Tag: sam gradwell

NXT UK results: Noam Dar vs. Sam Gradwell Heritage Cup match

Posted on by Markus Gronemann

Jordan Devlin defeated Mark Andrews (09:47)

Backstage before the match, Andrews was very upset about something. Flash Morgan Webster came in and told him to focus on his match and they’d sort things out later.

Devlin humiliated Andrews early, but he came back with some innovative offense and eventually slapped Devlin hard across the face. Devlin took back over and attacked Andrews’ back, wearing him down. Andrews eventually hit a tornado DDT, then followed up with an enzuigiri, roll through and double foot stomp to the stomach.

He caught Devlin mid-air and hit a sit-down power bomb for a near-fall. Devlin eventually came back with a slingshot cutter over the top rope and scored a near-fall of his own. Devlin went for the Spanish Fly off the top, but Andrews stopped him and hit a top-rope poison rana followed by a Code Red for a close near-fall.

Andrews hit a shooting star press off the top but Devlin got his knees up, went for a cover and a suplex, but Andrews turned it into a Stun Dog Millionaire. Devlin rolled to ringside, but Andrews hit a moonsault to the outside. Devlin slammed Andrews into the barricades and he narrowly made it back into the ring. Devlin downed him with a head butt, then hit Devlin Inside for the pin and the win.

**********

Sid Scala announced that Pretty Deadly vs. Moustache Mountain II for the Tag Team titles would take place in two weeks

A video recapped Charlie Dempsey attacking Joe Coffey last week, leading to Gallus losing to Teoman and Rohan Raja. They then showed scenes of Dempsey choking out Joe Coffey in the ropes and Dempsey posing with Teoman and Raja. The announcers questioned whether he had joined Teoman’s family.

Gallus then cut a promo, with Joe Coffey saying that now the numbers were even, Dempsey had gotten one lucky shot, but he would now get his head kicked in.

Scenes from earlier in the week showed Sam Gradwell walking out of his hotel room, presumably in the middle of the night due to some party noise. Noam Dar and Sha Samuels were having a wild party and Gradwell complained, then suggested a match. Dar accepted.

Scala was backstage at the arena about to make an announcement when Gradwell walked up to him and complained that the match with Dar was not for the Heritage Cup. Dar and Samuels came up and said that Gradwell had to win some matches before earning a shot. Suddenly, a hand clapped Dar on the shoulder and it was the returning Johnny Saint. He said they’d do whatever Scala wanted and Scala made the match for the Heritage Cup. Scala and Saint then embraced.

**********

Isla Dawn defeated Aleah James (04:20)

Isla Dawn had her box, containing trinkets from various women on the roster, with her.

James controlled Dawn’s wrist early, but then got overwhelmed. She came back with a dropkick, then was pulled into the ropes, killing her momentum. Dawn applied a modified cobra clutch, but James escaped and hit a series of crossbodies. She turned a suplex attempt into a small package for a near-fall.

James ended up on the turnbuckles and Dawn picked her up and hit a fireman’s carry into a side slam for the pinfall victory.

Dawn then grabbed her box, looked creepy and returned James’ headband that she had stolen a while ago.

**********

Sid Scala was in his office when Xia Brookside was hear whining and complaining. She walked in and whined about her title match with Meiko Satomura, which she claimed Scala had promised her. He said he didn’t. She kept shrieking about how her daddy promised to talk to him. He finally gave in and made the match for next week. Brookside then complained some more, saying a week wasn’t enough time to prepare. Scala said next week or not at all. Brookside grumpily agreed and stomped off.

Moustache Mountain and Pretty Deadly both cut promos about their tag team title match in two weeks. Both promised to win.

**********

Jinny defeated Angel Hayze (02:38)

Hayze was already in the ring when Dani Luna’s music played but she didn’t come out. Instead, Jinny came out, said she had taken care of Luna and Flash and Mark would have to live without her for a very long time. She also said that she was handling things on her own now and her business relationship with Joseph Conners was over. She said she was getting her winning streak back on track and Hayze accepted.

