Flash Morgan Webster says he believes the door is open for his team with Mark Andrews to return to TNA Wrestling.
Webster, Andrews, and Dani Luna debuted in the company as Subculture last year and Andrews & Webster held the Impact tag team titles for six weeks from Slammiversary to Emergence. However, Andrews and Webster haven’t wrestled for the company since October.
Morgan recently told the Wrestling with Johners podcast that they have been in talks with TNA recently on a deal but nothing is set in stone.
Andrews said:
Last time (we wrestled for TNA) was the UK tour, which was absolutely great, we had a lot of fun then. There might have been talks recently. There might have been – I can’t confirm or deny this – nothing set in stone but we are or maybe might have been in talks. I think the door is open.
After the UK tour, Luna signed with TNA and continued in the promotion without Andrews and Webster. She formed “Spitfire” with Jody Threat and won the Knockouts Tag Team titles from MK Ultra at Sacrifice.
Webster continued to say that the 24-year-old Luna was in a different position than he and Andrews were.
Webster continued:
When Dani signed it was just a matter of we had a conversation with them, we weren’t able to come to an agreement that worked for both myself and Mark.
Dani is in a very different position to us, a lot younger than us. I know that me and Mark spent a lot of time, Mark longer then me, in WWE. We were signed, there were a lot of restrictions that came with that. We both kind of said to ourselves that if we were to sign somewhere else as well we would want to make sure we were signing for the right reasons.
Webster continued to praise the TNA locker room and said he’s confident we will see him and Andrews back in the promotion at some point.
Webster said:
Impact is an absolute great place. Well, TNA sorry is a great place, The locker room is one of the best in the world to be in just because of the morale and everything else but sometimes you’ve got to kind of look past the wrestling, look at your life and look at where you are in your life and and kind of make sure that the opportunities and the stuff you’re taking is right for you and right for your family.
I think you will see us in a TNA ring again but I can’t tell you when. When we pop back up I’m pretty confident it’s something the fans will rejoice in, absolutely.
A former NXT UK tag team is going for Impact Wrestling gold.
Impact Wrestling has announced that Subculture (Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster) will challenge Chris Bey & Ace Austin for the Impact Tag Team titles at Under Siege. Andrews & Webster will accompanied by their Subculture stablemate Dani Luna at the Friday, May 26 event.
Andrews, Webster, and Luna were all released by WWE when NXT UK ended in August 2022.
Andrews & Webster held the NXT UK Tag Team titles once during their time with WWE.
Before signing with WWE in 2017, Andrews wrestled for Impact under the name Mandrews.
Under Siege with be Webster and Luna’s Impact debut.
Under Siege is taking place at the Western Fair District Agriplex in London, Ontario, Canada. The show will stream live via Impact Plus, Impact’s Ultimate Insiders YouTube service, and Fite TV.
Here’s the updated card for the show:
No DQ match: Impact World Champion Steve Maclin defends against PCO
Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo defends against Jordynne Grace (if Grace loses, she can’t challenge for the Knockouts title again while Purrazzo is champion)
X-Division Champion Trey Miguel defends against Chris Sabin
Impact Tag Team Champions Chris Bey & Ace Austin defend against Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster (w/ Dani Luna)
Impact World Championship number one contender’s match: Eddie Edwards vs. Moose vs. Jonathan Gresham vs. Yuya Uemura vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Alex Shelley
Nick Aldis vs. Kenny King
The Design (Deaner, Kon & Angels) vs. Sami Callihan and two mystery partners
NXT United Kingdom title tournament first-round match: Joe Coffey defeated Mark Andrews (7:40)
Both wrestlers cut in-set promos on their way to the ring. Coffey said it would be good to have two Gallus boys on top. Andrews said he had been in the original title tournament and would win this time.
Coffey blocked Andrews’ offense early on (including an arm drag, a hurricanrana, and a body press attempt) and then finally slammed him. Andrews hit a top rope hurricanrana but quickly got thwarted again.
Coffey locked in a full nelson and they ended up in a backslide battle. Andrews eventually hit a DDT. He hit a springboard crossbody for a near fall, but Coffey came back with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Andrews hit the Stun Dog Millionaire but got caught with an uppercut just seconds later, followed by a spear in the corner and All the Best for the Bells for a Coffey victory.
– Backstage, Coffey celebrated his win.
Amale defeated Nina Samuels (6:31)
Amale started out strong and hit a number of running kicks and dropkicks to score a near fall early on. Samuels fought back and locked in a chinlock.
Samuels hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, then started attacking Amale in the ropes. Amale moved out of the way when Samuels went for a dropkick in the ropes. Amale then scored another near fall with a bulldog, followed by a running kick in the corner and the Hopebreaker for the win.
– Backstage, Oliver Carter was asked about his injured knee. Trent Seven came up and gloated about Carter’s leg being bandaged and braced. Carter said the last time they were in the ring together, Carter & Ashton Smith made Seven & Tyler Bate ex-champions. Seven admitted to that and said that was the pivotal moment of his career — people got to see the real Trent Seven now and he would break Carter’s leg.
– Ilja Dragunov cut a pre-taped promo where he said he was curious to see who would take his place — but Dragunov also pointed out it was “his place.” Dragunov said he would be back and would recapture his title.
Chase U (Andre Chase & Bodhi Hayward w/ Thea Hail) defeated Eddie Dennis & Saxon Huxley (6:49)
Chase and Dennis started. Dennis took Chase down, then yelled at Huxley to pay attention and see how it was done. Chase then took Dennis down using the same hammerlock takeover. Chase made the crowd spell “Chase U” and he stomped away on Dennis.
Chase U tagged in and out in order to isolate Dennis. Denis tagged in Huxley, who accidentally hit Dennis on a double axe handle off the top. Huxley hit a Thesz Press on Chase and slammed him into the mat. Dennis took over, but Huxley blind-tagged himself in once more.
Huxley beat Chase from corner to post but then missed an elbow as Dennis kept screaming at him from the apron. Dennis and Hayward both tagged in and Hayward beat Dennis down with tackles and a big splash. Dennis managed to tag out, then Huxley hit a top rope clothesline on Hayward.
Dennis yelled at Huxley that Dennis was the star and told Huxley to get out of the ring. Huxley walked up the entranceway as Chase U hit a double-team flatliner on Dennis to pick up the victory.
After the match, Dennis kept yelling at Huxley, who took him out with a powerbomb. Huxley celebrated with Chase U and shook Andre Chase’s hand.
– A very good video on the upcoming Heritage Cup rematch between Noam Dar and Mark Coffey aired. Both men were confident they would pick up the victory. The match airs next week. Also next week, both semifinal matches in the NXT United Kingdom Championship tournament take place.
NXT United Kingdom title tournament first-round match: Tyler Bate defeated Kenny Williams (13:19)
Both men cut in-set promos. Williams said he would win the title, while Bate said he would win and crush Trent Seven’s dreams.
They traded wristlocks early on and Bate rolled Williams up for a two count. They traded slaps and Bate was aggressive in his offense, but Williams poked him in the eye.
Bate picked Williams up with a bridge off of a test of strength. He then went for a dive, but Williams evaded it and hit a back elbow off the top. They ended up at ringside and Bate picked up Williams for an airplane spin. Williams grabbed the ring post, then threw Bate into the barricades to take over the match.
After some more back and forth, Bate picked Williams up for another airplane spin in the ring, which left both men dizzy until Bate hit a lariat. They traded offense until Bate threw Williams out of the ring and followed with a huge plancha.
Back in the ring, Bate hit a bridging German suplex. Bate went for the Tyler Driver ’97, but Williams escaped it and rolled Bate up for a near fall. Williams went for a backspring elbow from the rope, but Bate caught him in another German suplex, hit a lariat, and then the Tyler Driver ’97 to pick up the win and advance in the tournament.
Final Thoughts —
A strong show with good matches and very few angles/promos, which probably is more than just a bit of foreshadowing that the future of this show looks bleak.
