NXT UK
Date: September 9, 2021
Location: BT Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

Believe it or not we have a bit of a special episode here, which will feature the Walter vs. Ilja Dragunov rematch from Takeover, albeit with some additional insight, which sounds like talking heads throughout. Other than that, the tournament to crown a new #1 contender to the Heritage Cup continues. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a quick preview for the show.

Opening sequence.

Heritage Cup #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Sam Gradwell vs. Wolfgang

Gradwell doesn’t think Wolfgang is much about heritage and calls him a deep fried yogurt. Round one begins with both of them taking their time, including Wolfgang scaring him into the corner. A test of strength goes to Wolfgang and he takes Gradwell down by the wrist. Wolfgang shoulders him out to the floor but they switch places and Gradwell nails a running elbow off the apron to put Wolfgang down. The count is beaten though and the round ends.

Round two begins with Wolfgang kneeing him in the ribs and uppercutting away with the second one getting two. Gradwell drives some shoulders into Wolfgang’s shoulder and puts on an armbar. That’s broken up as well with Wolfgang hitting a backdrop to bang up Gradwell’s ribs. Hold on though as Wolfgang just stands there, allowing Gradwell to bail outside to end the round safely. Round three begins with Wolfgang unloading in the corner but Gradwell gets in a shot with the knee brace. A running STO gives Gradwell the first fall at 24 seconds of the round (7:25 total) to put him up 1-0.

Round four begins with Wolfgang favoring his shoulder so Gradwell goes straight after the arm and cranks away. That’s broken up so Wolfgang can hammer away on the ribs in the corner. Wolfgang grabs a weird suplex swung into a cutter (that’s a new one) for the pin at 1:49 (9:52 total) to tie it up. Round five begins with Gradwell going after the arm and dropping Wolfgang with a discus forearm for two. The ribs give out on a fireman’s carry attempt though and Wolfgang spears him down for the win at 1:19 of the round (11:47 total).

Rating: C+. They told a story here with the arm vs. the ribs, though I could go with Gradwell doing something other than losing all of the time. Wolfgang is the bigger name though and it makes sense to have Gallus represented going forward. Good match here, as the Heritage Cup rules continue to work.

Here are the semifinals:

Noam Dar
Kenny Williams

Wolfgang
Teoman

We look back at Blair Davenport attacking Nina Samuels last week.

Sid Scala announces that Davenport has been indefinitely suspended.

Video on Noam Dar vs. Kenny Williams in the Heritage Cup tournament.

Pretty Deadly defends the Tag Team Titles against the Coffey Brothers next week.

Gallus is excited and scare Jordan Devlin to make it better.

Ashton Smith/Oliver Carter/Saxon Huxley vs. Symbiosis

Primate hammers on Huxley to start so Huxley screams a lot and knocks him outside. Back in and it’s off to T-Bone, who gets caught in the wrong corner for some alternating beating. A belly to belly suplex sends Smith flying though and it’s Primate coming in to hammer away. Dennis’ swinging Rock Bottom is blocked though and it’s back to Carter to clean house. The numbers eventually get the better of him though and Primate sends him outside for a crash.

Back in and Dennis gets two, setting up T-Bone’s back to back backbreakers. A double stomp gets two but Carter comes out of the corner with a superkick. Huxley comes back in to wreck Dennis, including a top rope clothesline for two. Smith comes back in and gets sent face first into Dennis’ boots. Everything breaks down until we’re down to Carter vs. Primate. A missed charge into the corner sets up a doomsday cutter to finish Primate at 9:03.

Rating: C+. I can always go for a good six man tag and that’s what we got here, with two sides doing their thing for a little while. What matters here is giving everyone something to do and it isn’t like Symbiosis has that much to lose. It wasn’t a masterpiece or anything, but it was a good use of TV time on a random TV show.

Stevie Turner is ready to beat Meiko Satomura for the Women’s Title but Emilia McKenzie comes in to say she’ll be facing Turner first.

Pretty Deadly remembers when no one thought they could beat Gallus, until they did. Now it’s time to do it again.

With all that out of the way, here’s the UK Title match between Ilja Dragunov and Walter from Takeover 36. The match features some talking heads in kind of a mini commentary, but they are about ten seconds long each and talk about how hard they are hitting each other.

United Kingdom Title: Walter vs. Ilja Dragunov

Walter is defending. They start a bit slowly until Dragunov takes him up against the rope for the chops. Walter isn’t happy and chases him into the corner but Dragunov ducks away again to increase the frustration. They go to the mat with Walter taking over off the power. Back up and Dragunov hits a running shoulder, followed by something like a World’s Strongest Slam to pull Walter out of the air. Another headlock takeover puts Walter down and Dragunov rips the bandage off his own stitched head.

Back up and Dragunov forearms away before catching Walter’s chop. Dragunov starts cranking on the arm until Walter lifts him up onto the top. The BIG chop finally connects to put Dragunov on the floor and the apron powerbomb puts Dragunov in real trouble for the first time. Back in and Walter sends him flying with a suplex, setting up the Boston crab. Walter switches into an STF and then something like a bully choke. That’s broken up so they chop it out until a sleeper from Walter.

Dragunov slips out and manages a backdrop, followed by the running clotheslines. The Constantine Special is countered into a swinging Rock Bottom to give Walter two. Another big chop drops Dragunov and the referee has to check on him. The big boot rocks Dragunov again but he manages to get back up for the slugout. Knees to the chest and backfists to the head rock Walter but he manages to lift him up into a fireman’s carry. That’s broken up as well and Dragunov knees him in the head.

Dragunov tries something but Walter knocks him out of the air and scores with the lariat for two. Back up again and Walter’s chop to the back makes me cringe. It fires Dragunov to his feet though and a clothesline drops Walter. The German suplex puts Walter down again but he’s back up with a chop to Dragunov’s destroyed chest. A kick to the head staggers Walter and something like a t-bone suplex gets two. Dragunov goes up and Walter begs off, but Dragunov shakes his head no and hits a top rope seated dropkick.

The backsplash sets up Torpedo Moscow but Walter reverses into a sleeper and a sleeper suplex drops Dragunov onto his head. He’s right back up with Torpedo Moscow to the back of the head and they’re both down. Torpedo Moscow connects again for two and they chop it out. A chop to the leg staggers Walter, who is back up with a big chop for two. Walter goes up and gets superplexed back down, setting up a missile dropkick to leave them both down again.

Walter hits his own dropkick into the powerbomb and the stacked up cover gets two. Another chop off goes to Walter, who smashes him with a running knee. Another powerbomb sets up the top rope splash for the next near fall and they’re both down again. Walter’s sleeper is countered again so he kicks Dragunov in the face. Dragunov staggers to the corner and hits a middle rope headbutt to drop Walter.

The hard elbows to the back of the head set up a sleeper on Walter, who climbs to the middle rope and….well they kind of fall backwards for the break. Dragunov elbows away even more and grabs another sleeper as Walter can’t get rid of him. Walter dropping back can’t break the hold and he’s in trouble. The hold is broken but Dragunov hammers away at the back and grabs another sleeper for the tap and the title at 22:08.

Rating: A. This was about two things. First of all, they beat the heck out of each other and you could feel the physicality. That’s what the match was built up as being, but it also told an amazing story. The idea of the match was that Dragunov would not give up and was not going to stop. Ultimately he wanted it more than Walter and survived until the end, which is how this story should have gone. Excellent match and I loved every bit of it. I have no idea what is next for Walter, but hopefully it is a lot of ice.

Overall Rating: B. It was an odd show this week as about forty percent of the show was spent on one replay with some less than insightful commentary. It’s an excellent match, but it’s an excellent match I saw about two weeks ago. The rest of the show was decent enough, but you would be better off just watching Takeover again instead.

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NXT
Date: September 7, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett

This is how it ends. We’re wrapping up the original run of NXT this week as everything changes with the next show. I’m a mixture of scared, excited and scared excited as the idea of Monday Night NXT scares me to death, but NXT does need some changes. There are a pair of title matches tonight to finish things off. Let’s get to it.

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

Ember Moon vs. Kay Lee Ray

Feeling out process to start with Moon snapping off an armdrag. Back up and Ray hits a quick faceplant for two before taking Moon into the corner. Ray cranks on the arm and pulls Moon down into a cross armbreaker. That’s reversed in a hurry and Moon is back up with a middle rope Codebreaker for two. The Crossface has Ray in more trouble and Moon rolls it into the middle to make it worse. Ray slips out so Moon pulls her into a triangle choke but gets rolled into the corner to break it up.

Back from a break with Moon getting two off a small package and tying her in the Tree of Woe for a kick to the face. A tornado DDT gets Ray out of trouble but Moon sends her outside for the big dive. Back in and Ray breaks up an Eclipse attempt with a hair mare off the top. Moon blocks a kick into something like a flipping One Winged Angel for two more. They fight into a pinfall reversal sequence with Ray trying a backslide but lifting Moon up into a Gory Bomb for the pin at 14:41.

Rating: B-. This was a good way to get Ray her first important win around here as Moon is still a name that means something. It helps that they had a good, hard hitting match with Moon continuing to being able to have a solid match with anyone. Ray is going to be a major player around here and that is something the division could use.

Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch are ready to win the Tag Team Titles. Ridge Holland and Pete Dunne tell them to get rid of MSK too.

We go to Indi Hartwell’s bachelorette party where no one seems to like Dexter Lumis. This includes Indi’s friend Persia, who is here to see Disney World rather than the party. Hartwell talks about how Dexter saved her but she owes so much to Candice LeRae. Candice gets to give a speech, which involves throwing bread at Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter for being on Tik Tok. She didn’t like Lumis either, but it has worked out well enough.

Santos Escobar vs. Carmelo Hayes

Escobar has the rest of Legado del Fantasma with him. Feeling out process to start with Hayes working on a wristlock. Escobar starts kicking away and chokes on the rope before kicking Hayes outside. Hayes goes crashing over the barricade and we take a break. Back with Escobar sitting Hayes on top for a loud chop and grabbing a Crossface. With that broken up, Escobar takes him outside for a Boston crab on the steps.

Hayes fights back to escape some choking on the ropes and scores with a quick dropkick to the floor. Escobar is sent face first into the announcers’ table, setting up a running knee back inside. Hayes’ springboard is kneed out of the air but he’s back with a Codebreaker and face plant for two. A DDT onto the apron plants Escobar again but Legado’s distraction lets Elektra Lopez slam Hayes on the floor. That rocks Hayes so much that the Phantom Driver can finish Hayes at 13:51.

Rating: B-. I liked the match for the most part, but being devastated by a simple slam is a bit much to take. The slam was pretty impressive but that’s enough to stun Hayes long enough for Escobar to get the win? The finish wasn’t clean so it’s hardly some career killer for Hayes or anything, though I’m really not sure pinning him is a good idea.

Malcolm Bivens officially welcomes the Creed Brothers, both former amateur wrestling stars, into the Diamond Mine. Roderick Strong seems happy to have them.