Jinny beat down Hayze, then locked in a reverse chinlock. She hit a clothesline, then followed up with the Makeover from the turnbuckles for the quick win.

**********

Nina Samuels tried interviewing Meiko Satomura for her “show.” Meiko was training with Emilia McKenzie and just stared at her. Emilia said they were training and asked Samuels to go away, which she did.

Noam Dar and Sha Samuels crossed out the names of A-Kid and Tyler Bate from the Heritage Cup trophy

**********

A great video aired on the upcoming Ilja Dragunov vs. Rampage Brown match. Dragunov said Brown said he didn’t need his respect, but by beating him to the ground, he showed Ilja the greatest respect he ever could. He said he initially won the title just for himself, but he realized he had a responsibility and that people felt something when they saw him fight. He was a symbol for dedication, for endurance, a symbol to fight like there is no tomorrow.

Brown was in a studio setting. He refused to let somebody put the microphone on him, then demanded they get rid of the light. He sat there in half darkness. He said Ilja wasn’t some kind of golden boy and the fact that he had the title didn’t sit right with him. He said he was the most respected competitor that NXT UK ever signed, but in the end that meant nothing. It didn’t pay his bills or fed him, but the NXT UK title would. He said he wasn’t messing around, would beat Ilja and make him suffer. He then pulled the mic off and said he was done.

Before he left, he looked into the camera and spoke into the small mic one more time, telling Ilja he would smash his face in, take his title and would have all the respect. This was great.

**********

Mark Andrews was backstage near the medical office when he was asked abut his status. He said he was waiting for Flash Morgan Webster, who was getting his shoulder checked out. As Flash came out, Kenny Williams approached and made fun of them, saying the medical office should be called the Subculture dressing room. Andrews got in his face and said it was easy to pick on someone on the sidelines, but he wasn’t injured. Williams backed off, then said Andrews didn’t want to get into a backstage fight with someone like him.

**********

NXT UK Heritage Cup: Noam Dar (c) (w/ Sha Samuels) defeated Sam Gradwell 2-1 in round 4 to retain the Cup (11:56)

Round 1

Dar evaded Gradwell early on. Gradwell eventually got his hands on Dar and threw him around. Dar caught Gradwell’s leg, but he pulled Dar’s head into his knee brace, then hit the fireman’s carry into the sit-out power bomb to score the first pinfall of the match at 2:42 of the round. Gradwell 1-0

Round 2

Dar looked to be out of it and Samuels propped him up in the corner. Gradwell grabbed him, but Dar had been playing possum and rolled him up with a small package. Gradwell threw Dar to the outside, but Samuels interfered, allowing Dar to make it back inside. Dar then drop kicked Gradwell through the ropes. Back in the ring, Dar hit the Nova Roller to pick up a fall at 1:35 of the round. Dar 1-1

Round 3

Dar targeted Gradwell’s knee with dropkicks and kept the bigger man under control, then hit a few hard kicks. Gradwell came back with a double underhook suplex. Dar locked in the super knee bar, then began to unfasten Gradwell’s knee brace. Gradwell made it to the end of the round and was saved by the bell.

Round 4

Gradwell removed his knee brace between rounds and Dar attacked right from he start. Samuels rammed Gradwell’s knee into the apron behind the referee’s back. Gradwell got a near-fall off an STO, then looked to  pick him up but couldn’t. Dar went to the top as Samuels put Gradwell’s foot on the rope for Dar to jump onto. This time, Gradwell played possum and got Dar up for the fireman’s carry. Dar held onto Samuels’ scarf, then rolled up Gradwell, who kicked  out. Dar teased the Nova Roller, but instead locked on the super knee bar when Gradwell covered up. Gradwell tapped at 2:54 of the round, seconds before the bell. Dar wins 2-1

Final thoughts —

A very good show; the opener was fast-paced and full of action. Isla Dawn continues to build her character as some kind of evil witch, while Jinny looks increasingly brutal and ruthless. It’s also interesting that they dropped her pairing with Joseph Conners without much of an explanation.

The main event was good and a fun match with Gradwell looking the best he’s looked since his match with Ilja Dragunov earlier in the year. Dar and Samuels also are an entertaining heel duo.