WWE spoiled the results of the tournament recently when Tyler Bate appeared as champion on NXT 2.0 to call out Bron Breakker for the Worlds Collide show that was announced today.
WWE also cut a number of NXT UK wrestlers today, ranging from some who were injured or not featured recently (Flash Morgan Webster, Dani Luna, Ashton Smith) to some who were prominently on this show as part of the title tournament (Mark Andrews), some who were part of stables or ongoing (title) storylines (Rohan Raja, Sha Samuels, Emilia McKenzie, Amir Jordan), and some who were mostly used in the mid-card (Wild Boar, Primate, Dave Mastiff, Jack Starz, Nina Samuels). It will be very interesting to see where NXT Europe is headed and if any of the talent that was released today will be brought back or where the focus of this new brand will lie.
On the off chance any of the released wrestlers read this: Thank you for your hard work and some great and entertaining matches over the years — and all the best for your future. The UK/European indie scene will certainly be better off for it in the long-term, with the possible influx of great talent becoming available shortly.
Next Week —
NXT United Kingdom title tournament semifinal match: Tyler Bate vs. Joe Coffey
NXT United Kingdom title tournament semifinal match: Trent Seven vs. Oliver Carter
NXT UK Heritage Cup Champion Mark Coffey defends against Noam Dar
Kenny Williams will face Tiger Turan on next week’s show. This was set up in a backstage segment on Thursday’s episode. Williams promised to not only defeat Turan but also unmask him and prove he is Amir Jordan.
NXT UK Women’s Champion Meiko Satomura will team up with Sarray to face the team of Eliza Alexander and Xia Brookside next week as well. Alexander and Brookside confronted Sarray in the gym on Thursday’s show and Satomura came to her defense.
The match between Williams and Turan was filmed on Wednesday, June 22 from BT Sports Studios in London. Eliza Alexander & Xia Brookside vs. Meiko Satomura & Sarray was filmed the following day from the same venue.
The full lineup for next Thursday’s edition of WWE NXT UK is as follows:
Kenny Williams vs. Tiger Turan
Eliza Alexander & Xia Brookside vs. Meiko Satomura & Sarray
They first showed a recap of Webster slapping Wolfgang to set up the match this week.
Webster used his speed to his advantage early and agitated Wolfgang with some quick offense. Wolfgang used his size to finally cut Webster down, but then got sent to the outside and was hit by a tope by Webster. Wolfgang came back and eventually posed over a fallen Webster.
He caught Webster coming off the ropes and hoisted him on his shoulders, but Flash hit a poison rana, then hit an elbow for a near fall. Webster came off the top with a senton bomb but Wolfgang got his knees up, then speared Webster into oblivion for the pin and the win.
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Sid Scala announced that in two weeks, Joe Coffey will face Rampage Brown in the final match of their ongoing rivalry. The only way to win will be via submission or knockout.
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Dani Luna and Mark Andrews were asked about Webster’s match tonight. Isla Dawn crept up from behind and acted creepy. Luna told her to get lost.
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Moustache Mountain walked around backstage with some training equipment. Bate said he will become a Grand Slam champion by beating Pretty Deadly next week and Seven said ho they can call themselves the best team in NXT UK when they never beat Moustache Mountain.
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Sid Scala told Jinny and Joseph Conners that Jinny will have a rematch with Aoife Valkyrie in two weeks and it will be no disqualification. Also, Joseph Conners will be locked in a cage at ringside.
Jinny threw a fit, threw a chair, and Conners said this wouldn’t change the outcome.
Amale defeated Nina Samuels (04:52)
Samuels ran wild on Amale early on, attacking her and throwing her around by the hair. Amale came back with a lariat and some ground and pound, then hit a bulldog for a two count. Samuels took back over, threw Amale face first into the turnbuckle then hit her with double knees to the back.
Amale came back with stomps and a running kick into the corner, then scored a near-fall with a swinging neckbreaker. Samuels came back and hit two spinning backbreakers. Amale hit a northern lights suplex, followed by the Heartbreaker (a spinebuster variation) to pick up the victory.
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An amazing video about the upcoming WALTER vs. Ilja Dragunov match aired.
Ilja talked about how WALTER had become his nightmare and now the nightmare was back. He said he was broken inside after their match but he is different now. He said that he lost all respect for WALTER. He said he will now become WALTER’s nightmare. His choice of words and delivery were much better than this synopsis, so go watch the clip yourself if you are looking forward to this match.
A video then recapped what happened between Dragunov, Pete Dunne and WALTER on NXT in the U.S. this week
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A video from two weeks ago was shown, as Symbiosis made their way backstage after their loss to Moustache Mountain.
As Dennis was about to cut a promo, Saxon Huxley stormed into the room with his chain, screaming “Better luck next time!” over and over again. Dennis asked if he was talking about them. He repeated screaming the phrase into Dennis’ face, then stormed off again, as Symbiosis looked on and were puzzled.
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Meiko Satomura talked about facing Stevie Turner next week. She said that Turner had to learn about respect and it was her role as a champion to teach her. Turner said she was the future of NXT UK and that she would win.
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Pretty Deadly were at a WWE Warehouse and said they were surrounded by history, but would have to make space for their own history. They threw down some pictures of Moustache Mountain and said next week, Moustache Mountain would be the best team that Pretty Deadly has ever beaten.
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Heritage Cup Number One Contender Tournament Round 1: Noam Dar defeated Mark Andrews two falls to one (15:30)
Round 1 —
They felt each other out and exchanged holds, with Andrews getting the better of things by holding on to a headlock
Round 2 —
Dar took over and beat Andrews down, then threw him to ringside and rammed him into the barriers. Andrews made a comeback just as the round ended.
Round 3 —
Andrews hit a sunset flip right at the bell, but got kicked off the turnbuckle and sold his leg. Teoman and Rohan Raja walked out at this point and looked on from the aisle. They went back and forth until Andrews hit Stun Dog Millionaire, then hit a dive to Dar on the outside. Andrews missed a springboard move, selling his leg but still went for the Pelè kick, but Dar caught his leg and applied the ankle lock for the submission win at 2:43 of the round. Teoman and Raja left again. Dar 1-0
Round 4 —
Andrews caught Dar’s leg on a kick through the ropes and hit a dragon screw on the leg in the ropes. Both men sold their legs at this point. Dar went for the ankle lock again, but Andrews rolled through for a rollup pin to pick up the fall at 1:38 of the round. Andrews 1-1
Round 5 —
Andrews almost picked up the win with another pinning combination. Dar hit a back elbow that almost got him a three count. Dar went for the Nova Roller but Andrews caught him with an enzuigiri. He went up top, but Dar kicked his leg away and sent him crashing to the mat. Dar hit a mule kick to the leg, then hit the Nova Roller to score the final fall at 2:38 of the round. Dar wins 2-1
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Next week:
NXT UK Women’s Champion Meiko Satomura defends against Stevie Turner
NXT UK Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly defend against Moustache Mountain
In two weeks:
Rampage Brown vs. Joe Coffey in a submission or knockout match
Jinny vs. Aoife Valkyrie in a no disqualification match with Joseph Conners locked in a cage at ringside
Trent Seven told Jordan Devlin he would drop below 205 lbs and challenge for Devlin’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
Meiko Satomura is coming to NXT UK to challenge Kay Lee Ray for the NXT UK Women’s Championship.
Ben Carter defeated Sam Gradwell.
Sha Samuels defeated Josh Morrell. Samuels was talking to Noam Dar backstage before his match.
Ilja Dragunov couldn’t explain what happened with Jack Starz last week. Sam Gradwell talking trash in the background during Dragunov’s interview may lead to a match between them.
Rampage Brown challenged Joe Coffey to a match down the line.