William Regal announces a fatal four way to crown a new #1 contender next week, as Kyle O’Reilly, LA Knight, Pete Dunne and Tommaso Ciampa fight to get the first shot at Samoa Joe.

Creed Brothers vs. Chuckie Viola/Paxton Astall

Brutus starts for the Creed Brothers and wrestles Viola down with ease. Viola is sent outside and then suplexed back inside. Brutus slaps Julius in the face for the tag and Astall is powered into the corner. Something like a front facelock suplex plants Paxton and Julius brings in Viola. The Brothers slam them into each other and a basement clothesline finishes Astall at 2:18. That was a snappy squash and the Brothers looked rather good in dominance.

Ember Moon is tired of losing and feeling like this, so she knows what she has to do. Stay tuned.

Hit Row should have seen it coming when Legado del Fantasma jumped them and it’s time to drop them like a $10 pinata. B Fab is ready to take out Elektra Lopez.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter vs. Io Shirai/Zoey Stark

Shirai and Stark are defending. Catanzaro headlocks Stark to no avail to start as Stark flips away to escape. It’s off to Shirai, who stops to say something to Stark and gets dropkicked in the face for two. Catanzaro comes back in but gets kicked in the face as we take a break. Back with Shirai rocking Carter again and getting two off a missile dropkick. Shirai grabs the Crossface (third time in three matches) but Carter fights up and brings in Catanzaro off a blind tag.

After a few shots to Shirai, Carter tags herself back in and gets elbowed in the face. Stark comes in to kick Carter in the face for two but accidentally kicks Shirai down. A Downward Spiral drops Stark and Carter, after thinking about it for far too long, brings in Catanzaro for an elevated splash. Shirai makes the save so Stark knees Catanzaro in the face, setting up the Moon Over Moonsault to retain at 12:01.

Rating: C. Much like on the main roster, the Women’s Tag Team Titles seem to be forgotten more often than not, making it really hard to care about them. It wasn’t a bad match, but it was completely flat and there was no reason to get invested in anything they were doing. Catanzaro and Carter did their thing, but you just can’t compete with partners who don’t get along.

Post match Mandy Rose (now in a face mask, because covering up Mandy Rose’s face is a good idea), Gigi Dolin and Jayce Jane come out to beat down Carter and Catanzaro.

Kyle O’Reilly doesn’t care anymore because all he wants is the NXT Title.

It’s time for Dexter Lumis’ bachelor party, with Johnny Gargano saying he won’t pay for a dime. Don’t worry though because Cameron Grimes is here to pay for everyone. Everyone, including the zombie referee, gets out of the car and Lumis makes peace with Grimes. First up, go karts, with Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae spying on them. Then they throw axes, with Lumis indicating he has experience with them and then winning the competition.

Odyssey Jones makes a bet with Grimes about being able to bounce Drake Maverick off a trampoline and wins easily. We wrap it up with lazer tag but Lumis punches one guy out so Gargano can get an easy score. That’s not enough, so Lumis chloroforms another guy and Gargano scores again. Gargano fakes a handshake and wins for his team, though he can’t bring himself to high five Lumis.

The zombie referee says that it’s not that bad, but reveals that he is, in fact, Canadian. Jones shoves their hands together and we get a quick Lumis/Gargano montage. Hartwell and LeRae come in to say everyone is on the same page. Gargano: “Let’s go have a wedding.” Lumis seems to smile a bit. Dang it why did I have to like this a bit? Far better than the bachelorette stuff at least.

Robert Stone has gotten Frankie Monet a Women’s Title shot next week to get Money and Jessi Kamea back in his good graces.

Mei Ying vs. Virginia Ferry

Ferry gets in a jawbreaker but walks into a Mandible Claw for the win at 47 seconds.

LA Knight is in his car and talks about how there are three challengers and one superstar. Next week he’s going to take all three of them out and then he’s coming for Samoa Joe.

Tommaso Ciampa says it has been a long time since he had Goldie but the greatest things in life are worth waiting for.

Tag Team Titles: MSK vs. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch

MSK is defending and it’s Burch driving Carter into the corner to start. It’s off to Lorcan but Lee comes in as well to take him down in a hurry. A cheap shot from Burch comes in (and the fans approve) to put MSK back in trouble. Everything breaks down and a running dropkick in the corner drops Burch to the floor as we take a break. Back with Carter caught in a chinlock but fighting up to strike it out with Lorcan. That doesn’t go well for Carter, who is taken into the wrong corner to continue the beating.

Carter fights up and brings in Lee to clean house, including with a German suplex for two on Lorcan. The push moonsault gets the same as everything breaks down. Carter’s Swanton hits raised knees and it’s an ankle lock from Lorcan and a Crossface (erg) from Burch. That’s broken up as well and it’s the Blockbuster Hart Attack to retain the titles at 12:16.

Rating: C+. NXT’s decline seems to go hand in hand with the decline of its tag team division. The NXT Tag Team Titles used to be one of the best things in all of WWE and now they mean about as much as the Raw Tag Team Titles do in a given week. Two teams had a title match and one of them won. That has been the case for far too long now and it was a bit of a dry match as a result. Much like the rest of NXT: Perfectly good, but not that interesting.

Post match MSK leaves so here are Ridge Holland and Pete Dunne to take out Lorcan and Burch, breaking up the group.

Overall Rating: C+. So that’s it for NXT and I can see why they need to make a change. In something I almost never get to say about NXT, this was pretty boring. Nothing was bad and the first two matches were good, but there is absolutely no spark to any of this and I don’t particularly care where these stories go. NXT has lost its soul somewhere along the way and as a result, none of this feels important. The show is lifeless and while the changes don’t sound the most appealing, I’ll go with them taking a chance on something new than this kind of a show.

Results
Kay Lee Ray b. Ember Moon – Gory Bomb
Santos Escobar b. Carmelo Hayes – Phantom Driver
Creed Brothers b. Paxton Astall/Chuckie Viola – Basement clothesline to Astall
Io Shirai/Zoey Stark b. Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter – Moon Over Moonsault to Carter
Mei Ying b. Virginia Ferry – Mandible Claw
MSK b. Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch – Blockbuster Hart Attack to Lorcan

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NXT UK
Date: September 2, 2021
Location: BT Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

With the reaction to the UK Title change out of the way, it’s time to move forward around here. Now in this case, that makes me interested in where they’re going, as NXT UK has been quite the fun show for a rather long while now. That being said, there is always the chance that WWE pulls the plug around here and none of this matters again. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Blair Davenport vs. Nina Samuels

Hold on actually as Davenport jumps Samuels before the bell and hits her with a Falcon Arrow. Officials, including Sid Scala, come out, with Davenport laying out Scala as well. No match.

We look back at Aoife Valkyrie beating Jinny last week in a heck of a fight. Valkyrie has injured her knee though and will be out of action for a “significant period of time”.

Jinny takes credit for injuring Valkyrie.

Symbiosis is ready for Saxon Huxley and whoever he can get to team with him.

Jack Starz/Dave Mastiff vs. Dan Moloney/Andy Wild

Wild can’t do anything with the much bigger Mastiff to start, including a headlock having no effect. Mastiff’s bridging northern lights suplex gets two and it’s off to Starz for the same. Moloney comes in to go after Starz’s arm but a standing armbar doesn’t get him very far. It’s back to Mastiff for the backsplash but a Wild distraction lets Moloney dropkick Starz to take over. We hit the nerve hold to keep Starz in trouble for all of ten seconds before Starz makes the tag back to Mastiff. House is cleaned and Moloney is tied in the Tree of Woe, with Starz adding a running headbutt. Into The Void finishes Moloney at 5:50.

Rating: C. Totally fine squash here with Starz and Mastiff as the latest oddball team, though they have played it straight so far. Starz has come a long way since being the whipping boy for new names and the team is doing well at what they’re trying. Nice opener here and I wouldn’t mind seeing Mastiff and Starz out there again.

Pretty Deadly danced in a fountain earlier this week, until Gallus shoved them into the water. Are they already out of challengers?

Amele vs. Emilia McKenzie

McKenzie takes her down into a leglock to start and goes with a variety of mat grappling. Back up and a running dropkick puts Amele down again and a neckbreaker gets two. Amele sends her to the apron though and a running kick to the face puts McKenzie on the floor. Back in and a corner clothesline gives Amele two and we hit the chinlock.

McKenzie’s comeback just frustrates Amele and she hammers away to drop McKenzie again. A cobra clutch sets up a running shoulder to give Amele two and McKenzie is in trouble. Amele’s shotgun dropkick into the corner sets up a running boot to the face….but McKenzie rolls her up for the surprise pin at 6:44.

Rating: C-. This was mostly a squash until the surprise ending, which will likely set up Amele to wreck McKenzie even more to set up her title shot. Amele did well here and had the aggression, though I’m not sure if she needed to lose here. It was certainly a surprise ending, though hopefully it doesn’t derail Amele’s momentum too badly.

We look back at Blair Davenport attacking Nina Samuels and Sid Scala.

Oliver Carter and Ashton Smith agree to team with Saxton Huxley next week. Carter: “I LOVE THAT MADMAN!”

Sam Gradwell and Wolfgang are ready to face each other in the Heritage Cup #1 contenders tournament.

Here’s what’s coming next week, including another look at the Walter vs. Ilja Dragunov rematch, with additional insight from legends and WWE stars. Could be interesting.

Heritage Cup #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Teoman vs. Nathan Frazer

Rohan Raja is here with Teoman. Round one begins with a fight over a lockup and they take it to the mat to make it more interesting. Teoman starts cranking on the arm by driving Frazer to the mat, complete with a knee in the shoulder. Frazer fights up and doesn’t care for being hit in the face, meaning it’s a slugout to put Frazer in control. A dropkick takes Teoman down to end the round in a hurry.

Round two begins with Teoman going after the arm but Frazer hits him in the face some more. Teoman is sent outside and Frazer’s suicide dive takes him down. That’s fine with Teoman, who sends Frazer hard into the steps. Back in and a sliding forearm gives Teoman the pin at 1:03 of the round (4:43 overall) to go up 1-0.

Round three begins with Teoman kicking Frazer down and a shot to the face gets two more. Frazer manages to headscissor him outside but Teoman ties him in the ropes and stomps away. Back in and Teoman misses another sliding forearm and gets crotched on top. A springboard super hurricanrana gets two on Teoman as time expires just before the three.

Round four begins with Frazer slugging away and driving him into the corner. That’s broken up and Teoman’s missile dropkick hits Frazer in the back of the head for another near fall. Back up and Frazer grabs something like a powerslam small package at 1:50 of the round (10:51 overall) to tie it up.

Round five begins with Frazer grabbing a fast Sling Blade for two but Teoman goes right back to the arm. Teoman grabs a spinout inverted DDT for two more but Frazer drives him to the floor. A suicide dive drops Teoman and a springboard elbow connects. Hold on though as a Raja distraction means the Phoenix splash completely misses, allowing Teoman to hit….kind of a dragon sleeper into Natural Selection for the win at 2:47 of the round (14:10 overall).