The interview packages with Ilja Dragunov and Rampage Brown are also well worth going out of your way to look up.

Next week —

  • NXT UK Championship: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Rampage Brown
  • NXT UK Women’s Championship: Meiko Satomura (c) vs. Xia Brookside

In two weeks —

  • NXT UK Tag Team Championship: Pretty Deadly (c) vs. Moustache Mountain

NXT UK results: WALTER-Dragunov revisited, Wolfgang vs. Gradwell

Posted on by Markus Gronemann

Report —

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

**********

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. 

**********

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.

**********

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.

**********

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.

**********

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.

**********

Pretty Deadly cut an entertaining promo, talking about how they would beat Gallus next week, just as they had six months ago.

**********

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 *****ΒΌ 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

NXT UK results: Moustache Mountain vs. Dar & Samuels

Posted on by Markus Gronemann

Report —

Taped at BT Sports Studios in London, England

Joe Coffey defeated Eddie Dennis (08:26)

Coffey punched Dennis out of the ring and attacked him at ringside. Back in the ring, Dennis escaped through the ropes to stop another barrage by Coffey. Dennis came back with a judo throw and kravate. Coffey eventually escaped with a slam, but missed the Glasgow Sendoff into the corner.

Dennis caught a body press by Coffey and hit a slam for a near fall. They traded strikes and Coffey hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, followed by a running shoulder block and an elbow drop for another two count. Dennis caught Coffey on the turnbuckles, then hit the Severed Bridge for a another close near fall.

Coffey came back with a spinebuster and a Boston Crab. T-Bone and Primate ran in and distracted the referee, but Coffey disposed of them. Gallus ran out to brawl with T-Bone and Primate.

Back in the ring, Coffey hit the double-jump reverse body press, Glasgow Sendoff and All the Best for the Bells to pin Dennis.

Coffey got attacked immediately by Primate and T-Bone, but the rest of Gallus made the save and sent Dennis and his thugs packing.

**********

Ilja Dragunov sat at a laptop and watched clips of his match with WALTER, getting an incredulous look on his face as the match progressed. He then watched clips of his matches with Jack Starz, Sam Gradwell and others and how he would snap whenever he got chopped in the neck. His eyes grew bigger as he watched, before the screen faded to black.

**********

Gallus were excited as they came backstage. Joe Coffey encountered Rampage Brown and told him he’d watched him and WALTER and it was tough, as he’d been there himself. He reminded Brown that he had promised him a rematch and told him to give him a call.

**********

Sam Gradwell defeated “Bomber” Dave Mastiff (04:54)

Mastiff quickly backed Gradwell into the ropes and called him a “Yogurt”. They traded hammerlocks, before Gradwell got smacked in the mouth. Mastiff hit a judo roll over Gradwell, then followed with a fireman’s carry roll. Gradwell came back with a knee strike with his knee brace, hurting Mastiff’s back.

Mastiff eventually hit a running crossbody but couldn’t hit his cannonball senton into the corner because of his injured back.

Gradwell seized the opportunity, impressively hoisted Mastiff on his shoulders and hit a Falcon Arrow for the win.

**********

Aoife Valkyrie walked through a city at night and talked about this being her opportunity. She will face Meiko Satomura next week.

**********

A video profiled Emilia McKenzie.

**********

Jinny (w/Joseph Conners) defeated Dani Luna (04:03)

Dani took Jinny down with a waistlock takedown right away. Jinny slapped her, then escaped through the ropes and attacked Dani from behind when she turned away.

Jinny locked on an Iron Octopus but Luna powered out. Jinny locked it on once more from a seated position, but Luna lifted her up and threw her. Luna hit two consecutive rolling gutwrench suplexes, then followed up with another suplex.

They traded strikes and slaps and Dani followed with a running clothesline. Conners got on the apron, which distracted Luna and allowed Jinny to hit a kick to the knee, rolling Liger kick and pin Dani with a La Magistral cradle.

After the match, Jinny stomped away at Dani and locked her in a modified STF as Conners screamed into her face. Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster ran out to make the save.

