The Intercontinental Championship will be on the line on next week’s WWE SmackDown.
Ricochet will defend the title on television for the first time since April 22, facing Gunther. The match was announced during this week’s SmackDown episode.
Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser defeated Ricochet and Drew Gulak in a tag team bout on the May 27 SmackDown, then the title match was made official this week.
Ricochet defeated Sami Zayn to win the Intercontinental title on the March 4 SmackDown episode.
Also announced for next week’s show, Max Dupri will reveal the first client of his Maximum Male Models stable. Dupri has been aligned with Mansoor and Mace in dark segments at SmackDown tapings in recent weeks.
Also set for next week, Lacey Evans will return to the ring for the first time in over a year, facing an unnamed opponent.
Here is next week’s lineup:
WWE SmackDown, Friday, June 10 —
Intercontinental Championship: Ricochet (c) vs. Gunther
Lacey Evans in action
Max Dupri debuts the first Maximum Male Models client
Denise is back from Dallas, Texas and is ready to kick off the week on F4WOnline with her weekly recap of WWE NXT 2.0. This show includes a lot of interesting topics including Gunther vs. Bron Breakker and more. A fun post show you don’t want to miss!
In an interview with Wrestling Inc over WrestleMania week, Gunther addressed his recent name change.
It was revealed on an episode of NXT this January that the former WALTER was changing his in-ring name to Gunther. When asked how the backlash to the name change affected him, Gunther said that it didn’t.
“Not at all to be honest,” Gunther told Wrestling Inc. “If it would be the other way around, if it would have been Gunther before and WALTER now, it would have been the same uproar. A lot of people react negative to change. But change is normal in life, and it’s part of it, and you’ve got to go with it.”
Now based in the United States, Gunther has recently displayed a slimmed down physique. Wrestling Inc asked Gunther what he’s been doing to get in shape.
“I guess eat less,” Gunther said. “I always worked out a lot, but I would say for the first time, I have really focused on nutrition. Those two guys [Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner] really pushed me. I’ve got to say, when I was a wrestling fan, I always liked the look of those solid heavyweights in Japan who had a little bit of a gut carrying around, just brawlers and stuff like that. But, at the end of the day, you’ve got to go with the times and evolve a little bit. And that’s what I did.”
Gunther defeated LA Knight at NXT Stand & Deliver this past Saturday. His Imperium stablemates Barthel & Aichner lost the NXT Tag Team titles to MSK in a triple threat tag team match that also included The Creed Brothers.
Among the items up for discussion on today’s Wrestling Weekly are mandatory wardrobe upgrades for coaches in WWE NXT, Sami Zayn staying in WWE while Mustafa Ali wishes he could leave, WALTER/Gunther, and some observations from this week’s episodes of NXT and AEW Dynamite.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including best wishes for Konnan, WWE already abandoned GUNTER STARK in case you want to pick up the trademark, AEW Dynamite recap from Wednesday night, all the news and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
WWE has abandoned their trademark filing for the controversial name Gunther Stark.
PWInsider first reported the news Thursday, saying they abandoned their registration on Wednesday.
WWE was planning on using the name for NXT star WALTER, but instead, he is simply going by Gunther which he announced to the world on Tuesday’s NXT show.
The assumed reason for the abandoned trademark first filed on January 13th with the United States Patent and Trademark Office was the realization that the name was also shared with a Nazi U-Boat commander in World War II. When news of the trademark registration first came to light, fans Googled the name and brought it to light on social media.
WWE never released any statement regarding the name despite the online controversy.
The 34-year-old WALTER recently wrapped up his run in WWE NXT UK and is making his presence felt full time with Imperium in NXT.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including, yes, WWE NAMING WALTER AFTER A NAZI, the two sides of the story after talking to a bunch of people, and more. Then, Adam Abdalla joins us to talk GCW’s PPV this weekend with MOXLEY vs. HOMICIDE in the main event. A fun show as always so check it out!~!
WALTER revealed that he has a new in-ring name after defeating Roderick Strong last night.
With WALTER now based in the United States full time, he faced off with Strong in the main event of last night’s NXT. He pinned Strong after hitting a powerbomb.