Rating: B. I was expecting good things here and it lived up to the hype, as Frazer seems incapable of having a bad match and Teoman is moving up the villains’ ladder. They put together a nice match here and I liked what we were getting throughout. Teoman is probably the favorite to win the whole thing and I could certainly go for his showdown with Tyler Bate.

Overall Rating: C+. As usual, NXT UK is a good show and I don’t think that’s even a surprise anymore. The main event is by far the best thing on the card but the rest of it was far than bad. This show knows how to set something up and then knock it down, which is exactly what you should be able to do on a weekly show. It’s still mostly slow and steady and, again, it still mostly works.

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NXT
Date: August 31, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

The changes continue around here as we are marching towards the new version of NXT. I still have no idea what that means and I’m not sure I want to. Then again it might be for the best, as NXT has not exactly been at its most thrilling for a long time now. There are a few matches set in advance this week so let’s get to it.

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

Mandy Rose vs. Sarray

Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne are here with Rose. Mandy takes her down to start and rubs her face in the mat, setting up some pushups on Sarray’s back. Sarray is back up with a dropkick and a kind of nasty looking fisherman’s suplex for two. A top rope twisting splash misses for Sarray and we hit the quickly broken chinlock.

Rose grabs a fall away slam into a nip up and it’s off to something like an abdominal stretch. That’s broken up as well and Sarray starts the striking. The running dropkick sets up the running dropkick in the ropes to send Mandy outside. Jayne and Dolin immediately cover her face up and get her to the back for the countout at 7:39.

Rating: C. This was completely acceptable as Mandy is doing a much more old school heel thing in the ring. There is no point in trying to have her be some kind of a moves person and thankfully NXT gets that. Let her go out there, be the heel she can be so easily and use some old school tactics to get heat. It works well for her, and in a place where everything is about going a hundred miles an hour, it makes her stand out that much more.

Tommaso Ciampa is ready to hurt Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland. He isn’t going to cry over spilled milk and a motivated Ciampa is a scary Ciampa.

Duke Hudson vs. Kyle O’Reilly

O’Reilly’s ribs are heavily taped so Hudson goes after the obvious target in a hurry. A heel hook is blocked and Hudson blasts him with a right hand to the ribs. O’Reilly can’t grab an abdominal stretch and it’s a hiptoss to take him down. Hudson even mocks the air guitar, which is a bit better than Hogan’s. A fireman’s carry gutbuster drops O’Reilly and we take a break.

Back with Hudson staying on the ribs and cutting off an O’Reilly comeback attempt. O’Reilly gets smart by kicking at the legs before spinning into a guillotine choke to put Hudson in trouble. It’s broken up with straight power, so O’Reilly grabs a hanging dragon screw legwhip. The top rope knee to Hudson’s knee sets up the heel hook for the tap at 11:52.

Rating: B-. They had a good, back and forth match here but the key was to not have things get too complicated. Hudson is still very much a work in progress so it was a smart move to let him get in there with someone who can walk him through a match. O’Reilly gets a come from behind win, Hudson gets his feet wet against better competition and we move on after a good use of both guys.

We look at Dexter Lumis and Indi Hartwell’s engagement.

Beth Phoenix is VERY excited about the wedding but Wade Barrett throws away his In-Dex shirt.

Here is the very banged up and limping Ilja Dragunov to talk about how he went through a war with Walter. He survived against the Ring General and is ready for whatever comes at him. The fans don’t want him to go and wants to know who is willing to come after the title. Long live the Czar.

Kay Lee Ray says the NXT women’s division needs a boost and that is why William Regal…..and the interviewer cuts her off to ask about various women in NXT. Ray isn’t worried about Io Shirai or Ember Moon and she is coming to take over the division.

Carmelo Hayes is considering his options for the title match but Elektra Lopez comes in to say the North American Title is for Santos Escobar. Cue Legado del Fantasma to seemingly offer some threats.

Imperium vs. Grayson Waller/Drake Maverick

Before the match, Maverick looks worried but Waller says Imperium is just annoyed at having to carry Walter’s bags. Waller is taken into the corner to start and it’s time to hammer away. Barthel adds some loud kicks to the chest but Waller gets over to Maverick for the hot tag. Maverick loads up what looks to be a charge but Waller tags himself back in, leaving Maverick to be knocked outside. Maverick is sent into the lighting rig and Waller is kicked in the face. The Imperial Bomb finishes Waller at 3:04.

Rating: C-. More of the same from Imperium, meaning they had a competent squash which wasn’t going to hold my interest. These two are not exactly inspiring but do have all of the technical stuff down. It’s kind of a Dean Malenko vibe, but without the occasional big spots to spice it up a bit.

Indi Hartwell asks Johnny Gargano to give Dexter Lumis a chance. Lumis is standing near Gargano and gets to go to the ring with him.

Pete Dunne, Ridge Holland, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch are ready to hurt Tommaso Ciampa.

Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne have attacked Sarray.

Johnny Gargano vs. LA Knight

Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis are here with Gargano. The fans are behind Gargano, Lumis and Hartwell here as Gargano and Knight fight for control on the mat. It’s too early for the Gargano Escape so Knight starts in on the arm and then elbows him in the face. Gargano sends him outside though and hits a suicide dive. Knight runs him over again though and, after some mocking of Lumis and Hartwell, drops Gargano to send us to a break.

Back with Knight missing a knee drop, allowing Gargano to hit a middle rope Downward Spiral. The slingshot spear drops Knight again but he’s back up with a pop up powerslam dropped backwards instead of forwards. Gargano doesn’t mind as he tries the Gargano Escape, which is quickly escaped. The One Final Beat is countered as well but Gargano lands on Lumis, who then moves him away from a charging Drake. Back in and Gargano reaches for Lumis, but walks into the BFT for the pin at 14:02.

Rating: C+. This was much more about the interactions and the character stuff with Gargano, as the fans’ reactions are getting interesting. Gargano is still popular, but all he has to do is give Lumis and Hartwell a sideways glare and fans can’t stand him all over again. The wedding actually has me curious and I would not have bet on that just a few weeks ago so nice job on setting things up.

Lumis knows he screwed up.

MSK goes in to see William Regal and wants Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch to have a Tag Team Title shot. Burch and Lorcan were stripped of the titles so Regal makes the match for next week.

Next week: Mei Ying’s in-ring debut.

Raquel Gonzalez vs. Jessi Kamea

Non-title and Robert Stone and Frankie Monet are here too. Kamea slips out of a suplex to start and manages to snap the leg over the top rope. A missed basement spinwheel kick lets Gonzalez dropkick her into the corner, setting up a powerbomb hot shot. The Chingona Bomb finishes Kamea at 2:42.

Ember Moon doesn’t like what Kay Lee Ray said and would be glad to face her next week.

We get a sitdown interview with Samoa Joe, who knows what it means to be champion. He hasn’t had time to rest because he has been in Las Vegas scouting NXT talent. Then he took a red eye flight back here because he needed to win the NXT Title. The precedent had to be set and now it is time to defend his title. If anyone wants something, come try and take it from him.

Roderick Strong vs. Ikemen Jiro

The Creed Brothers are now part of the Diamond Mine. Jiro is accepting an open challenge on Kushida’s behalf because Kushida is his hero. Strong starts strong by kicking Jiro down and sending him outside. A hiptoss sends Jiro into the steps and we hit the chinlock back inside. The seated abdominal stretch keeps Jiro in trouble but he fights up for some shots to the face. The slingshot springboard moonsault gives Jiro two but Strong knees him in the face. Back to back End of Heartaches finishes for Strong at 5:02.

Rating: C-. Total squash here and there is nothing wrong with that. Strong is in a holding pattern until Kushida gets back from whatever is wrong with him. Until then, just keep building Strong up and making him feel like the ultimate challenger. They can do a lot of work on the way to the title match and that seems to be the case.

Zoey Stark and Io Shirai are ready to defend their Tag Team Titles against Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro. The champs aren’t really friends outside of the ring and it is going to catch up with them. Stark and Shirai don’t have much of a rebuttal.

Cameron Grimes, looking like his old self again, talks about how great it is to receive the Million Dollar Legacy. Cue the Grizzled Young Veterans to say that Grimes is the champion with a fake title, just like the one they have. Maybe next week he can be Universal Champion once he hits WWEshop.com. Grimes is impressed by the replica belt…and drops it on Zack Gibson’s foot. He throws in some money on his way to the moon.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Ridge Holland

Oney Lorcan, Danny Burch and Pete Dunne are with Holland while Ciampa is alone. Ciampa headlocks him down but gets caught in a northern lights suplex. Not that it matters as Ciampa is back up with a running knee in the corner. Holland is taken outside for a ram into the barricade and a posting. A running knee to the face lets Ciampa pat himself on the back but Holland goes for the knee to send us to a break.

Back with Holland grabbing a chinlock to keep Ciampa in trouble. Ciampa fights up with a clothesline and a jumping knee to the face. More corner clotheslines look to set up the Fairy Tale Ending but Holland reverses into an Alabama Slam to drop Ciampa hard. After a check from the referee, Ciampa fights up with some shots to the face to knock Holland down against the ropes. An Air Raid Crash drops Holland again but he headbutts Ciampa out to the floor. Holland powerslams him into the barricade but Ciampa is back with some knees to the face. Willow’s Bell is good for the pin on Holland at 12:05.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure what it is but there is something about this feud that is making it hard for me to care. What you’re getting is mostly good stuff and I can go for seeing more of Ciampa, but it feels more like a way to get us towards WarGames rather than a match or feud that I want to see. Good match, though I didn’t really get inspired by what I was seeing.

Post match the beatdown is on but MSK comes out for the save.

Overall Rating: C+. The biggest problem with NXT right now is the lack of a top story. What is the main angle going on in NXT right now? Samoa Joe doesn’t have a challenger. The Way is waiting around to get to the wedding. Ciampa vs. Holland N Pals feels like an upper midcard feud at most. What on here feels like a top level story? I know it will change, but that has been seriously lacking from NXT.

The NXT Title hasn’t felt important in months, Raquel Gonzalez vs. Frankie Monet still seems like it’s a few weeks away at most and the North American Champion is part of a faction war. What does that leave? Io Shirai/Zoey Stark and MSK? There just isn’t much going on right now that feels must see and nothing is standing above the rest. That’s a problem and until it is fixed, NXT isn’t going to feel all that important.

Results
Sarray b. Mandy Rose via countout
Kyle O’Reilly b. Duke Hudson – Heel hook
Imperium b. Grayson Waller/Drake Maverick – Imperial Bomb to Waller
LA Knight b. Johnny Gargano – BFT
Raquel Gonzalez b. Jessi Kamea – Chingona Bomb
Roderick Strong b. Ikemen Jiro – End of Heartache
Tommaso Ciampa b. Ridge Holland – Willow’s Bell

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NXT UK
Date: August 26, 2021
Location: BT Studios, London, England
Commentators: Andy Shepherd, Nigel McGuinness

We are officially in a new era around here, as Ilja Dragunov FINALLY defeated Walter to become the new United Kingdom Champion. The title change ends Walter’s reign at nearly 900 days, meaning it is time for something new around here. I’m not sure what that is, but it is almost hard to believe that the title change happened. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at the title change, like it could be anything else.

