Big D and I wondered about WWE NXT and though we didn’t actually predict what the show was going to be, we definitely threw out the idea that we could see a seasonal Tough Enough kind of show a few weeks back on FGB Radio.

Earlier today Brian Fritz wrote about the concept and some of the FCW guys that were going to be on the show. And tonight, according to F4W/Wrestling Observer, it was announced on ECW who was going to be on the show (I haven’t watched ECW yet, but I trust these are right.)

Mentor is on the left with FCW talent on the right.

Chris Jericho/Wade Barrett
Matt Hardy/Justin Gabriel
MVP/Skip Sheffield
Carlito/Michael Tarver
Miz/Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson)
Christian/Heath Slater
C.M. Punk/Darren Young
R-Truth/for David Otunga (Jennifer Hudson’s fiance)

So, it doesn’t look like Kaval, Joe Hennig, or Brett DiBiase are on the show, like rumored. But what an interesting set of mentors we have. The mentors who probably do have some great advice for these guys include Chris Jericho who wrestled all over the world, Matt Hardy who really came into the business as a puppy and has survived, Christian who though not as worldly as Jericho, has survived fairly unscathed while being pretty successful, and CM Punk who was labeled as too indy, but has become one of WWE’s biggest stars.

MVP hasn’t been in the business very long, but is known to be a student of the game, so that should help him. Carlito was born in the business, but he has been super inconsistent in his WWE career. Ron Killings is interesting in that he’s on the older end of the crew, but is very young in his WWE years even though he was with them as K-Kwik.

But the most intriguing pairing is The Miz and Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan just seems too weird to say). The humor in all of this is that Danielson would probably be the best mentor of them all, but because he’s new to WWE and they want to get him over, he has to be on this show. And I think pairing him with The Miz will be very humorous. I imagine he can definitely learn one or two things from The Miz when it comes to showmanship and self-expression, but Miz could probably learn more from Danielson about everything else.

I am definitely tuning in next week for sure.

Bottom line is, from it’s onset until about six months ago, nobody knew more about FCW than yours truly. I attended the first twelve shows and some associates of mine continue to attend despite attendance being down (mainly due to the releases of so many good workers and bad booking).

Last week, WWE debuted four new talents on ECW. With the “Donald Draft” happening and ECW losing a crapload of awesome workers, the decision was made to make the brand a “Developmental #2″ so to speak, which it sort of was before, except that now it’s cemented. As a result, I’ve decided to give a little detail on the four newbies so that you know a thing or two.

Abraham Washington. Most people know him as Obama Washington, FCW’s “General Manager”. FCW didn’t have a “General Manager” for a long time, but since WWE LOVES authority figures, he got a job. His gimmick is obviously influenced by current President of the United States Barack Obama. He worked OVW and Derby City for a few months before Johnny Ace signed him to FCW. If you think he was awful on ECW, you just wait – it’ll get worse. He’s green as grass and is being brought up way, way, way, way, way, way too early. If he doesn’t improve fast, I think he’ll be going the way of Scotty Goldman and Kizarny quickly.

Tyler Reks. Tyler Reks has been in the company for about a year and a half. I know him as Gabe Tuft, which is his original and real name before WWE started to go in there and chop up names for trademarks. He is a decent, but a bit green, worker who has a very good look, different from most of the FCW roster which is just buff guys with crue cuts and shoulder tattoos (and you wonder why THESE FOUR got called up first). Gabe legitimately worked his way up from working FCW opening night tag matches and whatnot against the likes of Shawn Spears until he won the FCW title. He is pretty much the top guy in FCW at the moment along with Sheamus so with them gone, there will be even MORE reason for me to stay at home on Thursdays.

News and notes from MMA, boxing, and pro wrestling …

- Jeff Hardy wasn’t allowed to board a flight back to his hometown after Tuesday’s Smackdown tapings because he was intoxicated. I guess it’s a lesser of possible evils from him, but it’s just mind boggling how he keeps screwing up right after WWE forgives him from his previous mistake. For those that don’t remember, he was going to win the ladder match at this year’s Wrestlemania which would’ve given him another title chance, and possible title run sometime this summer. But he failed another drug test and was suspended. He’s scheduled to be in the Smackdown main event at the upcoming No Mercy PPV. He’s even on the poster. Let’s hope this dude gets his act together because in the ring, he’s a great entertainer.

- Kazuo Masaki defeated Joe Riggs last night in the main event of Strikeforce at the Mansion II, their second Playboy Mansion show in two years. Lightweight Mitsuhiro Ishida, the first man to beat Gilbert Melendez, won in the first two minutes, beating Justin Wilcox with an arm bar. Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson defeated Ashe Bowman, which could set up a rematch with Melendez somewhere down the line.

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I guess it’s a real taping this time.

Big D has you covered with the latest in Florida Championship Wrestling. He wrote the August 28 FCW taping report for the recently merged F4WOnline/Wrestling Observer site. Vladimir Koslov and Beth Phoenix showed up to join in on the fun.

Big D With Katie Lea

Big D has you covered with the latest in Florida Championship Wrestling. He wrote the August 21 FCW taping report for the recently merged F4WOnline/Wrestling Observer site. Katie Lea showed up and worked the show and WWE bound Gail Kim made a quick appearance as well, until she was hurried to the back.