WALTER got on the microphone after the match and declared that he’s now Gunther. Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner then hit the ring to help WALTER beat down Strong. Strong’s Diamond Mine stablemates Julius & Brutus Creed ran out to make the save and brawled with Imperium as the show went off the air.
WWE had filed a trademark for the name “Gunther Stark” on January 13. A Google search shows that there was also a Nazi U-boat commander during World War II with that name.
The 2022 men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic also kicked off last night with The Creed Brothers defeating Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen and Malik Blade & Edris Enofe defeating Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde.
The winner of the men’s Dusty Classic will challenge Barthel & Aichner for the NXT Tag Team titles.
Join on-air personality Denise Salcedo as she reviews this very interesting episode of WWE NXT 2.0! It includes a a big name change that has the wrestling world talking.
The end of NXT saw WALTER announcing a new name for himself.
WALTER announced himself as Gunther after defeating Roderick Strong on tonight’s NXT with an air raid cash and a power bomb. After WALTER announced the name change, Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel ran in and attacked Strong. The Creed Brothers then ran in and the teams brawled to end the show.
On January 13, WWE filed a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the name Gunther Stark. That is also the name of a Nazi military commander during World War II who died after his vessel sunk in the English Channel in 1944. The last name was not mentioned on tonight’s show.
WALTER made the move to NXT from NXT UK earlier this month, returning to team with his Imperium stablemates Aichner and Barthel, losing to MSK and Riddle at NXT New Year’s Evil on January 4.
With WALTER now stateside, he’s set for a big matchup on tonight’s NXT.
WALTER will go one-on-one with Roderick Strong tonight. The match was made after WALTER got into a confrontation with Diamond Mine manager Malcolm Bivens.
Strong stepped in to defend Bivens and said he’s the only person in NXT that isn’t afraid of WALTER. Bivens had insulted Imperium and said The Creed Brothers would take Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner’s NXT Tag Team titles after winning the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
The men’s Dusty Classic kicks off with two first-round matches tonight. The Creed Brothers will take on Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen, while Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde take on Malik Blade & Edris Enofe.
After defeating Pete Dunne in their crowbar on a pole match last week, Tony D’Angelo will “conduct a memorial service” for Dunne tonight. Plus, Kay Lee Ray faces Ivy Nile and Dante Chen returns to action.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens with LA Knight arriving to the building like he was a mix of The Rock and Stone Cold on an episode of Raw in 2000. Knight heads straight to the ring, as he has “business” he must attend to.
Knight is playing the role of a kickass babyface. He quiets the crowd only to start doing call and response with them. Knight then calls out Grayson Waller.
Knight cuts a promo on Waller until Waller enters the scene. Waller has an envelope that he says contains a restraining order, so Knight cannot touch him.
Waller slid the envelope in the ring, so Knight is in effect being served in a legal sense. Not sure it really works like that, but there is a poetic license and whatnot. More of that to come.
They also both took their shirts off, signaling they were both prepared for combat. Too bad a silly angle gets in their way.
Apparently prepared for tomfoolery, Knight has a swerve in store for Waller. Knight acknowledges the restraining order, but Knight pitches to someone that Waller does not have legal sanctions against.
Cue the Dexter Lumis theme song. Lumis crawls on the floor to surprise Waller by sneaking behind him. Lumis tries to grab Waller, but Waller escapes for the moment.
Knight tells Waller he has two choices: either lift the restraining order and face Knight, or Waller gets put to sleep by Lumis. Not sure how well all this would actually hold up in court.
Waller during the commercial break make a choice to face Lumis in a wrestling match instead of lifting the restraining order.
Grayson Waller defeats Dexter Lumis
Waller pins Lumis after outside interference.
Lumis with the advantage, until the show cuts to a commercial break. Waller counters Lumis, and Waller hit Lumis with a lariat at ringside as the show goes to the break.
Waller grounds Lumis on the mat during the break. Lumis begins a comeback as the show returns from the break. Lumis rallies and the crowd responds with cheers.
He fight spills outside the ring, and Waller cuts off Lumis. Waller rams Lumis into the barricade, and Waller gets back into the ring to distract the referee. Meanwhile, dastardly antics are afoot.
A unnamed man that kind of looks like Bruiser Brody in a dress suit suddenly enters the ringside area. He grabs Lumis, and the unnamed man assaults Lumis. The large man sends Lumis crashing into the ring post.
