Taped at York Barbican in York, England on January 18, 2020
Quick results —
Alexander Wolfe defeated Travis Banks with a sit-down powerbomb.
Eddie Dennis cut a promo about his superior mind.
Ridge Holland quickly squashed Saxon Huxley.
Aoife Valkyrie defeated Isla Dawn.
Jordan Devlin will return next week. Ligero will also face Noam Dar.
In the main event, WALTER successfully defended his NXT UK Championship against Dave Mastiff.
Full rundown —
The show opened with a video hyping up our main event for tonight: WALTER vs. Dave Mastiff for the NXT UK Championship. Mastiff claimed that “WALTER, tonight, your reign is over!”
Alexander Wolfe pinned Travis Banks after a sit-down powerbomb
Wolfe went to start out with a kick, but Banks evaded him and struck him down with a kick of his own. Banks followed up with a dive as Wolfe rolled to ringside.
Back in the ring, Banks scored a near fall. Wolfe came back with a kick of his own, then pounded on Banks. Wolfe locked in a chinlock before following up with a slam. Banks came back with punches and hit a forearm that staggered Wolfe. He hit a running dropkick into the corner, then hit a double stomp to Wolfe’s sternum. Wolfe then came back with a spinning suplex.
Banks hit a number of kicks, but Wolfe hit a German suplex for another near fall. Banks hit Slice of Heaven, but Wolfe rolled to the apron. Banks looked to go for the Kiwi Crusher on the apron. Wolfe escaped and went for a powerbomb, but Banks escaped, climbed to the top, and hit a double stomp on Wolfe, who was in the ropes.
Wolfe recovered and hit a draping DDT off the apron to the floor. After some more back and forth back in the ring, Wolfe hit the sit-down powerbomb for the win.
– Eddie Dennis talked about being the principal of a private school and compared the job to being in NXT UK. He said it used to be his job to mold the minds of young people and it took a special kind of person to manipulate the mind.
– A great video on the NXT UK tag team division aired.
Ridge Holland pinned Saxon Huxley after hitting Northern Grit
Huxley started with a running kick and clotheslined Holland into the corner, but quickly found himself at the receiving end of an overhead suplex. He pounced Huxley halfway across the ring, then hit Northern Grit and followed up with another Northern Grit for the quick win.
– A tale of the tape graphic compared WALTER and Mastiff ahead of their title match later in the show.
– NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin proclaimed that he would return next week.
Aoife Valkyrie pinned Isla Dawn after a top rope axe kick
Valkyrie worked over Dawn’s arm early on. She then rolled Dawn up for a two count. Dawn held Valkyrie’s arms down for a cover, but she bridged out of it and hit a monkey flip.
They traded pinfall attempts until Valkyrie took back over with a leg sweep and a standing moonsault. Dawn kicked Valkyrie’s legs out as she was going up the ropes, then hit a meteora from the top rope for near fall. Valkyrie came back with a top rope axe kick for the win.
– WALTER and Mastiff were shown on a split-screen as they walked to the ring.
– Ligero talked about Noam Dar and said he would meet him next week.
NXT UK Championship match: WALTER retained against Dave Mastiff after hitting a powerbomb
They locked up early and WALTER briefly was in control before Mastiff ducked a chop and hit a forearm. They repeatedly crashed into each other without either man budging. WALTER leap-frogged Mastiff but then got wiped out by a running crossbody.
WALTER applied a sleeper and tried to transition into a German suplex as Mastiff grabbed the ropes, but he couldn’t get Mastiff up. He then got back body dropped off a powerbomb attempt. Mastiff hit a German suplex into the corner, but the champ came back with a shotgun dropkick. They traded shots until WALTER hit a big overhand chop.
WALTER went for the big splash off the top, but Mastiff rolled out of the way and WALTER crashed and burned. Mastiff hit another German suplex, then hit the rolling senton for a close near fall. Mastiff went for Into the Void, but WALTER moved out of the way and it was Mastiff’s turn to crash.
Mastiff came back with a senton and hit Into the Void for another two count. Mastiff went to the top, but WALTER threw him down. Mastiff hit a hard clothesline but got punched in the throat. WALTER then hit a kick and finally hit the powerbomb for the pinfall victory.
WALTER posed with the title as the show went off the air.
Next week —
NXT UK tapes this coming Friday and Saturday, so a number of matches will be shown from those tapings. Jordan Devlin returns and Ligero will face Noam Dar.
Taped at York Barbican in York, England on January 18, 2020
Quick results —
The Grizzled Young Veterans beat The Hunt, after verbally berating them two weeks ago
Kassius Ohno submitted Jack Starz
Isla Dawn will face Aoife Valkyrie next week, while Travis Banks will also face Alexander Wolfe
A-Kid beat Brian Kendrick in a fun, fast-paced match
Dave Mastiff talked about facing WALTER next week
Kay Lee Ray defended her NXT UK Women’s Championship in a brutal I Quit Match against Toni Storm, when she trapped her head and upper body in a steel chair and threatened to jump on it from the top rope
Full rundown —
The show opened with a video looking at the Toni Storm vs. Kay Lee Ray I Quit match, tonight’s main event.
The Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) beat The Hunt (Primate & Wild Boar) when Gibson pinned Primate after Ticket to Mayhem (9:50)
Two weeks ago, GYV talked trash about The Hunt, so they were out for revenge here.
The Hunt started out strong, taking turns at beating down Drake.Gibson tagged in and turned things around for GYV, before Drake tagged back in.
Drake jumped onto the post from the apron to soften the impact of Gibson getting whipped into the corner. Drake hit a big back breaker on Boar, then followed up with another double-team backbreaker on the outside.
Back in the ring, Gibson hit a hard slam on Boar, then locked in the sitting cobra clutch. Board eventually managed to escape and hot tag Primate, who ran wild for a bit.
He hit an exploder on Gibson, then hit numerous clothesline on both members of GYV in the corner before taking out Gibson with a spear. GYV briefly got the upper hand again, but Prime avoided a Doomsday Device, sent Gibson into the corner and hit another overhead suplex on Gibson.
After some more offense by GYV, The Hunt hit double German suplexes on both, then followed up with an assisted sit-down power bomb on Drake. Gibson thwarted another double team attack and pulled Boar out of the ring, prompting Primate to jump on Gibson on the outside.
GYV then came back with Ticket to Mayhem on Primate for the win.
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A video on Ridge Holland aired, who will be in action next week.
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Kassius Ohno submitted Jack Starz with the Kassius Clutch (5:02)
The back story here was that Ohno critiqued Starz working out at the UK Performance Center during the week.
Ohno worked over Starz’s arm early on. Starz came back with an impressive suplex, showing off his strength.
Starz then rolled up Ohno for a two-count and briefly worked him over, hit a European uppercut off the turnbuckle and a butterfly suplex. Ohno came back with some offense of his own, then locked in the Kassius Clutch for the submission victory.
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Radzi interviewed Isla Dawn backstage, who talked about the strong NXT UK women’s division. She talked about facing Aoife Valkyrie next week.
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Travis Banks was at the NXT UK Performance Center and challenged Alexander Wolfe to a match next week.
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A-Kid pinned The Brian Kendrick after a springboard backflip DDT (6:45)
An angle where Brian Kendrick picked on A-Kid set up this match.
A-Kid held his own early on, forcing the veteran to escape to the ropes. A-Kid went for an arm bar, then followed up with a drop kick, before Kendrick twisted his arm and jumped through the ropes, snapping A-Kids’s head and neck on the ropes.
Kendrick worked over A-Kid’s arm and neck, before throwing him neck-first into the turnbuckles. Kid came back with a dropkick that sent Kendrick to the outside, then followed up with a dive through the ropes. A-Kid then hit a moonsault off the ring steps on Kendrick, then followed up with a top-rope crossbody once back in the ring.
A-Kid hit a tilt-a-whirl arm bar, but Kendrick made the ropes and slid to ringside. Kid went for a springboard moonsault to the outside, but Kendrick hit the rope, causing A-Kid to slip. Kendrick hit a top-rope butterfly suplex, then went for the Captain’s Hook, but A-Kid escaped.
A-Kid then hit a springboard backflip DDT for the win.
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Dave Mastiff talked about facing WALTER for the NXT UK championship next week; he said he was nothing like WALTER, who he said stood for greed and want and said he needed this match.
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WWE NXT UK Women’s Title I Quit Match: Kay Lee Ray (c) made Toni Storm quit when she trapped her head in a chair and threatened to jump onto it from the top rope (12:50)
Storm and KLR immediately went at it, slugging it out before moving to the outside and brawling all around ringside. Toni got the upper hand, slamming KLR’s head into the ring post.
Back in the ring, Storm hit a German suplex off the middle rope, then looked to go for Storm Zero, but KLR dropped to the mat. Toni immediately locked in an STF. KLR crawled towards the rope, but since there are no DQs, Toni just kicked to move in through the ropes, before letting go.
KLR came back with a Tornado DDT, then bent Toni’s neck backwards over the middle rope, but Toni didn’t quit. KLR went for the Gory Special, but Storm turned it into a kind of octopus stretch over the ropes. Toni got a table from under the ring and set it up at ringside.
KLR slammed Toni’s head into the steps, then went for a superplex to the outside, but Toni blocked. Toni tried to hit a German through the table, but KLR managed to escape.
Toni then managed to hit a splash off the second turnbuckle through the table to the outside. Storm went for Storm Zero on the apron, but KLR escaped and threw Toni back in the ring.
Storm came back with an elbow, but KLR managed to pull her to the outside once more and hit a draping DDT off the apron to the floor. KLR got some tape from under the ring, then started tying Storm’s arms behind her back. As Storm was defenseless, KLR started kicking her in the chest and head.
KLR got a chair and was looking to hit Storm in the head, but Storm hit a headbutt that sent the chair flying. KLR then set up the chair and pulled Toni’s head between the seat and back of the chair, then hit a super kick.
KLR then drove the chair to the back of Toni’s neck, before trapping Toni’s upper body in the chair and kicking down on it.
Sid Scala and Johnny Saint came to ringside to protest KLR’s action. KLR then actually jumped onto the chair from the second turnbuckle, as Piper Niven also walked out and was very concerned for her friend Toni.
KLR then went to the top rope and teased jumping onto the chair once more, forcing Storm to quit.
Niven and officials tended to Toni as the show went off the air. As a consequence of this result, Toni Storm won’t be able to challenge for the NXT UK Women’s Championship as long as KLR is the champion.
Next week —
Ridge Holland will be in action, while Isla Dawn faces Aoife Valkyrie. Also, Alexander Wolfe will meet with Travis Banks and his Imperium stablemate, WALTER will defend his NXT UK championship against Dave Mastiff.
Taped at York Barbican in York, England on January 18, 2020
Quick results —
Tyler Bate pinned Joseph Conners in a very good match.
WALTER and Dave Mastiff were told they would face off in a title match in two weeks.
Jinny announced that Jazzy Gabert was no longer her associate.
Noam Dar defeated Joseph Morrell in a fun little match.
The Hunt challenged Grizzled Young Veterans for next week.
Also next week, Kay Lee Ray and Toni Storm will meet in an I Quit match for KLR’s NXT UK Women’s title. If Storm loses, she can’t challenge for the title again as long as KLR is champion.
Jordan Devlin said he’ll be back in NXT UK when he’s ready to be.
Ilja Dragunov’s “debt” is now paid after he defeated Joe Coffey in a good main event.
Full rundown —
The show started with Joe Coffey watching his loss to WALTER at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II, where Ilja Dragunov inadvertently bumped Alexander Wolfe into Coffey’s knee. A video package then aired to build up Coffey vs. Dragunov in tonight’s main event.