Pretty Deadly became the number one contenders to the NXT UK Tag Team titles by defeating The Hunt, Ashton Smith & Oliver Carter, and Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster. Pretty Deadly last pinned Andrews after Eddie Dennis attacked Andrews’ knee with a chair from the outside. Pretty Deadly jaw-jacked with Gallus after the match.
Full rundown —
Jordan Devlin in-ring segment
Devlin walked to the ring and talked about his NXT Cruiserweight Championship open challenge. Devlin said he’s the longest-reigning Cruiserweight Champion of all time and that he wants his legacy to be that he was the best wrestler under 205 pounds this company had ever seen.
As Devlin was cutting his promo, Trent Seven’s music played and he walked out with a microphone in hand. Seven had not been seen since the fallout of his loss to A-Kid in the Heritage Cup tournament finals. He agreed that Devlin had beaten all challengers and was cementing his legacy
Seven said that maybe the division needed a new challenger. Seven suggested that he’s going to slim down below 205 pounds and challenge Devlin for the Cruiserweight title once he does. Devlin looked incredulous but said that if Seven could cut what he guessed must be about 30 pounds, then he would indeed defend the Cruiserweight title against him.
Devlin wished Seven good luck and patted his belly as he walked by him, but Seven grabbed Devlin’s wrist and decked him with a hard right that sent Devlin to the mat. Devlin rolled out of the ring, then slid back in to grab his belt, but Seven had put his foot down on top of it.
Seven bowed down to Devlin and told him once more that he would take the title off him.
– Backstage, Eddie Dennis was firing up The Hunt as they prepared for their main event match later tonight.
A new challenger for NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray
A video highlighted Kay Lee Ray’s NXT UK Women’s Championship reign and showed her beating everybody in the division as she talked about her reign getting longer and longer. The screen then cut to a Tweet KLR hat recently sent out that read “Another win. Now give me the best in the world…” Highlights of a woman kicking and beating various wrestlers then aired. The woman was quickly revealed as legendary Japanese wrestler and president of Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling Meiko Satomura (who had been in the 2018 Mae Young Classic and recently signed an NXT UK deal as a player/coach).
She said her name is Meiko Satomura and that many say she is the best wrestler in the world. Clips from the Mae Young Classic, PROGRESS, wXw, and Sendai Girls showed Satomura slaughtering people as a graphic announced that Meiko Satomura is coming to NXT UK.
– Pretty Deadly were shown warming up for the main event.
Ben Carter pinned Sam Gradwell after a frog splash (7:33)
This was a battle of speed vs. brutality with Carter coming back with athletic moves and fast, creative offense from repeated beatdowns.
Gradwell walked out and demanded that they “decrease the volume,” then proceeded to ridicule Carter for wearing “PE pants” and being from Jersey, “a place with more cows than people, that was not even in an atlas.” He also called Carter a “yogurt” and promised to send him back “across the channel in a catamaran.”
Gradwell worked Carter’s arm early, but Carter came back with a number of dropkicks and some lightning-fast offense. Gradwell used his aggressiveness to ground Carter and scored a number of near falls.
Carter eventually sent Gradwell to the outside with a spinning head kick, then hit a dive on Gradwell seconds later before returning to the ring and hitting a somersault plancha to the outside. Gradwell countered a guillotine into a front slam. Carter came back with an impressive looking quebrada into a reverse DDT/elbow drop combo before hitting a beautiful frog splash off the top for the pinfall victory.
– Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster were shown preparing for the main event.
– Sha Samuels was seen talking to Noam Dar backstage and it was announced that Samuels would be in action next.
Sha Samuels submitted Josh Morrell with a Cobra/Camel Clutch (5:12)
This was 95 percent Samuels ragdolling and beating up on Morrell, so unlike in the previous match, the smaller man could not use his agility to his advantage much. Morrell showed some promise, especially with a standing twisting somersault senton, but Samuels quickly stopped any offense.
In the end, Samuels hit a spinebuster and applied a mix between a Cobra and Camel Clutch for the submission win.
– Ilja Dragunov was doing some casual one-armed push-ups as one is wont to do when he was asked about his match with Jack Starz last week. Clips were shown of Dragunov snapping and destroying Starz. Dragunov said he didn’t know what happened and that he didn’t want to hurt Starz. Dragunov said that this hadn’t been the plan and looked bewildered and distracted.
Gradwell mouthed off in the background, as he often does. Dragunov then just walked off. I see a severe beating at the hands of Dragunov in Gradwell’s immediate future.
– Rampage Brown was interviewed backstage as Gallus walked by. Brown was friendly with them and greeted Joe Coffey. Brown told him that they (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) knew what they were doing next, but that Joe may need a challenge. Joe told Brown he might take him up on that.
– A graphic announced that Nina Samuels will face Xia Brookside next week. Jordan Devlin’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship open challenge also returns next week.
Fatal four-way number one contender’s elimination match: Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley) defeated The Hunt (Wild Boar & Primate), Ashton Smith & Oliver Carter, and Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster (22:15)
Andrews and Smith started out and traded offense. Both tagged their partners and Carter and Smith hit their move where Carter somersaults over the top onto Smith’s back and then hits an assisted moonsault. Pretty Deadly blind-tagged in and out until Andrews turned the game on them. Gallus were shown sitting by the entrance eating popcorn and having a good time.
Eventually, Primate and Howley were in and The Hunt hit double German suplexes on both Pretty Deadly members. The Hunt and Andrews & Webster briefly brawled, then took turns beating up on Smith. Smith eventually tagged Andrews and Andrews and Webster cleaned house on the other three teams. Stoker and Andrews ended up on the top turnbuckle, with Smith tagging back in and hitting a super powerbomb on both.
Smith was looking to suplex Howley into the ring when Carter jumped on his back and moonsaulted on everyone on the outside, after which Smith hit a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. A melee broke out with everyone hitting everybody else with a big move. Primate and Smith ended up the legal men and Primate hit a high-angle suplex on Smith. The Hunt set up for their finish, but Andrews pulled Boar out of the ring and Smith and Carter eliminated Primate after an electric chair/cutter combo. (The Hunt eliminated at 12:00)
Smith hit a big gutwrench suplex on Stoker, then had an exciting exchange with both members of Pretty Deadly before tagging in Carter. Stoker hot tagged Andrews, who looked surprised. Andrews and Webster double-teamed Smith and hit a poison rana/kick combo for the pin. (Smith & Carter eliminated at 15:10)
This left Pretty Deadly and Andrews & Webster. Andrews and Pretty Deadly had some awesome exchanges, concluding with a hurricanrana by Andrews on Stoker. Howley attacked Andrews’ previously hurt knee, then managed to get Andrews in a giant swing on his hurt knee. Howley transitioned into a half crab and finally a figure four. Webster made the save and broke up the hold. Andrews hit Stun Dog Millionaire and made the hot tag.
Webster back body dropped Stoker on Howley to the outside and followed with a somersault off the top. As Andrews was getting ready for a dive, Eddie Dennis (who was banned from accompanying The Hunt to ringside for this match) suddenly popped up and hit Andrews in the knee with a chair, then quickly disappeared again.
Pretty Deadly then hit their Hart Attack/neckbreaker finish on Andrews to win the match and become the number one contenders to Gallus’ NXT UK Tag Team titles.
Only Joe Coffey was left in the chairs by the ring, as Mark Coffey and Wolfgang came back out to their music and trash talked Pretty Deadly, who jaw-jacked back and forth with them.
Next week —
Jordan Devlin’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship open challenge
The next challengers for Gallus’ NXT UK Tag Team titles will be determined by a four-way number one contender’s elimination match.
Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley), Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith, The Hunt (Wild Boar & Primate), and Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster will face off in a number one contender’s elimination match on the Thursday, January 28 episode of NXT UK. When the winning team will be getting their title shot hasn’t been revealed.
The number one contender’s match was announced by authority figure Sid Scala on this week’s NXT UK episode.
Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) have been NXT UK Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Andrews & Webster in October 2019. Their most recent title defense was against The Hunt on NXT UK last month. Andrews & Webster interfered and helped cost The Hunt the match. Pretty Deadly then appeared and had a staredown with Gallus. Carter & Smith attacked Pretty Deadly and threw them in the ring for Gallus to lay out.
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, WWE had to cancel plans for the NXT UK brand for the upcoming months.
NXT UK usually tapes at Axxess over WrestleMania weekend, which obviously did not take place this year.
Today they announced that both their May tapings following the scheduled NXT UK TakeOver in Ireland, as well as the Download Festival tapings had been canceled.
So it looks like we will be getting a series of specials looking back at the history of NXT UK, as announced by NXT UK Assistant GM Sid Scala.
What is weird about this decision is that during the last set of tapings in March, they taped at least six more matches which haven’t aired yet, including pretty major bouts like WALTER vs. Ridge Holland, Ilja Dragunov vs. A-Kid, Finn Bálor vs. Kenny Williams and Toni Storm vs. Isla Dawn as reported here and here on this site.
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The show opened with clips of Triple H announcing the original UK Tournament and the establishment of a WWE UK championship in late 2016.
After the opening, Andy Sheperd is our host and he isn’t allowed to address the pandemic or the virus by name either, and keeps calling it “unique times”. Well, I guess that makes Vince McMahon a unique individual.
WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament Quarter Final Match: Tyler Bate beat Jordan Devlin (6:06; January 15, 2017, WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament 2017 – Day 2, Blackpool/England)
Odd choice, as this was voted worst match of that particular night on the Observer poll for the show.
Bate looked very young and very deer in the headlights coming out. Both men taped brief, current cell phone videos talking about it but neither said anything of particular note and it was more sound bites like “The people got their first glimpse of the Irish Ace.”
Here’s Dave’s original recap of the match from that week’s Observer:
Bate hit a tope right away. He also did a power spot where he pressed Devlin overhead and followed with an airplane spin.
They played off the injury to Burch the night before when they put over Devlin’s enziguri on Bate. Bate won with a quick left jab and a Tyler driver 97. This match was sloppier than most but still got a good reaction and was all action. **½
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They then recapped the rest of the tournament, including Bate beating Pete Dunne in the finals.
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Next up was a look at the second WWE UK Championship tournament in June of 2018 in Royal Albert Hall.
WWE United Kingdom Championship #1 Contendership Tournament Quarter Final Match: Zack Gibson beat Gentleman Jack Gallagher (13:37; June 19, 2018, WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament 2018 – Day 2, London/England)
Dave, at the time wrote:
In the first of the quarterfinals of the U.K.. tournament, Zack Gibson beat Jack Gallagher with the Shankly Gates arm submission. It was notable that they used a newcomer to advance over a main roster wrestler, but Gibson should be a top heel on the new television show.
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After that, they recapped Zack Gibson winning the tournament, Moustache Mountain winning the NXT tag team titles over Undisputed Era and Triple H announcing the NXT UK brand.
Mark Andrews vs. Joe Coffey w/ Mark Coffey (7:38; NXT UK #1, aired October 17, 2018, Cambridge/England)
Here’s my original report on the match:
Coffey tried to use his strength to immobilize the smaller Andrews, but he managed to repeatedly flip out of some armlocks until Coffey overpowered him.
Andrews is back with some armdrags and a great-looking springboard huricanrana. Coffey hit a mean pounce, a seemingly very European kind of body check, as it’s also a popular tool for other Euro big men such as Avalanche and Dante (the former tag team partner of Aleister Black).
Coffey continued to show his brute strength by grabbing Mandrews by the neck, spinning him around a few times just for the heck of it and hitting a butterfly suplex. Nigel mentions that Joe Coffey actually was Kurt Angle’s opponent at the latter’s last singles match for ICW back in 2016.
While Mark Coffey distracted the ref, Joe takes Andrews out with a stiff clothesline, forcing Andrews out of the ring.
Back in the ring, Mandrews channeled his best inner football player and slid under a clothesline attempt on his knees and hit a quick enziguri. He followed with a very cool combination of some double knees in the corner, a lucha roll-up, double foot stomp and a standing, twisting moonsault for a near-fall.
Coffey quickly recovered and launched himself at Andrews with a running/diving headbutt into the corner, followed by a quick power slam that almost got him the win.
He went for a vertical suplex, but Andrews countered it into the Stuntdog Millionaire, before hitting he top rope.
Mark pulled his brother to ringside and assumed safety, but Andrews hit a big moonsault on both of them.
Andrews, grasping at victory went to the top again but Mark Coffey once more proved to be a major distraction as he grabbed at hs leg, leading to a Joe Coffey overhead belly-to-belly from the middle rope and a brutal lariat for the pin in 7:38.
Post-match, the Coffey Bros. once more went to attack Andrews but Flash Morgan Webster came out with his helmet in hand for the save.
A very fun mean guy/quick guy match that showcased the strengths of both guys.
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Up next, a look at Pete Dunne.
WWE United Kingdom Championship #1 Contenders Match: Pete Dunne beat Trent Seven (14:45; WWE United Kingdom Championship Special, May 7, 2017, Norwich/England)
Here’s the report on the match from this site:
They went back and forth off a collar-and-elbow tie-up before Dunne circled around to try and gain a good position on the damaged right arm of Seven.
Dunne took him down and tortured him for a bit, but Seven escaped and landed a series of chops. Dunne was pulled off the second rope and ate a left arm lariat to the gut for 1.
Dunne went behind, but Trent’s rope escape left the arm open for a hard shot to the arm. They brawled to the floor and Dunne landed a nasty forearm strike to the jaw. This allowed him to trap the arm in the steps and kick the arm into the post.
Dunne talked smack on the apron and ate a slap before kicking away, but opened himself up to a Dragon suplex on the apron! They were both down for a 9.5 count before rocketing back in. This got a well-deserved “this is awesome” chant and it’s easily the best match on TV in at least a month.
Trent went up top for a superplex, but Dunne attacked the hand. Trent still went for a Dragon suplex off the top, but Dunne flipped to his feet and landed a forearm before eating a backfist and then landing an enziguri.
Dunne ran off the rope, but ate a lariat for 2.5.
Trent tried for a Seven Star lariat, but a bodyscissors counter opened the door for the Kimura. Seven recovered and hit a Dragon suplex and a backfist.
Dunne avoided a wrist clutch burning hammer and landed the Bitter End to win it
**********.
They next looked at Dunne winning the championship from Tyler Bate at NXT TakeOver: Chicago, then defending it against Joe Coffey at the first ever NXT UK TakeOver in Blackpool.
The show ended just as that show did, with WALTER coming out and facing off with Dunne.
In an in-set video, Dunne said that he knew the match needed to happen.
PROGRESS returned to the Electric Ballroom in Camden, London on Sunday for Chapter 103: “Beer Snake City.” The show saw Cara Noir defend the Unified World Championship in the main event.
– Pre-show: Rocky Mac defeated Josef Kafka
The main show started with new ring announcer Matt Richards announcing that Charli Evans and Tag Team Champion Jordan Devlin’s injuries meant that some changes had to be done to the card. Instead of the advertised tag match of Toni Storm & Jinny vs. Evans & Millie McKenzie, Storm would instead take on McKenzie one-on-one. Scotty Davis would still face the WorkHorsemen in a non-title match with a replacement partner.
– Scotty Davis & Eddie Kingston defeated The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry)
Davis pinned Henry for the win. Drake and Kingston had some very hard chop exchanges, while Davis and Henry had a mat-based technical contest with some boxing in between.
– Gisele Shaw defeated Chakara
Shaw got the win by submission. The fans were cheering for her initially, but she gradually dialed up the aggression and started showing off, turning the crowd in favor of Chakara.
