United Kingdom Championship Tournament Night One: Brit-Ish Strong Show
IMG Credit: WWE
United Kingdom Championship Tournament Night One
Date: June 18, 2018
Location: Royal Albert Hall, London, England
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness
While this may be a taped show, it’s certainly something that could be rather interesting. There’s no secret to the fact that WWE wants to expand into the United Kingdom and while they already have a United Kingdom Champion, they need to expand the roster. Therefore, we’ll be seeing a good chunk of a sixteen man tournament with the winner getting a title shot tomorrow night. There are some other matches on the card to fill things out as well. Let’s get to it.
The opening video features NXT UK General Manager Johnny Saint in the empty arena, talking about how he’s wrestled here many times before, but that’s in the past. Now it’s about the title, with the winner of the tournament receiving a title shot tomorrow.
We’ll be starting in the second round so here are the original brackets, with the winners in bold.
Zack Gibson
Amir Jordan
Jack Gallagher
Drew Gulak
Flash Morgan Webster
James Drake
Jordan Devlin
Tyson T-Bone
Joe Coffey
Tucker
Dave Mastiff
Kenny Williams
Travis Banks
Ligero
Ashton Smith
Joseph Conners
United Kingdom Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Jack Gallagher vs. Zack Gibson
Gibson, a bald guy with a beard, is loathed by the crowd. They go straight for the wrist battle and Gallagher bounces out of a headscissors. The fans sing a song that I can’t understand and Gallagher turns into a conductor before being taken down by the arm. That goes nowhere so Gallagher spins him down into a rollup for two, much to the fans’ amusement. Gibson gets serious with a hard clothesline as the chants continue.
We hit a cobra clutch for a bit before Gibson goes with right hands to the face instead. A crossface chickenwing keeps Gibson in control until Gallagher fights up and actually wins a slugout against the much bigger Gibson. Gallagher’s suplex and knee shot get two but he gets caught on the ropes, setting up a middle rope Codebreaker for two. Gibson counters the running corner dropkick into a powerbomb but gets pulled into a triangle choke.
That’s broken up with a toss to the floor so Gallagher slingshots back in, landing with a sleeper on Gibson in a sweet sequence. Gibson makes a rope so Gallagher goes with the running corner dropkick for two more. That’s not cool with Gibson, who sends him shoulder first into the post to cut him down again. Gallagher hits another dropkick but a Swan Dive hits the shoulder, setting up a seated armbar (Shankly Gates) to make Gallagher tap at 13:28.
Rating: B. They were starting to roll with Gallagher as the scrappy face (a role he could use again back in 205 Live) against the rather nasty Gibson with all of the submissions. Gibson won clean here too, which is a smart way to put him over as a big threat around here. That’s the point of putting main roster people in there and it worked quite well.
Video on Joe Coffey, a big guy who can wrestle different styles.
Video on Dave Mastiff, a big guy who can wrestle different styles.
United Kingdom Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Joe Coffey vs. Dave Mastiff
They ram shoulders to start with the much bigger Mastiff getting the better of it. That means a trip to the floor with Mastiff running him over without much trouble. Back in and Coffey gets smart by taking Mastiff down off a double leg. Mastiff forearms him out of the air though and gets two off a running backsplash (kind of sick of that move).
More forearms have Coffey in trouble but he’s able to suplex the rather large Mastiff for an impressive power display. A more impressive belly to belly sets up a bridging German suplex for two but Mastiff grabs a deadlift German suplex for two of his own. A double springboard crossbody of all things puts Mastiff down and a discus lariat gives Coffey the pin at 7:43.
Rating: C+. They made the right call here as Mastiff is huge and athletic, but there’s only so much that he can do against most people. Coffey has a bit better resume and can work against different styles, which is the easier path to take. I could see him going pretty far, as the size is a bonus but not enough to keep people from giving him a good match.
Post match Coffey says he’ll win.
Video on Flash Morgan Webster, who is a little odd and marches to the beat of his own drum.
Video on Jordan Devlin, a student of Finn Balor’s who wants to improve on what he did in last year’s tournament.
United Kingdom Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Flash Morgan Webster vs. Jordan Devlin
Webster is a Mod, meaning he’s inspired by northern England music of the 60s, such as the Who. The cocky Devlin slaps him in the corner to start and you can see Morgan getting a little annoyed. A few armdrags slow Devlin down a bit and an imploding flip splash gets a fast two. Devlin kicks him in the chest to take over and we hit another chant that I can’t understand.
Morgan scores with a running knee in the corner and hits three straight dives, each one over a different rope in a unique idea. Back in and Morgan gets crotched on top (Mauro: “He’ll have his eggs scrambled.”), setting up a super Spanish Fly for a well received near fall. Devlin misses a moonsault though and Morgan scores with a running Sliced Bread for the pin at 7:02.
Rating: C-. I wasn’t feeling this one as Devlin is pretty generic. Morgan at least has a good look and gimmick with the music thing so there’s some potential there. The match wasn’t very long and while it wasn’t bad, neither guy really made me want to see them again. I could go for more of Morgan talking though.
