During Tuesday’s NXT, a vignette was shown of Mensah in NXT UK, where he wrestled under the name Oliver Carter. It was then announced Mensah would be making his debut on next week’s show.
Mensah made his debut for NXT UK in 2019. He is a former NXT UK Tag Team Champion, having won the titles with Ashton Smith after defeating former champions Trent Seven & Tyler Bate and Teoman & Rohan Raja in a three-way match on the June 2 edition of NXT UK. Later that month, however, the team was forced to vacate the titles after Smith suffered a knee injury. Smith was among the names released by WWE when it was announced on August 18 that the NXT UK brand was shutting down in favor of launching NXT Europe, which will launch sometime in 2023.
WWE had trademarked the name ‘Oro Mensah’ on September 8.
NXT United Kingdom Championship tournament semifinals: Trent Seven defeated Oliver Carter (9:15)
Seven mocked Carter’s knee injury early on and went to attack the knee, but Carter quickly threw him out of the ring and followed up with a dive. Carter held his knee on impact.
Back in the ring, Seven hit a dragon screw through the ropes on Carter as he was still on the apron on the outside. Seven went on to work over the knee, leading to Carter screaming in pain. Seven hit a kneebreaker and held onto the leg, but Carter managed to turn another attempt into a sunset flip for a near fall.
Carter eventually hit a springboard moonsault for another near fall. Seven came back with an Emerald Frosion for a near fall of his own before Carter countered a Seven Star Lariat attempt into a forearm smash and followed with a missile dropkick from the top.
Carter followed up with an axe kick and scored another close two count. He went for a corner attack but collapsed during the spring. Carter still caught Seven in a small package and almost had the match won. Seven then locked in a Figure Four leglock, which Carter valiantly fought to escape from but eventually succumbed to the pain and tapped out.
NXT United Kingdom Championship tournament semifinals: Tyler Bate defeated Joe Coffey (12:00)
They traded holds and counters early with neither man being able to gain the advantage. After trading shoulder blocks, Bate took down Coffey with a dropkick. Coffey hit the Glasgow Sendoff in the corner and got a near fall off the move.
Shortly after, Coffey locked in a bear hug. Bate fought out but actually found himself on the receiving end of a giant swing. They traded punches and Bate hit a right hook just as Coffey hit a combination of body shots. Bate followed with a spinning European uppercut and running Shooting Star Press for another near fall.
Coffey hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall, then caught Bate as he came off the ropes and hit a nasty German suplex before locking in a Boston Crab.
Bate crawled toward the ropes, but Coffey pulled him back to the center of the ring. Bate finally managed to escape by spinning out of the move and landing some up-kicks. Bate evaded the Glasgow Sendoff but still got caught with the double-jump reverse crossbody. He rolled through though and scored another two count. They traded lariats and Coffey actually hit All the Best for the Bells as Bate was bouncing off the ropes with his slingshot lariat.
Both men were down, so Coffey failed to go for a cover. Bate then hit a rolling koppu kick and went for the Tyler Driver ’97, which Coffey countered with a back body drop. Bate landed on his feet, hit a forearm, and caught Coffey in a backslide for the victory.
Bate will face his former Moustache Mountain partner Seven in the finals for the vacant NXT UK Championship.
Seven came out after the match and teased getting into the ring but then chickened out. He shouted at Bate from ringside as — in a throwback to the days of World of Sport — a granny in the front row berated Seven.
– A video recapped the wild women’s division brawl from three weeks ago. Sid Scala announced a four-way elimination match between Blair Davenport, Isla Dawn, Amale, and Eliza Alexander for next week. The winner will be the new number one contender to the NXT UK Women’s Championship.
– A video looked at last week’s announcement that NXT UK will go on hiatus and be expanded to NXT Europe in 2023. They had lots of social media and news clippings covering that announcement and Nigel McGuinness said he was excited for it.
NXT UK Heritage Cup Championship match: Noam Dar defeated Mark Coffey to win the title (17:29)
Round One
Dar went for a roll-up 30 seconds in and scored a two count. They mostly fought for position for the rest of the round, with Coffey hitting an uppercut and locking in an armbar as the round ended.
Round Two
Dar went for an armbar right away, but Coffey made it to his feet and locked in one of his own. Coffey worked Dar’s arm over some more. Coffey got a two count off of a roll-up, then missed an elbow from the ropes. Dar hit a diving forearm and scored a near fall of his own.
Round Three
Coffey started out strong with a clothesline, a forearm, and a back body drop. Dar came back with a leg kick and spinning back elbow for another near fall. Coffey hit a sliding forearm to the side of the jaw and pinned Dar to take the lead. Dar looked to be knocked out. Coffey 1-0
Round Four
Dar struggled to his feet but still was wobbly. Coffey went for a full nelson, but Dar backed him into the ropes to break the hold. Dar still looked out on his feet but hit a few desperation forearms. Coffey went to the second turnbuckle for an attack, but Dar stumbled between the ropes and fell to ringside. The referee checked on Dar and told Coffey to back off.
Dar repeatedly collapsed whenever Coffey was going for another attack, prompting the referee to stop Coffey. Dar then suddenly went for a flash pin and got a near fall. Dar then locked in the kneebar and Coffey tapped. Dar 1-1
Round Five
Coffey went to the ropes again but thought better of it and hit a bulldog instead. Coffey went for the Gator lock, but Dar rolled out of it and transitioned into an armbar, which Coffey turned into a roll-up.