Opening sequence.

Jinny vs. Aoife Valkyrie

No DQ and Joseph Conners will be locked in a shark cage. Jinny jumps Valkyrie from behind to start but Valkyrie fights back and sends Conners into the cage. A hard whip sends Jinny into the barricade as the beating is starting before prior to the bell. We get inside to officially start the match and Jinny low bridges Valkyrie back to the floor. Some chair shots keep Valkyrie in trouble but she avoids the big chair shot, which hits the steps by mistake.

They go over the barricade with Jinny in even more trouble as Valkyrie starts in on her leg. Now it’s over into the tech area, where Valkyrie hits her with a laptop and trashcan, the latter of which is not the most fashionable. Back to ringside and an ax handle off the barricade rocks Jinny again and it’s time for the table (Conners: “REFEREE!!! TELL HER TO STOP!”).

Jinny manages a whip into the barricade of her own but she can’t quite kick her off the apron and through the table. Valkyrie kicks her onto the table but misses the apron ax kick. Back in and Jinny gets two off a Liger Kick and it’s time for the big right hands to the face. Jinny grabs a chair but the Valkyrie saves her leg from being Pillmanized. Valkyrie goes up top and, after cutting Jinny off, plants her with a sunset bomb. The bad leg gives out, though it’s fine enough to kick a chair into Jinny’s face. Valkyrie unloads on her with the chair and a pumphandle driver onto said chair is enough to finish Jinny at 14:29.

Rating: B-. This was a violent one and Valkyrie looks like a killer with the win. That’s what they have been needing to get out of Valkyrie for a long time now as she has seemed ready to move up to the next level. Beating Jinny might not be the greatest accomplishment, but it is the way that Valkyrie won that made it feel important.

Amale interrupts Emilia McKenzie’s interview to challenge Meiko Satomura to a title match. McKenzie gets between them and Amale is willing to take her down to get the title shot. Simple and to the point here.

Ilja Dragunov talks about how he gave everything he had and worked so hard to become NXT UK Champion. Good luck to anyone who wants to take the title from him and long live the Czar. This was a quick promo and not exactly the big first appearance as champion that was hyped up.

Heritage Cup #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Oliver Carter vs. Kenny Williams

Ashton Smith is here with Carter. Round one begins with Williams shouldering him down and putting on a quickly broken chinlock. Carter hammers back with shots to the ribs and then the face, setting up an armdrag into an armbar. That’s broken up as well but Carter is right back with another armbar. They trade rollups for two each until Carter misses a kick to the face to end the round with Williams hiding in the ropes.

Round two begins Carter charging into some forearms to the back to put him in trouble for a change. Williams hammers away on the mat and stomps Carter down in the corner as this is a completely dominant round so far. Carter fights back but gets rolled up to give Williams the pin at 2:17 of the round (5:50 overall).

Round three begins with Williams trying to bail to the floor to start a chase but Carter is right back up with a spinwheel kick in the corner for two. Carter is right back with a kick to the face into the ax kick to tie things up at 1:36 of the round (8:04 total). Round four begins with Carter hitting some clotheslines into a springboard moonsault press for two.

Williams takes the leg out but Carter is back with a small package for two. The superkick attempt fails as Carter’s leg gives out though and Williams goes for the turnbuckle pad. That’s enough to distract the dimwitted referee so Williams can get in a metal water bottle shot to the head for the pin at 1:43 of the round (10:17) for the win.

Rating: C. Not the greatest Heritage Cup match but they have done a good job of turning the idea into something that works rather well most of the time. That’s what we had here, as both guys were doing their thing well enough and I was curious about where the match was going. Williams winning is the right call by a mile here though, as he has seemed to be on the list of possible breakout stars for a long time now.

Nina Samuels goes in to see Sid Scala for a match and gets…Blair Davenport next week. Screaming is hard after Samuels leaves the office.

Isla Dawn finds a box in the woods and buries Dani Luna’s hair. She seems to be starting a collection.

Teoman and Nathan Fraser are ready for their Heritage Cup tournament match next week. That has me curious.

Rampage Brown vs. Joe Coffey

Submission or knockout only to win. Ring announcer: “The following contest is a knockout or submission match, where you can only win by knocking your opponent out or making him submit.” Well what else did they think the name meant? They go with the grappling against the ropes to start until Brown goes with a shot to the face. Back up and they hit the crisscross until Coffey hits a dropkick. A lockup sees them go the mat and then out to the floor for an exchange of shoulders.

Coffey gets the better of things by knocking Brown outside, setting up a dropkick from the apron. Brown gets sent into the barricade but backdrops Coffey back over for the big crash. Back in and it’s time for the required slugout with Brown starting in on the arm and hand. Coffey blocks an armbar and flips him over but can’t get the Boston crab. Another armbar is countered into the Boston crab to put Brown in trouble but Brown makes the rope (which shouldn’t count but that’s never going to be fixed).

The turnbuckle pad is taken off but Coffey manages a German suplex to put both of them down. Another German suplex drops Brown, though it leaves Coffey holding the bad hand. Coffey can’t drop him onto the turnbuckle but he can hit an electric chair to send Brown rolling outside. That’s fine with Brown, who gets in another shot tot he hand to take over again. The bad shoulder is rammed into the post and there’s a t-bone suplex back inside. An overhead belly to belly gives Coffey another breather and it’s time to slug it out from their knees.

Brown snaps off a powerslam for another double knockdown, allowing Coffey to get up again. A double springboard moonsault of all things drops Brown but he tries a second time, allowing Brown to catch him on top. That means a super backdrop driver to plant Coffey HARD but Brown can’t follow up.

They wind up sitting down back to back and saying they are going to finish this. The big slugout is on until Coffey punches him down. Coffey hits his running headbutt into the corner and All The Best For The Bells connects. It’s not a knockout though and Brown comes back with his swinging Rock Bottom. The Doctor Bomb knocks Coffey silly and Brown unloads with shots to the face until the referee says Coffey is out at 19:52.

Rating: B. This was a heck of a hoss fight and that is entirely what they were going for here. You take two big guys and let them beat the heck out of each other for nearly twenty minutes. What else do you need from a match like this? If nothing else, seeing Brown win was a little bit of a surprise but it is nice to set up someone else, perhaps as a challenger for Dragunov.

Respect seems to be shown post match as Coffey is checked on to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Another good show here, even if it felt like the Dragunov promo was probably added into this after the show was taped. It’s not a bad thing, but it also doesn’t exactly make things feel modern. That being said, this was another rather good show, as you have a good opener, a fine middle match and a hard hitting main event. I liked my hour and ten minutes here so at least things seem to be staying good around here.

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NXT
Date: August 24, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Wade Barrett, Vic Joseph

Takeover has come and gone and I have no idea what to expect next. Everything is about to be turned upside down around here and there is a good chance that we are going to be seeing something completely different going forward. That might be a good thing, but it is certainly going to be an eventful thing. Let’s get to it.

Here is Takeover if you need a recap.

Ted DiBiase and Cameron Grimes arrive and we follow them into the ring. DiBiase talks about how people have wanted to see what he wanted around here. He is here because he saw something in Grimes, who kept getting back up. That is why he is now the Million Dollar Champion, which the fans seem to like. Grimes talks about how DiBiase drove him nuts when he got here, which DiBiase says was a test.

Instead of learning, Grimes got distracted by the money and the stuff, and now he has the accomplishment to back it up. At Takeover, the two of them took care of LA Knight and now he has the title to prove it. Now though, it is time to go TO THE MOON, and Cameron Grimes Bucks are launched at the crowd. Beth to Barrett: “You can buy a new gavel!”

We get the long Takeover recap video.

Ridge Holland vs. Timothy Thatcher

Pete Dunne and Tommaso Ciampa are here too. An exchange of shoulders doesn’t get them anywhere so Holland goes with the slam to send Thatcher’s legs into the ropes. Back up and a running elbow gives Holland two but a belly to belly gives Thatcher a breather. A knee to the ribs cuts Holland down again and it’s time to work on the arm.

Holland grabs Thatcher’s arm and grabs a clothesline though and we take a break with Thatcher on the floor. Back with Thatcher winning a slugout and hitting his own slam to send the legs into the ropes. The half crab goes on but a rope is grabbed in a hurry. Holland knocks a jumping enziguri out of the air and Northern Grit finishes Thatcher at 10:36.

Rating: C+. I can go for watching these two beat each other up as they know how to make things look physical. Holland is a good power guy and Thatcher is someone who can work well with anyone. You could mix these things up into various combinations and that is the way to keep a story moving for a long time to come.

Post match Ciampa comes in to save Thatcher but Oney Lorcan and the returning Danny Burch runs in for the big beatdown. Holland hits Thatcher in the arm with his club and gets in a shot to the throat as well. This is feeling like the groundwork to WarGames.

Carmelo Hayes is used to facing bigger people but he dubs himself the overdog instead of the underdog. This is a long time coming and he has put in the work to get here. If he wins tonight, it is still one match at a time and he will wind up with gold. Hayes sounds confident on the mic and if he can back it up in the ring with some personality, he should be fine.

Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis are ready to get married and have been making sandcastles on the beach. Lumis pulls out a wedding invitation with the wedding set for September 14. Beth: “WE HAVE A DATE!”

Kayden Carter/Kacy Catanzaro vs. Jacy Jayne/Gigi Dolin

Dolin rolls Carter up for two start but gets kicked in the head. Catanzaro and Carter tease double dives to the floor but bounce back in for some dancing. Dolin takes Catanzaro into the corner though and the beatdown is on, with Jayne calling her a little girl. Another shot to the face gets two on Catanzaro but she manages to get over to Carter for the hot tag. House is cleaned for a bit until Carter takes Jayne over to the corner for the neckbreaker/450 combination for the pin at 4:18.

Rating: C-. This was another fine win for Catanzaro and Carter, though calling them the Tik Tok Tag Team and showing their Tik Tok videos before the match doesn’t give me the most hope. They have turned into a pretty nice team over the last few months though and I’m curious to see how their eventual Tag Team Title shot goes.

Raquel Gonzalez knows it isn’t over with Dakota Kai because Kai is that tough. She has been waiting for Kay Lee Ray too and she can bring it. Cue Frankie Monet and company to say she doesn’t wait in line. She’s coming for the shine and the title.

Video on Kay Lee Ray.

We get a sitdown interview with Odyssey Jones, who knew he would get here one day. He just didn’t know how well it would go once he got here. Taking off the football helmet is a big change and his name comes from his energy. He isn’t thinking beyond tonight’s title match because he can’t look beyond Hayes.