Back in the ring, Waller then delivers a stunner. Waller covers Lumis for a three count, and Waller steals one with some help.
By the way, the ring ropes in NXT are now blue for what it is worth.
An angle from “this past weekend” saw Roderick Strong stick up for Malcolm Bivens when WALTER tries to bully Bivens. This sets up a match for later tonight.
A music video hypes the begging of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde of Legado del Fantasma confront MSK in a backstage skit. Legado del Fantasma vow to defeat MSK, and then go on to win the Dusty Cup.
The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed with Malcolm Bivens) defeat Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen to a Dusty Classic quarterfinal
Creed Brothers advance in the tournament after Jensen takes a clean pinfall.
Much like the opening match, the babyfaces were in control on offense early in the match. Briggs & Jensen wrestle like they are hosses, fitting their country boy gimmick.
Creed Brothers work together to turn the tide, and they work over Jensen. Misstep by a Creed, which leads to a hot tag. Bump and feed as Briggs clean house.
Briggs with a chokeslam for a near fall, but the pin is broken up. In the meantime, Briggs gets smashed into the barricade, denting the metal frame.
Creed Bros. with double team moves. Jensen is hoisted into the air with a suplex, placed in a torture rack positon, and then Jensen gets slammed to the mat. A clothesline levels Jensen, and he is pinned by a Creed.
The Creed Brothers and Diamond Mine are moving on in the tag team tournament. Creed Bros. will go on to face the winners of a match between Grizzled Young Veterans and Chase University.
A great vignette hypes Dante Chan ahead of his showcase match coming up. Chan makes a long awaited return tonight.
Imperium in a backstage skit cut a promo.
Dante Chan vs. Guru Raaj goes to a no contest
Chan and Raaj were just starting to cook when Duke Hudson hops the barricade. Chan had just leapt over the ropes with plancha when Hudson attacks him.
Hudson boots Chan. Hudson then sends Raaj crashing into the ring steps. The match is thrown out as a bunch of officials peel an enraged Hudson off Chan.
Hudson screams that he is back. Hudson in turn has ruined the return of someone else to make a statement.
McKenzie Mitchell interviews NXT Champion Bron Breakker. Elektra Lopez and Santos Escobar interrupt to confront Breakker. Escobar appears to be the Breakker’s first challenger.
Tony D’Angelo hosts a memorial service for Pete Dunne
D’Angelo is in the ring with a casket. He keeps referring to Dunne as “Petey Poppings” as the so-called service begins.
Tony D waxes for a moment before saying he needs to add gold to his collection.
D’Angelo says he has his sights set on the NXT North American Championship.
North American Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams interrupt, and they appear on a perch above the ring.
Trick and Tony D go back and forth on the mic for a moment. Hayes then threatens D’Angelo, and he tells D’Angelo to give Hayes’ name of of his mouth.
Out comes Cameron Grimes to join the party. The crowd chants “to the moon” as Grimes addresses Hayes and Williams. Grimes says he already challenged the North American Champion.
Hayes suggest D’Angelo and Grimes have a match to decide the next contender. Grimes agrees to the match. D’Angelo tries to sucker punches Grimes, but Grimes counters. Grimes then smashes a framed picture of Pete Dunne over the head of D’Angelo.
Backstage in the locker room, Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter approach Briggs and Jensen. The women invite the guys out for drinks. Wendy Choo is napping on top of the lockers. She chimes in to embarrass Briggs, who apparently has a crush on Carter. They are still on for drinks later, but Briggs is totally embarrassed. This was a bad sitcome sketch.
A vignette hypes the team of Yulisa Leon and Valentina Feroz.
Dakota Kai interrupts a backstage interview with Leon and Feroz. This leads to a match later on, but this skit was not good.
Ivy Nile (with Malcolm Bivens) defeats Kay Lee Ray
Nile pins KLR after interference by NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose. Huge brawl after the match.
They trade grappling holds at the start, and then they trade strikes. Nile fires up on KLR after reserving a suplex. Enzuigiri by Nile for a two count.
Nile grounds KLR with a head scissors. KLR escapes, and she fights back. Gordbuster by KLR for two. They go to trade near falls. Nile gets two after a modified DDT where Nile uses her legs.