They briefly battled on the top rope, but Dar slid out from under Coffey and kicked his leg out. Dar locked in the kneebar once more with 20 seconds left in the round. Coffey fought to escape and finally did just as the round ended.
Round Six
They traded holds early and Coffey powered out of a guillotine attempt. Coffey hit a baseball slide that sent Dar out of the ring and Coffey quickly rolled him back inside. Suddenly, Sha Samuels hopped the barricades behind Coffey and rammed Coffey’s head into the ring post. As Coffey stumbled back into the ring, Dar hit the Nova Roller to win the round, the match, and the NXT UK Heritage Cup. Dar wins 2-1
Dar and Samuels hugged after the match and celebrated in the ring with the Heritage Cup. Thus concludes the penultimate episode of NXT UK.
Final Thoughts —
Wrestling wise, this was a tremendous show with three good-to-great matches. It’s painfully clear though that these episodes merely exist to finalize the ongoing stories and air matches that had already been taped. Besides the announcement of the women’s four-way next week, there were no angles, backstage segments, interviews, or anything else to build for the future, of which we know doesn’t exist for the brand.
If you saw NXT 2.0 this Tuesday, you also know who wins the four-way next week. And, of course, we also know the result of the tournament final. Both matches nonetheless will probably be very good.
Next Week —
NXT United Kingdom Championship tournament finals: Tyler Bate vs. Trent Seven
NXT UK Women’s Championship number one contender’s four-way elimination match: Blair Davenport vs. Isla Dawn vs. Amale vs. Eliza Alexander
NXT United Kingdom Championship tournament first-round match: Oliver Carter defeated Charlie Dempsey (w/ Die Familie) (9:10)
Both men cut in-set promos on their way to the ring. Carter vowed that, despite not being 100 percent, he would win. Dempsey said he’d beat Carter because of Carter’s disrespect for Die Familie.
Carter attacked every member of Die Familie right away and focused on Dempsey. The referee quickly rang the bell and the match was on. Carter was in control and clotheslined Dempsey to the outside, then followed with a plancha.
Dempsey came back and launched Carter into the corner knee-first, then extensively worked over Carter’s previously injured knee. Carter briefly fought back, but Dempsey was relentless.
Dempsey hit a picture-perfect dragon suplex, but Carter got his second wind and staged a comeback. Carter escaped a painful half-crab and turned it into a roll-up for the pinfall victory.
Die Familie hit the ring, but Carter wisely fled up the entranceway and celebrated his win.
– Blair Davenport, Eliza Alexander, Amale, and Isla Dawn all came backstage screaming after last week’s main event. Referees separated them and Sid Scala screamed that neither of them would get a title shot.
– Scala asked Tyler Bate not to interfere in Trent Seven’s match tonight. Bate said he’d never do something like that, but he will get under Seven’s skin by becoming the new NXT UK Champion.
Eliza Alexander defeated Thea Hail (w/ Chase U) (4:11)
Alexander attacked but Hail immediately took over with some clumsy looking lucha offense. Alexander stopped her with a clothesline. Alexander worked Hail over while Hail showed some glimpses of hope in between.
Hail powered out of a Camel Clutch and went for a standing moonsault, but Alexander got her feet up. Alexander then hit a running knee and scored the win via pinfall.
– Nina Samuels crashed an interview segment with Amale. Amale said she would beat whoever it took to get an NXT UK Women’s Championship shot, whether it was Davenport, Dawn, Alexander, or Nina Samuels.
– Andre Chase gave a lecture backstage. Eddie Dennis interrupted and ridiculed him. Chase snapped and swore at him. Dennis mocked Bodhi Hayward, saying that Chase got some neanderthal and taught him to comb his hair. Chase said if Dennis thought it was easy having a protege, he should get one and pointed out Saxon Huxley, who sat in the back of the room eating roasted chicken.
Sam Gradwell defeated Teoman (5:41)
Gradwell beat Teoman up early and threw him to ringside. Rohan Raja got in Gradwell’s way when he went for a kick, allowing Teoman to pull Gradwell between the ring and apron and take over.
Gradwell still held his own and thwarted some nefarious tactics by Teoman and Raja. A little later, Raja pulled Gradwell from the top. The referee saw Raja and expelled him. Teoman argued with the ref, then grabbed Gradwell. Gradwell hit Teoman in the head with his knee brace, then hit his finish for the win.
– Scala congratulated Mark Coffey on winning the Heritage Cup. Noam Dar entered the office and demanded a rematch. Scala said he would try and make it happen.
NXT United Kingdom Championship tournament first-round match: Trent Seven defeated Wolfgang (8:56)
Wolfgang started with a hip toss and an arm drag, then worked over Seven’s arm. Wolfgang hit a dropkick, but Seven threw him out of the ring. Wolfgang quickly took back over and threw Seven into the barricade. Wolfgang climbed the barricade, but Seven threw him down.
Back in the ring, Seven hit a DDT but Wolfgang countered an attempt at the Seven Star Lariat into a German suplex. Wolfgang hit another suplex for a near fall, then followed with an elevated gutbuster for another two count.
They battled on the top rope until Wolfgang threw Seven down and went for a Swanton Bomb, only for Seven to get his knees up. Seven then hit the Birminghammer for the win.
Final Thoughts —
A fun show. Oliver Carter vs. Charlie Dempsey was the best match on the episode, while Trent Seven vs. Wolfgang was a nice brawl between two powerhouses.
Teoman somehow has descended into the midcard. They told a nice story here, but he should not lose to people on the 50-50 level like Sam Gradwell.
