Three goodbyes

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- In the biggest night of WWE NXT history, three NXT Rookies were shockingly eliminated! With only five NXT Rookies left, who will impress the WWE Pros and become WWE's next Superstar and earn a championship pay-per-view match against a WWE Superstar?
Michael Tarver and Daniel Bryan eliminated (PHOTOS | WATCH)
WWE NXT kicked off with the two surprising eliminations of NXT Rookies Michael Tarver and Daniel Bryan. The week before, both NXT Rookies told the WWE Universe that they deserved to be eliminated, and their wishes were granted by WWE Management, regardless of Bryan's monumental victory the night before on Raw.
After their eliminations, Tarver and Bryan spoke to WWE NXT host Matt Striker. While Tarver thought the ruling was fair, he didn't think the contest was. (WATCH) Bryan referenced that Daniel Bryan only exists in WWE and vaguely referenced the name Bryan Danielson. (WATCH)
Skip Sheffield eliminated (PHOTOS | WATCH)
After the main event, the WWE Pros' Poll results were announced, and one more NXT Rookie was eliminated. While most of the six remaining NXT Rookies hoped David "A-List" Otunga would be eliminated, it was Skip Sheffield who received the lowest ranking from the WWE Pros and was the third hopeful to leave the competition. The Cornfed Meathead blamed himself for perhaps not following the guidance of his WWE Pro, William Regal, throughout the first 11 weeks of competition.
The WWE Pros' Poll results were as follows:
1. Wade Barrett
2. David "A-List" Otunga
3. Justin Gabriel
4. Heath Slater
5. Darren Young
6. Skip Sheffield
There will be another Pros' Poll next week and another NXT Rookie will be eliminated! Which NXT Rookies have impressed the WWE Pros the most this week?
WWE.com poll
This week, WWE.com also polled the WWE Universe and asked which NXT Rookie has impressed them most. Here are the results:
1. Daniel Bryan
2. Justin Gabriel
3. Heath Slater
4. David "A-List" Otunga
5. Wade Barrett
6. Darren Young
7. Skip Sheffield
8. Michael Tarver
Return to WWE.com tomorrow to see a side-by-side comparison of the WWE.com Poll and the Pros' Poll results.
David "A-List" Otunga def. Justin Gabriel (PHOTOS | WATCH)
After winning last week's Obstacle Course Challenge, Justin Gabriel called out fellow NXT Rookie, David "A-List" Otunga, stating that his ego outweighs his talent, moments after Otunga lost to his own WWE Pro, R-Truth. But when these two met in singles action, Otunga proved Gabriel wrong. WWE NXT's "A-Lister" dominated and pinned his opponent, moving his record up to 5-4, while Gabriel's dropped to 5-3.
Skip Sheffield def. Darren Young (PHOTOS | WATCH)
Since winning the Rock 'em Sock 'em Rookies Challenge and taking over WWE.com, NXT Rookie Skip Sheffield was on a winning streak. This week, the Cornfed Meathead earned a victory over the NXT Rookie with the most wins, Darren Young. Before his elimination, Sheffield improved his record to 2-5, while Young's dropped to 7-3.
Wade Barrett def. Heath Slater (PHOTOS | WATCH)
Wade Barrett hoped to settle a score with a fellow NXT Rookie from weeks ago when in one of the biggest upsets in WWE NXT history, Heath Slater defeated Barrett's WWE Pro, six-time World Champion Chris Jericho. While Jericho wasn't at ringside, Barrett got that revenge, upping his record to 6-4, while Slater's falls to 5-4.
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