Tyler Bate pinned Joseph Conners after the Tyler Driver ’97 (11:40)
Conners repeatedly claimed he was TakeOver-worthy in the past and was critical of Bate. They got into it right away, with Bate getting the better of their encounter. Bate hit a hurricanrana and threw Conners to ringside. Conners grabbed a chair, but threw it down in frustration.
Back in the ring, Bate came back with arm drags and armbars, followed by a monkey flip out of the corner. As Bate sat on the ropes, Conners threw him to the outside this time. Conners then took over, repeatedly beating Bate down and scoring a number of pinfall attempts. Bate came back off a backslide attempt and hit a running uppercut.
Bate hit an overhead suplex and followed with the running Shooting Star Press. He got another near fall shortly after off a roll-up, even though Conners evaded an airplane spin in the process. Conners ducked the rebound clothesline, hit a slingblade for a near fall of his own, but then missed a moonsault.
Bate was on offense, but Conners caught him with a tilt-a-whirl slam. He followed up with a dive to the outside on Bate and then hit a slingshot flatliner. Conners kept stomping away on Bate in the corner, but Bate came back with a koppu kick and a dive over the top rope.
Conners hit a drop toe hold on the outside that saw Bate crash into the chair Conners had dropped earlier. Conners scored another close near fall and went for Don’t Look Down, but Bate countered into a DDT, then followed up with the rebound clothesline and finally hit the Tyler Driver ’97 for the win.
– A video package on next week’s Kay Lee Ray vs. Toni Storm Women’s title I Quit match aired, featuring statements from both women. Storm said KLR was like the worst person you could know and said how this was her one final shot to win back the title.
– A video from earlier today aired. WALTER and Dave Mastiff sat down backstage with Johnny Saint and Sid Scala, with Scala announcing that WALTER will defend his NXT UK Championship against Mastiff in two weeks.
Mastiff thanked them both. WALTER accused them of doing “their guy” a favor and told Mastiff that — while Mastiff may think he’s the best heavyweight wrestler — WALTER is in fact the best heavyweight in Europe.
– Tom Phillips and Aiden English talked about the match but were interrupted by Jinny. She had English help her up on the announce table, mic in hand. She said that the queen of NXT UK would now address the crowd.
Jinny said that ever since she was a little girl, her commands had been carried out. So when her “previous associate” (Jazzy Gabert) disobeyed her, this was the end of her career. She said she doesn’t tolerate insolence or disobedience.
Jinny claimed that she gave Gabert an opportunity and a platform, but she wasted it. She said maybe in the future, she would give someone else that platform — if they were lucky enough to be associated with her. But until then, it was only about her — the queen of NXT UK — and no one would ever disrespect her again.
This was done to write off Gabert, who opted not to re-sign with WWE over the last set of tapings and had also been in a car accident leading up to the tapings, so was not cleared for anything physical either.
Noam Dar pinned Josh Morrell after the Nova Roller (5:30)
Dar repeatedly pushed Morrell into the corner until he pushed back. Dar went for some mat wrestling, then played some mind games with him. Dar slapped Morrell, but got slapped right back.
Morrell displayed some athletic ability, including landing on his feet off a standing moonsault attempt. He hit a triple-jump slingshot moonsault on Dar for a pinfall attempt, then followed with a cradle off a suplex attempt.
Dar came back by kicking Morrell’s knee. He locked in a sleeper on the mat, but Morrell made the ropes. Morrell evaded Dar with a corkscrew backflip off the ropes, but seconds later was hit by the Nova Roller for the finish.
– The Hunt found a chain link fence backstage to cut a promo behind. They took offense to what the Grizzled Young Veterans said about them last week. They claimed that they were The Hunt and the GYV were the hunted. A match between both teams was announced for next week, along with the KLR vs. Storm I Quit match for the NXT UK Women’s title.
– Due to Super ShowDown airing on the WWE Network next Thursday, NXT UK will air at 10 a.m. ET/3 p.m. GMT next week. Also, as announced during TakeOver: Portland, the next NXT UK TakeOver will take place in Dublin on April 26. We should get an idea of the card for that show over the upcoming set of NXT UK tapings in March.
– Jordan Devlin was interviewed earlier in the week. He said his phone had been blowing up, asking him to come back to NXT UK — but he would be back when he was ready to be.
Ilja Dragunov pinned Joe Coffey after Torpedo Moscow (14:52)
Coffey started off with jabs, but Dragunov mostly avoided them. They ended up on the mat, trading holds. They eventually came to a standoff and posed in front of each other. Dragunov hit a crossbody, then hit a kick that sent Coffey to the outside.
Dragunov then hit a jumping body press off the top to the floor and rolled Coffey back into the ring. He missed a double foot stomp and was hit by the Glasgow Sendoff in the corner. They ended up outside once more, where Dragunov was sent into the ring steps, then was clotheslined to the knee and off the apron.
Coffey kept targeting Dragunov’s knee, as Dragunov had inadvertently taken out Coffey’s knee at TakeOver. Coffey hit a second-turnbuckle kneebreaker, then went for a Boston crab, but Dragunov made the ropes.
Dragunov escaped an electric chair into a German suplex attempt and hit the Konstantin Special (previously called the Six One Line by the announcers on NXT UK), then evaded Best for the Bells and hit a hard left of his own. Dragunov hit his Russian suplex for a near fall, but his knee gave out on the bridge.
Dragunov followed up with a senton off the top rope, then tried to go for a Coast-to-Coast, but his knee buckled once more. They battled on the top rope until Coffey hit a top-rope overhead belly-to-belly.
Dragunov came back with a knee to Coffey’s face, but fell victim to a clothesline. Dragunov then side-stepped another Glasgow Sendoff, sending Coffey shoulder-first into the corner. Dragunov hit a DVD into the corner, then finally hit the Coast-to-Coast.
Dragunov set up for Torpedo Moscow. Coffey got back on his feet and went for Best for the Bells and screamed “My Kingdom,” but Dragunov hit his finish a split-second earlier and took out Coffey for the win.
The rest of Gallus then came to the ring, ready to attack, but Coffey held them back and told Dragunov that “he paid the debt” and they were now square.
Next week —
Kay Lee Ray defends her NXT UK Women’s Championship against Toni Storm in an I Quit match. If Storm loses, she can’t challenge for the title again as long as KLR is champion. The Hunt will also face The Grizzled Young Veterans.
Taped at York Barbican in York, England on January 17 and 18, 2020
Quick results —
Aoife Valkyrie made her debut by defeating Amale (who also was on the show for the first time).
Travis Banks and Alexander Wolfe had words backstage.
Dave Mastiff defeated Saxon Huxley, then continued to shout for WALTER.
Toni Storm signed her I Quit Match contract for an NXT UK Women’s title match with Kay Lee Ray. If Storm loses, she can’t challenge for the title again as long as KLR is the champion.
The Grizzled Young Veterans cut an entertaining promo, talking about soon being recognized as the best team in the world.
Joseph Conners called out Tyler Bate before their match next week.
Joe Coffey defeated Amir Jordan, then had some choice words for Ilja Dragunov.
Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) retained their NXT UK Tag Team titles against Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan. After the match, Dragunov got beat down by all three Gallus members.
Full rundown —
Aoife Valkyrie defeated Amale after a top rope axe kick (3:35)
Valkyrie, from Dublin, started wrestling in 2015 and was trained at Fight Factory Pro Wrestling. She started out in Celtic Championship Wrestling and first wrestled in Germany in 2017 for GWF out of Berlin, where she became a semi-regular and earned some praise from Jazzy Gabert.
Starting in 2018, Valkyrie became a regular in OTT and Pro Wrestling: EVE. Last year she became a staple of wXw’s women’s division, wrestling both Amale and Killer Kelly on a regular basis. She is a former OTT Women’s Champion and a former EVE Tag Team Champion.
Amale started wrestling in 2012 in her home country of France. She moved from Beziers on the southern coast of France to Amiens, closer to Paris in order to wrestle more. She spent her first years wrestling in France before coming to Germany in 2016, where she wrestled for GWF and WrestlingKULT, among others.
Amale joined wXw in early 2019 and won the Women’s title in a three-way over Killer Kelly and champion Toni Storm. She still holds that title and has defeated opponents such as Valkyrie, Tenille Dashwood, Faye Jackson, LuFisto, Killer Kelly, and Meiko Satomura. In her day job, she is a kindergarten teacher, where her wrestling career has raised some eyebrows.
Valkyrie had a kind of mystic entrance with thunder and lightning while Amale already was in the ring.
They locked up right away and Valkyrie took Amale down off a front face lock before transitioning into a sunset flip for a near fall. Amale briefly locked in a headscissors on the mat, but Valkyrie quickly came back with another pinning combination.
Valkyrie hit a springboard back elbow from the second turnbuckle for another near fall. She hit a standing moonsault for another cover, then tried for an elbow lock, from which Amale escaped.
Valkyrie hit a kick, followed by a Pele kick, then hit a spinning kick that sent Amale to the mat. She followed up with an axe kick from the top rope to the back of Amale’s neck for the victory.
– Radzi Chinyanganya interviewed Travis Banks backstage and asked him about TakeOver. Banks began talking, but noticed Alexander Wolfe walking up. Wolfe accused him of letting down the NXT UK brand at Worlds Collide.
Banks asked Wolfe what it was like to ride WALTER’s coattails. Wolfe told him to watch his step.
Dave Mastiff defeated Saxon Huxley after Into the Void (3:13)
Huxley kicked Mastiff in the head, but he no-sold the move and slammed Huxley to the mat. Mastiff then brushed off more offense. He hit a big vertical suplex, then rained down some elbows to the side of Huxley’s neck. Mastiff hit a big overhead chop that sent Huxley crashing down once more.
Huxley came back with a dropkick and a knee to Mastiff’s chest, then sent him in the corner chest-first. Mastiff came back and clobbered down Huxley Vader-style. Mastiff then hit a senton and followed up with a sit-down splash (the same move WALTER also regularly uses). He followed up with Into the Void for the win.
After the match, Mastiff kept shouting for WALTER and even mockingly hit the Imperium/Ringkampf pose.
– Toni Storm walked backstage and was asked about the I Quit match that Kay Lee Ray challenged her to. Storm went up to the GM’s office and demanded Sid Scala make the match.
Scala and Johnny Saint presented the contract that KLR had already signed. Scala reminded Storm that she won’t be able to challenge for the title again as long as KLR is champion if Storm quits in the match.
Grizzled Young Veterans in-ring promo
Zack Gibson did their usual spiel about being the greatest. He said — while the fans mocked them — they were the best tag team of their generation.
Gibson said they made history when they initially won the NXT UK Tag Team titles and beat everyone — until they were put in a three-way and lost. Next they were put in a four-way ladder match. He said at this rate, they next would be in a 17-team match with Johnny Saint as the special guest referee.
Gibson put over their success in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, then talked about William Regal being the superior GM. He said Regal was from Blackpool, just as James Drake was, and Gibson was from Liverpool, the city that gave the world The Beatles and the Liverpool football team.
Gibson said that there was nothing to say about York and the city was like The Hunt was to NXT UK’s tag team division — they exist, but nobody cares. He told the people to get out their cell phones and take some pictures, then reiterated that they were soon to be recognized as the number one tag team in the world.
– Radzi was backstage and plugged some NXT UK merchandise. Joseph Conners walked up and wanted to know where he was in the official program. He then said he would beat Tyler Bate next week and would show everyone just how capable and worthy he was.
Joe Coffey defeated Amir Jordan after Best for the Bells (5:03)
Coffey hit a big hip toss right off the bat, then hit a shoulder block that took Jordan down. Jordan came back with a dropkick, but got caught off a crossbody. He then fell victim to an overhead belly-to-belly.
Jordan tried to go for a wheelbarrow roll-up, but got dropped on his face instead. Coffey locked in an armbar, then also hooked the leg.