– The Anti Fun Police (Chief Deputy Dunne & Los Federales Santos Jr.) & WALTER defeated More Than Hype (LJ Cleary, Nathan Martin & Darren Kearney)
WALTER remained completely serious and refused to partake in Dunne and Santos’ comedy spots in this match. More Than Hype applied a lot of teamwork offense that the crowd ate up.
– Proteus Championship match: Paul Robinson defeated Kyle Fletcher via TKO to retain
Fletcher made use of his size advantage and took control over the champion. The action quickly went outside where chairs were used. Robinson was awarded the victory via TKO after backing Fletcher into the corner and rapidly hitting a flurry of punches to which Fletcher had no answer for.
After the match, Robinson cut an off-the-cuff promo where he explained the rules to the crowd.
– Millie McKenzie defeated Toni Storm
McKenzie hit a spear after Storm was distracted by Charli Evans who was stood on the stage. The Medusa Complex beat down Storm after the match before PROGRESS Women’s Champion Jinny came out to even the odds.
After much deliberation, Storm shook Jinny’s hand before they walked to the back.
– Ilja Dragunov defeated Malik
Dragunov got the win with a Torpedo Moscow running uppercut.
After a post-match moment of respect between both men, Eddie Kingston ran out to attack Dragunov. He cut a promo where he claimed he made people like Adam Cole and Matt Riddle, and said that he is tired of putting people over. He finished the promo by telling Dragunov that after he is done with him, he is coming for his “boyfriend,” referring to Cara Noir.
– PROGRESS Unified World Championship: Cara Noir defeated Mark Andrews to retain
Just as Noir’s entrance was about to climax, Eddie Dennis nudged him with his foot, causing an angry Cara Noir to go straight after Mark Andrews. The crowd was electric throughout this match, firmly in favor of Noir. The finish came as Andrews hit Fall to Pieces, but Noir kicked out and quickly applied a rear naked choke to which Andrews tapped out.
PROGRESS’ next show takes place on Sunday, March 29 with Chapter 104: “Jeff Goldblum’s Fly Machine.”
Taped at York Barbican in York, England on January 17, 2020
Quick results —
Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan defeated The Hunt, then later said they were here to face Gallus.
Toni Storm said Kay Lee Ray still was in her head.
Eddie Dennis gloated over beating Trent Seven, who came out and challenged him to a street fight with all turnbuckles uncovered. The match will main event next week’s show.
Tyler Bate and A-Kid will meet in friendly competition next week.
Isla Dawn defeated Nina Samuels.
Ilja Dragunov is proud he did not miss Finn Balor and injured his nose. He also vowed not to miss against Joe Coffey.
Ridge Holland defeated Tyson T-Bone in a battle of the big men.
in the main event, Imperium (Marcel Barthel, Fabian Aichner & Alexander Wolfe) were victorious over Mark Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster & Dave Mastiff. WALTER ran out late in the match, but got bested by Mastiff.
Full rundown —
The show opened with a recap of Worlds Collide. Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews were then shown choosing Dave Mastiff as their partner for their six-man tag match against Imperium in tonight’s main event.
Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan defeated The Hunt (Primate & Wild Boar) when Lorcan pinned Primate after an assisted spiked DDT (7:27)
Burch and Wild Boar started out, with Burch getting the early advantage before Boar rammed his shoulder into Burch’s mid-section. That was followed up by a top rope double axe handle by Primate.
Burch and Lorcan then tagged in and out, beating on Primate. Boar ran hard into an elbow by Lorcan and found himself on the receiving end of a double back suplex.
Lorcan locked in an abdominal stretch, but Boar eventually powered out and tagged out. Primate ran wild on both opponents for a bit, then hit a hard lariat on Lorcan for a near fall. He missed a shoulder block into the corner and hit the post, allowing Burch to come back in with a German suplex and then hit an assisted powerbomb on Primate.
Burch and Lorcan went for a Doomsday Device, but Primate escaped and hit a Northern Lights suplex on Lorcan.
Boar was back in, but crumpled after a headbutt by Burch. Boar grabbed Lorcan after some miscommunication and threw him to ringside, but missed a splash off the apron. Lorcan and Burch then hit an assisted spike DDT on Primate for the victory.
– Toni Storm was interviewed backstage at Worlds Collide and asked what went wrong in her match with Rhea Ripley. She said what went wrong was that Kay Lee Ray was still in her head and this had to end.
Eddie Dennis in-ring segment
Dennis walked to the ring dressed in a gray suit. He said “I did this,” as a clip of him hitting the Razor’s Edge on Trent Seven to the outside at UK TakeOver: Blackpool II aired on the screen. He said he took a pillar, a founding father of NXT UK, picked him up over his head, and when the ref wouldn’t let him throw Seven into the turnbuckle, it forced his hand and he had to send him over the top rope.
At this point, Seven’s music played and he walked out. He called Dennis boring and a liar. Seven said that while the history books will forever say that Dennis beat him, they will miss that Dennis exposed the turnbuckles to gain the win. Seven then proposed they do it again, but take the turnbuckles off and have a steel corners street fight.
Dennis then looked to take a swing at Seven, but Seven ducked and threw Dennis out of the ring, leaving the Welsh Dragon in shock.
– Tyler Bate was interviewed at the NXT UK Performance Center. He was talking about his victory at TakeOver: Blackpool II when A-Kid walked up and congratulated him. A-Kid said he couldn’t wait until he could do what Bate could do and would be in the same position.
Bate then asked him why they should wait. Bate said he would go to Johnny Saint and they could have a match next week. A-Kid was ecstatic and they shook hands on it.
– A video aired on Aoife Valkyrie, who will make her debut next week. A graphic also plugged Ridge Holland.
Isla Dawn pinned Nina Samuels with a bridging German suplex (5:02)
They traded holds and throws early on until Samuels slammed Dawn’s face into the mat. Dawn came back with a bridging pinning combination and a standing dropkick before missing a knee in the corner and tumbling to ringside.
Samuels followed up with a forward handspring kick, throwing Dawn off the apron once more. Samuels threw Dawn around by the hair, then whipped her into the corner and followed with an axe kick. Samuels was on offense with various corner attacks, but she then missed a knee strike and received a release German suplex.
Samuels tried to go for Ninagoroshi, but Dawn escaped. Samuels went up the ropes, but Dawn hit a 619 through the ropes to kick her off. Dawn then pinned her with a bridging German suplex.
– Ilja Dragunov was interviewed backstage at Worlds Collide. Dragunov said he was always looking for the biggest battlegrounds — he could learn from every match and he was proud that he did not miss, as he bloodied up Finn Balor’s nose. He said Joe Coffey was waiting for him and he would not miss again.
– Radzi Chinyanganya interviewed Lorcan & Burch backstage. They said they were here to beat people up, and Burch said they were looking to match themselves against Gallus.
Ridge Holland pinned Tyson T-Bone after hitting Northern Grit (3:12)
They locked up and Holland backed T-Bone into the ropes. They traded forearms and punches. T-Bone repeatedly hit body shots, but Holland just took them before hitting an overhead belly-to-belly suplex for a two count.
Holland hit a short-arm clothesline and a few uppercuts, but T-Bone cut him off with a back suplex. T-Bone went for a powerbomb, but Holland escaped, grabbed him by the ears, and headbutted him a few times. He followed with an Alabama slam and Northern Grit for the victory.
– A graphic plugged Bate vs. A-Kid and Seven vs. Dennis in a steel corners street fight for next week.
Imperium (Marcel Barthel, Fabian Aichner & Alexander Wolfe) defeated Mark Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster & Dave Mastiff when Aichner pinned Andrews after an assisted brainbuster (11:24)
Andrews and Barthel started out. Barthel grounded Andrews to the mat and applied a number of submissions. Aichner tagged in and kept up the submissions. Andrews eventually flipped out of the move and tagged Webster.
Aichner used his power to stop Webster’s high-flying offense. Wolfe tagged in, but fell victim to Webster’s speed. Mastiff tagged in and beat down Wolfe, who tagged in Aichner. Andrews and Webster tagged in and out and they took the advantage over Aichner and Barthel.
