NXT UK – July 7, 2022: They’re Getting Closer
NXT UK
Date: July 7, 2022
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd
Things need to pick up a bit around here and unfortunately that has been the case for a little while now. Between the influx of NXT stars and nothing major happening for a few weeks now, it hasn’t been the most exciting place. Maybe that can be changed this week as Kenny Williams faces Tiger Turan. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Opening sequence.
Kenny Williams vs. Tiger Turan
Williams charges at him before the bell but settles for a lockup once we get going. That earns him an armbar from Turan without much effort, followed by a running shoulder for the knockdown. Turan goes back to the arm before dropkicking a frustrated Williams out to the floor. Back in and Turan does a headstand in the corner to avoid another charge before kicking Williams down again.
Williams finally gets smart by taking out the leg and a boot scrape across the eyes makes it worse. The neck crank doesn’t do much for Williams as Turan is back with a sunset flip for two. A tilt-a-whirl faceplant plants Williams but the Swanton hits raised knees. That lets Williams talk a bunch of trash (Williams: “I KNOW IT’S YOU!”) but the distraction lets Turan grab a small package for the pin at 6:35.
Rating: C. This was a grudge match and the story is likely to continue. I’m not sure where it is going, though Amir Jordan being acknowledged last week has me curious. Why would you have name drop the person’s name if he is supposed to be a surprise? Anyway, this story is interesting me more than I would have bet on so well done with the success.
Post match Williams goes after Turan and takes the mask off, revealing….a second mask. Referees have to drag Williams away from the ring. Nigel mentioned Amir Jordan as Turan’s likely identity during the melee.
Video on Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen winning the Tag Team Titles and being targeted by Pretty Deadly.
Trent Seven was held back by security when Sam Gradwell came in. Even Gradwell thinks what Seven did was low, but Seven storms off anyway.
Die Familie again wants Oliver Carter to join the team but he doesn’t like Ashton Smith’s name being invoked. The result is Carter vs. Teoman at some point in the future.
Josh Morrell vs. Primate
Primate drives him into the corner for some yelling to start but Morrell gets in a shove of his own to start the frustration. The test of strength actually puts Primate down but Morrell can’t break his bridge. With that not working, Morrell goes up to the corner and gets German suplexed right back down for the big crash. A backdrop gives Primate two but Morrell low bridges him to the floor. Back in and Primate runs him over again, setting up a clothesline to the apron. That’s fine with Morrell, who grabs a sunset flip for the completely clean pin at 4:06.
Rating: C. This was an interesting way to go as Morrell got the clean win so he gets a boost, but the match felt more like Primate having trouble after dropping Eddie Dennis. That story can be advanced, but at the same time, Morrell finally gets a win that could move him up the ladder. Maybe it means nothing, but at least he is getting a start.
Blair Davenport is back and gets interrupted by Amale. Last week Davenport talked about crushing hope, which COULDN’T have been about her. Davenport laughs it off, but does threaten Amale if she ever tries anything else. With Davenport gone, Stevie Turner comes in and gets a match with Amale as a result.
Video on Ilja Dragunov and all of the people he has beaten. The big takeaway here: what happened to Rampage Brown? As for now though, Dragunov sees a lion called Wolfgang and is ready to face that lion.
Tate Mayfairs vs. Trent Seven
Seven chops him down to start and hits more chops to make it even worse. A DDT plants Mayfairs and another chop gets two. The trash talk takes a bit too long though and Mayfairs strikes away, only to get chopped back down. The Seven Star Lariat finishes Mayfairs at 4:07.
Rating: C-. I get the idea they’re going for here, but at the end of the day, it is a little hard to get behind the idea of Seven as a huge threat. He is doing things right and feels like a villain, but Seven has never felt like some top star in the ring. It’s hard to buy the idea of him being a threat to any top name other than Tyler Bate so this might be a one feud push. It still works, but I’m seeing a pretty firm ceiling.
Post match Seven grabs a leglock, drawing out Sam Gradwell for the save.
Noam Dar calls himself a victim of his own success because he has cleared out the entire Heritage Cup division. That’s why Mark Coffey is getting another shot, because Mark is a lucky lucky boy. The fact that there is a ton of money on the line doesn’t make it any harder.
Meiko Satomura/Sarray vs. Xia Brookside/Eliza Alexander
Brookside pulls Sarray’s hair to start so Sarray cranks on the arm. That’s reversed into some arm cranking from Brookside, which is reversed into some arm cranking from Sarray. Brookside has to headstand her way out of a headscissors and it’s Alexander coming in for a shot to the ribs. Sarray bridges out of a near fall and hits a basement dropkick, allowing the tag off to Satomura.
House is quickly cleaned and it’s already back to Sarray, who is clotheslined down in a hurry. Alexander hits a basement forearm for two and we hit the camel clutch. With that broken up, Sarray rolls her up and hits a double stomp to the chest for two. The real hot tag brings in Satomura to clean house, including a DDT and a frog splash for two on Alexander. Everything breaks down and Alexander pulls Brookside out of the way of a charging Sarray. Satomura is back up and Brookside gets knocked into the ropes for that SCARY running dropkick from Sarray. Scorpio Rising finishes Brookside at 9:28.
Rating: C+. The people involved alone here are going to make the match work but there is only so much that can be done when Satomura is going to come in and clean house like she did here. I’m sure we’re coming up on Blair Davenport getting the title shot soon enough, so having Brookside and Alexander get beaten up is not that interesting. Best match on the show though, which shouldn’t be a surprise.
Celebrating ends the show.
Overall Rating: C. I’m not sure what to think of this show. For one thing, they did have far less of a focus on the regular NXT stars, but what we got wasn’t all that interesting. Things have cooled down a lot around here as of late, with the Turan vs. Williams stuff probably being the best story going. I’m not sure what is going on around here, but they need something to pick up the pace because this show has dropped in interest quite a bit.
Results
Tiger Turan b. Kenny Williams – Small package
Josh Morrell b. Primate – Sunset flip
Trent Seven b. Tate Mayfairs – Seven Star Lariat
Meiko Satomura/Sarray b. Xia Brookside/Eliza Alexander – Scorpio Rising to Brookside
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