Jordan hit a headscissors driver that dented Coffey on his head, but he got right back up. Coffey was sent to the outside and Jordan followed with a dive. He missed a top rope senton, then was hit with the Glasgow Sendoff and Best for the Bells for the victory.
After the match, Coffey called out Ilja Dragunov, telling him that he owed him a debt and it was time to pay up. He then said that Gallus would beat Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch tonight.
WWE NXT UK Tag Team title match: Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) retained against Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan when Wolfgang pinned Burch after a superkick/powerslam combo (10:40)
Gallus stayed in the ring and waited for Lorcan and Burch to come out.
Wolfgang and Burch started out and Gallus dominated early on. Lorcan tagged in and hit an inverted atomic drop on Mark Coffey. Gallus used some questionable tactics to get the upper hand.
Wolfgang applied a chinlock on Burch and whipped him into the corner, but Burch managed to tag out. Gallus once again worked together to gain the upper hand as Coffey worked over Lorcan. Wolfgang hit a running senton on Lorcan, then applied a chinlock once more.
Mark Coffey sent Lorcan to the outside, but the referee caught Wolfgang trying to attack. Lorcan came back with a chop, but Wolfgang no-sold it. Lorcan tried some more, but Wolfgang threw him down. Wolfgang missed a senton off the ropes, allowing Lorcan to tag out.
Burch ran wild for a bit, then hit a German suplex on Mark Coffey and followed with a headbutt.
Lorcan was back in and they went to set up their finish, but Wolfgang made the save. Lorcan hit a blockbuster, but Coffey managed to fight back and tag Wolfgang. Lorcan and Burch managed to apply double submissions, but Wolfgang threw Lorcan on Burch, then speared Lorcan through the ropes. Gallus then hit their superkick/powerslam combo on Burch for the win.
After the match, Dragunov walked to ringside, then faced off with Joe Coffey. They traded blows. Dragunov hit a kick, but Joe came back with Best for the Bells, leading to all three members of Gallus beating down Dragunov.
Taped at York Barbican in York, England on January 17, 2020
Quick results —
Piper Niven pinned Dani Luna in a short match. Luna showed off some of her power.
Tyler Bate defeated A-Kid in a very good but short match. Joseph Conners then came out and berated Bate.
Ashton Smith & Oliver Carter defeated Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley), who are now NXT UK regulars.
Kay Lee Ray came out for a promo and was interrupted by Toni Storm. KLR then challenged Storm to an I Quit match, with the stipulation being that — if Storm loses — she won’t get another title shot as long as KLR is the champion.
Trent Seven got revenge on Eddie Dennis and his TakeOver loss by pinning the Welsh Dragon in a steel corners street fight where all the turnbuckle paddings were removed. This was an insane match with lots of crazy spots that was well worth watching.
Full rundown —
The episode opened with Eddie Dennis and Trent Seven being shown arriving at the arena earlier in the day.
Piper Niven pinned Dani Luna after a Michinoku Driver (4:33)
After she had some matches as a freelance talent on the brand before, Luna recently was signed to NXT UK.
They locked up and Luna actually managed to push Niven, but quickly found herself in a headlock. They smashed into each other. Luna managed to stagger Niven — but she did not go down.
Niven caught Luna off a crossbody, slammed her down, slammed her again, and hit a crossbody of her own on a sitting Luna for a near fall. Niven hit a headbutt that sent Luna to the mat, then sent her into the corner hard. Luna answered a charge by Niven with a kick, then kicked away at her knee.
Luna actually got Niven up on her shoulders, but Niven slipped down and took Luna up on her own shoulders. Luna tried turning the move into a sunset flip, but Niven dragged her up and hit the Michinoku Driver for the win.
– A promo video on Gallus aired. They basically said that the Gallus boys are on top.
– Jordan Devlin was interviewed earlier in the week and said he was the best wrestler under 205 pounds in the world.
Tyler Bate pinned A-Kid after the Tyler Driver ’97 (5:40)
Bate came out to a superstar reaction. They locked up, then A-Kid took Bate down with a waistlock takedown and followed with a headlock takeover. Bate eventually powered out.
They traded wristlocks and athletic escapes, then Bate locked in a side headlock. A-Kid transitioned into a headscissors. Bate escaped with a headstand, but he immediately found himself in the hold again. They traded offense until A-Kid hit a Northern Lights suplex for a two count.
Bate hit an overhead suplex and followed with the running Shooting Star Press, but A-Kid caught him in an armbar. Bate did the Karelin lift and hit the airplane spin, but A-Kid turned it into a sunset flip, then sent Bate to the outside with a dropkick. A-Kid followed with a springboard moonsault to the outside.
Bate caught A-Kid with a dropkick of his own when A-Kid came off the ropes, then hit his rebound lariat and followed with the Tyler Driver ’97 for the win. Bate raised A-Kid’s hand afterwards.
Joseph Conners came out after the match and cut a promo on Bate. Conners said he was there when Bate won the UK title in 2017 and it was success after success for “Mr. TakeOver” while Conners was left on the sidelines. He challenged Bate to face a real man and said he would show everybody how worthy he was.
This was probably one of the best five-and-a-half minute matches of the year and I’d love to see those two go at it again in the future with 10-15 minutes more time.
– Trent Seven was shown preparing for his match backstage.
– A commercial for NXT UK merchandise on WWE Shop aired.
– A recap of last week’s Imperium vs. Dave Mastiff, Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews six-man tag aired, focusing on Mastiff and WALTER. They then showed Mastiff rummaging around backstage after last week’s show, screaming for WALTER.
Ashton Smith & Oliver Carter defeated Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley) after an electric chair into a neckbreaker (5:44)
Pretty Deadly also are new signees for the NXT UK brand after having had some matches there in the past. If there ever is another Worlds Collide, matching them up against Breezango is a no-brainer.
Smith and Howley started out, with Smith demonstrating his power. Both teams tagged in and out a few times with not a lot happening, then Stoker got the upper hand on Smith.
Smith came back with a double clothesline on both Pretty Deadly members. Pretty Deadly used some dirty teamwork to send Smith into the barricades and continued working him over. Smith made his own comeback and tagged in Carter, who hit clotheslines on both members of Pretty Deadly.
Carter hit a uranage on Howley, but Stoker made the save. Pretty Deadly came back with some double-team work, but Smith eventually escaped and came back with a superkick. One superkick party by Carter and Smith later, Carter hit a backbreaker off an electric chair on Stoker for the win.
After the match, Pretty Deadly turned out to be sore losers and attacked their opponents. They threw Carter out of the ring, then hit a double-team codebreaker on Smith.
– Ilja Dragunov was shown training at the Performance Center when a reporter asked him about Joe Coffey. Dragunov said he was there to help Coffey at TakeOver, but if Coffey says his days are numbered, he better count fast.
Kay Lee Ray in-ring segment
Kay Lee Ray said she proved that she was the best at TakeOver and claimed that she would never lose the NXT UK Women’s Championship. She said she now understood why Toni Storm was so desperate to become the champion again, as she saw all the attention that came with being the champion.
Storm came out and said that KLR stole the title from her. KLR then challenged Storm to an I Quit match. KLR also said that if she wins, Storm would not get another title shot as long as KLR was the champion. Storm accepted the terms.
– A graphic announced an NXT UK Tag Team title match for next week. It will be Gallus vs. Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan.
– Eddie Dennis was shown backstage preparing for the main event. The referees were then shown removing the turnbuckles before the match.
– An epic video on Aoife Valkyrie running through some mountains aired.
Steel corners street fight: Trent Seven pinned Eddie Dennis after a Birminghammer (11:27)
Seven immediately attacked Dennis. He stopped short of hitting the exposed turnbuckles, slammed Dennis, and hit a leg drop. Dennis fled to ringside and was hit by a dive.
On the outside, Seven hit a chop that would have made WALTER proud, then went to whip Dennis into the steps, but Dennis reversed. Dennis took apart the steps and looked to hit the Severn Bridge on them, but Seven escaped and hit a DDT on the steps instead.
They brawled into the crowd, where Seven sat Dennis down in a chair and hit another chop. Dennis came back with a whip into the barricade, then actually hit the Severn Bridge over the barricade onto the steel steps. Back in the ring, Seven narrowly kicked out of a pinfall.
Dennis escaped getting whipped into the turnbuckle by sliding under the bottom rope. Seven hit a snap suplex outside, then they brawled into the crowd once more. Dennis back body dropped Seven into the announcers area and took apart the announce desk. Dennis shoved Seven into the desk, then took a swig from a water bottle and spit it into Seven’s face.
Dennis went for another Severn Bridge off the announce table, but Seven escaped and hit the Birminghammer off the announce desk and through a table that was set up in front of the desk.
Seven clotheslined Dennis over the barricade back to ringside. He went for a twisting senton off the barricade, but Dennis moved and Seven crashed to the floor. Dennis then pulled Seven’s mouth into the steel turnbuckle from the other side of the ring post. Dennis smashed Seven’s forehead into the exposed steel.
Dennis went for the Next Stop Driver, but Seven escaped. Seven repeatedly whipped Dennis into the exposed steel, then hit the Birminghammer for the victory.
Next week —
Gallus will defend their NXT UK Tag Team titles against Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan.
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.
Taped January 17, 2020 at York Barbican in York, England
Quick results —
The WWE UK Championship is now the NXT UK Championship. Imperium are pissed at Undisputed Era.
Jordan Devlin defeated Ligero and Travis Banks defeated Brian Kendrick for spots in the fatal four-way NXT Cruiserweight Championship match at Worlds Collide. Angel Garza will defend his title against Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, Devlin, and Banks at the special.
Ilja Dragunov won a squash, then got called out by Joe Coffey. Before that, Dragunov meets Finn Balor at Worlds Collide on Saturday.
Full rundown —
WALTER NXT UK title renewal ceremony
Sid Scala and Johnny Saint were in the ring with a covered podium and awaiting the arrival of Imperium. Scala thanked the fans for making this the fastest growing brand.
WALTER received the new NXT UK Championship belt, which replaces the WWE UK Championship. WALTER approved, as the previous title had been polluted by Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne. WALTER then threw over the table and cut a fiery promo on Undisputed Era and how Imperium would restore the honor of the sport.
– Tom Phillips and Aiden English were our commentators. Nigel McGuinness will be back in March. They ran down the two cruiserweight qualifying matches.
Worlds Collide qualifying match: Jordan Devlin pinned Ligero after Devlinside (12:00)
Good match. Ligero ran wild early when Devlin pulled at his mask. Devlin then came back and both men hit all their big spots. Ligero got a near fall off a DDT. Devlin hit a cutter from the apron, then finished Ligero off with Devlinside.
– Radzi Chinyanganya interviewed Kay Lee Ray about TakeOver and her upcoming match with Mia Yim at Worlds Collide. Imperium walked up and harassed Radzi, then Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster marched in the frame. Imperium ridiculed them in German and WALTER announced they’d talk “to the boss” about it.
– A video aired where Finn Balor talked about Ilja Dragunov and said he sees that Dragunov believes he belongs in the ring with him. He said Dragunov better not miss when he comes for him at Worlds Collide.
Ilja Dragunov pinned Josh Terry after Torpedo Moscow (2:24)
Dragunov won a quick squash with Torpedo Moscow.
– Dragunov addressed Balor after the match before Gallus interrupted. Joe Coffey told him they have some business to get to after Worlds Collide due to Dragunov costing him his match against WALTER at UK TakeOver: Blackpool II.
– Imperium walked up to the GM office to get a match with Andrews & Webster. They got a six-man tag next week with Marcel Barthel, Fabian Aichner & Alexander Wolfe facing Andrews, Webster, and a partner of Andrews and Webster’s choosing.
