IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: August 14, 2019
Location: Plymouth Pavilions, Devon, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We only have three shows left before Takeover: Cardiff and I’m actually looking forward to what they have on tap. The show is looking better each week and odds are tonight we get another step towards Tyler Bate vs. Walter, which is showing some potential for greatness. The rest of the show should work as well so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Mark Coffey vs. Flash Morgan Webster

That Gallus theme is far catchier than it should be. If Webster wins and then Mark Andrews wins over Wolfgang (both at ringside) at some point in the future, the team is added to Takeover in the Tag Team Title match. They take their time to start with the fans behind Webster, as they should be. A sunset flip gives Webster one and he sends Coffey outside, with Mark coming up holding his hamstring. Andrews and Wolfgang tease a fight and the distraction lets Mark knock Webster down to take over.

Mark hits a full nelson slam (with the count almost happening before the audio has heard Webster landing because THIS WWE NETWORK UPDATE IS GARBAGE) for two and Mark sends him outside. A glare at Andrews is enough of a distraction for Webster to nail a suicide dive, followed by a moonsault press for two.

Mark can’t hit a jumping knee to the ribs but he can hit a kick to the side (seemed to be aiming for the head). A chokeslam gives Coffey two but Webster is right back up with is own kick to the head. Wolfgang’s distraction lets Coffey avoid the Swanton so Andrews takes Wolfgang out. Back in and Webster hooks a small package for the pin at 5:49.

Rating: D+. The interference was a bit annoying but at the same time, it makes for a better match than having the two of them have a regular match. It even makes more sense to have it go this way as Webster and Andrews are trying to get to the Tag Team Title match. It wasn’t bad, but Webster is better in a team than on his own.

Toni Storm is ready for Takeover because it’s going to be a big party in Cardiff. Toni: “You’re going to be there, I’m going to be there and I’m so sorry but what did you ask me?” She’ll be ready for Ray. I don’t think this is what happened, but were we supposed to think Toni was drunk or hungover there?

Jordan Devlin was about to be interviewed when a Piper Niven/Rhea Ripley brawl interrupted him.

Travis Banks vs. Kenny Williams

Noam Dar joins commentary. Great. Banks goes straight for the backslide for two but misses a stomp and gets taken down by the leg. Williams cartwheels away and it’s an early standoff. A jumping back elbow gives Williams one (Dar: “I would have won with that.”) but Banks is right back with a running dropkick for two of his own. Banks drops a knee for the same and the front facelock goes on. That lasts all of three seconds as Williams sends him into the ropes, setting up a sunset flip for two.

Williams misses a dive to the floor and gets taken down with a suicide dive. Back in and a top rope double stomp to the back (ouch) gives Banks two more but Williams is right back with a headlock driver for the same. Banks gets elbowed off the apron to set up a suicide dive into the barricade, followed by another top rope back elbow for two more. Banks is fine enough to hit the Slice of Heaven into the Kiwi Crusher for the pin at 5:36.

Rating: C. I still like Banks, though I’m not sure how far he’s going to be able to go given how high up the totem pole given how strong Walter is on top. They’re going to need someone to challenge whoever wins in Cardiff, but Banks might not be someone who can take that spot. Not with how many other potential stars there are on this show.

Dar mockingly applauds Banks as we seen to have something new.

Nina Samuels vs. Isla Dawn

Samuels pulls her down by the hair to start and gets a quick two before going to the cross arm choke. Dawn holds onto the ropes to avoid a whip and rolls Samuels up for two. They fight near the corner until Dawn is sent face first into the buckle. Some knees to the back give Samuels two and it’s a dropkick to the back for two. Samuels puts on something like an STF to stay on the back as the strategy is strong so far.

That’s broken up and Dawn hits a belly to back driver, followed by a knee to the face for two. Samuels gets sent to the apron but scores with a kick to the head to drop Dawn for two more. Dawn is back with a kick of her own, setting up the half and half suplex for two of her own. That’s it for Nina though as she grabs the fireman’s carry backbreaker to finish Dawn at 5:38.

Rating: C-. These two don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon but at least one of them got a win here. The women’s division has cooled off a lot in the last few weeks and there isn’t much to do as we wait on Storm vs. Ray to wrap up. They’re going to need some fresh talent in there and I’m not sure either of these two are going to be the next big thing.

We look back at last week’s Dave Mastiff vs. Joe Coffey match, which went to a double countout.

At Takeover: Coffey vs. Mastiff in a Last Man Standing match.

We go to the Westside Xtreme Wrestling gym where Walter tortures some students. This is a wrestling school and all of these people are small like Tyler Bate. After making one of the students say his name is Tyler Bate. Walter challenges the real Bate to meet him next week.

Also next week: Imperium vs. the Hunt.