Video on New Zealander Travis Banks, who is trained in a variety of combat.
Video on Ashton Smith, who wants to win the title.
United Kingdom Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Ashton Smith vs. Travis Banks
The announcers get in a debate over whether Smith used to be a football player or a soccer player. They run the ropes to start with Ashton showing off some athleticism until Banks avoids a charge in the corner. A running dropkick to the back gets two on Smith but he’s right back with a middle rope seated senton. Banks is sent outside for a running flip dive (well you knew that was coming) and a superkick gets two back inside. Some hard forearms get Banks out of trouble but Smith gets all fired up and demands more punches to his face. Instead it’s a fisherman’s buster for the pin on Smith at 6:06.
Rating: D+. They kept things fast here and Banks looked impressive, which isn’t the most surprising thing given that he’s the Progress Champion. Smith has a nice look and is athletic enough to look good in there and the match wasn’t bad, but there have been quite a few matches between cruiserweight style guys, which doesn’t do them any favors.
Here are the updated brackets:
Zack Gibson
Flash Morgan Webster
Travis Banks
Joe Coffey
Toni Storm vs. Killer Kelly vs. Isla Dawn
The winner gets a shot at NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler tomorrow night. This was actually a four way to start but another wrestler named Jinny was injured during the match, so the whole thing was restarted. Storm made a big run in the Mae Young Classic, Kelly is a little scary and Dawn is a big Goldust fan. Storm gets double teamed to start and a wheelbarrow DDT gives Dawn two.
That’s enough working together so Dawn runs Kelly over with an elbow for two more. Kelly scores with a suplex on the returning Storm and it’s time for a three way slugout. A hard kick rocks Dawn but Storm kicks Kelly right back. Storm Zero (White Noise onto the knee) gives storm the very fast pin on Dawn at 4:14.
Rating: D. Way too short to mean anything but they did get the winner right. Storm was a big deal in the tournament and it makes a lot of sense to push her over two people who aren’t known to the American fans. There was almost nothing to the match but that’s all you’re going to get in a match that would have been short even by TV standards.
Baszler comes out for the staredown.
Here’s HHH for a big announcement. After saying what a cool building this is (he’s right), he talks about last year’s tournament, which meant so much to British wrestling. Since then, talent like Wolfgang, Trent Seven, Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate and Mark Andrews have turned into international names. The first rounds of the tournament have shown HHH that they’re just scratching the surface. There’s going to be more, and here’s General Manager Johnny Saint to announce the NXT UK brand, which will be featuring women’s and tag team divisions. HHH announces some upcoming dates, with the first coming in July. Are you ready?
United Kingdom Championship Tournament Semifinals: Flash Morgan Webster vs. Zack Gibson
Webster knees him in the face at the bell and slugs away in the corner, followed by a kick to the face. Gibson bails to the face so Webster swings around a post into a headscissors. A missile dropkick gets two back inside, all in the first minute. Gibson gets in an elbow though and stomps Webster in the corner, again much to the fans’ dismay. We hit the cobra clutch as the fans start a “IF YOU HATE GIBSON STAND UP” chant, which draws a rather loud audience to their feet.
Webster slips out of the Shankly Gates and hits something close to a Whisper in the Wind for two. Gibson heads outside again so Webster tries the three dives but the second is countered into Helter Skelter (a spinning suplex) on the floor for a big crash. Fans: “MAMA MIA!” Webster slides back in and gets caught in the Shankly Gates for the tap at 4:19.
Rating: B-. That was a heck of a match for about four and a half minutes. They’re turning Shankly Gates into something, which is rather impressive in just two matches. Webster was impressive looking too, as he showed a bunch of fire to go with the look and character. Gibson is already looking like a star though and that’s the point of something like this.
Aleister Black and Ricochet are here. There are a good amount of empty seats visible during the shot.
United Kingdom Championship Tournament Semifinals: Joe Coffey vs. Travis Banks
Coffey powers him down with a wristlock to start and chops away in the corner. A hard shoulder puts Banks in the corner again and a double underhook giant swing into a butterfly suplex gets two. Coffey puts on a kneeling half crab before switching over to a cross arm choke with some knees to the back.
Banks fights up and fires off some right hands in the corner, only to have Coffey hit a running headbutt to the ribs to cut him off again. A pop up powerslam gives Coffey two but Banks slips out of a suplex and scores with a hard corner dropkick for a near fall of his own. There’s a high crossbody and a quick rolling cradle gives Banks the pin at 9:22.
Rating: C. Banks is playing a good face here but he comes off as a natural heel for some reason. That being said, you have to go against a monster like Coffey as a face, just for how nasty Coffey can come across. I could go for more of Banks and that’s the kind of reaction they seem to be hoping for here.
Post match Coffey beats Banks down and sends him shoulder first into the post.
Undisputed Era vs. British Strong Style
Adam Cole/Roderick Strong/Kyle O’Reilly vs. Tyler Bate/Pete Dunne/Trent Seven. Good reaction for Bate and Seven, great reactions for Dunne. Bate and O’Reilly get things going with Bate slipping out of the cross armbreaker and taking him down with some armdrags. It’s off to Dunne, who threatens to snap Strong’s fingers. Everyone comes in and the Brits hit stereo left hands to the jaw (Nigel: “TRIPLE BOP!”) to take over.