Mastiff tagged in and hit a long vertical suplex on Barthel. Mastiff assisted Andrews on hitting a moonsault leg drop. Webster ran wild on Imperium, but Wolfe then threw him on his neck on a high-angle German suplex.
Aichner dismantled Webster and hung him in the corner in a tree of woe. Aichner and Barthel then hit dropkicks from in and outside the ring on him. They followed with a spinebuster/running soccer kick combo. Webster finally managed to evade Imperium and hot tag Mastiff.
The Bomber went wild, clearing the ring of Imperium and hitting a rolling senton on Aichner for a two count. Andrews went to the top, but Barthel threw him into a suplex by Aichner. Andrews managed to turn this into a Stun Dog Millionaire.
Webster and Morgan hit stereo dives on Aichner and Barthel. Mastiff threw Wolfe on them for good measure, then followed with a somersault senton off the apron.
Mastiff got up, rolled Aichner and Barthel back into the ring, and mockingly hit the Imperium/Ringkampf pose. WALTER ran out and looked to attack him, but Mastiff knocked him down with a forearm.
Meanwhile, Andrews got the better of Barthel and Aichner back in the ring and went for a springboard move, but Barthel caught him and threw him at Aichner. Aichner caught him in mid-air and hit a brainbuster for the win.
Imperium posed in the ring as the show went off the air.
Next week —
Tyler Bate will take on A-Kid, while Eddie Dennis and Trent Seven will face off in a steel corners street fight.
A battle royal will decide Rhea Ripley’s challenger for NXT TakeOver: Portland.
WWE has announced that a number one contender’s battle royal will take place on NXT next Wednesday, with the winner going on to challenge Ripley for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: Portland. The Moda Center in Portland, Oregon is hosting the TakeOver special on Sunday, February 16.
Bianca Belair, Candice LeRae, Chelsea Green, Dakota Kai, Vanessa Borne, Kayden Carter, Mia Yim, Santana Garrett, Io Shirai, Shotzi Blackheart, and Xia Li have been confirmed for the battle royal.
After Yim defeated Carter on tonight’s NXT, Green appeared and knocked both down. Robert Stone (formerly known as Robbie E in Impact Wrestling) then announced Green as part of the Robert Stone Brand.
Ripley became the NXT Women’s Champion by defeating Shayna Baszler for the title three weeks ago.
Ripley kicked off tonight’s NXT and was interrupted by Toni Storm, who challenged Ripley for Worlds Collide on January 25. The segment led to NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray, Shirai, Belair, and LeRae all coming down to the ring. Ripley, Storm & LeRae then defeated Belair, Shirai & KLR after dissension between Belair and Shirai.
The first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will also conclude on next week’s NXT. Kushida & Alex Shelley will face The Grizzled Young Veterans, and Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne will take on Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster.
NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) defeated NXT UK Tag Team Champions Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) and Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defeated The Forgotten Sons (Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler) in Dusty Classic first round matches tonight.
O’Reilly & Fish will face either Kushida & Shelley or Gibson & Drake in the semifinals. Barthel & Aichner will face either Riddle & Dunne or Andrews & Webster.
Taped at The Brentwood Centre in Brentwood, England on October 5, 2019
Quick results —
– Joe Coffey pinned Tyson T-Bone in a quick match.
– Isla Dawn defeated Killer Kelly in a fun match. This was Kelly’s return to the ring after a knee injury suffered over the summer.
– A video profiled Piper Niven, who said she wanted to be a role model to anybody not comfortable with themselves. In another video, Kassius Ohno stated he would take out Tyler Bate next week.
– A very good main event between The Grizzled Young Veterans and Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster ended in a double DQ when Gallus attacked the Veterans and Imperium attacked Webster & Andrews.
Gallus and Imperium eventually squared off. Ilja Dragunov, who Alexander Wolfe had tried to recruit last week, then also entered and eventually sided with Gallus. The two factions brawled as the show went off the air.
Full rundown —
The show opened with a graphic plugging tonight’s main event of The Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster.
Joe Coffey pinned Tyson T-Bone after All the Best for the Bells (4:52)
They traded fists early until T-Bone evaded a lariat and hit a kick and a crossbody. Coffey came back with a belly-to-belly and a backbreaker. He applied an armbar and grounded T-Bone for a while, including rolling through on a hip toss.
Coffey evaded an elbow in the corner, hit a crossbody off the second turnbuckle, and followed with the Glasgow Sendoff and All the Best for the Bells for the victory.
– Alicia Taylor interviewed Xia Brookside, who said she was working the hardest she ever had and would show Kay Lee Ray what she was really made of.
– A video plugged the upcoming debut of Ridge Holland.
– An in-depth look at Piper Niven aired. Niven said she first fell in love with wrestling when she was home from school sick and stumbled upon an Undertaker match. She started training at 16.
Niven said she had her sights set on the NXT UK Women’s title and wanted to be a role model for young people not feeling confident about themselves.
Isla Dawn pinned Killer Kelly with a bridging German suplex (4:24)
Kelly tried going for a kick, but Dawn evaded her and applied a single-leg Boston crab, focusing on Kelly’s previously injured knee. Dawn followed up with a dropkick.
Kelly came back with some ground and pound, kicks, and a clothesline. Dawn came back by slamming Kelly repeatedly into the corner, then went for a Saito suplex that was blocked. Dawn hit a knee and then got a suplex in for a near fall.
Kelly fled to the apron, snapped Dawn’s neck on the top rope, and followed up with two shotgun dropkicks. Kelly went for the Carnation Revolution, but Dawn countered into a bridging German suplex for the pinfall victory.
– A graphic plugged Kassius Ohno vs. Tyler Bate for next week. A video of Ohno then aired, where he questioned what British Strong Style was. Ohno said strong style was created by Antonio Inoki and British Strong Style thought it sounded cool and took the name. All the while Ohno was showing what real British wrestling looked like.
Ohno said Dunne was gone, Seven was in shambles, and only Tyler Bate was left. He said he would extinguish British Strong Style and see Bate next week.
– A graphic plugged Xia Brookside vs. Kay Lee Ray and Travis Banks vs. Ligero for next week.
Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) ended in a double DQ (19:30)
Gibson and Webster started out with Gibson manhandling the smaller man. Webster came back with a side headlock and grounded Gibson for a while. Gibson finally got a leglock in and tagged Drake, who briefly took over.
Webster tagged out and Drake fled to ringside. Drake and Andrews traded quick pinfall attempts. Andrews and Webster tagged in and out quickly and trapped Drake in their corner. Gibson managed to blind tag in, but the Veterans were quickly stopped with double dropkicks. The faces isolated Gibson and hit their standing moonsault/somersault senton combo.
The Veterans then came back and took turns working over Webster, including an assisted backbreaker with Drake jumping over the top to the outside.
Webster was in peril for a while and got worked over by both Grizzled Young Veterans. Gibson applied his modified Cobra Clutch, then Drake worked over Andrews’ back. Webster finally managed to hit the Rude Boy Block from a whip into the corner. He was inches from tagging Andrews, but Gibson pulled him off the apron. Drake hit a backbreaker on Webster for a two count, as Gallus casually strolled down the aisle from the back.
Webster finally managed to tag in Andrews, who proceeded to clean house on both Veterans. He hit a moonsault into a tornado DDT on Gibson, then hit an assisted standing 450 for a near fall. The Veterans came back with a running enzuigiri by Drake, followed by a superkick-assisted neckbreaker by Gibson.
Drake went for a springboard dropkick off Gibson’s back, but Andrews turned it into a powerbomb. Quick offense by both teams followed at a breakneck pace, with both being on the verge of victory at times.
The Veterans went for a Doomsday Device on Andrews, but he rolled through for a victory roll. Andrews hit a reverse rana on Drake and all four men were down. At that point, Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel walked out and had words with Gallus. Gallus stormed the ring and took out the Veterans while Imperium disposed of Andrews and Webster.