Eliza Alexander vs. Thea Hail was another showcase of just how green the NXT 2.0 talent is, but I guess they need all the matches they can get.
Next Week —
NXT United Kingdom Championship tournament first-round match: Tyler Bate vs. Kenny Williams
NXT United Kingdom Championship tournament first-round match: Joe Coffey vs. Mark Andrews
An NXT 2.0 team is getting a shot at the NXT UK Tag Team titles.
On the NXT UK episode that airs next Thursday, Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen will challenge Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith for the NXT UK Tag Team Championship. It will be Smith & Carter’s first defense since winning the titles.
Carter & Smith became NXT UK Tag Team Champions by defeating Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) and Die Familie (Teoman & Rohan Raja) in a triple threat match on NXT UK two weeks ago.
Fallon Henley, who is aligned with Briggs & Jensen in NXT 2.0, will also be appearing with them on NXT UK.
A promo from Briggs, Jensen, and Henley aired on NXT UK this week. Briggs said it will be an honor to face Carter & Smith.
Briggs & Jensen’s team debuted following last September’s NXT 2.0 rebrand. The story of their partnership is that they bonded after getting into a bar fight with each other.
Briggs & Jensen are currently feuding with Von Wagner on NXT 2.0.
It’s also been announced that NXT 2.0’s Sarray will be in action against Nina Samuels on NXT UK next Thursday.
NXT 2.0’s Wagner, Lash Legend, Ivy Nile, and Damon Kemp have also recently appeared on NXT UK. They took part in April’s NXT UK television tapings.
They traded strikes early until Wagner punched Gradwell in the face hard, then attacked him from the outside. Wagner continued his onslaught in the ring, including hitting a fallaway slam.
Gradwell hit a few forearms but quickly got caught in a bearhug. Gradwell hit a double strike that took Wagner off his feet, then followed with a flying forearm off the turnbuckle and body slammed the big man for a two count.
Wagner signaled that he wanted to throw Gradwell into the crowd, but Gradwell escaped from the military press position and locked on a sleeper. Wagner then hoisted Gradwell on his shoulders from that position and hit a neckbreaker slam for the win.
– Xia Brookside skipped into the Performance Center, followed by Eliza Alexander. They were asked about using questionable tactics in their tag team match and Brookside took offense. Amale came up and called out Alexander for a match, which she accepted.
– Ivy Nile talked about her upcoming title match with Meiko Satomura. Nile said she’s the hardest worker and has 26 years of tape to study for Satomura while Satomura has none of her. They meet for the NXT UK Women’s Championship next week.
– In the parking lot, Mark Andrews was asked about his upcoming match with Kenny Williams. He saw Williams screwing around with his car and they brawled before being quickly broken up. Tiger Turan was seen crouching in the background, watching them.
Stevie Turner defeated Angel Hayze (4:05)
There was a split-screen pre-taped promo from Turner where she said she is the future.
Turner threw an armband at Hayze and kicked her, but Hayze came back with a schoolboy and another quick pin attempt. Turner came back with a running knee lift and a running kick to the head as Hayze was in the ropes.
Turner quickly followed with a neckbreaker for another nearfall, then locked in a chinlock on Hayze. Hayze came back with a slingblade for a close two count, but she quickly got flattened with a running kick. Turner followed with a Mass Effect for the pinfall victory.
– Emilia McKenzie apologized to Satomura for letting her down by losing to Lash Legend. Satomura told her to be “more strong, work harder, and be better.” Now why didn’t McKenzie think of that?
– East End Bookie with Noam Dar & Sha Samuels was up next. They talked trash about Damon Kemp & Wolfgang, who they will face in two weeks. Dar & Samuels said Kemp & Wolfgang are fake friends — but Dar & Samuels are real friends.
Triple threat match: Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith defeated Moustache Mountain and Die Familie to win the NXT UK Tag Team titles (14:17)
The rules were that each team could have a member in the ring at the same time, every man had to tag their own partner, there were no disqualifications, and a decision had to be reached by pinfall or submission inside the ring.
Tyler Bate, Carter, and Teoman started. They quickly went after each other with lots of fast pinfall attempts and attacked each other’s legs. Bate and Carter eventually teamed up as Carter launched off Bate to hit a corkscrew plancha on Teoman.
Soon, Smith, Rohan Raja, and Trent Seven were in and traded punches. Smith hit a huge powerslam on Seven, who got tripped by Die Familie subsequently. They trapped him under the apron and rained down blows on him. Die Familie then double teamed Smith before focusing their attention on Seven.
After a few minutes, Seven finally managed to tag out to Bate, who ran wild on everyone. Smith tagged in Carter, who cleaned house as well. Carter almost had Teoman pinned after an assisted moonsault, but Raja made the save.
Teoman got the crossface on Bate off an airplane spin, but he then got squashed off a quebrada by Carter. Seven meanwhile hit a Super Emerald Frosion on Smith off the top, but he narrowly kicked out of the subsequent pin.
Moustache Mountain hit a Birminghammer/foot stomp combo on Carter, but Teoman broke up the pin. Teoman tried to steal the pin but got thwarted. Raja brought one of the tag belts into the ring and Teoman tried to hit Smith with it. Smith ducked and clotheslined Teoman to the outside, but he got hit with a lariat by Seven a split-second later.
Seven grabbed the title belt and was looking to use it on Smith, but Bate grabbed it from the outside and they had a tug of war over it. Carter then wiped out Bate with a dive and Smith rolled up Seven to win the titles.