Kay Lee Ray vs. Valentina Feroz

Ray goes after the arm to start and lifts Feroz off the mat with the arm cranking. Some forearms have no effect and it’s a gordbuster to drop Feroz again. Ray beats on her in the corner and Feroz’s feathers are falling off. A dropkick slows Ray down but she is right back with a superkick. The Gory Bomb finishes for Ray at 2:53. As it should have been.

Mandy Rose offers Gigi Dolin and Jayce Jane some advance. They shrug and follow her.

Here is new NXT Champion Samoa Joe for a chat. Joe talks about facing the most dominant NXT Champion of all time and taking him down at Takeover. Now he is the first ever three time NXT Champion but he is here to fight instead of celebrating. Someone needs to come out here and face him, so here is Pete Dunne to say he wants the next title match. Go get William Regal and have the match made.

Cue LA Knight to say Joe is running from the only megatstar in NXT and it would have taken him 43 seconds to dust Karrion Kross. He wants to be the first challenger and that means he will be the last challenger. Dunne to Knight: “Take one more step and I swear I’ll break every one of your fingers.”

Now it’s Kyle O’Reilly to say that Samoa Joseph, Peter Dunne and La (pronounced as one word, not two letters) Knight aren’t here to get a title shot. He mentions winning the Undisputed Finale but here is Ridge Holland to jump him from behind. Dunne and Joe are about to fight but Tommaso Ciampa runs in to go after Dunne, though Joe grabs the belt first. Holland comes in to headbutt Ciampa and Joe takes out Knight. I could go for a lot of this.

Cameron Grimes and Ted DiBiase are leaving when Grimes tries to give him the title back. DiBiase says it belongs to Grimes and hands it back…..but he switched it out for a replica and is keeping the real thing as he drives off. Grimes, with a smile: “That Ted DiBiase.” That’s a pretty perfect ending and hopefully they don’t keep the title around now that Grimes has gotten everything he needs out of it.

Duke Hudson jumps Kyle O’Reilly in the back but O’Reilly fights back and they have to be separated.

Breakout Tournament Finals: Carmelo Hayes vs. Odyssey Jones

William Regal is at ringside. The much smaller Hayes gets driven into the corner and sat on top for a bat on the chest. Hayes tries running the ropes but stops when he realizes what is waiting on him. Jones powers him into the corner again and a big toss sends him flying and then rolling out to the floor. Back in and Hayes scores with an enziguri but his springboard is knocked out of the air.

We take a break and come back with Hayes working on the leg in the corner. Jones misses a charge and gets caught in a sleeper to slow the big guy down. The fans are split as Hayes scores with a pump kick and a springboard clothesline but can’t put the big man down. An ax kick gets two on Jones but he is right back with a shoulder breaker. Jones misses a charge into the post though and a top rope ax kick puts him down again. Hayes can’t hit it twice in a row and gets crushed with the splash. That’s not quite enough though as Hayes grabs a crucifix for the pin at 10:32.

Rating: B-. Good showing here from Hayes, who looks very polished every time he is in there. Jones is going to be fine as he can go be an enforcer for just about anyone and make them look better. There wasn’t a bad choice here and both of them will likely be around for a good while to come. NXT needs some fresh talent too so this is something they should be doing.

Post match Regal hands Hayes his contract for a future title shot. Hayes says Jones is no joke but he isn’t sure who he is going to face first. He called his shot here and when he calls his shot, he doesn’t miss.

Pete Dunne, Ridge Holland, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch are ready to hurt Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa.

Boa vs. Xyon Quinn

Boa kicks away in the corner to start but stops to look up at Mei Ying. The distraction lets Quinn hit a forearm for the upset pin at 1:13.

Quinn is smart enough to leave through the crowd instead of walking near Ying.

Johnny Gargano is in William Regal’s office and asks for a favor: stop the Dexter Lumis/Indi Hartwell wedding. They get in an argument over Gargano going nuts and how to pronounce bananas. LA Knight comes in to yell a lot and Regal throws both of them out. Regal: “Buffoons.”

Malcolm Bivens is overseeing a training session with Diamond Mine and the Creed Brothers. Next week, Roderick Strong is issuing another open challenge and he hopes Kushida is watching.

Hit Row vs. Legado del Fantasma

Legado starts the brawl before the bell and Top Dolla is triple teamed until B Fab makes a save. Ashante Adonis and Swerve pull Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde outside and the brawl is on. We settle down to Adonis hitting back to back monkey flips with Mendoza and Wilde being sent outside. A dropkick (which seems to miss) sends Wilde outside and it’s a flapjack on the floor to make it worse.

Legado needs a breather on the floor and we take a break. Back with Swerve caught in the Legado corner for a series of running clotheslines. A suplex drops Scott again and something like the old McGillicutter gets two. Scott counters a sunset flip and gets in a stomp to the chest, allowing the hot tag off to Dolla. Everything breaks down and Dolla carries ALL THREE members of Legado around at the same time (e pluribus gads), setting up a World’s Strongest Wasteland.

Adonis comes back in and gets caught with a double basement dropkick for two. Swerve and Escobar drawl in the ring as Dolla flip dives onto the rest of Legado. That leaves Swerve to 450 Escobar for two but Legado is sent outside. B Fab gets in a slap but here is Electra Lopez to hit B Fab with a pipe. Lopez throws the pipe to Swerve, but it’s a swerve so Escobar can roll him up with tights for the pin at 13:57.

Rating: B. Some of that is for Top Dolla carrying around three grown men at the same time. The action was good throughout and they evened the numbers in the end too. These teams are getting a nice feud going and they could be in for a pretty major match down the line. Keep this thing going, probably including the eventual title showdown with Escobar vs. Swerve.

Overall Rating: B-. This was still the traditional NXT, but there are some new faces showing up. That isn’t a bad thing as NXT has really been needing a freshening up, but they need to get the transitional period down. Overall, a rather fun show with a mixture of stuff to make the two hours and change go by pretty quickly. They have the talent to make this work, but they are going to need to execute it really well over the next few weeks.

Results
Ridge Holland b. Timothy Thatcher – Northern Grit
Kacy Catanzaro/Kayden Carter b. Gigi Dolin/Jacy Jayne – 450/neckbreaker combination to Jayne
Kay Lee Ray b. Valentina Feroz – Gory Bomb
Carmelo Hayes b. Odyssey Jones – Crucifix
Xyon Quinn b. Boa – Forearm
Legado del Fantasma b. Hit Row – Rollup with tights to Scott

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Takeover 36
Date: August 22, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett

This might be the last version of the classic Takeover that we see and that is rather saddening. Takeover has been so special for such a long time but things in NXT are going to be shaken up in the near future. If this is it, they’re going out with a pretty big card, with three matches you could call the main event. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Ridge Holland vs. Trey Baxter

Pete Dunne is here with Holland. Baxter charges straight at him to start and gets tossed with a suplex. Holland drops a knee and hits him in the face but Baxter is back up with a running knee to the face. A Tajiri handspring elbow is countered with a headbutt to the back of the head though and Northern Grit finishes for Holland at 1:45. That’s all it should have been.

Post match Holland says that is a direct look into Timothy Thatcher’s future.

The opening video has a physics theme of all things, with each match being tied into a law of physics (every action has an equal but opposite reaction, an object in motion tends to stay in motion etc), all capped off with the theory of chaos in Karrion Kross. I kind of like that.

Million Dollar Title: Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight

Grimes is challenging and has Ted DiBiase in his corner. If Knight wins, DiBiase is his butler. Knight isn’t happy with the fans being behind Grimes so he takes him into the corner for some right hands. Grimes knocks him to the floor and hits the kick to the chest, much to DiBiase’s delight. A running boot to the face, with an assist from DiBiase, drops Knight again and there’s a big boot on the apron. Knight catches him on top though and it’s a catapult to send Grimes throat first into the rope.

A running crossbody gives Grimes two and he blocks the jumping neckbreaker out of the corner. Knight is right back with a powerbomb out of the corner for two of his own as things slow back down. The neck crank goes on for a bit, followed by a slam to take Grimes back down. That earns a YOU STILL SUCK chant for Knight, who misses an elbow (Maybe because he sucks? I mean he doesn’t, but that’s what the crowd told me.). Knight busts out a top rope springboard moonsault of all things but crash lands, allowing Grimes to hit the running boot in the corner.

A German suplex sets up a hurricanrana for two but Knight kicks the leg out to cut things off. Knight goes very big with a Burning Hammer, but since it’s an NXT opener, it’s good for two. Blunt Force Trauma is broken up and they trade shots to the face until Grimes’ flipping powerslam gets two more. Knight catches him on top and runs the corner for a German superplex with Grimes flipping back onto his face. Grimes’ nose is busted but Blunt Force Trauma is countered into the Million Dollar Dream.

Knight climbs the corner to flip backwards for two but Grimes holds on (that’s a new one). Instead Knight sends him face first into the buckle for the break and it’s time to grab the title. That takes a bit too long though and Knight kicks him in the head. Grimes picks up the title and DiBiase puts the Million Dollar Dream on Knight for a pretty cool moment. The Cave In finishes Knight to give Grimes the title at 16:43.

Rating: B-. This was all about the moment but there wasn’t a great crowd reaction for the title change. The lack of a Full Sail crowd has been a factor in NXT’s downward trend and it was on display here. The match itself was good and had Grimes fighting from underneath at times, but it went on longer than it needed to and I was waiting for it to be over at times.

We recap Dakota Kai vs. Raquel Gonzalez for Gonzalez’s Women’s Title. Gonzalez won the title at Takeover Stand & Deliver and Kai isn’t happy that the woman she brought in got the title first. Gonzalez doesn’t like being called a sidekick and didn’t like Kai turning on her, setting up the showdown for the title.

Women’s Title: Dakota Kai vs. Raquel Gonzalez

Gonzalez is defending. Kai goes after her to start but gets smart by holding onto the ropes to avoid a big boot. The threat of a lariat sends Kai outside but she comes back in to grab a cross armbreaker. That’s broken up as well so Gonzalez tries a powerbomb, which is broken up with a scorpion kick. Another attempt at a big boot sends Kai outside but it’s a Samoa drop to crush her back inside.

Kai gets dropped onto the top turnbuckle but Gonzalez seems to be favoring her arm. There’s a toss out of the corner to send Kai flying as this is one sided so far. Kan catches her in the corner though and a heck of a running boot to the face sends Gonzalez outside. It takes enough time to get Gonzalez back inside that it’s a rather delayed two and Kai is frustrated. A Codebreaker with Gonzalez hanging in the ropes gets two more but she is back up with a shot to the face.

Kai gets put on Gonzalez’s shoulder and tossed down onto her face, setting up the twisting Vader Bomb for two. The lifting powerbomb is countered into a triangle choke but Gonzalez swings her into the corner for the violent break. Kai tries a scorpion kick but Gonzalez countered into a heck of a sitout powerbomb. Back up and Gonzalez loads her up for a powerbomb and then drops Kai ribs first onto the top.