**********

Sid Scala was asked about the Amir Jordan-Kenny Williams main event from last week when Jordan stormed in and demanded a rematch.

Scala said that Williams was willing to give him a rematch under no DQ rules, but only under the condition that the loser will leave NXT UK.

Jordan was taken aback, but eventually signed the contract and said that nobody would be taking this away from him.

**********

A video aired on newcomer Rohan Raja (Tony Gill, the former Gursinder Singh of the Desi Hit Squad in Impact in 2018/19), who said he was 6’1″, British born, Australian raised, Canadian trained (by Lance Storm, nonetheless). He said he would make his NXT UK debut next week against Teoman.

He said Teoman had been making people tap out but that he does not quit and Teoman would have to bring his A game.

Teoman replied to Raja’s promo, saying he would die for his family and protect them with honor, respect and fear. He reiterated that he was the “Babo” (boss) Teoman.

**********

Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven) defeated Noam Dar & Sha Samuels (12:50)

Dar and Bate started the match. Bate had the early advantage with arm drags before Dar managed to tag in Samuels, who wanted Seven. Seven quickly hit a clothesline and leg drop. Bate was back in and hit a somersault senton, then worked over Samuels’ arm before Dar tagged back in.

Bate had Dar up for the airplane spin, but Samuels blind tagged back in and attacked Bate, who eventually tagged Seven. Dar and Samuels quickly tagged in and out and worked over Seven for several minutes. Seven finally hit a DDT and snap dragon suplex on Dar before finally making the hot tag.

Bate ran wild and hit an exploder on Samuels. Bate hit a Seven-assisted  power bomb on Samuels and went for a bridging pin, but the referee was distracted and Samuels eventually kicked out. Samuels hit a spinebuster on Bate off a slingshot lariat. Seven and Bate hit subsequent dives on both Dar and Samuels.

Bate then hit a double foot stomp of the top into a Burning Hammer by Seven on Samuels and pinned him.

Final thoughts —

A decent show with a good main event.

Dennis vs. Coffey lead to the inevitable six-men tag, which should be a fun, hard-hitting brawl next week.

Jinny vs. Dani Luna also progressed the storyline and we should get some sort of mixed tag team match out of it soon.

Sam Gradwell picked up his first proper win since returning, and looked good in doing so.

The main event was a small redemption story for Trent Seven, who I still suspect will turn on or challenge Tyler Bate if/when he wins the Heritage Cup from A-Kid.

I like how they had short promos building up next week’s Rohan Raja vs. Teoman match, which felt like watching Superstars or Wrestling Challenge when I was a kid.

Next week —

  • Aoife Valkyrie vs. Meiko Satomura
  • Teoman vs. Rohan Raja
  • Gallus vs. Eddie Dennis, Primate & T-Bone

NXT UK results: Ilja Dragunov vs. Sam Gradwell no DQ match

Posted on by Markus Gronemann

Taped at BT Sport Studios in London, England

The Big Takeaways —

Ilja Dragunov won an epic battle over Sam Gradwell as they faced off in a no disqualification match. They did some insane stuff and this was one of the most brutal matches on WWE television in recent memory.

Joseph Conners got revenge on Jack Starz after his mixed tag team loss from a couple of weeks ago, Isla Dawn looked more violent than ever, and the new team of Primate & T-Bone also dominated with brutality.

It was announced that Trent Seven will be in Tyler Bate’s corner for Bate’s NXT UK: Prelude Heritage Cup rules match against Noam Dar in two weeks.

Full Rundown —

Supernova Sessions with Trent Seven

Noam Dar introduced Seven by talking about him being a failure and then asking Seven what it felt like to be a failure. Seven discussed his gruesome preparation for dropping down to cruiserweight. Dar said he liked talking about positive things and asked about how Seven got in shape, mentioning Zumba and other modern fitness regiments as a laugh track played. When Dar called him an outsider, Seven took offense to that and said he was one of the founding fathers of NXT UK.