Smith and Carter were ecstatic and celebrated. Seven looked shocked and Bate at ringside was devastated about the whole ordeal.
Smith and Carter celebrated with the belts on their way to the back as Seven and Bate were left in the ring. They eventually had words and Seven left, signaling that he was “done” and saying “this was it” as he went to the back.
Final Thoughts —
Basically a one-match show. Gradwell vs. Wagner was okay but forgettable, and Turner vs. Hayze was basically a squash.
The triple threat Tag Team title match was very good, as is to be expected with those three teams. Smith & Carter as champions will mix things up, while it will be interesting to see if Seven will actually retire after the loss.
Tension had been brewing within Moustache Mountain for months now. Seven’s storyline of looking for redemption and it leading to his inevitable downfall has been playing out ever since NXT UK returned from its pandemic hiatus during the fall of 2020.
Next Week —
NXT UK Women’s Champion Meiko Satomura defends against Ivy Nile
WWE has announced two upcoming title matches that will be airing on NXT UK.
On next Thursday’s NXT UK episode, Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) will defend their NXT UK Tag Team titles against Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith and Die Familie (Teoman & Rohan Raja) in a triple threat match.
Meiko Satomura will then defend her NXT UK Women’s Championship against NXT 2.0’s Ivy Nile on the NXT UK episode that airs in two weeks.
Carter & Smith and Teoman & Raja each earned their way into the triple threat Tag Team title match with victories in recent weeks. Carter & Smith defeated Gallus (Joe & Mark Coffey), while Die Familie defeated Dave Mastiff & Jack Starz.
Moustache Mountain have twice retained their titles against Carter & Smith, but Seven cheated to win both times. There’s been dissension between Bate and Seven over Seven cheating to win their matches.
Nile is a member of Diamond Mine in NXT 2.0. She’s one of four NXT 2.0 wrestlers who took part in NXT UK’s April television tapings. Lash Legend, Damon Kemp, and Von Wagner have also appeared on this set of NXT UK episodes.
Nile defeated Nina Samuels on NXT UK two weeks ago. Last week, Nile respectfully approached Satomura and asked for a title shot.
Next week (Thursday, June 2) —
NXT UK Tag Team Champions Moustache Mountain defend against Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith and Die Familie in a triple threat match
Sam Gradwell vs. Von Wagner
In two weeks (Thursday, June 9) —
NXT UK Women’s Champion Meiko Satomura defends against Ivy Nile
The show opened with a video looking at tonight’s main event, where Moustache Mountain will defend their NXT UK Tag Team titles against Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith in a two-out-of-three falls match.
Back Alley Brawl: Sam Gradwell defeated Kenny Williams (9:45)
Gradwell attacked Williams during the latter’s entrance and beat him up at ringside. He went to get a trash can from under the ring, but Williams kicked Gradwell and rammed him into the stairs. Williams then rolled him into the ring to officially start the match.
A masked man in a hoodie was watching the match from the crowd.
Gradwell took over back in the ring, then threw Williams out of the ring and over the barricade. Gradwell emptied a trash can onto Williams and then attacked him with it. Williams went for an attack on the barricades, but the masked man stared at him and Williams was distracted, allowing Gradwell to catch him.
Williams got a fire extinguisher from under the ring and sprayed it into Gradwell’s face. He placed a chair on Gradwell’s back (as Gradwell was draped over the steps) and then jumped on it a few times.
Gradwell slammed Williams onto a trash can, then set up a table. Back in the ring, Gradwell slammed Williams into a chair that was set up in the corner. Williams removed his belt and teased hitting Gradwell with it, but Gradwell caught it and used it on Williams.
When Williams was once again distracted by the masked man in the crowd, Gradwell gave Williams a Death Valley Driver off the apron through the table on the floor. Gradwell picked up the pinfall victory after the table bump.
After the match, the masked man entered the ring and stalked Williams to the back.
– A segment looked at Symbiosis’ attack on Wild Boar with a dog collar and Mark Andrews making the save. Eddie Dennis challenged Wild Boar & Andrews to a tag team match.
Emilia McKenzie defeated Stevie Turner (4:43)
McKenzie was in control early and got a two count off a swinging neckbreaker. Turner came back with a bicycle kick that took McKenzie down, then locked in a chinlock.
McKenzie escaped and hit a Saito suplex for a two count. Turner hit a Mass Effect for a two count of her own. McKenzie then hit a German suplex and a spear to get the victory.
– Isla Dawn talked about welcoming NXT UK Women’s Champion Meiko Satomura into her “world of darkness.” She will face Satomura in a World of Darkness match for the title in two weeks.
– Von Wagner, Lash Legend, Ivy Nile, and Damon Kemp from NXT 2.0 were shown arriving in the UK earlier this week. Saxon Huxley interrupted their autograph signing, leading to Wagner ripping up Huxley’s autograph and walking off.
– Xia Brookside and Eliza Alexander cut a promo backstage. Brookside said she’ll be in action next week and somebody will get “battered.”
– In three weeks, on the 200th episode of NXT UK, Ilja Dragunov will defend his NXT United Kingdom Championship against Jordan Devlin. There will be a contract signing for the match next week.
Two-out-of-three falls NXT UK Tag Team title match: Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) retained against Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith (21:39)
Bate and Smith started and traded wristlocks early on. There was some fast action, and they traded pinning combinations until Bate tagged in Seven. Smith dominated the action and then tagged in Carter, who hit Seven with a shoulder block over the ropes.