Worlds Collide qualifying match: Travis Banks pinned Brian Kendrick after the Kiwi Crusher (12:15)
Very good match. Banks injured his hand and Kendrick worked it over. Banks kicked out of Sliced Bread #2, then hit Slice of Heaven and the Kiwi Crusher for the win and the final spot in the fatal four-way. It will be NXT Cruiserweight Champion Angel Garza defending his title against Banks, Devlin, and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott.
Next week —
Eddie Dennis speaks out.
Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan vs. The Hunt (Primate & Wild Boar)
Imperium (Marcel Barthel, Fabian Aichner & Alexander Wolfe) vs. Mark Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster, and a mystery partner
This was mostly a recap show looking at the results and fallout from NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II. Along with recap videos and WWE.com exclusive backstage segments from after TakeOver, this show featured two matches taped before TakeOver last Sunday.
In a very good match, Joseph Conners pinned A-Kid, capitalizing on the latter’s knee being tweaked. Both looked good here and A-Kid is a tremendous talent with a very bright future. In the main event, Dave Mastiff pinned Kassius Ohno in a battle of agile heavyweights.
Full rundown —
The show opened with a graphic remembering Rocky Johnson.
Next up was a video recap of NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II that included all the big spots from the various matches, culminating with the cowardly attack by the Undisputed Era on WALTER and the rest of Imperium.
After the intro, Tom Phillips and Nigel McGuinness recapped TakeOver some more over some still photos. After that it was time for our first match. It featured two men who recently clashed backstage at NXT UK.
Joseph Conners pinned A-Kid after hitting Don’t Look Down (10:17)
Conners came out wearing a T-shirt reading “TakeOver Worthy.” Well, he made the pre-show at least.
They did some mat wrestling early as A-Kid showed his mat prowess. He looked to have strained his neck early on a head bridging flip over.
A-Kid kept in control with some arm drags and a dropkick. Conners capitalized on a slight hesitation by the young Spaniard and threw him head-first into the bottom turnbuckle. Conners tossed A-Kid off a vertical suplex for a two count, then followed up with a Falcon Arrow for another one.
Conners hit a side suplex, then locked in a chinbar, but A-Kid powered out and hit some strikes. He played possum off a clothesline by Conners and hit a beautiful dropkick, followed by a German suplex and a Northern Lights suplex for a two count of his own. Conners held on to the ropes to avoid a head kick, but got wiped out with a dive as he slid to ringside.
Conners hit a slingshot on the top rope, but A-Kid quickly recovered and hit a kick to the jaw as Conners got back into the ring. He then hit a great top rope moonsault to the outside on Conners.
A-Kid hit a high crossbody off the top. Conners rolled through and went for Don’t Look Down, but A-Kid turned it into a small package for a near fall, followed by a crucifix bomb.
A-Kid hit some Daniel Bryan-style kicks to the chest of a kneeling Conners. Conners hit a blow that might have been low, then ducked another kick and hit a neck snap. Conners went for a Figure Four, but he got kicked off and caught with a flying knee. Conners then hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. He followed with a top rope moonsault but got caught in an armbar on landing.
A-Kid transitioned to a triangle. He got lifted up but managed to go for a sunset flip and another small package. A-Kid went for a backslide, but Conners kicked him in the knee that A-Kid may have tweaked earlier on the moonsault to the outside. Conners then hit Don’t Look Down for the victory.
– A WWE.com exclusive clip of the backstage confrontation between Trent Seven and Eddie Dennis from after their match at TakeOver aired.
– A graphic announced that Imperium would speak out next week. Ilja Dragunov will also be in action.
– A highlight video of the Tag Team title ladder match from TakeOver aired, followed by another WWE.com exclusive clip of Alicia Taylor interviewing Gallus after their victory. Wolfgang said the Tag Team titles would stay with them for a long time.
– Another video looked at the history between Jinny and Jazzy Gabert and teased dissension between the two with some clips from recent weeks. A graphic announced Gabert would face Killer Kelly next week.
– Yet another TakeOver highlight video looked at the Women’s title match between Kay Lee Ray, Toni Storm, and Piper Niven. A WWE.com video with Taylor and Storm then aired.
Storm was very bitter and desperate and said that she was robbed at TakeOver. Storm said rules were there to be broken, but this did not apply to her. What happened in her match would be bad news for everybody and it would make things worse for Rhea Ripley. Storm said her head space was worse than before and she would rob Ripley when they face off.
Ripley will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Storm at Worlds Collide on January 25. A hype video for Worlds Collide aired, focusing on Imperium vs. Undisputed Era.
– Another recap video looked at WALTER vs. Joe Coffey from TakeOver: Blackpool II and the subsequent attack by Undisputed Era.
– This was followed by Sid Scala and Johnny Saint announcing that two NXT UK wrestlers would compete in the NXT Cruiserweight Championship fatal four-way match at Worlds Collide. The participants will be decided next week in two matches: Jordan Devlin vs. Ligero and Travis Banks vs. Brian Kendrick.
Dave Mastiff pinned Kassius Ohno after hitting Into the Void (6:49)
Ohno stalled early. The two heavyweights locked knuckles and Mastiff quickly overpowered Ohno, who came back with a shoulder block and wristlock. Mastiff countered with an overhead takeover and locked in a wristlock of his own. Ohno repeatedly kipped up and slapped Mastiff, but got wiped out by a dropkick.
Ohno rolled to the apron but quickly got launched back inside with an arm drag. Mastiff then went to the apron and had Ohno in a waistlock through the ropes, but Ohno pulled at Mastiff’s singlet and rammed him into the ring post.
Ohno locked in a cravat. Mastiff tried to lift him, but a knee to the gut took him down. Ohno followed with two rolling sentons and locked in another cravat. Mastiff hit a backdrop driver to power out of the move, then hit a clothesline, two rolling sentons, and a running senton of his own for a two count.
Mastiff went for Into the Void (his somersault senton in the corner), but Ohno evaded him and turned it into a sit-down pin. Mastiff quickly recovered and hit a German suplex, then went to the second turnbuckle.
Ohno stopped Mastiff’s flying ambitions and applied a cravat on the top rope. Mastiff countered, lifted Ohno onto his shoulders, and hit a super rolling senton from the top. Mastiff then hit Into the Void to get the win.
Next week —
NXT UK tapes a couple of weeks worth of shows in York, England this week. With Worlds Collide coming up just one week from Saturday, next week will feature some matches and segments to build to that show:
Imperium will address their grievances with the Undisputed Era before the two factions clash at Worlds Collide
Ilja Dragunov will be in action, in preparation of his match against Finn Balor at Worlds Collide
Jazzy Gabert will face Killer Kelly and probably shed some light on the relationship between her and Jinny
Jordan Devlin faces Ligero and Travis Banks faces Brian Kendrick, with the winners of those matches getting the remaining spots in the fatal four-way match with NXT Cruiserweight Champion Angel Garza and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott at Worlds Collide
Taped at Bonus Arena in Hull, England on November 16, 2019
Quick results —
Dave Mastiff pinned Kona Reeves.
Toni Storm cut a promo and apologized to Piper Niven, then asked her to bow out of the title match with Kay Lee Ray at TakeOver, which Niven refused. The two came to blows and KLR laughed about the whole affair.
Kassius Ohno submitted Ligero in the Kassius Clutch. As Ohno bragged about being the best British wrestler later, he was confronted by Dave Mastiff backstage.
A-Kid got interrupted by Joseph Conners backstage and it looks like those two will have a match at some point.
Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith defeated The Outliers, with Smith pinning Moss with a flash cradle.
Ilja Dragunov defeated Alexander Wolfe in a great and brutal no DQ main event. Imperium beat down Dragunov after, but Joe Coffey got the upper hand on WALTER, leading into their TakeOver main event match.
Full rundown —
– Johnny Saint and Sid Scala opened the show by announcing Eddie Dennis vs. Trent Seven and Tyler Bate vs. Jordan Devlin for NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II.
Dave Mastiff pinned Kona Reeves after hitting a rolling somersault senton in the corner (3:21)
Reeves cut a promo on his way to the ring and berated the fans. He said he was jet lagged when he faced Trent Seven a few weeks ago, didn’t get enough sleep, and hadn’t been ready. He said Mastiff could go home to his pathetic family tonight and tell them he had been beaten by Kona Reeves.
Mastiff started the match with a shoulder check, then sent Reeves outside and beat on him. Reeves came back by slamming Mastiff’s head into the apron. He rammed Mastiff into the chairs and choked him with the ring apron.
Back in the ring, Reeves followed with a DDT for a two count, then hit a running kick for another one. Mastiff then came back with a back body drop and release German suplex into the corner. He followed with the running somersault senton into the corner and picked up the win.
Toni Storm in-ring promo
Storm said she had to go away for a while after losing the NXT UK Women’s Championship. Kay Lee Ray really got into her head and sent her to a dark place. Storm said she owed someone an apology — a friend she had known for a long time. She called out Piper Niven.
Niven came out and Storm apologized, stating that KLR had driven a wedge between them. She then asked Niven for a favor and asked Niven to step aside and let Storm finish her business with KLR. Storm said as soon as she got her title back, Niven would be the number one contender.
Niven said they’d known each other a long time and Storm knew what she had been through and what she had given up, so she could not step down. As she turned around, Storm spun her around and received a headbutt for her troubles.
Niven then went to calm Storm down, but they ended up trading shots, prompting a number of referees to run out and separate them. As the melee slowly got calmed down, Kay Lee Ray walked out and laughed at the scene.
– Nigel McGuinness and Tom Phillips ran down the UK TakeOver: Blackpool II card, with graphics for all matches: Kay Lee Ray vs. Toni Storm vs. Piper Niven for the NXT UK Women’s Championship, Eddie Dennis vs. Trent Seven, Tyler Bate vs. Jordan Devlin, Gallus vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Imperium vs. Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster in a ladder match for the NXT UK Tag Team titles, and WALTER vs. Joe Coffey for the WWE UK Championship
Kassius Ohno defeated Ligero by submission with the Kassius Clutch (7:02)
As Ligero walked to the ring, clips aired of the match Ligero and Ohno had earlier this year, where Ohno tried ripping off Ligero’s mask.
Ohno fled into the ropes as Ligero was looking for a strike. Ohno then applied a standing double wristlock, but Ligero flipped out of the hold and threw Ohno. Ohno grabbed Ligero’s mask and ate a hard elbow to the face for his troubles, sending him on his ass.
Ohno complained that “he just wants to wrestle.” Ligero used his speed and dropkicked Ohno’s knee, then hit some lucha-style offense. Ohno fled to ringside, but used some dirty tactics to gain the upper hand as Ligero chased him and entered the ring again, with Ohno hitting a chin breaker and grabbing hold of Ligero’s mask.
Ohno locked in a cravat, then screamed “don’t make me hit you” as Ligero tried escaping. Ligero managed to escape, hit a dropkick that sent Ohno to the outside, and followed with a somersault plancha and a crossbody from the top.
Ligero went for his stunner through the ropes, but Ohno grabbed the mask once more, prompting Ligero to roll through for a flash pin attempt. Ligero then hit a stunner and a sunset bomb for a two count.
Ligero went for a quebrada, but Ohno caught him and yanked his head to the mat. Ohno went for the Kassius Clutch and forced Ligero to tap once he got his neck cranked all the way backwards.
After the match, Ohno cut a promo, stating that a loss like the one to Tyler Bate would not happen again. He said he had lost sight of why he came to this brand and this was to prove that he was the best British wrestler and it made him sick that no one in the locker room knew anything about British wrestling. He said he was the best British wrestler alive.
– A-Kid cut a backstage promo in Spanish when Joseph Conners interrupted him, grabbed the camera, and repeatedly said he was TakeOver worthy. He then told A-Kid he had no problem ruining things for him.
– A clip from “during the break” aired, with Ohno walking backstage and saying he was the best British wrestler. He walked by Dave Mastiff, who took offense to that statement and told Ohno he knew where to find him when he was ready to face a real British heavyweight wrestler.