Imperium and Gallus squared off on opposite sides of the apron, then Alexander Wolfe and Joe Coffey backed up their partners. Finally, WALTER’s music played and he walked out.
Both teams were facing off in the ring when Ilja Dragunov’s music played. He walked out and entered the ring on Imperium’s side and stood beside them, but then walked over to Gallus’ side and helped them even the odds as a big brawl between the two factions broke out and the show went off the air.
Next week —
The final set of matches from this taping air. Ligero meets Travis Banks in a rematch from their double pin result a few weeks ago, NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray faces Xia Brookside, and Kassius Ohno takes on Tyler Bate.
Taped at The Brentwood Centre in Brentwood, England on October 4
Quick results:
– Ilja Dragunov beat Saxon Huxley and was intently watched by Alexander Wolfe, his actual former trainer.
– Aichner & Barthel beat The Hunt in a very good match.
– Xia Brookside scored an upset win over Nina Samuels.
– Gallus conquered the NXT UK tag team titles, beating Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster in a tremendous match.
Full rundown:
The show opened with a video recapping Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster at TakeOver and then focused on their history with Gallus, leading up to their title defense tonight.
Ilja Dragunov pinned Saxon Huxley (5:23)
Dragunov started off strong with an elbow and a senton. He was in control until Huxley caught him off a bodypress and applied a chin lock. Dragunov came back with hard chops and punches in the corner. He suplexed Huxley into the ring as he was on the apron and then hit a high angle German suplex off a body lock. Alexander Wolfe of Imperium came out at that point to watch the match.
Huxley caught Dragunov off a Konstantin Special attempt and suplexed him and then covered him for a near fall. Dragunov sent Huxley to the outside and then hit a top rope clothesline to the outside. He followed that up with a senton off the top and followed with Torpedo Moskau for the win. Wolfe smiled and applauded him from the aisle when Dragunov noticed him.
At that point, Imperium’s music played and Wolfe’s smile vanished. Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner came out and it looked like the three men would face off with Dragunov. However, Barthel and Aichner just walked to Dragunov’s left and right and went into the ring for their upcoming match.
Imperium (Fabian Aichner & Marcel Barthel) beat The Hunt (Primate & Wild Boar) (7:54)
Primate and Aichner started and got into a battle of hard hits. Barthel and Wild Boar were in next and The Hunt quickly sent both members of Imperium to ringside. Barthel slammed Boar as Primate went for a dive but got caught by Aichner who slammed him into the stairs and hit the running knee ot the face. Barthel kicked a mud hole into Boar as Aichner took over. They hung Boar upside down in the ropes and hit stereo dropkicks on him from in and outside the ring.
Barthel worked over Boar until he managed to make the hot tag. Primate took out both members of Imperium but the Europeans quickly foiled his plans and Barthel hit an Air Raid Crash for a two count. Primate hit a spear on Aichner as Boar hit a senton into the corner on Barthel. They hit stereo diving headbutts on Aichner.
Barthel pulled him out of the ring and they quickly regrouped, hitting the European Bomb on Primate for the win.
— Alicia tried to interview Rhea Ripley when Piper Niven came up and asked her about interfering in her match last week. Ripley said she didn’t like Niven but could co-exist with her if they could make a tag team match with Jinny and Jazzy Gabert happen. Niven was left speechless.
— Gallus were shown warming up backstage.
Xia Brookside pinned Nina Samuels (4:06)
Samuels applied a wrist lock but Brookside quickly escaped and applied one of her own. They went back and forth for a bit until Xia got the upper hand and sent Samuels to the outside. Nina came back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, then slammed Xia into the corner and went for a cover. Samuels locked in a full nelson and then worked over Xia’s back. They traded roll-ups, leading to Xia using her quickness to evade some more offense. Samuels went for a roll up off a whip-in, but Xia countered and sat down on Samuels, hooking the legs for the surprise win.
— We saw a hype video for A-Kid, promising we would soon see the young Spaniard in action.
— Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster were shown warming up backstage.
Jordan Devlin in-ring segment
Devlin came out in street clothes. He said many people called him arrogant, but he was here to set the record straight. He said that arrogant meant that he thought that he was better than he was, but he knew he was better than anyone else. He ran down a few names in the back when Dave Mastiff came out. Devlin kept berating him on the mic. As Mastiff grabbed the mic from him, Devlin decked him with a hard right, then tried to it Devlinside him, but could not get him off the mat. Mastiff then came back with a senton and talked down to Devlin who was writhing on the mat in pain.
— A video recapped the storyline between Noam Dar and Trent Seven from the past couple of weeks.
— Travis Banks vs. Ligero and Noam Dar vs. Trent Seven were announced for next week.
Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) beat Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster to win the NXT tag team titles (12:30)
The champs hit dropkicks to the challengers right away, sending them to the outside where they followed up with somersault planchas. Andrews then hit a suicide dive on Coffey and tagged in Webster. They sent Wolfgang over the top and then Andrews hit a dropkick off a pounce attempt by Coffey and tagged Webster. They hit their somersault senton/moonsault combo. Wolfgang eventually came back in and evened the odds, attacking Andrews.
Gallus worked over Andrews with Wolfgang ramming him into the corner off his shoulders and Coffey decking him with a hard shot. He took out Webster on the apron and locked in a chinbar as Joe Coffey walked out and watched the match from the entrance. Andrews finally got the hot tag and Webster ran wild, hitting a quebrada on Wolfgang and disposing of Coffey before hitting a dive on Wolfgang.
He hit a somersault dive on both members of Gallus as Joe Coffey frantically paced the aisle. Andrews hit the assisted standing 450 on Coffey. Coffey kicked out and Gallus cae back with a uranage and choke slam on Webster. They hit an assisted slingshot/Samoan Drop followed by a moonsault by Wolfgang but Andrews made the save, nicking the referee in the head in the process. Andrews hit a barrage of strikes on both men, then tagged out. Webster hit Wolfgang with a knee to the jaw and a head butt, but Wolfgang came back with a double clothesline and collapsed as Joe Coffey continued to look on.
Both teams regrouped in their corners until they clashed again. Andrews turned a slingshot into the Stunt Dog Millionaire and then proceeded to kill Wolfgang with a knee assisted poison rana, followed by a somersault senton by Webster on Coffey for a near fall. On the outside, Wolfgang launched Andrews horizontally into the ring post as Webster (in the ring) went for a Welsh Dragon which missed.
Wolfgang hit the Glasgow Sendoff, followed by their enzuigir/powerslam finish for the pin, win, and title change. Joe Coffey entered the ring and Gallus shook hands and posed as the show went off the air.
Next week:
Travis Banks faces off with Ligero while Noam Dar and Trent Seven continue their ongoing feud with another match.
Taped at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales on September 1, 2019
Quick results —
Imperium opened the show with a promo, proclaiming their dominance, then Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner quickly disposed of two enhancement wrestlers (Danny Jones & Harry Green).
Jordan Devlin defeated Ashton Smith in a very good match that showcased Smith’s strength and explosiveness.
Tegan Nox returned to television for the first time since her injury in August of 2018 and made her NXT UK debut, quickly squashing Shax in under 30 seconds. Kay Lee Ray then berated her after the match and a challenge was issued by Nox.
Noam Dar held a press conference, celebrating himself and drawing the ire of Trent Seven. A British Rounds match between Kassius Ohno and Sid Scala also was announced for next week.
In the main event, Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster successfully defended their newly won NXT UK Tag Team titles against former champions The Grizzled Young Veterans. The match was good and very entertaining but a level or two beneath the three-way at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff.
Full rundown —
All four members of Imperium came out to start the show. The crowd chanted “You still suck” and then sang “Tyler Bate” at them as Marcel Barthel grabbed the mic and stated: “Our arrival in NXT UK was necessary. Your champions — just like your nation — is a symbol of weakness. You may not comprehend why you need us, but you will learn, accept, and respect our rules, our teachings, and our way of life.”
