CHRIS JERICHO VS. DANIEL BRYAN

 Chris Jericho is WWE World Heavyweight Champion going into this match, and he makes his way out first with Wade Barrett. I completely forgot about the cloak and rose look for Barrett. We go to commercial as they make it to the ring and when we return Josh Matthews hypes up Matt Hardy and Justin Gabriel appearing next week. Chris Jericho grabs the microphone and says he doesn’t want “her” to introduce him (Does anyone know the ring announcer's name, a quick Google search failed me.) and asks Barrett to do the introduction, giving American fans a British accent to enjoy. Barrett calls it an honour to be paired with Jericho, he tries to hype up Jericho but the champion asked for an introduction. “have it your way” – Barrett. The Miz and Daniel Bryan make their way out to the ring together, which is a shock after we opened the show with Miz berating Daniel Bryan and slapping him across the face. Daniel Bryan is a decade-long veteran making his first TV appearance under WWE contract. Matthews takes the time to plug Wrestlemania 26 presented by Slim Jim before our final commercial break of the evening.

Michael Cole and Josh Matthews are on commentary for this match.

CHRIS JERICHO VS. DANIEL BRYAN

WWE NXT Episode 1 (23^rd February 2010)

  The bell rings and Daniel Bryan reaches out for a handshake, it gets slapped away by Jericho who talks some trash and shoves Bryan to start.

  Daniel Bryan is piefaced so he slaps Jericho across the face and knocks him down with a dropkick. Chris Jericho backs into the corner and Bryan charges with a forearm and kicks away at Y2J in the corner. The referee backs Bryan off and Chris Jericho takes advantage, getting in a shot with the right hand and dropkicking Bryan down. Michael Cole says a lot of people hadn’t heard of Daniel Bryan before the previous week as Striker is left to defend us internet fans. Jericho kicks Bryan in the back and hits a dropkick, another kick and right hands take it to Bryan as The Miz looks disappointed. Jericho hits a back suplex and clubs at Bryan’s back. Bryan is snapmared over into a chinlock with one arm trapped but works to his feet and escapes with shots to the gut. Daniel Bryan hits the ropes and rolls Jericho up for a 2 count. Jericho hits an enziguri and covers Bryan for 2 but the cameras aren’t really watching.

  Chris Jericho slaps Daniel Bryan as Striker says Bryan might not want to respect The Miz, WWE pro or not. Jericho connects with a forearm shot and backs Bryan into the corner for shoulder thrusts. Matt Striker gets an interview with Wade Barrett asking what he’s learning and he says “quality” as Daniel Bryan is sent across the ring. He moves out of the way and Jericho’s shoulder hits the ring post. Daniel Bryan backs Jericho into the ropes with roundhouse kicks to the chest but the irish whip is reversed. Bryan baseball slides under Jericho and Jericho fucks up taking a dragon screw. Daniel Bryan gets a nearfall from a running kick as Michael Cole blasts the independent scene again. Playing the boomer that hates the internet. Daniel Bryan connects with knees in a clinch, backing Jericho into the corner, Chris Jericho reverses the irish whip but Bryan climbs the turnbuckles and flips over Jericho! Daniel Bryan hits a running clothesline, leaving his feet to knock Jericho down! Daniel Bryan covers and Jericho kicks out at 2½ all whilst “Cole plays the boomer” is going on.

   Daniel Bryan connects with right hands and picks up some speed to knock Jericho out of the ring, although it didn’t look to go as planned. Daniel Bryan waits for Chris Jericho to get to his feet and dives through the ropes with the Tope Suicida! JERICHO CATCHES BRYAN! Jericho sends Daniel Bryan into the announce table with his own momentum. We see a replay and as we go back to full screen we see the welts on Bryan’s back. He gets Chris Jericho back in the ring and gets on the apron, but the springboard attempt is caught. Chris Jericho tries to put Bryan in the Walls of Jericho but Bryan rolls through! Legbar by Daniel Bryan, Chris Jericho reaches out as Daniel Bryan wrenches, Jericho gets to the bottom rope and Bryan utilises the count. “HE HAS TILL 5!!” I fucking miss that.

  Chris Jericho hugs the rope like a long-lost family member and hits Bryan with a Codebreaker. Chris Jericho puts Bryan in the Walls of Jericho in the middle of the ring and Daniel Bryan taps out.

WINNER: CHRIS JERICHO

This was a great way to main event the inaugural show, but the booking of Daniel Bryan through the night left lots to be desired. This was a fun sprint during a one hour show and should have been a taster for a later match, when Daniel Bryan had finished with The Miz. As for the match though, Daniel Bryan got to hang with the World Champion and almost made him submit. He got more than the commentary would let you think he deserved and besides Michael Cole being unbearable it was a fun match. [**½] 5/10

  After the match, The Miz attacks Daniel Bryan and disrespects him, causing more welts on Bryan’s forehead and disrespecting him before we see some replays from the match.