NXT UK – October 7, 2021: It’s Finally Done

NXT UK
Date: October 7, 2021
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Andy Shepherd, Nigel McGuinness

Things are about to change again in a good way as the fans are going to be returning to the show rather soon. The taping has already taken place and now we get to see just how the show can work with an audience. As for tonight, it is FINALLY the end of the Heritage Cup #1 contenders tournament as Noam Dar faces Wolfgang. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of the tournament to get us to the finals.

Opening sequence.

Jinny vs. Emilia McKenzie

Joseph Conners is here with Jinny. They fight over wrist control to start until Jinny flips her over for two. A front facelock has Jinny in some trouble but she reverses into a leg crank and elbows at the head. McKenzie is back up with a dropkick and fisherman’s neckbreaker but can’t grab a German suplex. Instead Jinny twists her down by the arm and puts on an Iron Octopus for the always cool sounding hold. Now it’s off to a half crab, with Jinny letting go to stomp away before a rope can be grabbed.

Back up and McKenzie wins a slugout and snaps off a cutter for a much needed breather. A belly to back gets two on Jinny but Conners offers a distraction. Cue Meiko Satomura to kick him in the head (while still holding her title) so McKenzie can Angel’s Wings Jinny for two. Back up and McKenzie charges into an elbow to the face, setting up a Liger Kick to give Jinny the pin at 7:30.

Rating: C. I’m a bit surprised by the loss as I would have bet on McKenzie being the next challenger for Satomura. That being said, Jinny does make a lot of sense of her own as she has been the top heel in the division since Kay Lee Ray left. I’m not sure how much of a threat she would be to Satomura once the bell rang, but this is what makes the most sense.

Post match Jinny says she beat McKenzie and issues the challenge for the title match. Satomura holds up the title and I think we have a deal.

Blair Davenport storms into Sid Scala’s office, where she is told she’s back next week. This isn’t because of her actions, but because Stevie Turner wants to face her. Just don’t be all evil again. Davenport says she gets what she wants.

A-Kid is ready for Ilja Dragunov.

Mark Andrews vs. Sam Gradwell

This seems to be over Gradwell’s issues with riding skateboards. Gradwell cranks on the arm to start, which is countered with an armdrag into an armbar. That’s broken up and they head outside, with Gradwell sending him flying without much trouble. Back in and Gradwell says “come on skater boy” before hitting him in the back of the head for two. Knuckles to the ribs and a right hand to the face have Andrews in more trouble but he gets in a kick to the head. Gradwell pulls him off the ropes for two though and it’s off to the chinlock.

Back up and Gradwell tries to pull him off the ropes again but this time Andrews counters into a middle rope DDT. A double stomp to the back gives Andrews two but Gradwell is back with a discus forearm for the same. Another chinlock doesn’t last that long as Andrews is back up with the Stundog Millionaire. That sends Gradwell outside though, allowing Andrews to moonsault down onto him for the crash. Back in and Andrews tries a springboard but lands in a fireman’s carry for a Samoa driver to give Gradwell the pin at 8:47.

Rating: C+. This got going near the end and it’s nice to see Gradwell getting some focus as he has done quite well in recent months. I’m not convinced he is going to go anywhere but I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him lately. They had a nice match here and that’s about all you can expect out of a midcard match like this.

Flash Morgan Webster slaps Sha Samuels in the face and runs off. Sounds like a match for next week.

Ilja Dragunov is ready for A-Kid.

Heritage Cup #1 Contenders Tournament Finals: Noam Dar vs. Wolfgang

The rest of Gallus and Sha Samuels are here too. Round one begins with Dar getting powered against the ropes and telling Gradwell to bring it. Dar tries to drop down but gets lifted up, allowing Wolfgang to grab a headlock. Wolfgang gets taken into the corner for some arm cranking but pulls Dar up for a powerbomb attempt as the round ends.

Round two begins with Dar kicking him in the face for one but Wolfgang is right back up to hammer away in the corner. A top rope ax handle drops Dar, only to have Jordan Devlin come out to jump Gallus. The distraction lets Dar grab a rollup with tights for the first fall at 1:27 of the round and 5:02 total. Round three begins with Wolfgang hitting a spear to tie it up at 6 seconds of the round and 5:42 total.

Round four begins with Dar having to pull himself up in the corner so Wolfgang whips him hard into another corner. The threat of another spear sends Dar bailing to the floor, where Samuels offers a distraction to give Dar a breather. Back in and Dar goes after the arm again, including kicking Wolfgang’s arm out to the floor. Dar tries to get away but eventually kicks the post by mistake as the round ends.

Round five begins with Dar stomping away in the corner, setting up a running boot to the face. Wolfgang manages a backbreaker for two but gets pulled down into the ankle lock. That’s broken up as Wolfgang gets to his feet and hammers away until Dar kicks him in the head. The Nova Roller is countered with a spear for a very close two as the round ends. That means it’s time for overtime and round six begins Dar striking away until Wolfgang snaps off a suplex.

Wolfgang misses a charge and gets kicked in the leg though, setting up a top rope knee to Wolfgang’s knee. Back up and Wolfgang blasts him with a clothesline for two but Dar is back with the Nova Roller. Wolfgang pops back up before the cover so it’s another Nova Roller to give Dar the pin and the tournament at 2:20 of the sixth round and 15:51 overall.

Rating: B. This took some time to get going but they hit a nice roll near the end. If nothing else, it is nice to see the tournament finally wrapping up and Dar is one of the best choices you could have for the winner. Wolfgang got a lot out of the tournament and he can move up the ladder a bit as well. Good final, but it took so long to get here.

Tyler Bate comes out for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Good show here and that isn’t much of a surprise. If nothing else, it is a nice feeling to have the tournament over. I’m not sure how the title match is going to go, but after so much time to get here, the interest might not be the highest. The rest of the show worked rather well too and now we get to see how much better the fans are going to help the show. Nice job this week, as stuff happened.

 

 

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