Ashton Smith & Oliver Carter defeated The Outliers (Dorian Mak & Riddick Moss) when Smith pinned Moss with a small package (5:59)
Moss and Carter started out. Moss used his power early, but Carter came back with some quick offense of his own. Both men tagged out and Mak drove Smith into the corner, then launched him across the ring.
Smith tagged back out and Smith and Carter used some fast double-team action to send their opponents tumbling to ringside.
The heels took turns working over Carter. He eventually made the tag to Smith, but Smith also quickly got taken advantage of. Smith then countered a suplex attempt into a small package for the surprise win.
– A video about Gallus and their Tag Team title reign aired.
No DQ match: Ilja Dragunov pinned Alexander Wolfe after hitting Torpedo Moscow (14:58)
Dragunov jumped Wolfe as he made his entrance on the ramp. He went to ram Wolfe into the steps, but Wolfe hit a backbreaker on the apron.
Dragunov dominated, hitting a senton and a knee strike through the ropes and then a top rope axe handle to the outside. Dragunov got a kendo stick from under the ring, but Wolfe managed to grab it. Wolfe then threw it to the mat as Dragunov was ready to take a shot, but then picked it back up and used it for shots and submissions.
Dragunov eventually got hold of the weapon, laid into Wolfe, and propped up a table. Dragunov hit a suplex onto the apron that sent both men tumbling to ringside. Wolfe introduced a chair into the match, but ended up eating it as Dragunov hit a huge coast-to-coast dropkick from the top rope.
Dragunov then piled a number of chairs in the ring, but ended up taking a German suplex and DDT into them as Wolfe countered a superplex attempt. Wolfe got a close two count, but Dragunov kicked out.
Wolfe hit a chair shot to the back, then slammed Dragunov’s throat onto the back of another chair and repeatedly crushed Dragunov’s fingers in a chair. Dragunov ducked another chair shot and hit a lariat, then followed with a running Death Valley Driver into a table propped up in the corner. Dragunov then hit Torpedo Moscow for the victory.
After the match, Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel ran to the ring, beat down Dragunov, and hit the European Bomb on him. WALTER then slowly walked out with the WWE United Kingdom Championship over his shoulder and Imperium posed.
As WALTER walked to the ring, Joe Coffey ran out and hit his spinning lariat, leaving WALTER stunned on the ground.
Next week —
Nothing was announced for next week and no more matches have been taped during the last set of tapings, so I presume this will be a highlight/preview show for NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II, which takes place on January 12.
Two TakeOver matches edged ever closer to being booked as Eddie Dennis and Trent Seven clashed in the ring, and Tyler Bate challenged Jordan Devlin after Devlin almost cost Bate his match against Noam Dar.
Amir Jordan returned from injury to pick up the win for his team when he and Kenny Williams defeated Pretty Deadly.
Full recap —
Nigel McGuinness and Tom Philips welcomed us to Hull, England for this episode of NXT UK.
Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan defeated Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley)
Williams and Jordan started well with Jordan knocking Stoker down with a clothesline and Howley down with a strong crossbody. Jordan was making his return here after a shoulder injury, and that didn’t stop him hitting a suicide dive to Howley early on.
Howley distracted the referee while Stoker pulled Jordan off the middle rope, draping his previously injured arm over the top rope. Pretty Deadly took control from here, focusing on Jordan and his shoulder. McGuinness liked the look of Stoker and Howley, calling them handsome throughout the match.
Jordan fought back when a double team flapjack went wrong for Pretty Deadly. Williams got the hot tag and flew with a flying clothesline and a double suicide dive to the outside. A slingblade to Howley shortly after got a two count when Stoker broke up the pin.
Howley got a close two count when he rolled up Williams and grabbed the tights, then Williams had to dig deep and kick out again after a double team gutbuster. Williams fought back with a springboard double back elbow, and Jordan picked up the win moments later with a Swanton Bomb-ay.
– We had an exclusive from last week with Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner. They think it is a disgrace they need to fight in a ladder match at TakeOver: Blackpool II for the NXT UK Tag Team titles.
– Ligero was backstage talking about Kassius Ohno, saying he has had nothing but respect for him since they met years ago. He talked about them fighting earlier this year in New York and Ohno cheating to win that match. Ligero said it didn’t matter how much respect he had for Ohno because Ohno had none for him. They will meet in two weeks.
– Trent Seven then came to the ring for a promo. He talked about Eddie Dennis and the recent situation with Michael May. This brought out Dennis, who stood on the stage and stared at Seven while he talked about Dennis’ time off with an injury.
Dennis got closer to the ring while Seven talked about the early days of NXT UK. But when Dennis slowly got into the ring, he sucker-punched Seven with the microphone right in the forehead, cutting him open. Dennis then said, “I’ll see you at TakeOver: Blackpool.”
– We then had a video package for the Kay Lee Ray vs. Toni Storm vs. Piper Niven triple threat NXT UK Women’s Championship match for TakeOver. Niven doesn’t like what her friends have become, and both Ray and Storm promised to leave with the title.
Jinny (w/ Jazzy Gabert) defeated Amale
Jinny made short work of the “French Hope,” pummeling her from the get-go and locking in a rowing boat submission that nearly got the job done after only a minute. Amale just got to the ropes, but Jinny continued her onslaught with stomps to the chest.
Amale briefly fired back with a dropkick and a kick in the corner, but Jinny fought her off and hit the Makeover for the win.
Gabert flattened Amale with a short-arm clothesline after the bell. Jinny demanded another… and another, but Gabert had second thoughts after Jinny demanded the third and walked out on her so-called accomplice.
– WALTER announced that in two weeks time Alexander Wolfe will face Ilja Dragunov for the psychological advantage going into TakeOver.
Tyler Bate defeated Noam Dar
A fantastic match that went back and forth right until the end. They had a good technical start that eventually migrated into both going for their signature moves but neither connecting with any. A good tease of what these two can do together.
Bate made Dar put on the brakes with a headstand in the corner and then sent the Scotsman to the outside. Back inside, while applying a headlock, Bate grabbed his boot and hit Dar over the head with it, but then ate a dropkick to his face when he tried a second headstand in the corner.
Dar took control but couldn’t put Bate away, frustratingly calling the referee a “dafty.” Bate fought back but was caught with a penalty kick to the leg, a running dropkick while on the apron, and then a running snapmare into the steel steps on the outside. Bate just got in at the referee’s count of nine but went straight into some stiff kicks to the chest until catching one and firing up.
Bate pummeled Dar with right hands and a knee lift. He then came flying off the middle rope with a back elbow. He charged the corner with uppercuts and hit an exploder suplex. He eventually nipped up to hit a standing Shooting Star Press for a close two count.
Dar caught Bate out of nowhere with an ankle lock but rolled through for a pinfall attempt. They then exchanged various pin attempts before Dar locked in an omoplata stretch on the mat.
Back on their feet, Bate hit a belly-to-back suplex for another two count but got caught again when he went for another standing Shooting Star. Dar reversed the Bop-Bang into a flatliner, but Bate kicked out at the last moment.
Bate caught Dar with a kick and then hit the ropes shoulder-first looking for his big clothesline, but Dar caught him coming off the ropes with his Champagne Super-kneebar. Bate just got to the ropes in time.
Dar looked like he had the match wrapped up with two big kicks to the head, but Bate kicked out again. Bate hit his rolling kick, then knocked Dar to the outside and followed up with a big dive over the top rope to the floor.
They exchanged forearms inside the ring as the toll of the match was showing on both. Dar went for kicks again. Bate ducked and hit his big clothesline this time, but he only got another close two count.
Jordan Devlin then appeared and distracted Bate. Dar rolled him up — but Bate still kicked out. After a big right hand, Bate hit the Tyler Driver 97 and picked up the win.
Devlin immediately slid right into the ring after the bell, but Bate stopped him in his tracks. As Devlin backed away up the ramp, Bate challenged Devlin to a match at TakeOver. Devlin didn’t respond, but this will probably be added to the card.
Taped at Bonus Arena in Hull, England on November 16, 2019
Quick results —
Kay Lee Ray pinned Isla Dawn after hitting the Gory Bomb. Piper Niven and Toni Storm then came out — and after Storm attacked KLR, Storm and Niven got in each other’s faces. Sid Scala then made a triple threat Women’s Championship match for NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II.
Jordan Devlin made fun of Tyler Bate in another one of his video presentations.
Trent Seven vs. Michael May never got started due to Eddie Dennis attacking May before the match.
Noam Dar sought out Johnny Saint backstage to talk about being on TakeOver and learned that he would be facing Tyler Bate next week instead.
Ridge Holland destroyed Jack Starz in an impressive squash.
Amir Jordan surprised Kenny Williams at the NXT UK Performance Center and announced he was back from injury.
A Tag Team title match between champions Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) and Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) went to a no contest when both The Grizzled Young Veterans and Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster interfered. Scala and Johnny Saint then announced that all four teams would compete for the titles in a ladder match at TakeOver: Blackpool II.
Full rundown —
The show opened up with a graphic for our main event, pitting Gallus against Imperium with the NXT UK Tag Team titles on the line.
Non-title match: NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray pinned Isla Dawn after hitting the Gory Bomb
They grappled for position early, then Dawn hit a running crossbody, evaded a dropkick, and rolled KLR up with a cradle. KLR went for the Gory Bomb, but Dawn countered out of it with a Destroyer for a near fall.
Dawn missed a flying knee in the corner, and KLR immediately went to attack the knee. KLR kept on the offense with a chop and a front suplex for a near fall of her own. Dawn got out of the way of a KLR kick in the corner and hit a back drop driver, then followed with a meteora from the top for another two count.
KLR came back with a kick, a super kick, and the Gory Bomb for the victory.
KLR cut a promo after the match and talked about her dominance. She talked about beating Toni Storm and having Piper Niven rattled. Niven’s music played and she entered in a jacket, which she slowly took off. As she was doing so, Toni Storm stormed right past her and attacked KLR, who quickly fled to ringside.
Niven and Storm then jaw-jacked in the ring as KLR was about to slink to the back. Sid Scala’s music played and the assistant GM came out with a mic in hand. He announced that Kay Lee Ray would defend her title against Niven and Storm in a triple threat match at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II.
– Jordan Devlin had another video presentation. After the last one only being about himself, he was now about to present the rest of the very talented NXT UK roster. Devlin then showed clips of Tyler Bate getting beaten up, first losing to the Grizzled Young Veterans alongside his “elderly father” Trent Seven. The next clip was of WALTER powerbombing him into the ring post at Download Festival and Trent Seven carrying him to the back.
The final clip was from the “five star classic” between WALTER and Bate, but featured only clips of WALTER beating Bate up. Devlin then concluded that Bate was a loser.
– Joe Coffey was interviewed on his way to the NXT UK Performance Center. He said that WALTER attacked him at the last TakeOver Blackpool, leaving a mark on his face after kicking him with his size 14 boot. He said that when he beats WALTER, this would be Gallus’ kingdom.
Trent Seven vs. Michael May never got started
As Seven was making his entrance, Eddie Dennis suddenly appeared, pulled May out of the ring, and slammed him into the steps. He beat May up some more, then rolled him into the ring, all the while smiling at Seven. Seven tended to May and helped him up as Nigel McGuinness and Tom Phillips talked about the situation.
– Radzi Chinyanganya talked to Noam Dar backstage. Radzi wanted to discuss the contractual claims Dar made before TakeOver: Cardiff. Dar told him to follow him to Johnny Saint’s office. As Scala and Saint emerged, Dar told them that he knew they’d announce his match last, but he was going to take a holiday.
Scala told him not to pack his bags yet, as next week he would face someone with plenty of TakeOver experience in Tyler Bate. Dar was livid at that.