Seven turned things around, and Moustache Mountain took turns working Carter over.
Smith finally came in and he and Carter sent the champions to ringside. Shortly after, Moustache Mountain were back in control, working over Smith until he finally got the hot tag to Carter.
Carter ran wild. Bate went for his slingshot lariat, but Carter caught him and hit a German suplex for a near fall. After Carter hit an assisted moonsault on Seven, Smith got the first pinfall of the match at around the 10-minute mark. Carter & Smith 1-0
Smith and Carter took turns working over Seven, who was in trouble for a long time. Seven and Smith both finally tagged out, and Bate ran wild on Carter. Bate hit a ton of offense, including a running Shooting Star Press for a two count.
One tag later, all four men were in the ring. Seven and Bate hit stereo Tyler Driver ’97s for another near fall. Bate then pinned Smith after a lariat/snap dragon suplex combo at around 16:30. Moustache Mountain 1-1
Smith hit a spinning powerbomb on Seven for a close two count. As the champions regrouped at ringside, Carter hit an assisted moonsault knee drop on both men on the outside.
Back in the ring, Seven almost caught Smith with a small package before hitting a Seven Star Lariat and the Emerald Frosion on Smith for a close near fall. Moustache Mountain then hit an assisted Burning Hammer on Smith, but Carter made the last-second save on the ensuing pinfall attempt.
Moustache Mountain went for a double Burning Hammer on Smith, but Carter saved. Carter then sent Seven into Bate. Smith tried a roll-up, but Seven kicked out. Seven then sent Carter into Smith, rolled up Carter, and put his feet on the ropes for leverage to score the deciding pinfall. Bate saw Seven cheating from ringside and was visibly shocked at his partner’s actions. Moustache Mountain win 2-1
Bate was upset with Seven after the match but eventually still celebrated with him to close the show.
Final Thoughts —
The main event was one of the best tag team matches of the year that likely relatively few people will see. Those four are just so good. Bate keeps getting more and more upset at Seven, so they are still doing a slow build to some sort of explosion I presume.
The opener was a fun brawl with some intrigue when it comes to the masked guy. The women’s match mostly was just there and nothing special.
Next Week —
Contract signing for Ilja Dragunov vs. Jordan Devlin
Xia Brookside in action
In Two Weeks —
NXT UK Women’s Champion Meiko Satomura defends against Isla Dawn in a World of Darkness match
In Three Weeks (NXT UK episode #200) —
NXT United Kingdom Champion Ilja Dragunov defends against Jordan Devlin
Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith are getting another shot at the NXT UK Tag Team titles — this time in a two-out-of-three falls match.
NXT UK Tag Team Champions Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) will defend their titles against Carter & Smith in a two-out-of-three falls match in the main event of the NXT UK episode that airs in two weeks (Thursday, April 21). The match was announced during a segment where the two teams met with NXT UK management on this week’s episode of the show.
This February, Moustache Mountain retained their titles against Carter & Smith when Seven knocked Smith’s foot off the ropes before the referee could see it and call for a rope break.
After Carter & Smith challenged Moustache Mountain to another title match, it was set up that they would have to get their shot by facing Bate and Seven in singles matches. Carter defeated Bate, but Seven won his match against Smith by holding onto Smith’s tights while pinning him. Bate wasn’t happy with how Seven cheated to win.
Moustache Mountain won the NXT UK Tag Team titles from Pretty Deadly in December of last year.
Here’s what’s been announced for the next two weeks of NXT UK episodes:
Next Week —
A-Kid vs. Teoman
Gallus (Joe & Mark Coffey) vs. Dave Mastiff & Jack Starz
Eliza Alexander’s NXT UK in-ring debut (Alexander was formerly known as Lizzy Evo)
NXT UK Women’s Champion Meiko Satomura and Isla Dawn go face-to-face
In Two Weeks —
Two-out-of-three falls match: NXT UK Tag Team Champions Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) defend against Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith
WWE has revealed when Moustache Mountain will be making their first defense of the NXT UK Tag Team titles.
Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) will put their titles on the line against Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith on the NXT UK episode that premieres in two weeks (Thursday, February 24). Carter & Smith won a four-team tournament to become the number one contenders to Bate & Seven’s titles.
Carter & Smith defeated Symbiosis (Primate & T-Bone) in the first round of the number one contender’s tournament and Dave Mastiff & Jack Starz in the finals.
In December, Moustache Mountain captured the NXT UK Tag Team titles for the first time by defeating Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley).
Bate & Seven vs. Carter & Smith is a matchup of babyface teams.
For next week’s NXT UK episode, WWE has announced two matches. They are: Jordan Devlin vs. Wolfgang and Kenny Williams vs. Sam Gradwell.
Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith are first in line for a shot at Moustache Mountain’s NXT UK Tag Team titles.
Carter & Smith became the number one contenders to Tyler Bate & Trent Seven’s titles by defeating Dave Mastiff & Jack Starz on today’s NXT UK episode. WWE hasn’t announced when Carter & Smith will be getting their title shot.
Starz wanted to be tagged in near the end of the number one contender’s match, but Mastiff insisted on staying in. That led to Mastiff missing a cannonball into the corner. After some double-team offense by Carter and Smith, Carter pinned Mastiff with an assisted moonsault. Smith kept Starz from breaking up the pin.
Bate & Seven were on commentary for the number one contender’s match. They said they were ready to face the best version of Carter & Smith and would give them the best version of Moustache Mountain.