Kai is fine enough to hit a superkick into the Kairopractor for another near fall. Gonzalez’s lifting powerbomb is countered as well and the top rope double stomp connect for Kai (though Gonzalez barely moves). Back up and Gonzalez takes her to the corner for a superplex but Kai slips through the legs. Another kick staggers Gonzalez but Kai’s running big boot is countered into the super lifting powerbomb to retain the title at 12:23.

Rating: C+. This didn’t have the most drama, but it was all about Gonzalez finally reeling Kai in and powerbombing her halfway through the ring. That worked very well and Kai got in enough offense to make you believe an upset might possibly happen. Eventually it didn’t work though and we got to the result we should have reached. Kai might be main roster bound, as she is the kind of person who would fit in well up there.

Post match Gonzalez celebrates but Kay Lee Ray comes out for the big staredown. Makes sense as there is nothing left for Ray to do in NXT UK.

We recap Ilja Dragunov vs. Walter. They had probably the Match of the Year in 2020 and it has reached a nearly mythical status. Dragunov has been haunted by the loss but has grown mentally and is ready for one more shot at Walter and the title. Walter is ready to destroy him once and for all and they are in for the big showdown.

United Kingdom Title: Walter vs. Ilja Dragunov

Walter is defending. They start a bit slowly until Dragunov takes him up against the rope for the chops. Walter isn’t happy and chases him into the corner but Dragunov ducks away again to increase the frustration. They go to the mat with Walter taking over off the power. Back up and Dragunov hits a running shoulder, followed by something like a World’s Strongest Slam to pull Walter out of the air. Another headlock takeover puts Walter down and Dragunov rips the bandage off his own stitched head.

Back up and Dragunov forearms away before catching Walter’s chop. Dragunov starts cranking on the arm until Walter lifts him up onto the top. The BIG chop finally connects to put Dragunov on the floor and the apron powerbomb puts Dragunov in real trouble for the first time. Back in and Walter sends him flying with a suplex, setting up the Boston crab. Walter switches into an STF and then something like a bully choke. That’s broken up so they chop it out until a sleeper from Walter.

Dragunov slips out and manages a backdrop, followed by the running clotheslines. The Constantine Special is countered into a swinging Rock Bottom to give Walter two. Another big chop drops Dragunov and the referee has to check on him. The big boot rocks Dragunov again but he manages to get back up for the slugout. Knees to the chest and backfists to the head rock Walter but he manages to lift him up into a fireman’s carry. That’s broken up as well and Dragunov knees him in the head.

Dragunov tries something but Walter knocks him out of the air and scores with the lariat for two. Back up again and Walter’s chop to the back makes me cringe. It fires Dragunov to his feet though and a clothesline drops Walter. The German suplex puts Walter down again but he’s back up with a chop to Dragunov’s destroyed chest. A kick to the head staggers Walter and something like a t-bone suplex gets two. Dragunov goes up and Walter begs off, but Dragunov shakes his head no and hits a top rope seated dropkick.

The backsplash sets up Torpedo Moscow but Walter reverses into a sleeper and a sleeper suplex drops Dragunov onto his head. He’s right back up with Torpedo Moscow to the back of the head and they’re both down. Torpedo Moscow connects again for two and they chop it out. A chop to the leg staggers Walter, who is back up with a big chop for two. Walter goes up and gets superplexed back down, setting up a missile dropkick to leave them both down again.

Walter hits his own dropkick into the powerbomb and the stacked up cover gets two. Another chop off goes to Walter, who smashes him with a running knee. Another powerbomb sets up the top rope splash for the next near fall and they’re both down again. Walter’s sleeper is countered again so he kicks Dragunov in the face. Dragunov staggers to the corner and hits a middle rope headbutt to drop Walter.

The hard elbows to the back of the head set up a sleeper on Walter, who climbs to the middle rope and….well they kind of fall backwards for the break. Dragunov elbows away even more and grabs another sleeper as Walter can’t get rid of him. Walter dropping back can’t break the hold and he’s in trouble. The hold is broken but Dragunov hammers away at the back and grabs another sleeper for the tap and the title at 22:08.

Rating: A. This was about two things. First of all, they beat the heck out of each other and you could feel the physicality. That’s what the match was built up as being, but it also told an amazing story. The idea of the match was that Dragunov would not give up and was not going to stop. Ultimately he wanted it more than Walter and survived until the end, which is how this story should have gone. Excellent match and I loved every bit of it. I have no idea what is next for Walter, but hopefully it is a lot of ice.

Cameron Grimes is very happy with the win and Ted DiBiase comes up to congratulate him. DiBiase even throws in some money for Grimes and McKenzie Mitchell, but Grimes is ready for the Million Dollar Celebration on NXT.

William Regal talks to Samoa Joe about how he has to stay unbiased. On a personal level though, he wants Joe to kick Karrion Kross’ a**.

We recap Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly. They’ve fought before, they hate each other, it’s 2/3 falls tonight, with a regular match, a street fight and a cage match if necessary. This is billed as the Undisputed Finale and they’re ready to destroy each other.

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Adam Cole

2/3 falls and the first fall is a traditional match. They trade kicks to the head to start and Cole kicks him outside. Cole loads up the steps but gets pulled into a suplex instead. Back in and O’Reilly grabs an ankle lock but Cole slips out and hits a running knee to the face. Cole kicks him down again and loads up the Panama Sunrise, only to have O’Reilly counter into a cradle for the first fall at 3:25.

The second fall is a street fight so O’Reilly knocks him outside and sits Cole in a chair. The trashcan goes over Cole’s head and O’Reilly kicks him down to knock Cole silly. Back in and Cole superkicks him off the top, leaving O’Reilly on the floor holding his ribs. Cole sends him ribs first into the announcers’ table and it’s another kick to the head back inside. O’Reilly blocks a whip out of the corner but a knee to the ribs breaks that up.

The whip into the corner sends O’Reilly sliding ribs first into the post and it’s time for the kendo sticks to the ribs. Cole goes Pittsburgh with the Lockjaw, setting up some elbows to the head. O’Reilly fights up for the slugout and snaps off a German suplex. A shinbreaker onto the chair sets up a charge into the corner….which hits the chair wedged into the ropes. They trade pump kicks for the double knockdown, with the referee not counting Cole down despite O’Reilly’s leg being over him.

Both of them roll to the floor and wrap chains around their fists for the slugout. That doesn’t work (because hitting each other in the head with chain wrapped fists doesn’t put someone down) so they head outside with O’Reilly winning the slugout. Back in and a pair of chairs are sat next to each other. O’Reilly takes too long going up top though and gets slammed down onto the open chairs (EGADS). The Last Shot gives Cole the second fall at 16:55 total.

The cage is lowered but some medics come out to check on O’Reilly. That’s not cool with Cole, who takes him outside for a powerbomb onto the announcers’ table. The third fall finally begins after some replays as the cage is set up, meaning Cole can kick him in the head. O’Reilly is back with a bunch of whips into the cage but the top rope knee misses.

Instead Cole knees him in the head for two and hits a low blow to cut O’Reilly off again. Cole teases climbing out but stops for a Panama Sunrise and a near fall instead. With nothing else working, Cole handcuffs O’Reilly to the ropes…but gets pulled into a heel hook for the tap to give O’Reilly the win at 25:41.

Rating: B. I’m stunned at the length but that’s an upgrade as their matches have been notorious for taking far too long. Cutting it down gave us a rather good fight with the first fall showing O’Reilly can outsmart Cole and the second showing that neither know how to react to being hit in the head with a chain. It was good, but it never hit that next level, which I think I’ll take in exchange for the unnecessary twenty extra minutes.

The fans boo the heck out of the ending. Maybe they were expecting more or maybe they didn’t like Cole tapping when the kendo stick was easily within reach. Or they don’t want Cole going to AEW.

Ilja Dragunov says the Ring General is dead. Long live the Czar. Dragunov’s chest looks absolutely horrible here and made me cringe a bit at the thought of what that must feel like.

Legado del Fantasma is ready to end Hit Row on Tuesday.

We recap Samoa Joe vs. Karrion Kross for the NXT Title. Kross has dominated NXT as champion while also causing all kinds of chaos. Joe has resigned as General Manager William Regal’s troubleshooter to get his shot at Kross and it’s time for a showdown. Kross says Joe can’t stop him but Joe isn’t so sure.

NXT Title: Karrion Kross vs. Samoa Joe

Kross is defending and we get the Big Match Intros, complete with WE WANT SCARLETT chants. Joe knocks him into the corner to start and hits the enziguri while the fans chant for Jeff Hardy. The chop to the back sets up the backsplash but the Koquina Clutch is broken up. The Doomsday Saito sets up the running forearm to the back of the head to send Joe outside.

Back in and Kross hits him in the head again, setting up the ankle lock. That’s rolled through to the floor, with Joe hitting the suicide dive. Back in and Joe is sent into the corner, where the Rock Bottom is countered into an armdrag. The powerslam almost drops Kross on his head for two, setting up the powerbomb into the STF into the Crossface.

Kross gets to the rope and scores with a knee to the face for two. An overhead belly to belly sends Joe flying but he is right back with the Koquina Clutch. That is countered into the Krossjacket Choke but Joe slips out again and hits the release Rock Bottom. The MuscleBuster gives Joe the pin and the title (for a record third time) at 12:24.

Rating: B-. As expected, this was pretty good and mostly fine. It does feel a bit weird to have Kross drop the title clean, but after he had his legs cut out from under him on Raw, they didn’t have much of a choice. The Scarlett/Hardy chants at the start told you all you needed to know about his future and this is about all they could do. Let Joe drop the title to whoever wins the Breakout Tournament or someone new and usher in the new era.

Joe poses to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. If that’s it for this version of Takeover, they went out with another great one. There was nothing bad on the show and the Walter vs. Dragunov was the classic that the show needed. Cole vs. O’Reilly was a heck of a fight, Grimes vs. Knight gave us the long awaited Grimes victory and the other two matches were good enough. This was an awesome show and as nervous as I am about the new NXT, it was nice to have one more amazing Takeover.

Results
Cameron Grimes b. LA Knight – Cave In
Raquel Gonzalez b. Dakota Kai – Super lifting powerbomb
Ilja Dragunov b. Walter – Sleeper
Kyle O’Reilly b. Adam Cole two falls to one
Samoa Joe b. Karrion Kross – MuscleBuster

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NXT UK
Date: August 19, 2021
Location: BT Studios, London, England
Commentators: Andy Shepherd, Nigel McGuinness

It’s title week around here as Pretty Deadly is defending the Tag Team Titles against Moustache Mountain. That alone should be enough, but we also have Stevie Turner getting a Women’s Title shot against Meiko Satomura. Throw in the last push towards the UK Title match between Walter and Ilja Dragunov (in America) and we should be rolling this week. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Women’s Title: Stevie Turner vs. Meiko Satomura

Satomura is defending and has Emilia McKenzie in her corner. Turner goes at her to start and is headlocked takeovered down in a hurry. Satomura grabs a double underhook and survives being driven into the corner. The arm cranking is on so Turner bails to the rope and kicks Satomura in the face over and over. A big kick to the face drops Satomura to one knee but she is back up with a running forearm in the corner.