Sha Samuels walked in and started berating Seven. Dar said that Samuels always has his back, but Seven’s friend Tyler Bate was nowhere to be seen. Samuels said he was always in Dar’s corner. Seven then said he would be in Bate’s corner for the Dar vs. Bate Heritage Cup rules number one contender’s match in two weeks at NXT UK: Prelude.

– A graphic plugged tonight’s Ilja Dragunov vs. Sam Gradwell no DQ match as the main event.

– Sid Scala talked to Joseph Conners and Jinny as they arrived at the building. Scala told Jinny that both she and Piper Niven would be banned from ringside for the match between Conners and Jack Starz tonight. Jinny argued with Scala but begrudgingly accepted the terms when he said it was Johnny Saint’s decision.

– A video looked at last week’s confrontation between WALTER and Rampage Brown. William Regal, Fit Finlay, Robbie Brookside, and Dave Taylor all weighed in on WALTER and Brown’s NXT United Kingdom Championship match that’s taking place at NXT UK: Prelude.

Joseph Conners defeated Jack Starz after hitting a hangman’s neckbreaker (6:51)

Starz pinned Conners a few weeks ago in a mixed tag match where they teamed with Piper Niven and Jinny respectively. The finish of the mixed tag had some controversy, with Niven giving Conners the Piper Driver and throwing Starz on top for the pin.

Starz and Conners felt each other out early here and traded a number of pinning combinations. Starz dropkicked Conners to ringside, then hit a dive onto him. Back inside, Starz hit a crossbody from the top for a two count. Conners took back over and grounded Starz down for a while until Starz countered a suplex.

Starz dominated, then hit an exploder for a very close near fall. Starz went for more pins, but Conners hit a snap DDT. Conners then followed with a hangman’s neckbreaker for the pinfall victory.

– Sam Gradwell was shown warming up backstage.

– Pretty Deadly cut a promo, talking about how they won the NXT UK Tag Team titles and ushered in the era of Pretty Deadly. Pretty Deadly said that their title defense against Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan next week will be the first of many defenses in their never-ending reign.

– Starz came backstage all despondent and apologized to Niven, who cheered him up. Niven said they’ll get right back to training at the NXT UK Performance Center tomorrow. She told Starz that she was proud of him and hugged him to cheer him up.

Primate & T-Bone (w/ Eddie Dennis) defeated Josh Morrell & Danny Jones when Primate pinned Jones after a flying headbutt from the top (6:28)

It seems Tyson T-Bone has lost his first name as he replaces Wild Boar in the team. Primate and T-Bone took out Boar in a backstage vignette two weeks ago at Eddie Dennis’ command (Boar has a legit knee injury, which was the reason for this angle).

T-Bone made quick work of Morrell early on. The heels quickly tagged in and out and T-Bone threw Morrell into his corner to tag. Primate then decimated Jones, again tagging in and out until Jones hit a backstabber and made the hot tag. Morrell got some offense in but was wiped out quickly by Primate. T-Bone sent Morrell to the outside, where Primate worked him over on Dennis’ instructions.

A double hot tag later, Jones quickly found himself on the receiving end of a T-Bone running powerslam, followed by a flying headbutt by Primate for the win.

– Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan worked out in the NXT UK Performance Center and were very confident about their Tag Team title match against Pretty Deadly next week.

Isla Dawn defeated Aleah James after hitting a half-and-half bridging suplex (4:17)

Dawn has been starring in some creepy vignettes lately where she’s read tarot cards, looked into a crystal ball, and had Latin words flash across the screen. Dawn was far more aggressive than in the past in this match.

They traded wristlocks early, then James used a roll-up out of the corner and followed with a dropkick. Dawn quickly dropped her with a head kick and hit a knee lift to the sternum for a near fall. Dawn hit another running knee to the neck, then followed with a Saito suplex. Dawn locked in a double chicken wing submission, but James escaped. James hit a springboard dropkick off the ropes for a near fall of her own.

Dawn dropped James face-first into the top rope off a wheelbarrow roll-up attempt. Dawn then hit a barrage of strikes and a half-and-half bridging suplex to get the win.