Seven gets pulled into the corner for some triple stomping though and even the British fans love doing the ADAM COLE BAY BAY! The Era takes turns hammering away in the corner on Seven with Strong drawing in Bate and Dunne to keep Seven in trouble. Seven finally knocks Strong away and brings in Dunne off the hot tag to clean house. An X Plex drops Cole onto Strong for two and it’s back to Bate, who suplexes Strong into Cole in the corner.
In one of the most impressive power displays I’ve seen in a very long time, Bate gives Cole the airplane spin and giant swings Strong AT THE SAME TIME. That was nuts. Dunne goes up but dives into a dropkick and O’Reilly tries a triangle choke. That’s broken up as well but the Bitter End is reversed into a guillotine choke (SWEET) but Dunne walks over for a tag to Bate.
Everything breaks down and Bate powerbombs his way out of an armbreaker to put everyone down. The Seven Stars (and this isn’t even in Japan) Lariat gets two on Strong and Dunne dives onto Strong and Cole. Another Seven Star Lariat sets up a dragon suplex/clothesline combination ends O’Reilly at 12:33.
Rating: B+. This was a lot of fun but I’m still trying to get over that airplane spin/giant swing spot. Bate looks like he should still be in high school and is one of the most entertaining wrestlers in the world at the moment. Dunne is on another planet of popularity though and that’s the case both here and in America, which makes him a very valuable asset. It takes a lot to get someone cheered over the Era but the Brits pulled it off here.
Here’s Shawn Michaels, who still looks very weird with short hair, to introduce the finals. After the fans sing his song and beg for one more match (Shawn: “You guys have got to stop that!”), Shawn puts over NXT UK and says he’s scared to come out here and try to follow what we’ve seen. Without much to say, we’re ready for the finals.
United Kingdom Championship Tournament Finals: Zack Gibson vs. Adam Banks
Banks has a taped up shoulder coming in. After some Big Match Intros, they stare each other down to start and Gibson goes straight for the arm. Banks takes him to the mat and they head outside with Gibson working on the arm even more. A whip into the steps bangs up the arm even more and Gibson gets two off a wind up clothesline back inside.
With the regular stuff not working, Gibson stomps on the arm and the referee is asking if Banks wants to continue. A dropkick to the knee cuts a charging Gibson off and there’s a running dropkick to the back of the head. Banks’ running knee gets two (with one arm only on the cover) but Gibson kicks him in the arm. The Ticket to Ride (Tombstone into a pair of knees to the chest) sends Banks outside but he’s able to hit the Slice of Heaven (Disaster Kick) off the barricade.
Back in and Gibson wins a slugout with a hard slap but Banks kicks him in the chest and stomps away. Gibson’s headbutt sets up Shankly Gates, sending the fans into a frenzy until Banks dives for a rope and the break. Gibson heads outside again so Banks hits a running double stomp from the apron. Another Slice of Heaven gets a close two back inside, followed by the fisherman’s buster for an even closer near fall. Gibson is right back up though and the Shankly Gates out of nowhere makes Banks tap at 16:59.
Rating: B+. Heck of a way to close out the night with Banks fighting from behind in a very similar story to the original tournament where Bate fought through the bad shoulder in the finals. Gibson is a fine choice for the win and came off looking like a star from the first match, though I’m not sure they would put him over Dunne for the title.
Post match Gibson offers a handshake but pulls it back. HHH, Shawn and Saint come out, shake Banks’ hand, and pose with Gibson, who is ready to brag but here’s Dunne to stare him down to end the show.
Overall Rating: A-. It’s a great show, but that’s the case with most British wrestling these days. You can tell WWE is putting some effort into the promotion and I hope it becomes something special. I could use some actual stories though and the character development will mean a lot, but at least they have some names out there. Tomorrow will be another good showcase and this worked quite well, especially with so many unknowns. Very solid performance though.
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The saddest thing about both these shows is that Zach Gibson got this monster push but the brass never let him do the one thing he is the best at on the British and Irish indie scene( perhaps the entirety of the indies) which is cut a heel promo. The dude is so good at talking smack while getting real heat because he goes after crowds and babyfaces like no other while not coming off as a cool heel.
But I’m glad to see that he got pushed though.
Flash Morgan Webster is a guy that is all gimmick and babyface comebacks but man he is great at it as well. His style is perfect for WWE if they want to run with him, but the reliance on the gimmick may turn out to be a crutch.
Good observation on Travis Banks. His size and skill level always tricks promoters into pushing him as a babyface but he is a natural heel. He and his tag team partner TK Cooper( together they are the South Pacific Power Trip) are just the best at being slimy jerks. Banks also began his current Progress title run as a conqueror-ing babyface avenging Cooper’s injury getting the belt over a heel Dunne who had sold out to Trips. The babyface power of that push died by Christmas and Progress has been forced to salvage the run by turning Banks heel which works so much better.