a fight. This left Paul Heyman remaining on the outside, intently bowing his head down with crystal clear awareness whilst watching this main event match unfold. RVD would explain to CM Punk that the ECW presence was not his doing before offering out a handshake mid-match. As the crowd chanted for Punk to "SHAKE-HIS-HAND!" and he certainly considered, the former leader of the Second City Saints would soon slap Van Dam's hand away before initiating what would soon seem to be a never-ending back-and-forth brawl of "However hard you can punch, I can punch better!" Unfortunately for Chicago Made, it was his opponent who would come out the victor in the contest before rounding off on a trail of momentum with big move after big move that featured signatures such as the Rolling Thunder and even a Five-Star Frog Splash resulting in a heartbreaking near fall count. Frustrated, Van Dam would seek to climb the ropes yet again in search of desperately firing off a succeeding finishing maneuver. Unbeknownst to him, a figure from the crowd would soon rush to the apron in hopes of removing RVD from this position...


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"OH MY GAWWWWDDDDDD!!!!! ITTT'S BROCK LESNARRRR!!!!"

"The Beast" would proceed to throw his hands up in the air upon Charles Robinson's emergence, yet all the commotion would lead to CM Punk landing a running arm toss on his opponent off the top rope. After a near fall, Lesnar would remain standing on the ropes, a sly but emotionless smile in tow. As Rob Van Dam slowly struggled to stand, Charles Robinson would yet again return to the side and begin to count Lesnar to leave the ring as he threatened to rule the match a no contest per result. Then, without warning, a moment seemingly without rhyme or reason befell the hearts of many: Paul Heyman clutching the ECW Championship within this hands before rushing into the ring behind the distracted ref and quickly striking the kneeling Van Dam across the head with his own title belt. As Paul would proceed to slide out, a smiling CM Punk would bow in gratitude with his eye and posture fixated on Heyman before turning around. As "The Beast" now retreated from the apron upon the sound of Robinson's proclaimed count of "FOURRR!!!", Punk would execute his second GTS in the match before hooking the feeble left leg of the fallen Rob Van Dam for a resounding; shocking: 1...... 2.............. THREE.

Match Results

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-- Chris Masters d. Hardcore Holly via the Masters Degree (Swinging Full Nelson) (07:25)
-- Londrick (Paul London & Brian Kendrick) d. FBI (Nunzio & Big Vito) via the Londrick Bridge (Double Sliced Bread#2) [NXT Tag Team Tournament Quarterfinals Match] (11:03)
-- William Regal d. Goldust via the Regal Stetch (Arm trap cross-legged STF) (10:51)
-- CM Punk d. Rob Van Dam, Big Show, Bobby Lashley, Johnny Nitro and Matt Hardy for the NXT Championship via the Go To Sleep (Fireman's carry dropped into a knee lift) [Six-Man Elimination Match] (23:08)

"Who are you to wave your finger???" 


"You must have been out of your head...."


"Eye hole deep in muddy waters...."


"You practically raised the dead...."


"Rob the grave to snow the cradle...."


"Then burn the evidence down...."


"Soapbox, house of cards and glass...."


"So don't go tossin' your stones around...."


"You must have been high.... 


"You must have been high...."


"You must have been...."


"Foot in mouth, and head up ass...." 


"Difficult to dance 'round this one...."


"Steal, burrow, reefer; Save your shady interference....
Kangaroo done hung the juror with the innocent...."


"Now you're weeping shades of cozen indigo, got lemon juice up in your eye...."


"When you pissed all over my black kettle...."


"You must have been high, high...."


"You must have been high, high...."

EPISODE #2:

08/09/2006

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Following the shocking debut win of CM Punk in the previous week's main event, where the newest signing of the WWE overcame the likes of Big Show, Bobby Lashley, Johnny Nitro, Matt Hardy and even ECW Champion Rob Van Dam, we were of course left with just questions rather than answers. Why did Brock Lesnar return? Why did the WWE allow CM Punk to display the ROH World Championship before not only the studio audience, but to allow it's logo to remain in post-production to be aired? Why did Stephanie McMahon, nor newly appointed GM Dusty Rhodes physically appear to help break up the interference of ECW originals mid-match? And probably the best question of them all: Why did Paul Heyman turn his back on Rob Van Dam and seemingly ECW itself? While most of these unknowns would remain unknowns the following week, one promo in particular would certainly give us some insight as to the former of these mysteries... 

In what had to be considered a great opening match, Charlie Haas managed to regain some dignity by humbling the veteran Chavo Guerrero in their first ever match in NXT. This contest would be proceeded by Chavo talking smack about Charlie's recent struggles in the main brand, including shaming Haas for his recent love triangle with Lilian Garcia and Viscera. Haas would smile before smacking Chavo across the cheek to signal the start of a quick television classic. After a struggling back-and-forth which featured two near falls from a Frog Splash, Charlie Haas would redeem himself by dodging the third with an impromptu transition into the Haas of Pain submission. Despite Guerrero's best efforts, he would ultimately find no choice but to submit from the lethal lock... 