Carter & Smith vs. Mastiff & Starz was the finals of a four-team number one contender’s tournament. Carter & Smith defeated Symbiosis (Primate & T-Bone) in the first round, while Mastiff & Starz defeated Die Familie (Teoman & Rohan Raja).
Moustache Mountain won the NXT UK Tag Team titles from Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley) this past December. It’s Bate & Seven’s first reign as NXT UK Tag Team Champions.
NXT UK Heritage Cup number one contender’s tournament first round: Wolfgang defeated Sam Gradwell 2-1 in round 5 (11:45)
Round 1 —
Wolfgang overpowered Gradwell early. They brawled at ringside and Gradwell hit a flying forearm from the apron. Wolfgang was about to punch Gradwell in the mouth as the round ended.
Round 2 —
Gradwell had Wolfgang trapped in an armbar on the mat about halfway into the round, but Wolfgang powered out. Wolfgang hit an axe handle off the top and a running kick to retaliate. Gradwell slapped him, then escaped to ringside to catch his breath for the last few seconds of the round.
Round 3 —
Wolfgang started out wild, but Gradwell stopped a spear with his knee brace, then hit a flatliner for the first fall at 0:24 of the round. Gradwell 1-0
Round 4 —
Wolfgang’s left shoulder was hurt and he favored the arm, which Gradwell immediately focused on. Wolfgang fought back and eventually hit a front slam off a suplex to score a pin at 1:39 of the round. Wolfgang 1-1
Round 5 —
Gradwell hit a hard forearm for a near fall in the first minute. He evaded two spears by Wolfgang, but fell victim to the third one at 1:17 of the round. Wolfgang wins 2-1
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A video recapped Blair Davenport’s attack on Nina Samuels and Sid Scala last week.
Scala, still visibly upset, then announced that NXT management had suspended Davenport.
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Kenny Williams and Noam Dar talked about their match next week. Both are despicable heels and Dar said he was an elephant who would stomp the cockroach Kenny Williams out.
Pretty Deadly defending their NXT UK Tag Team Championships against Gallus (Joe & Mark Coffey) was announced for next week.
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Gallus then celebrated Wolfgang’s win and loudly sang backstage, which drew the ire of the Irish Ace. Jordan Devlin came out of his locker room and said he was getting a massage. He then told Joe Coffey after he took care of his neck, he would take care of Coffey’s ego. Coffey got in Devlin’s face, who flinched and held his neck in pain.
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Oliver Carter, Ashton Smith & Saxon Huxley defeated Symbiosis (Eddie Dennis, Primate & T-Bone) (09:01)
Smith and Carter had new music and a new entrance screen.
Huxley and Primate started and Huxley threw Primate to ringside quickly. T-Bone was in next and attacked Huxley, but got wiped out with a Thesz Press. Smith was in next and ate a big overhead suplex. T-Bone and Primate worked him over and Eddie Dennis joined in.
Smith outsmarted Dennis and tagged Carter, who immediately hit a beautiful springboard moonsault on Primate. Primate punched him to ringside and Dennis took over. All three members of Symbiosis worked over Carter, who eventually managed to hot tag Huxley.
Huxley ran wild and wiped out Eddie Dennis with an elbow drop, then followed up with a clothesline off the top. Smith was in and they hit a double suplex on Dennis. Smith was in trouble quickly, as Primate attacked him from the outside. Smith almost fell victim to a flying headbutt by Primate, but Carter made the save.
Smith then impressively hoisted Primate on his shoulders with ease, and Carter hit a Doomsday Cutter for the pin.
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Stevie Tyler was asked about her match with Meiko Satomura. She said that she got a title match in only her fourth match and now had the blueprint to beating her.
Emilia McKenzie then walked up and said it was interesting that Tyler badmouthed Satomura when she had been beaten by her and that McKenzie would beat her too. After she left, Tyler pouted and called McKenzie two-dimensional.
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Pretty Deadly cut an entertaining promo, talking about how they would beat Gallus next week, just as they had six months ago.
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Replay from NXT TakeOver 36: NXT UK Championship: Ilja Dragunov defeated WALTER to win the championship
This was an incredible match, which Dave rated at *****¼ stars. The original report of the match can be found here.
Ilja Dragunov, Rhea Ripley, Cesaro, Drew McIntyre, Finn Balor, Toni Storm and Sheamus provided commentary and added insights for the match.
Final Thoughts:
The Wolfgang/Gradwell match was a fine hoss fight.
The six-man was fun and showcased Carter and Smith as a really good team.
The replay of the WALTER and Ilja match was outstanding of course. I’d have preferred to have just Ilja’s insights and maybe get some reactions from his peers in a separate segment. This was the best match in WWE this year by a country mile.
Next week:
NXT UK Heritage Cup number one contender’s tournament semifinals: Noam Dar vs. Kenny Williams
NXT UK Tag Team Championship: Pretty Deadly vs. Gallus
The first round of NXT UK’s Heritage Cup number one contender’s tournament will continue next week.
WWE has announced that Nathan Frazer and Teoman will face off in the first round of the Heritage Cup contender’s tournament on NXT UK next Thursday. The winner will face either Wolfgang or Sam Gradwell in the semifinals.
Frazer (Ben Carter) signed with WWE last year and made his NXT UK debut this January. Teoman (formerly known as Lucky Kid) debuted for NXT UK in March. In a video package that aired on today’s NXT UK episode, Frazer promised that he’ll be the first person to defeat Teoman in NXT UK.