Ridge Holland pinned Jack Starz after hitting Northern Grit
Holland immediately launched Starz halfway across the ring, then took him down with a shoulder block and hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. He stomped and kicked away at Starz, who briefly tried fighting back, but quickly got stopped in his tracks with a hard knee.
Holland hit a double underhook into another overhead belly-to-belly. He missed a charge into the corner, then Starz flipped out of a back suplex off a side headlock and hit a number of European uppercuts. Starz then quickly got pounced high into the air on an attempted charge, and Holland hit Northern Grit for the victory. Holland looked like an unstoppable monster here.
– A camera filmed Kenny Williams at the NXT UK Performance Center and told him it was “for a surprise.” Amir Jordan then came up to him and told him his shoulder was all healed up and they’d be tagging again next week. Williams was excited about that, but not that excited about Jordan wanting to dance again.
– A graphic confirmed Tyler Bate vs. Noam Dar for next week.
NXT UK Tag Team title match: Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) vs. Imperium (Fabian Aichner & Marcel Barthel) ended in a no contest
Both teams got into it even before the bell rang, with the referee having trouble separating the parties. Wolfgang and Aichner started out, but Wolfgang quickly tagged in Coffey. Barthel tagged in and took Coffey down with an arm drag. Barthel stayed in control with another quick takedown and armbar. Aichner tagged back in and Coffey finally came back with a shoulder block, then tagged out to Wolfgang.
Gallus isolated Aichner in their corner for a while, then sent him to ringside before hitting some unique double-team moves on Barthel. Barthel managed to trap Coffey in a tree-of-woe position and he and Aichner hit stereo dropkicks.
Now it was Imperium’s turn to isolate Coffey. Barthel went wild on Coffey and had to be restrained by the referee. The ring doctor and Wolfgang checked on Coffey, but he wanted to continue. He managed to hit Barthel with a hard right, but quickly got beaten down once more. Aichner hit a number of hard lariats on Coffey, but Coffey finally came back, clotheslining Barthel off the apron and throwing Aichner after him. He then back body dropped an intercepting Aichner and finally made the hot tag.
Wolfgang hit a crossbody into the corner on Aichner and a double axe handle off the top on Barthel. He press slammed Barthel onto Aichner, then hit a suplex on Aichner for a near fall.
Coffey was back and hit a slingshot/Samoan drop combo on Aichner for another two count, but Imperium quickly was back in control with some fast teamwork, ending in Aichner hitting a spinebuster on Wolfgang. Imperium went for the European Bomb on Wolfgang, but Coffey grabbed Barthel’s leg. Barthel hit a flatliner on Wolfgang, followed by a deadlift German suplex by Aichner.
Coffey came back in and traded shots with Barthel. Aichner hit a rolling senton and moonsault, but Wolfgang prevented the cover with a spear.
As all four men were down, the Grizzled Young Veterans suddenly ran out and attempted to steal Gallus’ NXT UK Tag Team title belts. Just as they were about to run to the back, Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster came out to stop them. The two teams brawled into the ring and the referee threw the match out. Chaos ensued as all four teams went at it, including Webster diving on top of everyone.
At this point, Scala and Saint came out and were livid with everyone. Scala took physical control of the belts and then told everyone that the next time they would see these titles again would be at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II, when they would be suspended over the ring and the four teams would compete for them in a ladder match.
Next week —
Noam Dar faces Tyler Bate. Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan will also be in action for the first time as a team in six months.
Taped at Bonus Arena in Hull, England on November 15, 2019
Quick results —
Toni Storm defeated Killer Kelly in a quick match. Kay Lee Ray snuck up on Storm after and beat her down until Piper Niven made the save. Storm then told Niven she didn’t need her.
Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster asked for a Tag Team title match.
The Hunt defeated NXT’s The Outliers (Riddick Moss & Dorian Mak) in a fun match that saw the Americans dominate.
Jazzy Gabert teased some dissension during a backstage promo with her and Jinny.
Joseph Conners defeated Ligero and Travis Banks in an excellent three-way match.
WALTER and Joe Coffey came to terms in the main event segment: Gallus will defend the NXT UK Tag Team titles against Imperium, Ilja Dragunov will face Alexander Wolfe in a no DQ match, and WALTER will defend the WWE United Kingdom Championship against Joe Coffey at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II. After the segment, Imperium destroyed Dragunov and put him through a table.
Full rundown —
– The show opened with a split screen, showing Imperium and Gallus arriving at the arena.
Toni Storm pinned Killer Kelly after Storm Zero (2:05)
Kelly went to kick and slap Storm, but Storm caught her and hit a flurry of offense. Kelly came back with a modified Camel Clutch/chinlock, but Storm powered out and took Kelly down with a clothesline. She went for Storm Zero, but Kelly turned it into a bridging pin. Storm came back with a German suplex and then hit Storm Zero for the quick win.
Storm took the mic after the match, but Kay Lee Ray snuck up on her and beat her down before she could say anything. That prompted Piper Niven to run out for the save.
KLR fled the ring and slowly backed away down the ramp with a smile on her face. Niven went to help Storm up, but she got up on her own, slapped Niven’s hand away, and then got in Niven’s face, telling her she didn’t need any help.
– Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster were being interviewed backstage about the comments made by the Grizzled Young Veterans. Andrews & Webster asked to be given a title shot at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II.
– Storm and Niven were shown arguing backstage. Storm again told Niven she didn’t need her — she just needed the NXT UK Women’s title and told Niven to stay away.
The Hunt (Primate & Wild Boar) defeated The Outliers (Riddick Moss & Dorian Mak) after double diving headbutts on Mak (7:32)
Moss and Mak were making their NXT UK debuts, coming over from the US Performance Center.
Boar and Moss started out and Moss quickly gained the advantage, then The Outliers further double-teamed him. Mak deadlifted Boar off the mat and hit an impressive backbreaker. Boar eventually evaded a corner charge and tagged Primate, who went wild on both men.
Boar came back in and hit an exploder on Moss, then hit a springboard elbow off Primate’s back on Mak. The Hunt then took turns hitting diving headbutts on Mak, followed by double diving headbutts for the win.
Jordan Devlin pinned A-Kid after Devlinside (7:25)
Devlin trash-talked A-Kid, who took him down with a headlock takeover and applied some submission moves on the mat. He hit a standing dropkick and pushed Devlin over the top with his feet from his back. A-Kid went for a springboard move, but Devlin kicked his legs off the rope in mid-air.
Devlin followed with a knee-breaker and further worked over A-Kid’s left knee. Tyler Bate at that point walked out to cheer A-Kid on. A-Kid finally managed to power up, then jumped up on the top rope while still clutching Devlin’s hands and hit a moonsault DDT for a near fall.
A-Kid followed up with a dive and a top rope crossbody. He ducked a punch by Devlin and hit a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall. A-Kid evaded an attack by Devlin and threw him over the top onto the apron, but Devlin came right back with an over-the-top cutter.
Devlin went for Devlinside, but A-Kid turned it into a Canadian Destroyer, then hit a springboard moonsault to the outside. Bate talked to A-Kid on the outside and encouraged him. Devlin kicked A-Kid straight in the face as he entered the ring, then followed with Kawada kicks and the Devlinside for the pinfall victory.
Devlin then threw Bate a smug look as the Big Strong Boi was seething outside. After the match, Bate tended to A-Kid.
– A graphic plugged Joseph Conners vs. Ligero vs. Travis Banks next.
– Jinny cut a cell phone promo backstage, talking about her match with Piper Niven and how Jazzy Gabert got ejected from ringside. She said people wanted to talk about Jinny and Gabert but everything was fine between them.
Jinny repeated that everything was fine, but Gabert, who had been standing behind her looking mean, interrupted her as she was saying the line again. Gabert grabbed Jinny’s wrist and aggressively said “everything is fine” herself. Jinny looked concerned.
Joseph Conners defeated Ligero and Travis Banks in a triple threat match by pinning Banks after hitting Don’t Look Down (10:36)
Clips from three weeks ago aired, with Conners attacking both men in their match.
Ligero and Banks immediately double teamed Conners. They then one-upped each other, taking turns at beating Conners up and then double superkicking him. Ligero and Banks then started having a match with each other, trading quick near falls.
Ligero and Banks once more ended up in a sitting backslide, which resulted in a double pin in their first match, when Conners came in and turned them over, trying to score the win for himself. Ligero hit a double jaw breaker on Banks and Conners through the ropes.
Ligero hit a headscissors on Conners. Banks hit a double foot stomp on Ligero, then took out Conners with a dive. He hit a reverse foot stomp that mostly missed on Conners and was more like a seated senton. Ligero had Banks trapped with an O’Connor Roll, but Conners launched himself over the top with a DDT on Ligero.
Banks and Conners battled on the top rope, but Banks shoved him off, only for Ligero to run in and hit a superplex on Banks, wiping out Conners in the process. Banks and Ligero traded chops on the apron, then both tumbled to ringside off a blocked suplex spot.
Conners hit a double foot stomp on Ligero on the ring steps. He then went for a dive, but it looked like he went short due to his legs getting caught in the ropes, with Banks trying to make the catch. Banks hit Slice of Heaven and the Kiwi Crusher on Conners, but Ligero flew in with a splash and hit C4L on Banks. Conners hit Don’t Look Down on Ligero, but Banks flew in with a top rope double foot stomp to break up the pin.
Banks went for Slice of Heaven on Ligero, but Ligero turned it into a powerbomb. Conners then threw out Ligero and whipped Banks into him as he was on the apron trying to get back inside. Conners then hit Don’t Look Down on Banks for the pin.
– Kassius Ohno cut a selfie promo backstage and talked about his match with Tyler Bate. Ohno said he got livid and lost sight of why he was here — and that was to prove he was the best British wrestler. He said there would be no more rolling elbows or cyclone kicks but cravats and certainly the Kassius Clutch.
WALTER and Joe Coffey negotiation segment
Sid Scala and Johnny Saint were in the ring with a table and two chairs. They first introduced Joe Coffey, representing Gallus, who came out to a good pop, wearing a trench coat of sorts. WWE United Kingdom Champion WALTER, representing Imperium, came out second.
Coffey immediately grabbed the mic and said he would not sit down for negotiations. WALTER cut him off and told him not to talk so much and asked him his terms, then sat down. Coffey said he had not forgotten WALTER entering the ring at this year’s NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool and booting him in the face. Coffey said he wanted the WWE UK title.
WALTER said he would not back down from the challenge, as challenges and competitions are what this great sport was all about, but he was not giving him anything for free. Coffey asked his terms and WALTER said he wanted Mark Coffey & Wolfgang to defend their Tag Team titles. Joe readily agreed.
WALTER then said he also wanted Ilja Dragunov to step up to Alexander Wolfe in a no DQ match, to which Joe replied he could not speak for Dragunov as Dragunov did not run with his crew. WALTER then told him “No Ilja, no deal.” At that point, Dragunov’s music played. He walked down the aisle mic in hand and told him to “Make the agreement.”
Scala then summarized: Gallus would defend the NXT UK Tag Team titles against Imperium next week, Ilja Dragunov would face Alexander Wolfe at a later date in a no DQ match, and Joe Coffey would challenge for WALTER’s WWE UK title at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II.
As Joe left the ring, WALTER called back Dragunov, calling him “his old friend” (in German) and saying that Dragunov had made a very bad decision. At that point, Wolfe grabbed Dragunov from under the ring skirt and Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel ran in and beat Dragunov down, with Aichner hitting a running knee into the steel steps.
Imperium then rolled Dragunov in the ring. WALTER booted him, then Wolfe powerbombed Dragunov through the table that was set up in the ring.
Next week —
Wolfgang & Mark Coffey will defend the NXT UK Tag Team titles against Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner.