– Ilja Dragunov prepared by shadowboxing backstage.

– Nina Samuels was happy that her four weeks of being Xia Brookside’s personal assistant were coming up, but Brookside said there was still some time left and had her clean the men’s bathroom.

– Dawn was backstage, dancing around as if in some kind of trance as eerie music played. NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray walked up to her and told her that if we had seen Dawn show more of that aggressive side early on, maybe she could be in KLR’s position today. Dawn stared at her as the lights flickered, but KLR would have none of that creepy stuff and just walked off.

– A graphic officially announced next week’s NXT UK Tag Team title match between Pretty Deadly and Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan.

No DQ match: Ilja Dragunov defeated Sam Gradwell (14:47)

Gradwell has been provoking Dragunov for the last several weeks, gleefully enjoying it whenever Dragunov snapped. He cut a promo on Dragunov last week, suggesting all kinds of matches he would beat Dragunov in. Dragunov accepted the no DQ one.

Gradwell threw his jacket in Dragunov’s face as he entered the ring and beat him down right away. Dragunov came back with a flying kick that threw Gradwell to ringside. Gradwell grabbed a chair, but Dragunov kicked it into his face. Back in the ring, Gradwell evaded a German suplex attempt with a judo throw but got wiped out with the Konstantin Special. Dragunov followed with a coast-to-coast as Gradwell tried talking him down.

Dragunov struggled to keep his composure at times. He charged at Gradwell on the outside, but Gradwell grabbed the ring bell and hit Dragunov with it. Gradwell whipped Dragunov with a cable, then choked him with it and whiplashed him head-first onto the mats. Gradwell repeatedly hit Dragunov with the edge of a chair and then suplexed him onto the chair for good measure.

Gradwell removed some turnbuckle pads, but Dragunov blocked and hit a few elbow strikes. They battled on the top and Dragunov threw Gradwell off the top face-first. Gradwell threw a turnbuckle pad into Dragunov’s face, then Gradwell shoved Dragunov and he landed on the exposed top turnbuckle. Dragunov was then sent flying into the dasherboards.

Dragunov came back with a clothesline. He went to drop the ring steps onto Gradwell, who begged off and apologized to Dragunov. As Dragunov showed mercy for Gradwell and went to put down the steps, Gradwell hit him with a chair. But Dragunov avoided the next chair shot and dropped Gradwell with two rolling German suplexes onto the mats. Gradwell then ate some more chops and kicks.

Gradwell told Dragunov to stop and mentioned his own son, but he then kicked Dragunov’s leg and hit a Death Valley Driver onto the ring steps. Back in the ring, Gradwell scored a close near fall.

Gradwell got more chairs and piled them in the center of the ring. They traded offense and Dragunov slammed Gradwell’s head into the exposed turnbuckle. Dragunov then hit a backbreaker before putting Gradwell onto the chairs. He went for a top rope senton, but Gradwell moved and Dragunov crashed onto the chairs. Dragunov kicked out of the subsequent cover.

Gradwell went to chop the back of Dragunov’s neck, but he thought better of it as that has sent Dragunov into a frenzy in the past. Gradwell opted for slaps instead but hit one inadvertently on the back of the neck, causing Dragunov to snap.

Dragunov hit a Gotch lift onto the pile of chairs, then ground and pounded Gradwell into oblivion as Gradwell frantically tapped out from the punches. Dragunov narrowly managed to control himself as the referee talked him into stopping.

Final Thoughts —

The main event was insane and probably the most brutal WWE match since WALTER vs. Ilja Dragunov from last year (recognize a pattern there?). Dragunov has such disregard for his own physical health that it is both fascinating and worrisome to watch at times. Sam Gradwell also played his role perfectly here.

It seems like Isla Dawn is being set up for an NXT UK Women’s Championship match against Kay Lee Ray down the line. Primate & T-Bone looked impressive as a team, more like two bar brawlers than wrestlers. They should be on their way to a Tag Team title shot as well, with Eddie Dennis expertly puppeteering them on their path there.