Noam Dar and Kenny Williams have already advanced in the contender’s tournament and will be facing each other in the semifinals. Williams defeated Oliver Carter on today’s NXT UK. Two weeks ago, the tournament kicked off with Dar defeating Mark Andrews.
The winner of the tournament will challenge Tyler Bate for the Heritage Cup Championship. Bate won the title from A-Kid this May.
Heritage Cup matches have a British Rounds format with a maximum of six rounds. Matches are won when a wrestler has scored two falls. They can also end via knockout or disqualification without the need for two falls. If a match goes the full six rounds, whoever is ahead on falls wins.
Blair Davenport vs. Nina Samuels has also been announced for next Thursday’s NXT UK episode. It will be the third match that Davenport (Bea Priestley) has had in NXT UK.
Trent Seven told Jordan Devlin he would drop below 205 lbs and challenge for Devlin’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
Meiko Satomura is coming to NXT UK to challenge Kay Lee Ray for the NXT UK Women’s Championship.
Ben Carter defeated Sam Gradwell.
Sha Samuels defeated Josh Morrell. Samuels was talking to Noam Dar backstage before his match.
Ilja Dragunov couldn’t explain what happened with Jack Starz last week. Sam Gradwell talking trash in the background during Dragunov’s interview may lead to a match between them.
Rampage Brown challenged Joe Coffey to a match down the line.
Pretty Deadly became the number one contenders to the NXT UK Tag Team titles by defeating The Hunt, Ashton Smith & Oliver Carter, and Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster. Pretty Deadly last pinned Andrews after Eddie Dennis attacked Andrews’ knee with a chair from the outside. Pretty Deadly jaw-jacked with Gallus after the match.
Full rundown —
Jordan Devlin in-ring segment
Devlin walked to the ring and talked about his NXT Cruiserweight Championship open challenge. Devlin said he’s the longest-reigning Cruiserweight Champion of all time and that he wants his legacy to be that he was the best wrestler under 205 pounds this company had ever seen.
As Devlin was cutting his promo, Trent Seven’s music played and he walked out with a microphone in hand. Seven had not been seen since the fallout of his loss to A-Kid in the Heritage Cup tournament finals. He agreed that Devlin had beaten all challengers and was cementing his legacy
Seven said that maybe the division needed a new challenger. Seven suggested that he’s going to slim down below 205 pounds and challenge Devlin for the Cruiserweight title once he does. Devlin looked incredulous but said that if Seven could cut what he guessed must be about 30 pounds, then he would indeed defend the Cruiserweight title against him.
Devlin wished Seven good luck and patted his belly as he walked by him, but Seven grabbed Devlin’s wrist and decked him with a hard right that sent Devlin to the mat. Devlin rolled out of the ring, then slid back in to grab his belt, but Seven had put his foot down on top of it.
Seven bowed down to Devlin and told him once more that he would take the title off him.
– Backstage, Eddie Dennis was firing up The Hunt as they prepared for their main event match later tonight.
A new challenger for NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray
A video highlighted Kay Lee Ray’s NXT UK Women’s Championship reign and showed her beating everybody in the division as she talked about her reign getting longer and longer. The screen then cut to a Tweet KLR hat recently sent out that read “Another win. Now give me the best in the world…” Highlights of a woman kicking and beating various wrestlers then aired. The woman was quickly revealed as legendary Japanese wrestler and president of Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling Meiko Satomura (who had been in the 2018 Mae Young Classic and recently signed an NXT UK deal as a player/coach).
She said her name is Meiko Satomura and that many say she is the best wrestler in the world. Clips from the Mae Young Classic, PROGRESS, wXw, and Sendai Girls showed Satomura slaughtering people as a graphic announced that Meiko Satomura is coming to NXT UK.
– Pretty Deadly were shown warming up for the main event.
Ben Carter pinned Sam Gradwell after a frog splash (7:33)
This was a battle of speed vs. brutality with Carter coming back with athletic moves and fast, creative offense from repeated beatdowns.
Gradwell walked out and demanded that they “decrease the volume,” then proceeded to ridicule Carter for wearing “PE pants” and being from Jersey, “a place with more cows than people, that was not even in an atlas.” He also called Carter a “yogurt” and promised to send him back “across the channel in a catamaran.”
Gradwell worked Carter’s arm early, but Carter came back with a number of dropkicks and some lightning-fast offense. Gradwell used his aggressiveness to ground Carter and scored a number of near falls.
Carter eventually sent Gradwell to the outside with a spinning head kick, then hit a dive on Gradwell seconds later before returning to the ring and hitting a somersault plancha to the outside. Gradwell countered a guillotine into a front slam. Carter came back with an impressive looking quebrada into a reverse DDT/elbow drop combo before hitting a beautiful frog splash off the top for the pinfall victory.
– Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster were shown preparing for the main event.
– Sha Samuels was seen talking to Noam Dar backstage and it was announced that Samuels would be in action next.
Sha Samuels submitted Josh Morrell with a Cobra/Camel Clutch (5:12)
This was 95 percent Samuels ragdolling and beating up on Morrell, so unlike in the previous match, the smaller man could not use his agility to his advantage much. Morrell showed some promise, especially with a standing twisting somersault senton, but Samuels quickly stopped any offense.
In the end, Samuels hit a spinebuster and applied a mix between a Cobra and Camel Clutch for the submission win.