Alexander Wolfe followed by saying: “Imperium are here to protect the honor of the mat and we are here to protect the honor of our sport. And if you’re not willing, and if you reject, you will endure pain, you will experience suffering. You will fall.”
WALTER then concluded with a promo of his own: “At NXT UK TakeOver in Cardiff, I disposed of Tyler Bate. We disposed of British Strong Style. There’s no one left to step up to this group of supreme athletes. You all need to accept that we are your future. I am your WWE United Kingdom Champion. This is the era of Imperium.”
Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defeated Danny Jones & Harry Green after hitting a European Bomb (3:23)
Jones, 23 started wrestling about six years ago and is a regular with ATTACK! and Dragon Pro Wrestling in Wales and Pro Wrestling Chaos in Bristol. He also did a tour with All Japan Pro Wrestling back in 2017.
Green, who also wrestles as Beano, mostly worked for the same promotions and started in 2016. He was trained at the Dragon Pro Wrestling Academy by the likes of Mark Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster, and Wild Boar.
Barthel and Aichner immediately attacked the two youngsters before the bell and the referee had to check on them to start the match. Barthel beat on Jones and slapped him hard, sending him staggering to the corner, where Barthel followed with an uppercut, a double underhook suplex, and a running kick.
Aichner followed up with a couple of backbreakers, then threw Jones to his corner so he could tag in Green. Green briefly fought back, but he quickly found himself in a wheelbarrow position by Barthel and ate a DDT off the second turnbuckle from Aichner. Barthel and Aichner then quickly finished off Green with the European Bomb.
After the match, Wolfe and WALTER destroyed Jones some more, with Wolfe holding him up and WALTER taking his head off with a lariat.
– A video recapped Kassius Ohno beating Sid Scala last week. Scala then stated that Ohno was somewhat underhanded in the match. Scala said Johnny Saint ordered them to have a rematch and next week they would do just that. It will be a British Rounds match, the first in NXT UK history.
– A breaking news graphic announced that Noam Dar would hold a press conference tonight.
Jordan Devlin defeated Ashton Smith after hitting Devlinside (5:34)
They fought for position, with Devlin flipping out of a wristlock, then slapping Smith, who fired up and fought back. He lifted Devlin off the mat, then hit a dropkick that sent Devlin to the apron.
Devlin came back by snapping the top rope into Smith’s face, then worked him over with strikes and forearms. Devlin locked in a kneeling abdominal stretch and hit his uranage/standing moonsault, but Smith got his knees up.
Smith followed with a running dropkick and a rolling fireman’s carry slam. He then caught a body press by Devlin and turned it into a vertical suplex, showcasing his strength.
Devlin then escaped a slam with a knee to the face, evaded a charge, and hit a springboard cutter for a near fall. He went for a moonsault, but Smith superkicked him out of mid-air.
As Smith ran the ropes, Devlin caught him with a standing Spanish Fly, then hit a few Kawada kicks and pulled Smith up and into Devlinside for the victory. Smith looked pretty impressive here.
– Radzi Chinyanganya was looking to talk to Toni Storm backstage, but she was nowhere to be found. As he threw the segment back to the commentators, Nina Samuels walked up and took the spotlight. She said TakeOver: Cardiff was almost two weeks in the past and The Nina Samuels Show was the future.
– A graphic announced Tegan Nox’s NXT UK debut would be next.
– A video segment previewed next week’s Ohno vs. Scala British Rounds match. Nigel McGuinness, William Regal, Robbie Brookside, and Johnny Saint talked about the history and heritage of the sort of match we would be seeing and also ran down the rules for the match.
Tegan Nox pinned Shax after hitting a shining wizard (0:28)
Nox tried to shake Shax’s hand but received a slap instead. She then quickly won with a fallaway slam and a shining wizard in just under 30 seconds.
After the match, Kay Lee Ray walked out and ran down Nox, then talked about how she had won the NXT UK Women’s Championship at TakeOver. But after the match, nobody wanted to talk about KLR and all people wanted to talk about was Nox.
KLR said she would do to Nox what she did to Toni Storm if Nox stood in her spotlight. Nox then replied that if KLR wants to fight, she would fight her anytime, anywhere.
Noam Dar press conference
Dar basically called a press conference to talk about how he is the greatest wrestler in NXT UK. The journalists couldn’t believe it and Dar started throwing them out when somebody asked about the Tag Team title match at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff.
Trent Seven was then shown talking on the phone in the background and made fun of Dar. He presumably talked to Drake Maverick on the phone and said he knows Maverick didn’t want Dar on 205 Live, but they don’t want him here either and begged him to take Dar back. Dar then stormed off.
– A video recapped the Dave Mastiff vs. Joe Coffey last man standing match from TakeOver: Cardiff. They said both men still were out with injuries.
NXT UK Tag Team title match: Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster retained against The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) when Andrews pinned Drake after hitting a Shooting Star Press (12:39)
Gibson and Andrews started things off, with Andrews using his athleticism to get Gibson to the mat, but he quickly turned things around and tagged Drake. Andrews hit a number of arm drags, then tagged out to Webster. Webster and Andrews quickly tagged in and out and hit the standing moonsault/somersault senton on Drake.
The Grizzled Young Veterans then quickly came back, including Drake hitting a step-up kick on Webster on the apron. They hit some unique double-team moves on Andrews as Webster tried interfering to no avail. Andrews ended up on the outside and found himself of the receiving end of a shoulder breaker, assisted by Drake launching himself over the top.
Drake and Gibson then took turns working over Andrews’ shoulder. Andrews at one point managed to hit the Stun Dog Millionaire and make the tag to Webster, who ran wild on Drake.
Webster hit a dive on Gibson, then hit a double underhook facebuster on Drake for a near fall. Gibson came in off a distraction but quickly was foiled, with Andrews hitting an assisted 450 for another near fall.
The Grizzled Young Veterans came back, hitting a Doomsday Device on Webster for another near fall as Andrews made the save. A quick tag later, Andrews hit a top rope reverse rana on Drake, who narrowly managed to kick out of the pin.
Drake attacked Andrews’ shoulder and tagged in Gibson, who worked over the shoulder some more. Andrews tried hitting Stun Dog Millionaire, but he couldn’t get a hold on Gibson, who locked in the Shankly Gates. As Andrews was close to tapping out, Webster came off the top with a somersault senton to break the hold.
Andrews tagged out and Webster hit a moonsault on Gibson. The Grizzled Young Veterans went for Ticket to Mayhem, but Andrews pulled Gibson out of the ring. Webster rolled through on Drake for another two count.
Webster missed a springboard dropkick and found himself in position for Helter Skelter. Webster evaded and managed to pull Gibson into a superkick by Drake. Webster slammed Drake, then Andrews hit a Shooting Star Press off the top to retain.
Next week —
Sid Scala takes on Kassius Ohno in a British Rounds match.
The lineup for NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff looks to be officially set.
Two matches were announced for the special on this week’s NXT UK episode. Travis Banks will face Noam Dar, and NXT UK Tag Team Champions The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) will defend their titles against Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) and Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster in a triple threat match.
In storyline, Andrews & Webster earned their way into the Tag Team title match after getting wins on the past two episodes of NXT UK. Webster defeated Mark Coffey on the episode that aired last Wednesday, while Andrews defeated Drake on this week’s show.
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff is hosting UK TakeOver on Saturday, August 31. It’s the second TakeOver special in NXT UK history.
Here’s the updated card for UK TakeOver: Cardiff:
WWE United Kingdom Champion WALTER defending against Tyler Bate
NXT UK Women’s Champion Toni Storm defending against Kay Lee Ray
NXT UK Tag Team Champions The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) defending against Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) and Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster in a triple threat match
Travis Banks vs. Noam Dar
Dave Mastiff vs. Joe Coffey in a last man standing match