I could see Trent Seven turning against Tyler Bate during NXT UK: Prelude, either during or after the match and somehow costing Bate the win. It might make sense for the older Seven, who could not reach his goals of either winning the Heritage Cup tournament or the NXT Cruiserweight Championship, to finally become jealous of his younger, more successful protege. This would both lead to A-Kid vs. Noam Dar and a hopefully lengthy Bate vs. Seven feud.

One thing that irks me in current NXT/NXT UK storylines is that WALTER will defend the NXT United Kingdom Championship against Tommaso Ciampa at TakeOver Stand & Deliver night one, then WALTER and Rampage Brown’s title match will air on NXT UK: Prelude less than 24 hours later. If WALTER loses to Ciampa, the match on Thursday for the title makes no sense. If WALTER loses to Brown, this show very publicly being taped weeks before the Ciampa match also looks bad. So I guess the only thing that makes sense is that WALTER keeps the title in both matches.

Next Week —

  • NXT UK Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly defend against Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan

NXT UK: Prelude (in two weeks) —

  • NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER defends against Rampage Brown
  • Heritage Cup rules number one contender’s match: Tyler Bate (w/ Trent Seven) vs. Noam Dar (w/ Sha Samuels)

Ilja Dragunov set for no DQ match on next week’s NXT UK

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A no disqualification match will air on NXT UK next week.

WWE has announced that Ilja Dragunov will face Sam Gradwell on NXT UK next Thursday (March 25). Due to the start of daylight savings time affecting the time difference between the United States and United Kingdom, the episode has a special start time of 4 p.m. Eastern time in the US.

Since unsuccessfully challenging for WALTER’s NXT United Kingdom Championship last year, Dragunov has been involved in a storyline where he’s been trying to rebuild himself but has been snapping during his matches. Gradwell has been provoking Dragunov along the way.

Dragunov defeated Gradwell by referee stoppage on NXT UK two weeks ago. Dragunov snapped and continued pummeling Gradwell with strikes after the referee called for the bell. When Dragunov continued to snap and almost attacked a referee, Gradwell laughed at Dragunov and taunted him.

There was a backstage segment on today’s NXT UK episode where Dragunov requested time to speak. Dragunov apologized for his recent actions and said that’s not who he is. Gradwell said Dragunov has been losing his cool like a big, unruly baboon. Gradwell listed all of the types of matches he could defeat Dragunov in. When Gradwell said no DQ match, Dragunov said that’s fine for him.

Also on today’s NXT UK, it was said that Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley) will defend their NXT UK Tag Team titles against Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan on the NXT UK episode that airs in two weeks (Thursday, April 1). This will be Pretty Deadly’s first title defense since becoming NXT UK Tag Team Champions by defeating Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) three weeks ago.

Tyler Bate set for action on next week’s NXT UK

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Tyler Bate is set for action on next week’s episode of NXT UK.

WWE has announced that Bate will face Sam Gradwell on NXT UK next Thursday (January 14). This will be just the second time Bate has wrestled since NXT UK returned with new episodes in September.

Bate returned to WWE television on the December 10 episode of NXT UK and unsuccessfully challenged A-Kid for the Heritage Cup Championship. On this week’s NXT UK, a video aired where Bate reflected on that loss. Bate said the loss provoked painful feelings and uncomfortable energy inside of him, but those moments of pain and discomfort present the opportunity to learn a valuable lesson. Bate said he’s learned that as long as he gives his all and is open to learning from a place of absolute authenticity, he’s liberated from the pain that any match can put in front of him.

Bate quoted Bruce Lee by saying “Be like water, my friend.” Bate said he feels what that means and wants to change the paradigm of his art like Bruce Lee did. Bate noted that he believes professional wrestling chose him as a conduit for some greater good that he doesn’t even know yet. Bate said if he acts out of raw and pure authentic self expression, everything will fall perfectly into place.

When the video ended, Gradwell was shown watching it on his phone. Gradwell asked if it was supposed to be inspirational and said the only yogi he respects is Yogi Bear. Gradwell said being like water is terrible advice.

Next week’s NXT UK episode will be headlined by WALTER defending his NXT UK Championship against A-Kid.