Mandy Rose appears at ringside, and NXT Women’s Champion jumps on the apron to cause a distraction. KLR swipes at Rose, but the distracted KLR cannot complete her finisher.
KLR hoists Nile for a Gory Bomb, but Nile counters cradle KLR for a three count.
Rose jumps into the ring after the match, and she attacks KLR. Rose brawls with KLR. Gigi Dolan and Jacy Jayne of Toxic Attraction slide into the ring. They proceed to jump KLR.
Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta run in to even the odds. Huge melee erupts. The babyfaces clear the ring, and the heels are left scrambling away. This would appear to set by a trios match.
Harland apparently attacks Odyssey Jones in the training room. Jones already has an injured leg, and Harland targeted the leg.
Sarray is getting a gimmick makeover. A vignette reintroduced her to the audience. Sarray is returning from Japan with a renewed passion. She found a necklace that her grandmother gave her. Sarray also now dresses like a nerd, or that appears to be the gimmick.
Malik Blade & Edris Enofe defeat Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde with Elektra Lopez & Santos) in Dusty Classic quarterfinal
Supposed to be a bracket buster, Blade & Enofe win an upset victory to advance. However, the win is far from clean. There are shenanigans.
The interference of Escobar backfires on Legado del Fantasmam, thanks in part to Bron Breakker.
Fairly basic WWE-style tag match. Heels shine up the babyfaces for a comeback.
Escobar trips Blade. Escobar then hops on the apron, hoping to cause more distraction. Breakker comes to ringside, puts Escobar over his shoulder, and Breakker carries Escobar away.
Distracted what was going on at ringside, Wilde is rolled up by Blade with an O’Connor Roll. Blade scores the upset three count.
Blade & Enofe advance to the semifinals where they face the winners of MSK against Jacket Time.
Malcolm Bivens cuts a promo hyping tonight’s main event.
Solo Sikoa is scarred from a fireball, so he plans war with Boa in a match next week.
Dakota Kai defeats Yulisa Leon (with Valentina Feroz)
Kai pins Leon after hitting a face wash. This was probably a match that should not have been on national television, but this is what developmental is now.
Leon has a lot of talent, but too bad she lost clean. Heck of way to get over a new character. Kai tries to also attack Feroz, but Leon pulls her partner out of the ring.
Raquel Gonzalez was being interviewed backstage when Cora Jade confronts Gonzalez. Jade wants to team with Gonzalez in the Dusty Classic, but Gonzalez scoffs. Gonzalez storms off, but Jade says she will convince her eventually.
Announced for next Tuesday on NXT:
No DQ Falls Count Anywhere: Solo Sikoa vs. Boa
Cameron Grimes against Tony D’Angelo in a match to decide the next challenger for the North American Championship
The trio of Toxic Attraction against Indi Hartwell, Persia Pirotta & Kay Lee Ray in a six-woman tag team match
Dusty Classic first-round match: MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) vs. Jacket Time (Kushida & Ikemen Jiro)
Dusty Classic first round match: The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) vs. Chase University (Andre Chase & Bodhi Hayward)
Special musical performance from OllieJayy
WALTER defeats Roderick Strong (with Malcolm Bivens)
WALTER pins Strong in a banger. Easily the best match on the show by far.
WALTER was made to look like a monster heel, and he announces himself as a different name after the match.
This match is David vs. Goliath, except Goliath handily wins in the end.
Strong is flustered at the start, and he seeks refuge in the ropes. Undaunted, WALTER ties up Strong in a hold.
WALTER chops Strong, and Strong begs off by again seeking refuge in the ropes.
Strong fights back until he tries to trade chops with WALTER, who mows down Strong with a single chop.
WALTER drops Strong with more strikes when Strong again tries to fight back.
Bivens causes a distraction, and he finds himself in the clutches of WALTER. Bivens is pummeled by Walter, until Strong hits WALTER with a chop block in a sneak attack.
Strong tries to follow up with a wrecking ball dropkick, but WALTER is waiting for him. WALTER catches Strong, and then WALTER gives Strong a back suplex on the apron.
The match goes through a commercial break. WALTER continues to punish Strong as WALTER grounds him on the mat.