 

The crowd would then be treated with not only the unexpected return of The Hurricane, but the introduction of his new tag team partner and crime fighting sidekick tag team partner -- EL GENERICO, now dressed in a matching green outfit. This new tandem would truly impress in the Quarterfinals of the NXT Tag Team Title Tournament, overcoming the likes of veterans Yang & Funaki with their newly innovated "Eye of the Hurrico" tag team finisher. Following the match however, both 'Cane and 'Co would find themselves the unlucky receivers of an all-out assault dished out to them on behalf of the debuting Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch. After a sufficient enough beat-down, both men would exit from the ringside as the team of Joey Styles and an insufferable Matt Striker would proceed to hype the night's main event: a #1 Contender's match for the NXT Championship featuring Rob Van Dam against the Big Show.

General Manager Dusty Rhodes would soon arrive to address the crowd over last week's events soon after. The GM was adamant in that Stephanie McMahon was to no longer interfere into the matters of NXT, an order delivered directly by Mr. McMahon himself apparently. This proved to be of much delight to the crowd, who popped heavily upon Rhodes saying so. Dusty would go on to take full responsibility for the inability to prevent an interference in last week's main event, yet upon mentioning this, we would receive an arrival from "Mr. Monday Night" Rob Van Dam. A face of Van Dam that we had no seen in quite some time, he appeared to be absolutely beside himself and visibly without the ECW Championship in hand. "I want you take a long, hard look at my FACE, Dusty... Paul Heyman didn't just do this... Brock Lesnar didn't just do this... YOU did this, TOO. This sh*t happened on YOUR watch!" Rhodes would go on to proclaim that his hands had been tied, and that he had protested the events but Stephanie McMahon had allegedly taken full control over last week's show. "I don't give a damn about your excuses, Dusty. Not only did they steal my chance at winning the NXT Championship last week, but they LITERALLY stole the ECW Championship that I gave my blood, sweat and tears for! A belt that means WAY MORE to me than any other title ever possibly could! YOU'RE GONNA BRING ME BACK MY BELT! I don't care if I have to fight Paul Heyman MYSELF for it! JUST GET IT BACK!"

"Don't let these tattoos fool you -- I'm STRAIGHT EDGE. I'm a man of great discipline; I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs... My addiction: is WRESTLING. My obsession is competition; discipline...

I stand before you as a World Champion of now two companies; a summer's dream soon to be realized. They thought I was bound by honor, but I serve nothing nor no one but myself and the conviction of my beliefs. Namely: the belief in MYSELF. 

Consider me the messenger, of a message unconsidered till now: 

Consider there's no END to the Summer of PUNK; Consider this just the beginning."

Following a decisive match between the likes of Test and Simon Dean (the former of which would be eclipsed by the twist of the Test Drive finisher), watchers of our program were eagerly awaiting the night's main event contest between Big Show and Rob Van Dam to determine a number one contender for CM Punk's NXT Championship. Proceeding the match was the unprecedented coordination of security guards surrounding the ring, with Striker soon commenting that RVD's recent protest must have caught the ears of the NXT General Manager after all. Van Dam would go on to start the bout with a flurry of ferocious strikes and kicks in an attempt to quickly seize the giant to his knees, but the colossal Show would have a very opposite thought process in mind, mainly: not falling down and returning the favor to RVD instead by tossing him around the ring like a graffiti-tagged rag doll. Throughout the majority of the contest we would see no signs of any interference until RVD managed to finally bring the behemoth down to his knees after several front dropkicks and a running enzuigiri. Yet following the near fall of a Rolling Thunder signature, Rob Van Dam would see a shocking sight indeed as he turned for the ropes: Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar now standing together at the ramp, with Heyman holding RVD's ECW Championship high above his head for all to witness. After unsuccessfully attempting to break through security in order to confront them, RVD would direct his attentions back to the ring, only to find himself the loser of this main event thanks to a sudden but swift Showstopper Chokeslam, thus signifying Big Show as the first ever number one contender for the NXT Championship!


Match Results

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-- Charlie Haas d. Chavo Guerrero via the Haas of Pain submission (14:26)
-- El Hurrico (The Hurricane & El Generico) d. Yang & Funaki via "The Eye of the Hurrico" (Swinging Neckbreaker/Springboard Moonsault Elbow combination) [NXT Tag Team Title Tournament Quarterfinals] (10:59)
-- Test d. Simon Dean via Test Drive (08:44)
-- Big Show d. Rob Van Dam via The Showstopper [NXT Championship #1 Contender's Match] (13:17)