The STF doesn’t go on and Turner bails straight to the rope. The threat of a big kick to the head sends Turner bailing out to the floor but this time she sends Satomura into the apron. More kicks to the face rock Satomura and it’s off to the cross arm choke. That’s broken up with a Pele kick as the kicks to the face are strong in this one. A cartwheel knee to the back gives Satomura two and a Death Valley Driver is good for the same. The STF retains Satomura’s title at 8:50.

Rating: C+. It was a hard hitting match and Turner looked better than she ever had before. That’s one of the reasons you have Satomura on the roster: she is going to bring anyone else up while still looking dominant herself. Whoever takes the title from her is going to be a huge deal, and the more people Satomura defeats, the bigger her eventual conqueror is going to be.

McKenzie congratulates Satomura post match.

Oliver Carter and Kenny Williams want the Heritage Cup. Carter wants it to glorify his people but Williams wants it for himself.

Video on Rampage Brown vs. Joe Coffey before their showdown next week, with knockout or submission only to win.

Saxon Huxley vs. Eddie Dennis

The rest of Symbiosis is here with Dennis. They take turns shoving each other around to start with Huxley running him over. A running elbow gets keeps Dennis in trouble and he gets knocked outside in a hurry. Dennis forearms him to the face which just makes Huxley mad, but a hard clothesline does some more damage. Back in and a top wristlock is broken up by Huxley, who drops him with a running clothesline in the corner.

Huxley drops him onto the barricade, says BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME, and then knocks him back off. Dennis avoids a running crossbody in the ropes and Divine Proposition (I think) gets two on Huxley. The second try at the running crossbody hits Dennis though Huxley goes up. A top rope clothesline into a fireman’s carry slam (Sean O’Haire’s old Widowmaker) gives Huxley the pin at 5:42.

Rating: C. I was getting Berzerker vibes from Huxley here and that’s actually a good thing. He has come a pretty long way and it is nice to see the insanity actually working out and it works a bit better as the good guy. It isn’t likely to take him to the title scene but as a wacky guy who comes in and hurts people, it’s a nice idea.

Post match Symbiosis comes in to beat on Huxley and an assisted Severn Bridge leaves him laying.

Video on Jinny vs. Aoife Valkyrie.

Isla Dawn vs. Dani Luna

Dawn is still a bit out there so Luna takes her down with straight power to start. Luna does it again but this time Dawn is back up with a front facelock. A pull of the hair has Luna in more trouble and some kicks to the ribs rock her again. Dawn grabs a cobra clutch, as Nigel is worried about Dawn taking Luna’s soul. More power gets Luna out of trouble and it’s a fall away slam into a nip up.

Some knees to the face and a kick to the head set up a backdrop driver for two on Luna, whose kickout didn’t have much snap. Dawn goes up so Luna follows, only to have her hair pulled out. While Dawn is very happy, Luna grabs a fireman’s carry into a sitout powerbomb (back to back matches with a similar finisher) for the pin at 6:49.

Rating: D+. This wasn’t as good, with Dawn doing her thing with trying to pull out Luna’s hair until Luna got sick of it and knocked her silly. Dawn has been going more with the supernatural stuff and that is a different way to go. It is also a more logical way to go, as there is little reason to go with the same mostly boring Dawn that we have been seeing over the last few years.

Video on Ilja Dragunov vs. Walter, with various wrestlers and personalities talking about how this is going to be an amazing war. They better not be wrong.

Tag Team Titles: Moustache Mountain vs. Pretty Deadly

Pretty Deadly is defending and they have their own moustaches this time. Stoker and Bate lock up to start and it’s Bate being taken down into a wristlock. That’s broken up with some skilled rolling and it’s off to Seven to chop Howley. A running elbow gets two and Bate comes back in with a Swanton for two. Everything breaks down and the champs’ moustaches are ripped out before double clotheslines put them on the floor.

Back in and Stoker makes a blind tag before being sent outside again. This time Bate gives chase, with Howley nailing a clothesline to finally put the champs in control. That doesn’t last long at all as Bate slips away and dives over for the tag to Seven. House is cleaned in a hurry and it’s right back to Bate for two off a double suplex. Howley leapfrogs Seven though and the duck lets Stoker grab a DDT in a nice spot. To keep up the tradition, Seven doesn’t stay in trouble long and hands it back to Bate to unload in the corner.

Bate hits the big dive over the top to take out both champs and there’s the Liger Kick to Howley for another near fall. The Tyler Driver 97 connects….for two, with Nigel being rather stunned on the kickout. It’s back to Stoker, who hits a quick middle rope Codebreaker for the near fall on Seven.

Back up and the big right hand allows Seven to get over to Bate. The rebound lariat/dragon suplex combination gets two on Stoker, even with Seven taking out Howley. Stoker is back up with the spinning torture rack into the half crab, with Howley throwing in the towel. Seven says he didn’t do it and the distraction lets Stoker get in a belt shot. After Seven is knocked down, it’s Spilled Milk to Bate to retain the titles at 14:56.

Rating: B. This was a very fast paced match and it was better than I would have bet on. They are doing a good job of making Pretty Deadly, one of the least impressive looking teams in awhile, into a team that could hold the titles for a long time to come. Moustache Mountain doesn’t need the titles, but if they win them, it is going to be a huge moment on the big stage.

Overall Rating: B-. The matches were (mostly) good and the show felt big. That’s a good way to spend a little over and hour and NXT UK has figured out the formula so well. It might be the best weekly show going today and this was another good edition. Just keep going with the formula, and maybe set up a Takeover down the line, and it’s hard to complain about much around here.

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NXT
Date: August 17, 2021
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Beth Phoenix, Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett

It’s the go home show for Takeover 36 and the card is completely set. That might not be the best thing though as the show could use a few upgrades. As has been the case for a long time, Takeover has not had the sparkiest of sparks, even if the shows wind up being pretty high qualify. Let’s get to it.

The Diamond Mine (with Tyler Rust missing with no explanation from the team) is in the ring to start things off. Kushida isn’t here tonight (due to not being cleared) to defend the Cruiserweight Title against Roderick Strong, so it’s open challenge time.

Roderick Strong vs. Ilja Dragunov

Strong grabs the arm to start but Dragunov kicks him away without much trouble. Back up and Strong chops him down, only to have Dragunov hit one of his own. Dragunov goes up top but has to bail out, leaving him to run Strong over again. Strong’s leg gets knocked out but he is fine enough to knock Dragunov outside. Dragunov is sent face first into the steps and there’s the Rock Bottom onto the steps as we take a break.

Back with Dragunov busted WAY open but being fine enough to fight out of an abdominal stretch. The German suplexes put Strong in trouble and an enziguri sets up a reverse t-bone suplex. Torpedo Moscow is broken up with a jumping knee but Dragunov pops back up for Torpedo Moscow and the pin at 12:09.

Rating: C+. I’d be curious to know if they went home a little earlier than expected because of the cut. I didn’t see when he got cut but there is something to be said about the added emotion that comes with seeing blood in a match. Dragunov winning here makes sense, though Strong losing is a little weird when he is scheduled for a title match whenever Kushida gets back. Still though, pretty good.

Post match, Dragunov calls out Walter but no one shows up.

It’s time for the Prime Target on Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly (which I believe we’ve had for another match between them). They have fought before and now it is time for the big Undisputed Finale to blow the whole thing off for good. Now they hate each other and have made it personal, but they have to finish this.

Here is Hit Row for a chat. They aren’t happy with Legado del Fantasma for taking the grill out of Isaiah Scott’s mouth. Santos Escobar pops up on screen with the grill and says he should give it back to him. He would be there in person, but he doesn’t trust Swerve’s crew. Come meet him in the parking lot, where he has no one waiting with him. That’s cool with Swerve, who heads to the back, where the rest of Legado pops up. Top Dolla runs in for the save but gets sent into a metal wall. B Fab makes the real save with a pipe and Legado is left laying.

LA Knight is working out in the gym with Cameron Grimes wiping him down. Knight isn’t happy with him though and brings in Josh Briggs to face Grimes tonight.

Imperium, with Walter, doesn’t like people like MSK and are here to get rid of people like them.

Josh Briggs vs. Cameron Grimes

Ted DiBiase and LA Knight are on commentary as Grimes, in his tuxedo, gets beaten down to start, including a heck of a big boot in the face. DiBiase throws out a $20,000 bet on Grimes winning as Briggs drops him with a release side slam. A splash gets two but Grimes gets a boot up in the corner. There’s a running forearm to drop Briggs and the running belly to belly gives Grimes two. The Cave In finishes Briggs at 2:07.

Post match DiBiase goes to collect on his bet but Knight punches him in the face. Grimes goes for the save and walks into Blunt Force Trauma on the floor.

Indi Hartwell brags to the Way about how much she has been seeing of Dexter Lumis. Candice LeRae: “They have a shirt now!” Indi: “We went hiking.” Gargano: “Ew.” Indi: “We went bicycling.” Gargano. “Ew.” Indi: “We went up in a hot air balloon.” Gargano: “Ok that’s pretty cool.” Dexter pops up and has the same gloves as Indi, which has Gargano and LeRae even more annoyed.

Zoey Stark and Io Shirai talk about trying to be friends but Shirai says just focus on being partners. Stark thinks this might take time.

Jessi Kamea/Robert Stone vs. Dexter Lumis/Indi Hartwell

Frankie Monet is here with Kamea and Stone. Hartwell copies Lumis’ intro and walk to the ring, though she does bump into him at one point. The fans wish Hartwell a happy birthday as Stone dives at Lumis’ leg to start. Everything breaks down in a hurry and Lumis and Hartwell hit stereo stomps in the corner. Monet grabs Lumis’ leg and gets dragged in, which is enough for an ejection as we take a break.

Back with Hartwell fighting out of trouble and bringing Lumis in to clean house. The spinebuster plants Stone for two and Lumis sends him outside. Back in and Kamea grabs a half crab on Hartwell, who makes it over to the ropes. Everything breaks down and Stone misses a slingshot dive, landing in front of a staring Lumis. Stereo Silencers give Hartwell and Lumis the win at 9:17.

Rating: C. Total comedy match here and that is what you have to do in a situation like this. The wrestling wasn’t the point at all here and Lumis/Hartwell are good in their roles. I’m curious to see where it goes from here and that is a nice feeling. I didn’t expect to like this but they have made it work, which you don’t get very often these days.

Post match, Beth Phoenix whispers some advice to Indi Hartwell, who pulls out a ring and proposes to Lumis. That’s good for a quick nod of acceptance.