Strong with a comeback after the show returns from the break. Strongs land a missile dropkick, yet Strong is unable to lift WALTER for the Olympic Slam.
WALTER applies a sleeper hold. Strong counters with a jawjacker, but WALTER reapplies the sleeper. Strong escapes nonetheless.
Strong with a flurry of strikes, but WALTER swats Strong with a single blow that took Strong off the feet.
Strong with a superplex on WALTER for a close near fall. Slugfest soon develops, and Strong with a barrage of strikes on WALTER. Strong knocks WALTER off his feet with a dropkick. Two and a half count for Strong on a another near fall.
Strong attempts to apply the Stronghold, but WALTER counters to again chop down Strong. They go on to counter each other. WALTER soon gives Strong a powerbomb from the heavens, and WALTER covers Strong for the deciding pinfall.
“The winner of this match is Gunther,” declares WALTER (or now it’s Gunther I guess).
Huge pull-apart brawl after the match with Imperium fighting with Diamond Mine as the show goes off the air.
WALTER is set to collide with one of the top in-ring wrestlers in NXT.
WWE has announced that WALTER will face Roderick Strong on NXT this Tuesday night. The match was set up by a confrontation between WALTER and Diamond Mine manager Malcolm Bivens.
Bivens said The Creed Brothers are going to win the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and then move on to taking the NXT Tag Team titles from WALTER’s Imperium stablemates Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner. As Bivens was about to call Imperium “a bunch of bitches,” WALTER confronted him and shoved him against a locker. Strong then stepped in and told WALTER to put Bivens down. Strong said he’s the only person in NXT who isn’t afraid of WALTER.
WALTER is now stateside after having his NXT UK farewell match. He defeated Nathan Frazer on the NXT UK episode that aired last Thursday.
WALTER was also in action at NXT New Year’s Evil earlier this month, teaming with Barthel & Aichner in a loss to Riddle & MSK.
Strong was NXT Cruiserweight Champion going into New Year’s Evil but lost a title unification match to NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes. Hayes is now just being recognized as the North American Champion.
WWE has also announced that Tony D’Angelo will “conduct a memorial service” for Pete Dunne on NXT this Tuesday. D’Angelo defeated Dunne in a crowbar on a pole match last week.
Plus, this Tuesday’s NXT will feature the start of the men’s Dusty Classic tournament.
On this week’s Wrestling Weekly, Les Thatcher and I look over an email he received from a wrestler and trainer who shared their thoughts on AEW Dynamite.
We also chime in with our takes on that show as well as NXT (including an idea for WALTER now that he is a part of the brand), the Raw Women’s title picture, and Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley.
NXT UK #1 contender’s tournament, first round: Dave Mastiff & Jack Starz defeated Die Familie (Teoman & Rohan Raja) (w/ Charlie Dempsey) (09:23)
Die Familie had a new graphic and new, opera-themed entrance music.
Starz and Raja started with Starz getting the better of their early exchanges. Mastiff was in next and downed both opponents before Starz and Teoman squared off. Mastiff was back in with a senton, after which Starz hit a rope-assisted splash on the head of the family.
Dempsey pulled Teoman to safety shortly after and distracted the referee, allowing Teoman and Raja to double-team Starz on the outside. Back in the ring, Teoman followed with a missile dropkick to the back of Starz’ head. The heels double-teamed Starz some more, bringing him to the brink of defeat.
Starz finally made the hot tag and Mastiff ran wild on both men, then hit a rolling fireman’s carry on Raja before hitting a senton, that also doubled as a dropkick on Teoman. The referee was preoccupied with getting Teoman out of the ring though and thus missed the pin.
Dempsey meanwhile pulled Starz off the apron, but Joe Coffey suddenly hopped the ringside barrier to confront him. The rest of Gallus came out from the back and confronted Dempsey and Teoman, allowing Mastiff to hit a German suplex on Raja to score the pinfall victory.
Gallus and die Familie brawled at ringside, with Gallus getting the better of things.
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– A video highlighted last week’s match between Blair Davenport and Meiko Satomura, including Davenport attacking Satomura after the match
– A video highlighted the feud between Ilja Dragunov and Jordan Devlin; their title match will take place in two weeks
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Amale defeated Stevie Turner (03:59)
Jinny was on commentary for this match, running down both women.