Taped at Bonus Arena in Hull, England on November 15, 2019
Quick results —
Piper Niven defeated Jinny, then called out NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray. KLR came out and the two women got into it, with Toni Storm making her surprise return and also attacking KLR. Niven and Storm then stared each other down.
After more than eight and a half months away from the NXT UK ring, Eddie Dennis had his first match back on the brand after surgery. He beat Dreiss Gordon in a quick match and used Trent Seven’s Seven Star Lariat, sending another message to the veteran.
Noam Dar defeated Ashton Smith in a very good match.
Imperium and Gallus/Ilja Dragunov battled to a double countout when chaos ensued. Joe Coffey got the better of WALTER, and WALTER and Dragunov also were in with each other briefly.
Full rundown —
The show opened with a video summary of the brewing problems between Imperium and Gallus & Ilja Dragunov. An eight-man tag match between those two teams will be tonight’s main event.
Piper Niven pinned Jinny (w/ Jazzy Gabert) after a Michinoku Driver (7:28)
Gabert tried distracting Niven, but she wouldn’t fall for it and slammed Jinny instead. Gabert distracted her again as she ran the ropes. This time, Jinny managed to attack Niven from behind. Niven ran into the turnbuckle, then was hit by Jinny and swept off her feet.
Jinny launched herself over the top rope on Niven for a near fall, then followed with an Octopus hold. She eventually broke the hold, but kept stomping Niven. Gabert tried picking Niven up on the outside, but the referee caught her and sent her to the back.
Niven made her comeback and looked to hit the Michinoku Driver, but Jinny grabbed her hair and escaped. A headbutt by Niven knocked both women down. Jinny briefly attacked her, but got taken down with a backdrop driver. Niven charged her in the corner, but Jinny got her leg up, then went up top for a flying headscissors, but Niven caught her, hoisted her up on her shoulders, and hit an electric chair into a facebuster. Jinny got her leg up on the ropes.
Jinny ran in for a move, but Niven met her in mid-air with a shotgun dropkick. Niven then hit a cannonball senton into the corner and followed with the Michinoku Driver for the win.
After the match, Niven cut a promo and told Kay Lee Ray that she was coming for the NXT UK Women’s Championship. This prompted KLR to come out and have a say in the matter. Instead, she slapped Niven, who retaliated in kind and hit a backdrop driver.
As KLR rolled to ringside, the returning Toni Storm flew in and attacked her until KLR escaped through the crowd. Storm and Niven then stared at each other from across the ring and Storm left.
– A video plugged the upcoming NXT UK tapings.
– Ilja Dragunov was seen preparing for the main event.
Eddie Dennis pinned Dreiss Gordon after the Next Stop Driver (4:06)
Dreiss Gordon, who usually goes by Man Like DeReiss, has been around the UK scene for a few years, wrestling for Defiant, Kamikaze Pro, Tidal Wrestling, and others. Nigel McGuinness also stated he had learned from Trent Seven and Ligero recently.
Eddie Dennis made his comeback here, after having surgery on his pectoral muscle back in April. His last match on the NXT UK brand was on February 22.
Dennis applied a wrist lock and took Dreiss down. Dreiss eventually escaped and reversed the hold, but quickly found himself locked in a cravat. Dreiss used his quickness to avoid Dennis, then hit a dropkick and a reverse elbow. Dennis caught him in a catapult and sent him over the top rope.
Dennis kept pounding on Dreiss and struck down any comeback attempts. He then hit a variant of Trent Seven’s Seven Star lariat on Dreiss, followed with the Severn Bridge, and finally hit the Next Stop Driver for the win.
– Radzi Chinyanganya was backstage when Joseph Conners walked up to him. Conners called himself TakeOver worthy and said he would talk to Johnny Saint and give Travis Banks and Ligero a triple threat match.
Noam Dar pinned Ashton Smith after the Nova Roller (7:50)
A video recapped the issues between Dar and Smith from last week.
They traded offense early and Smith took Dar down from a waist lock. Dar went for a sunset flip, but Smith pulled him up from the mat and hit a dropkick, sending Dar to the outside. Back in the ring, Dar went for a shoulder block, but bounced off. He had a little more luck seconds later, but Smith impressively picked him up for a stalling vertical suplex and scored a near fall.
They ended up on the outside once more and Dar rammed Smith into the barrier. Smith came back and rolled Dar back into the ring, but Dar bounced off the bottom rope and hit a lariat, much to the delight of McGuinness, who saw shades of himself there.
Back in the ring, Smith went for a deadlift German suplex, but Dar turned it into an omoplata. Smith eventually escaped and came back with a Death Valley Driver for a near fall.
Dar hit a running kick and went for the Nova Roller, but Smith countered with a Blue Thunder Bomb for another near fall. Dar sent Smith to the apron and managed to take him off his feet, then followed up with a basement dropkick through the ropes. Back in the ring, Dar eventually hit the Nova Roller for the victory.
– Imperium were shown walking to the ring backstage.
– A graphic plugged A-Kid vs. Jordan Devlin and a triple threat match with Joseph Conners, Ligero, and Travis Banks for next week.
Imperium (WWE United Kingdom Champion WALTER, Marcel Barthel, Fabian Aichner & Alexander Wolfe) vs. Gallus (Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) & Ilja Dragunov ended in a double countout (15:21)
Wolfe and Wolfgang started out. Wolfe schooled the big Scot, then tagged out to Aichner, who quickly locked in an armbar. Barthel tagged in and took over the hold, even as Wolfgang tried to whip his way out of it.
Wolfe was back in and dug his knuckles into Wolfgang’s side. Wolfgang finally managed to tag out to Joe Coffey, who hit a backbreaker on Wolfe. Dragunov tagged in and applied an armbar on his former trainer. Wolfe caught Dragunov off a crossbody, but Dragunov punched him repeatedly to make the move still succeed.
Dragunov hit a running knee and worked Wolfe over, but Aichner managed to tag back in. Dragunov hit a running knee to the corner, a senton, and slapped WALTER on the apron. This prompted WALTER to enter the ring, as did Joe Coffey. All eight wrestlers eventually had a standoff.
The referee managed to get back control of the match, but Imperium distracted Dragunov and eventually isolated him on the outside, allowing Aichner to take control.
WALTER tagged in and it was the 2017 wXw 16 Carat Gold final all over again. He forced Dragunov into a bridge off a test of strength, then nonchalantly stomped his neck. Barthel tagged in next and faced off with Dragunov, eventually stomping, punching, and slapping him in the corner.
Aichner was in next. He caught Dragunov and hit two backbreakers, not allowing Dragunov to tag out. Barthel tagged back in and applied a chicken wing that he transitioned into a combined armbar and chinbar. Dragunov came back with a back fist and a clothesline, as both men struggled to make tags. Barthel succeeded and Wolfe came in. Wolfe attacked Gallus on the apron, but got caught in a suplex.
Dragunov finally tagged in Mark Coffey, who ran wild on Aichner, Barthel, and Wolfe. He tagged out to Wolfgang and they double teamed Aichner and Barthel. Mark slingshotted Barthel into a fireman’s carry by Joe, followed by a senton by Wolfgang. Barthel and Aichner took out Mark with a spinebuster/running kick combo, but Wolfgang took them out with a double spear, followed by a Torpedo Moscow by Dragunov on Barthel.
Eventually, Joe Coffey and WALTER were in, with Joe even managing to hit a belly-to-belly suplex on the champion. WALTER side stepped a springboard move by Joe and hit a shotgun dropkick. He went for the powerbomb, but Joe powered out and sent WALTER to the outside.
Dragunov flew in, then Gallus threw Mark onto Barthel and Aichner and chaos broke out. Both teams brawled on the outside until the bell rang for the double countout. The two factions battled each other and Joe Coffey flew at WALTER as officials ran out and tried to get ahold of the chaos.
Next week —
A-Kid will take on Jordan Devlin, while Joseph Conners, Ligero, and Travis Banks are scheduled for a triple threat match.
Taped at Bonus Arena in Hull, England on November 15, 2019
Quick results —
Trent Seven pinned NXT regular Kona Reeves in a quick bout.
A-Kid submitted Jack Starz in a short, but very technical match.
The Grizzled Young Veterans pleaded with Johnny Saint to be given a Tag Team title shot at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II.
Ridge Holland looked impressive in his NXT UK debut, defeating Oliver Carter.
in the main event, Alexander Wolfe defeated Ilja Dragunov in a very good match after some distraction by Imperium. Gallus ran out to make the save for Dragunov after and the two factions will battle next week.
Full rundown —
Trent Seven pinned Kona Reeves after the Birminghammer (3:24)
This was Reeves’ second guest appearance on NXT UK, after doing battle with Dave Mastiff back over WrestleMania weekend. Reeves cut a promo on his way to the ring, berating the audience and calling himself a real star. He called Seven out of shape and told him he was not a real superstar.
Seven started out strong and beat on Reeves, but the Hawaiian turned the tables on him and pulled his face under the apron from the outside. Reeves then unloaded punches on the veteran of British Strong Style.
Seven came back with a snap dragon suplex for a near fall, then clotheslined Reeves to the outside and followed up with a dive. He missed a reverse somersault plancha from the top, but came back with the Seven Star Lariat for another two count.
Reeves came back with a headbutt and went for a forward rolling senton, but Seven escaped and hit the Birminghammer for the victory.
Seven went to slap hands with the fans after the match, when his hand was caught by a fan who turned out to be Eddie Dennis. Seven struggled to release his hand from Dennis’ grip, and Dennis just smiled at him as Seven looked confused.
– Radzi Chinyanganya interviewed Ilja Dragunov on his way into the building about his match with Alexander Wolfe later tonight. Dragunov acknowledged that Wolfe had been his trainer back in Dresden, Germany and had been a good and strict teacher.
Dragunov also claimed that Wolfe had always tried to make decisions for him and this would end tonight. Dragunov said he would finally step out of the shadow of Wolfe.
– A graphic plugged NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II from Blackpool, England on January 12 and also announced the show already had sold out in two hours.
A-Kid defeated Jack Starz by submission with a flying omoplata (4:07)
They locked up and A-Kid immediately transitioned into an armbar on the ground. Starz rolled out and they ended up on the mat again and traded holds. Both men showed some very good athleticism, trading submissions and counters in quick succession.
A-Kid transitioned from an armbar into a triangle, but Starz powerbombed his way out of it. A-Kid went for a backslide for a near fall, then transitioned into a flying omoplata for the win.
– Radzi interviewed Jinny and Jazzy Gabert backstage. Jinny called the state of the NXT UK’s women’s division cheap, like Radzi’s outfit. She said that the roster consisted of little girls and bashed both Rhea Ripley and Piper Niven.
Jinny called herself championship material and stated that Niven had never pinned her. Both statements drew barely noticeable annoyed looks from Gabert, so there may be some trouble with these two further down the line.
– Tom Philips and Nigel McGuinness were on camera and plugged the main event of Dragunov vs. Wolfe, when the Grizzled Young Veteran’s music played and they walked out in suits.
Grizzled Young Veterans in-ring segment
Gibson talked about how they still should be champions — if not for the three-way stipulation being added to their Tag Team title match at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff. They said they would bounce back and had Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster beaten a few weeks ago until Gallus and Imperium interfered.
Gibson complained that neither faction had been fined or reprimanded and called out Johnny Saint and Sid Scala on the issue. He said they were on their way to making the NXT UK Tag Team titles the most prestigious in WWE. He said just like Bill Shankly, all they wanted was to make the people happy. He called on Johnny Saint to make things right.
Gibson said Saint needed them at TakeOver: Blackpool so that the whole world would talk about the Tag Team title match.
– Jordan Devlin was backstage with a big television screen. He introduced an NXT UK highlight video that just consisted of him hitting various moves as he talked about the footage. He then made fun of A-Kid, saying the endorsement by Tyler Bate meant nothing. Devlin challenged A-Kid to a match next week.