The Diamond Mine insists that Roderick Strong’s loss to Ilja Dragunov doesn’t count because Dragunov is not a cruiserweight. Therefore, Strong’s title shot against Kushida still counts.

We get a split screen sitdown interview between Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez. Kai talks about how she discovered Gonzalez but Gonzalez says she has become a superstar. How does Kai expect to win on Sunday? By bringing in the next Raquel Gonzalez? Kai says she can play all the roles she wants, but on Sunday, Kai is playing the role of champion. See you at Takeover, sidekick. This was short and to the point but you can feel the intensity.

Breakout Tournament Semifinals: Duke Hudson vs. Carmelo Hayes

The bigger Hudson goes with the headlock to start but Hayes slips out and grabs one of his own. A big shoulder drops Hayes, who is back with a springboard crossbody for two. Hudson tosses him outside in a heap and we take a break. Back with Hudson kneeing him in the face and hitting an overhead belly to belly out of the corner.

Hayes manages a quick scissors kick though and a slingshot DDT sends Hudson face first into the apron (geez that looked rough). Hudson catches him on top but the slam is countered into a small package for two. A Backstabber rocks Hudson again and Hayes goes up for the top rope Fameasser to advance at 8:57.

Rating: C+. Hayes has looked like a complete package since he debuted around here and this was no exception. This was a nice come from behind win as Hayes hung in there just long enough to pull it off, with Hudson getting a bit too cocky and not being able to keep up. The finals could go either way and Hudson has come off like a star, making this a pretty efficient tournament so far.

Post match Hayes said he called his shot to make the finals and that’s what he did. That isn’t enough for him though and now it is time to face the final boss. Hey Odyssey Jones, plot twist: Hayes is the final boss. Cue Jones to say the universe will sound the alarm next week. This was a perfectly fine jawing segment.

Jacy Jayne says a lot of people are just satisfied but that is not good enough for them. You have heard them silenced for too long and now it is time to break free. The plurals were strong with this one.

Ted DiBiase apologizes to Cameron Grimes in the back, with Grimes going into a rant to recap the whole thing. He dropped the ball for DiBiase but after Takeover, the two of them are going to be Million Dollar Champions going TO THE MOON! DiBiase is so impressed that he busts out the laugh. DiBiase: “THAT’S MY CAMERON!” I’m not sure how much DiBiase likes this stuff but he’s the only person who would fit in this role.

Tag Team Titles: MSK vs. Imperium

Imperium is challenging. Lee takes Aichner into the corner for the slingshot dropkick, followed by the running Bronco Buster from Carter. Barthel brings himself in and armdrags Carter into a hammerlock. A hard uppercut rocks Carter but he fights out of the corner, only to get suplexed right back down. The beating doesn’t last as long this time though as Carter gets over for the tag to Lee. Everything breaks down and the champs’ dives are cut off by stereo slams as we take a break.

Back with Lee fighting out of a chinlock but getting pulled into an ankle lock. Lee gets sent hard into the corner and we need a quick breather so the referee can make sure he’s fine. The double dropkick in the corner gets two on Lee but he sends both of them outside. Cue Walter as the hot tag brings in Carter to clean house. The push moonsault gets two on Aichner with Barthel making the save. Walter’s distraction looks to set up the European Bomb but here is Ilja Dragunov to cut Walter off. Lee makes the save and the Blockbuster Hart Attack retains the titles at 11:04.

Rating: C+. Imperium continues to be a problem for me in the tag division. They are technically sound and their gimmick makes perfect sense but I have yet to find myself invested in anything they do. They just aren’t very interesting and it feels like no one can do anything to bring them up. MSK winning is the good move here, though I continue to not be sure who takes the titles off of them.

Post match the beatdown is on, with Walter destroying everyone in sight. Dragunov is taken out as well and Imperium stands tall.

Pete Dunne and Ridge Holland don’t like Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa ignoring them. Holland would fight through people just to get to a fight and he’ll be seeing Thatcher next week.

Takeover rundown.

Here is Samoa Joe for the big face to face with Karrion Kross. Joe says it is time to verbally eviscerate Kross in front of the world but what’s the point? He isn’t here to hurt Kross’ feelings because he is here to hurt Kross period. Cue Kross to say that this is about the future of this brand and Joe isn’t coming in to beat him after a year off. Kross calls out security to protect Joe but Joe is ready to fight anyway. The brawl is on, with Joe hitting the big dive to take everyone out. They fight over to the announcers’ table and the big double knockdown ends the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a fine enough go home show, but it was far from a home run. There was nothing on here that really made me want to see Takeover, though I’m sure the show will wind up being another hit. Maybe it’s the lack of anything interesting in Kross or Cole vs. O’Reilly AGAIN but I can’t get myself to care about what they’re doing. That being said, Walter vs. Dragunov II is going to be enough to carry a lot of the show and I’m really not worried. Good go home show, though I’m not entirely jazzed for Takeover.

Results
Ilja Dragunov b. Roderick Strong – Torpedo Moscow
Cameron Grimes b. Josh Briggs – Cave In
Dexter Lumis/Indi Hartwell b. Jessi Kamea/Robert Stone – Silencer to Kamea
Carmelo Hayes b. Duke Hudson – Top rope Fameasser
MSK b. Imperium – Blockbuster Hart Attack to Barthel

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

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NXT UK
Date: August 12, 2021
Location: BT Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andrew Shepherd

It’s tournament time as we have eight people vying to become the new #1 contender to the Heritage Cup. That alone should take quite a while to cover so hopefully they have something else going on to fill in some of the gaps. I’m not sure what that is going to be, but NXT UK has surprised me before. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Flash Morgan Webster vs. Wolfgang

This is fallout from Webster slapping Wolfgang to prove a point of some kind. Webster knocks him into the corner to start but Wolfgang takes him to the mat without much trouble. That means a third slap to Wolfgang so he runs Webster over and grabs a cravate. A dropkick puts Wolfgang on the floor but he sends Webster hard into the barricade.

Back in and a hard whip into the corner rocks Webster’s ribs and it’s time for some forearms to make them worse. We hit the nearly required bearhug, followed by the slightly less required abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and Webster hits another dropkick but what looked like a tiger driver is easily countered with a backdrop. A poisonrana plants Wolfgang out of nowhere but a Swanton hits knees. Wolfgang spears him for the pin at 7:32.

Rating: C+. You can do a power vs. speed match at any time in wrestling and it is going to work out just fine. That is as basic of a wrestling match as you are going to get and it was acceptable here as well. Wolfgang isn’t one of the Coffeys and Webster isn’t Mark Andrews but they did well enough to make this work out.

In two weeks, Joe Coffey vs. Rampage Brown, knockout or submission only.

The rest of Subculture is proud of Flash Morgan Webster for coming so close to beating Wolfgang but Isla Dawn comes up behind Dani Luna and reaches for her. Luna says back off and Dawn does, though still looks creepy in the process.

Moustache Mountain is ready for Pretty Deadly, who has to face the best team around here. Tyler Bate is ready to complete the Grand Slam (Shouldn’t that be Triple Crown?) and Trent Seven is ready to get his first title.

Jinny is fine with getting to face Aoife Valkyrie in a No DQ match but isn’t happy that Joseph Conners will be locked in a shark cage.

Nina Samuels vs. Amele

Samuels gets aggressive to start by driving her into the corner for the shoulders to the ribs. Amele isn’t having that and hammers away with forearms of her own. A bulldog gives Amele two and we hit the cravate. An elbow misses though and Samuels is back with a Hennig necksnap, setting up some double knees to the back in the corner. Amele is right back with a running boot in the corner but Samuels grabs back to back tilt-a-whirl backbreakers. A bridging northern lights suplex gives Amele two and a t-bone suplex into a spinebuster finishes Samuels at 4:58.

Rating: C. This didn’t have time to get very far but it was energetic while it lasted. The women’s division is in a bit of a weird place as you have the very top firmly established and then a bunch of people scattered around underneath them. These two are firmly in that secondary group and maybe this can start Amele moving up a bit. It likely won’t, but it was a good enough match.

We look back at the first Walter vs. Ilja Dragunov match, with Dragunov talking about how he gave everything he had but he will be ready next time.

We look back at Walter costing Ilja Dragunov a match against Pete Dunne this week on NXT but Dragunov laid Walter out after the match.

Saxon Huxley runs around shouting BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME. Symbiosis isn’t sure what to make of him.

Meiko Satomura is ready to defend the Women’s Title against Stevie Turner next week.

Pretty Deadly is at the WWE Warehouse and find some photos of Moustache Mountain. Right now, Moustache Mountain is the best team in NXT UK but next week, they will be the best team that Pretty Deadly has beaten.

Heritage Cup #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Mark Andrews vs. Noam Dar

Dani Luna is here with Andrews. Round one begins with the grappling exchange and Andrews putting on an armbar on the mat. Andrews spins out of a wristlock and hits a dropkick to send Dar into the ropes. Back up and Dar pulls him down by the leg but Andrews twists him down by the arm again as time expires.

Round two starts with a test of strength, which is always odd to see from smaller guys like these two. Dar takes him to the mat for a fast two and a snapmare into the ropes of all things makes it worse. Now it’s time to work on Andrews’ arm for a bit before taking him outside for a whip into the barricade. Back in and Andrews snaps off a cartwheel into a dropkick to put Dar outside as the round ends.

Round three begins with Dar kicking the leg out to take Andrews off the middle rope. Cue Teoman and Rohan Raja to watch as Dar stays on the knee. Luna offers a distraction though and Andrews pulls Dar down for a quick double stomp. Stundog Millionaire sends Dar outside and there’s the big dive to drop him again. Back in and Andrews misses a springboard though and the knee gets banged up again. Andrews tries a Pele kick but gets pulled into a kneebar for the tap at 2:43 of the round (9:47 overall).

Round four starts with Raja and Teoman leaving and Andrews hitting a 619 onto Dar’s knee in the ropes. The leg gets snapped over the middle rope, setting up a kneebar back inside. Dar breaks that up and reverses an enziguri into an ankle lock. That’s fine with Andrews, who flips him over into a cradle for the pin at 1:38 of the round (12:03 overall).

Round five begins with Andrews hooking another rollup for two but his 619 is countered into Dar’s ankle lock. The Nova Roller is countered with an enziguri but Dar catches him on top again. Dar goes after Luna though, drawing Andrews over. That means Dar can kick him in the knee and hit the Nova Roller for the pin at 2:38 of the round (15:12 overall).

Rating: C+. They were building things up rather well here and the knee/Luna both played into the end. These matches are some of the better things about NXT UK at the moment and I could go for more of them like this. They have figured out the formula and these two made it work well, as was the case here. I’m not wild on Dar moving on, but he would be fine for a villain to make a decent run.

Overall Rating: C+. This wasn’t their strongest show of the last few weeks but it isn’t like it was a bad fifty three minutes. The action was mostly good and I liked enough of what they did. It is the kind of show where you are better off just reading are cap rather than watching the show in full, but even if you did, you would be completely fine.

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