Amale hit strikes early on, sending Turner to ringside. Back in the ring, Amale hit a bulldog but missed a running kick in the corner. Turner took over and hit some ground and pound.
Stevie locked in a standing armbar and pulled Amale’s hair, then hit a running kick as she was in the ropes and scored a near-fall off it. Amale came back with a bodyslam, shotgun dropkick and running kick into the corner.
Amale then hit the Hopebreaker to score the win. Jinny on commentary said someone needed to crush Amale’s hope.
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– Pretty Deadly complained to Sid Scala about Sam Gradwell calling them stupid last week. Scala proposed a tag team match for next week, Pretty Deadly vs. Sam Gradwell and a partner of his choosing. Pretty Deadly were elated, claiming Gradwell had no friends and that it would be a handicap match.
– A-Kid and Noam Dar talked about their upcoming NXT UK Heritage Cup match. Dar said he wanted to get revenge for A-Kid beating him in the original Heritage Cup tournament. A-Kid said winning the cup changed his life and he wasn’t sure if he could come back, if he lost to Dar. The match takes place next week.
– Amale was interviewed about her victory over Stevie Turner. Jinny walked in and called her weak and pathetic, causing Amale to snap, attack and berate her in French. Officials rushed to separate the two women.
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WALTER defeated Nathan Frazer (14:01)
This was called “WALTER’s Last Stand”, his final match in NXT UK before he makes the U.S. his primary area of work.
Frazer looked intimidated before the match. After some feeling out, WALTER slapped on a headlock and launched Frazer halfway across the ring. WALTER threw Frazer by the arm, then locked on a wrist lock and an arm bar.
Fraszer hit a dropkick, then went for guillotine, but WALTER picked him up and placed him on the apron. Frazer came back, but quickly found himself stretched over the top turnbuckle with WALTER raining down blows on him.
WALTER toyed with his smaller opponent, before downing him with a bodyslam. Frazer missed a quebrada, allowing WALTER to slap on a sleeper hold. Frazer escaped, then hit some leg kicks and a flying forearm that sent WALTER staggering. He followed with a running crossbody before WALTER downed him once more with a big boot.
WALTER applied a standing surfboard submission, which Frazer eventually escaped. WALTER took right back over, punishing Frazer for his insolence.
Frazer hit some chops and kicks, before WALTER hit a hard slap. Frazer turned a powerbomb into a hurricanrana and cradled WALTER for a near fall. WALTER came back with forearms across Frazer’s chest, as he was bent over the ropes, then locked on a sleeper hold.
Frazer escaped, then downed WALTER and hit a running shooting star press for a two-count. WALTER hit another big boot, but Frazer turned the second powerbomb attempt into a Destroyer for another two count.
Frazer hit two superkicks, then hit a quebrada into a reverse DDT, prompting WALTER to roll tor ringside. Frazer followed with a dive, got caught but still managed to escape and hit another superkick on the outside.
WALTER made it back into the ring by 8, but Frazer attacked his leg with more kicks. WALTER was limping, but managed to down Frazer with a right cross. Frazer came back, further attacking the leg, then hit an enzuigiri from the apron. WALTER chopped him out of mid-air off a springboard move.
WALTER went for another powerbomb, but his leg buckled. Frazer hit another superkick, a curb stomp (like his trainer, Seth Rollins), then followed with a frog splash for another two count.
Frazer went for a moonsault, but WALTER clipped his leg from behind, then finally hit a devastating powerbomb to score the pinfall victory in his final match on NXT UK.
WALTER stood tall as the show closed, while Frazer groggily hung in the ropes.
This certainly is the end of an era for NXT UK.
Final thoughts —
A great show with a fun tag match and a hard-fought women’s match.
This was a great send off to WALTER, who goes on to bigger and (hopefully) better things in the U.S.
For anybody looking to get another WALTER fix, also check out his awesome match against current PROGRESS champion Cara Noir from wXw’s 21st Anniversary show in Germany, which was just added to the WWE Network/Peacock. I attended that show live and the match is an absolute treat.
Next week —
NXT UK Heritage Cup: Noam Dar (c) vs. A-Kid
Pretty Deadly vs. Sam Gradwell & a partner of his choosing
In two weeks —
NXT UK Championship: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Jordan Devlin