Ridge Holland defeated Oliver Carter after hitting Northern Grit (4:05)
Holland (Luke Menzies) made his NXT UK debut here after having wrestled on NXT television a few times last year.
Menzies, 31, is a former professional rugby player who went into pro wrestling in early 2016 and was trained by Marty Jones. He wrestled for 3 Count Wrestling, Tidal Championship Wrestling, and others in the UK before attending a WWE tryout in late 2016 and being signed to a deal.
Holland made his television debut in May of 2018 against Keith Lee and was repackaged as Ridge Holland in June. He wrestled on NXT’s Florida house show circuit before finally coming back to his native country here.
Holland came to the ring carrying a wooden club. His trainer, Marty Jones, was shown cheering him on in the front row.
Holland threw Carter off his back, then no sold his offense and hit a high-angle judo-style hip toss. Carter came back with an enzuigiri to the back of the head, a kick, and a flying crossbody, but Holland caught him with an overhead suplex. He hit a number of uppercuts, blocked a backslide attempt, and hit another overhead suplex.
Holland applied a choke, but Carter eventually escaped and hit a backflip kick into the corner. Carter missed a quebrada, then was sent flying from a huge pounce. Holland then hit Northern Grit for the pinfall victory.
Ashton Smith came out to check on Carter, with Holland throwing him a nasty look.
– A recap of Joseph Conners attacking Travis Banks and Ligero was shown. Footage then aired of Banks and Ligero complaining about Conners. Conners was interviewed and just smiled and said he was happy to have been leaving a good impression on everyone.
– Ashton Smith and Oliver Carter were walking backstage when Noam Dar showed up and made fun of them. Smith challenged him for a match next week. Dar said he’d see him on his time.
– A graphic announced Piper Niven vs. Jinny for next week.
Alexander Wolfe pinned Ilja Dragunov after a sit-down powerbomb (16:45)
They locked up and immediately were all over each other for the first minute of the match. Wolfe finally shoved Dragunov away, with him motioning to Wolfe to bring some more. Dragunov hit a crossbody and they ended up at ringside, with Wolfe driving Dragunov’s back hard into the barricade.
Wolfe got a camera cable, but the referee watched him and he threw it down again. Dragunov went for the Six One Line, but Wolfe moved out of the way and Dragunov missed a double axe handle from the top to the outside.
Wolfe kicked the rope as Dragunov re-entered the ring, crotching him. Wolfe then hit a draping neckbreaker. He went for a sleeper, but Dragunov came back with a big chop.
Wolfe caught him with a kick to the face, then worked him over some more and hit a low dropkick to the back. Wolfe threw Dragunov to ringside, then grabbed a chair from the ring announcer, but threw it away and kicked Dragunov instead.
Wolfe applied a chinlock back in the ring, but Dragunov came back and eventually hit a jumping kick and a back suplex. They traded hard shots and elbows, with Dragunov coming out on top with some quick Kobashi strikes.
Dragunov hit an enzuigiri, a knee strike in the corner, and a lariat. He it another one in the corner and went for a top rope senton, but Wolfe hit an uppercut. Dragunov finally struck him down and hit a bombs away knee drop, then a Gotch-style powerbomb for a two count.
Dragunov then hit an impressive Gotch-style bridging deadlift German suplex for another two count. He went up top again, but Wolfe rolled into the opposite corner. Dragunov adapted and hit a coast-to-coast dropkick for a close near fall. He finally hit the top rope senton, but Wolfe got his knees up.
Wolfe went for a German suplex of his own, but his legs gave out. He followed up with a big boot and eventually a bridging German suplex for a two count. They battled on the top rope and Wolfe hit a superplex for another near fall. They traded hard slaps until Dragunov hit a back-fist that knocked Wolfe down.
Dragunov went for Torpedo Moscow, but Wolfe stopped it. Dragunov hit the Six One Line and set up for Torpedo Moscow again, but this time Imperium looked to interfere. Dragunov knocked down Barthel and Aichner. He went for the finish once more, but Wolfe caught him with a DDT in mid-air for a near fall. Wolfe then hit the sit-down powerbomb for the pin.
Imperium swarmed Dragunov after the match and stomped him, but Gallus quickly ran out for the save. WALTER briefly was alone with all three Gallus members, but Imperium pulled him out of the ring.
WALTER went to grab his championship belt, but Joe Coffey also grabbed it and they had a brief tug-of-war, with WALTER screaming at him to let go. WALTER finally yanked the belt free and Imperium retreated as Gallus posed in the ring and the show went off the air.
In a post-match WWE.com exclusive video, Imperium were backstage talking among themselves when Gallus and Dragunov barged down the hallway and they almost came to blows. Sid Scala and Johnny Saint separated them. The GM team then declared that Imperium will face Gallus & Dragunov in an eight-man tag team match next week.
Next week —
Jordan Devlin challenged A-Kid for next week and Ashton Smith challenged Noam Dar. Neither match was confirmed, but both seem likely. Jinny will battle Piper Niven. In the main event, Imperium will face off with Gallus & Ilja Dragunov
Taped at The Brentwood Centre in Brentwood, England on October 5, 2019
Quick results —
NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray pinned Xia Brookside after a Gory Bomb in a non-title match.
Travis Banks defeated Ligero after hitting a Slice of Heaven. What Banks had missed was Joseph Conners attacking Ligero on the outside. Conners then also attacked Banks and cut a promo telling the NXT UK roster that — as long as he suffers — everybody had to suffer.
Alexander Wolfe asked for and got a match with Ilja Dragunov for next week.
in a tremendous main event, Tyler Bate defeated Kassius Ohno after hitting the Tyler Driver ’97. This was worthy of a spot on any NXT/NXT UK TakeOver and probably one of the best matches in the brand’s history. It’s worth going out of your way to see if you rarely watch this show.
Full rundown —
A graphic plugged tonight’s main event of Tyler Bate vs. Kassius Ohno.
Non-title match: NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray pinned Xia Brookside after a Gory Bomb (7:02)
They locked up and KLR applied a wristlock, but Brookside escaped with a side headlock takeover. KLR applied a headscissors on the mat, but Brookside escaped via a headstand. KLR took her down with a hard forearm, but Brookside came back with a crucifix and sunset flip in quick succession for a couple of near falls.
KLR caught Brookside off a crossbody attempt and worked her over on the mat for a few minutes. KLR hit a front face suplex and then went for a Gory Bomb, but Brookside escaped.
Brookside hit a spinning headscissors takedown and then eventually hit a hurricanrana off the ropes. KLR then stopped Brookside’s offense with a superkick and hit the Gory Bomb for the pin.
– A video recapped the history between Imperium and Ilja Dragunov and Dragunov joining Gallus in their battle with Imperium last week.
– A video with Piper Niven aired. Niven said she was a plus-sized athlete and wanted to give people confidence and always is happy when she hears people tell her she inspired them.
Travis Banks pinned Ligero after hitting a Slice of Heaven (10:03)
This was a rematch from their bout a few weeks ago that ended in a double pin.
They shook hands to start the match, but Banks followed up with a kick that missed. They traded punches, then took each other down with simultaneous kicks to the face. Ligero hit a handspring crossbody for a near fall.
Ligero applied an abdominal stretch, then followed up with a number of lariats. They found themselves in a backslide position and again ended up in a double pinfall situation but kicked out.
Banks followed up with a coast-to-coast dropkick from the rope into the corner for another near fall. Ligero caught Banks with a springboard sunset bomb and a Destroyer for a near fall of his own.
Ligero missed a splash from the middle of the rope and they traded cradles, after which Banks hit the Kiwi Crusher for another close two count. Ligero came back with a superplex that hurt both men.
They battled on the apron. Banks hit a fisherman’s suplex on the apron, then tried to follow up with a double foot stomp from the apron to the outside but missed. Ligero hit the C4L to the outside, but as he rolled Banks back into the ring, Joseph Conners suddenly appeared and drove Ligero’s head into the post. Banks didn’t see the attack and hit a Slice of Heaven for the pinfall victory.
Conners then attacked Banks and Ligero and beat both men down. Conners cut a promo, saying this was supposed to be about him and he was supposed to be the first WWE United Kingdom Champion and part of the first NXT UK TakeOver.
Conners screamed that he was worthy, worthy of TakeOver, and who was he (he didn’t specify who he meant) to tell him that he wasn’t worthy. Conners said as long as he was going to suffer, everybody was going to have to suffer along with him. Conners was still wearing the T-shirt from the original UK Championship tournament that took place in January 2017.
– A video on Ridge Holland aired. He had some kind of club which he dragged along a fence and stated “NXT UK — I’ll be seeing ya.” He debuts next week.
– They showed a clip of William Regal visiting with Johnny Saint and Sid Scala at the NXT UK Performance Center. Alexander Wolfe interrupted them and politely asked Saint for a match with Ilja Dragunov. Scala whispered into Saint’s ear, which drew the ire of Wolfe. Saint then agreed that Dragunov and Wolfe could settle their differences next week.
Tyler Bate pinned Kassius Ohno after the Tyler Driver ’97 (24:02)
Ohno applied a wristlock, but Bate worked his way out of it and countered with one of his own. Ohno applied a cravat. Bate escaped and locked in an Octopus hold, then transitioned into a sunset flip attempt, which Ohno turned into a modified Camel Clutch and later a surfboard submission. Bate ended up locking in a side headlock and hit Ohno with his foot for good measure.
Bate did a headstand in the corner and caught Ohno with a headscissors takedown as he rushed in. He followed up with a number of dropkicks, but Ohno turned things around once more and drove Bate into the ring post as Bate was on the apron. As Bate returned to the ring, Ohno brutally assaulted him with kicks and elbows. Ohno called Bate a “stupid boy” as he kept beating on him.
Ohno crashed down on Bate with a senton for a near fall, then hit a hard rolling elbow to the temple. Ohno ended up on the top rope and hit Bate with a hard right, then went for a cravat but turned it into a version of the Kassius Clutch and eventually turned it into a sit-down cravat powerbomb.
Bate got back to his feet and tried going for a German, but Ohno blocked it. After some struggling, the Big Strong Boi eventually hit an exploder suplex on his much bigger opponent. He followed up with a knee strike, a flying European uppercut, a running uppercut into the corner, yet another exploder suplex, and a running Shooting Star Press for a two count.
Bate went for the Tyler Driver ’97 but couldn’t get it. He hit a few uppercuts and tried again, but Ohno gave him a huge back body drop and Bate over-rotated and hit the mat hard.
Ohno hit a cyclone kick for another two count and followed with a number of headbutts. Bate powered back up and hit a number of slaps and eventually got another two count of his own. Bate went for the airplane spin, but Ohno grabbed the ropes and hit a few kicks. Bate came back with clotheslines and kicks, but Ohno kicked him in the neck on the rebound clothesline.
Ohno went up top for a moonsault but missed. Bate then hit a deadlift German suplex for another two count. Bate hit two rolling koppu kicks and both men were out of it — Ohno in the ropes and Bate on the mat.
Bate hit another rolling koppu kick. Ohno hit a running boot and Bate hit the rebound clothesline. Ohno rolled to the outside and Bate followed him out with a big dive, but Ohno caught him in mid-air and hit the Dream Crusher to the neck for a 2.9 count.
Ohno berated Bate, calling him a rookie and himself a veteran. They battled on the top and Ohno applied a cravat, but Bate escaped and picked him up on his shoulders for the UFO airplane spin. Bate then finally hit the Tyler Driver ’97 for the well-deserved pinfall victory.
This was an awesome match that people should go out of their way to see.
Next week —
The first matches from this coming weekend’s set of NXT UK tapings in Hull will air, including the debut of Ridge Holland and a match between Alexander Wolfe and Ilja Dragunov.