– Ilja Dragunov was doing some casual one-armed push-ups as one is wont to do when he was asked about his match with Jack Starz last week. Clips were shown of Dragunov snapping and destroying Starz. Dragunov said he didn’t know what happened and that he didn’t want to hurt Starz. Dragunov said that this hadn’t been the plan and looked bewildered and distracted.
Gradwell mouthed off in the background, as he often does. Dragunov then just walked off. I see a severe beating at the hands of Dragunov in Gradwell’s immediate future.
– Rampage Brown was interviewed backstage as Gallus walked by. Brown was friendly with them and greeted Joe Coffey. Brown told him that they (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) knew what they were doing next, but that Joe may need a challenge. Joe told Brown he might take him up on that.
– A graphic announced that Nina Samuels will face Xia Brookside next week. Jordan Devlin’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship open challenge also returns next week.
Fatal four-way number one contender’s elimination match: Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley) defeated The Hunt (Wild Boar & Primate), Ashton Smith & Oliver Carter, and Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster (22:15)
Andrews and Smith started out and traded offense. Both tagged their partners and Carter and Smith hit their move where Carter somersaults over the top onto Smith’s back and then hits an assisted moonsault. Pretty Deadly blind-tagged in and out until Andrews turned the game on them. Gallus were shown sitting by the entrance eating popcorn and having a good time.
Eventually, Primate and Howley were in and The Hunt hit double German suplexes on both Pretty Deadly members. The Hunt and Andrews & Webster briefly brawled, then took turns beating up on Smith. Smith eventually tagged Andrews and Andrews and Webster cleaned house on the other three teams. Stoker and Andrews ended up on the top turnbuckle, with Smith tagging back in and hitting a super powerbomb on both.
Smith was looking to suplex Howley into the ring when Carter jumped on his back and moonsaulted on everyone on the outside, after which Smith hit a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. A melee broke out with everyone hitting everybody else with a big move. Primate and Smith ended up the legal men and Primate hit a high-angle suplex on Smith. The Hunt set up for their finish, but Andrews pulled Boar out of the ring and Smith and Carter eliminated Primate after an electric chair/cutter combo. (The Hunt eliminated at 12:00)
Smith hit a big gutwrench suplex on Stoker, then had an exciting exchange with both members of Pretty Deadly before tagging in Carter. Stoker hot tagged Andrews, who looked surprised. Andrews and Webster double-teamed Smith and hit a poison rana/kick combo for the pin. (Smith & Carter eliminated at 15:10)
This left Pretty Deadly and Andrews & Webster. Andrews and Pretty Deadly had some awesome exchanges, concluding with a hurricanrana by Andrews on Stoker. Howley attacked Andrews’ previously hurt knee, then managed to get Andrews in a giant swing on his hurt knee. Howley transitioned into a half crab and finally a figure four. Webster made the save and broke up the hold. Andrews hit Stun Dog Millionaire and made the hot tag.
Webster back body dropped Stoker on Howley to the outside and followed with a somersault off the top. As Andrews was getting ready for a dive, Eddie Dennis (who was banned from accompanying The Hunt to ringside for this match) suddenly popped up and hit Andrews in the knee with a chair, then quickly disappeared again.
Pretty Deadly then hit their Hart Attack/neckbreaker finish on Andrews to win the match and become the number one contenders to Gallus’ NXT UK Tag Team titles.
Only Joe Coffey was left in the chairs by the ring, as Mark Coffey and Wolfgang came back out to their music and trash talked Pretty Deadly, who jaw-jacked back and forth with them.
Next week —
Jordan Devlin’s NXT Cruiserweight Championship open challenge
The next challengers for Gallus’ NXT UK Tag Team titles will be determined by a four-way number one contender’s elimination match.
Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley), Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith, The Hunt (Wild Boar & Primate), and Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster will face off in a number one contender’s elimination match on the Thursday, January 28 episode of NXT UK. When the winning team will be getting their title shot hasn’t been revealed.
The number one contender’s match was announced by authority figure Sid Scala on this week’s NXT UK episode.
Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) have been NXT UK Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Andrews & Webster in October 2019. Their most recent title defense was against The Hunt on NXT UK last month. Andrews & Webster interfered and helped cost The Hunt the match. Pretty Deadly then appeared and had a staredown with Gallus. Carter & Smith attacked Pretty Deadly and threw them in the ring for Gallus to lay out.
WWE has confirmed five new additions to the NXT United Kingdom roster.
It was officially announced today that Ilja Rukober (Ilja Dragunov), Kay Lee Ray, Jazzy Gabert, “Primate” Jay Melrose, and Oliver Sauter (Oliver Carter) have signed with WWE for NXT UK. WWE.com noted that the five wrestlers are joining the company’s UK Performance Center in North London.
Dragunov made his NXT UK debut in a dark match at last weekend’s television tapings in Coventry, England. He’s a standout wrestler for wXw and has also appeared for PWG and PROGRESS.
Kay Lee Ray and Gabert were introduced to NXT UK when they were shown in the front row at UK TakeOver: Blackpool last month. Both wrestlers were participants in WWE’s first Mae Young Classic in 2017.
Kay Lee Ray made her NXT UK in-ring debut at last weekend’s tapings, which also featured the debut of former Mae Young Classic entrant Piper Niven (Viper).
Gabert was set to sign with WWE after her appearance in the Mae Young Classic, but a neck injury “disqualified” her from being able to sign then. Gabert underwent neck surgery in January 2018.
Melrose has already wrestled on NXT UK episodes and is part of a team with “Wild Boar” Mike Hitchman.
Carter is from Switzerland and has wrestled for wXw.