Ilja Dragunov vs. Kassius Ohno

Dragunov does the cool conducting the crowd entrance, which loses some spark because the timing is out of sync. Dragunov has to power out of a headlock to start and switches to a cravate. That’s broken up with a knee to the ribs and a loud chop, which just makes Dragunov’s eyes go a little crazier. The cravate goes right back on but Ohno sends him shoulder first into the post for the break.

Ohno pulls him back in by the arm and puts on the armbar. Back up and Dragunov gets thrown throat first into the middle rope, with a rather serious Nigel wanting him checked immediately. Ohno drops a leg for two and cuts off another comeback with a big boot. The nerve hold goes on to weaken Dragunov’s arm a bit more but a hammerlock suplex is reversed into a regular one for some rather enthusiastic applause.

Dragunov tries some running clotheslines but hurts his own arm. Since he’s a bit off, Dragunov tries it again but gets hit in the arm for his efforts. Nigel wants him to use the left arm so Dragunov does just that (always listen to British wrestlers), followed by another right arm clothesline for two. That was quite a few clotheslines, arm of choice aside. Ohno takes the leg out and stomps n the arm, followed by a powerbomb into a faceplant for two. For some reason Ohno mocks Dragunov, who kicks him in the head as a result.

Ohno is sent flying with a German suplex and rolls outside, meaning the suicide dive takes him down again. Back in and Dragunov sunset bombs Ohno (who initially glared down at Dragunov for thinking he could make that work). Ohno is right back up and shoves Dragunov off the top, allowing him to get in a posting for good measure. Back in and the rolling elbow finishes Dragunov clean at 15:00.

Rating: B. I think I’m going to need an explanation for this one. What in the world are they thinking by having Dragunov, who might be the most unique talent on the entire roster, lose to Ohno, whose sole job seems to be putting people over? I’m assuming they’re setting up a rematch so Dragunov can get his revenge, but Dragunov shouldn’t need to get revenge against Kassius Ohno. I really don’t get this and I was actually surprised when Ohno won, albeit in a rather bad way.

Overall Rating: C+. Bizarre choice for the main event aside, this was a well put together show which focused on several stories, all within the span of just under an hour. That’s what a show like this should be able to do: bounce from one story or feud to another without missing a beat and they came pretty close here. The wrestling wasn’t great for the first three matches, but a quite good (albeit confusing) main event brought the rest of the show up.

Results

Flash Morgan Webster b. Mark Coffey – Small package

Travis Banks b. Kenny Williams – Kiwi Crusher

Nina Samuels b. Isla Dawn – Fireman’s carry backbreaker

Kassius Ohno b. Ilja Dragunov – Rolling elbow

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s History Of In Your House (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/05/31/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-in-your-house/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: May 8, 2019
Location: Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back in the UK and that means things can get a bit more back to normal around here. In this case we have a Tag Team Title match with the Grizzled Young Veterans defending against Amir Jordan and Kenny Williams, which seems like a filler feud until we get to something more important. Let’s get to it.

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

Sid Scala welcomes us to the show and announces an upcoming fatal four way for the #1 contendership. Tonight, we get the first of four qualifying matches with the eventual winner going on to face the winner of Walter vs. Pete Dunne.

Opening sequence.

Moustache Mountain vs. The Hunt

They seem to have dropped Wild Boar and Primate’s regular names, thank goodness. Bate takes Boar down to start and gets two off a crossbody. Seven comes in to chop Primate in the corner, which just gets him growled at for his efforts. Primate yells at him again so it’s a chop to the leg into a DDT to take Primate to the floor. The suicide dive drops him again but a Boar distraction lets Primate take over back inside. Seven fights up on Boar but it’s way too early for the Seven Star Lariat.

Rating: C+. The Hunt looked better than usual here and that’s a good sign for their future. Just dropping their real names makes them seem that much more animalesque and the wrestling backed it up. Having them wrestle like wild men is a unique way to go for them and the match was entertaining with Moustache Mountain being built up for a future title shot.

Amir Jordan has been attacked and seems to be favoring his arm as he goes to the trainer’s room.

Fatal Four Way Qualifying Match: Joe Coffey vs. Flash Morgan Webster

Coffey is the hometown boy. Flash gets thrown down with raw power to start and the fans are very pleased with Coffey. Another hard charge takes Webster down for the biggest reaction you’ll ever see to a shoulder block. Webster gets in a shot of his own to knock Coffey outside and a dropkick knocks him off the apron. Back in and a flipping splash gives Webster two, followed by a hard whip into the corner as it’s almost all Coffey so far. The swinging butterfly suplex gets two and it’s off to the nerve hold.

Webster fights out of a full nelson for a crossbody and some right hands. They fall out to the floor with Webster getting back in and hitting a running flip dive. Back in and a jumping knee to the face gives Webster two, with the fans being rather pleased on the kickout. The Swanton hits knees though and it’s All The Best For The Bells to finish Webster at 6:06.

Rating: C. Interesting crowd reaction aside, this was a fun match with both guys trying hard and Webster not being sure what to make of the fans booing him. You had to see that coming though and Coffey winning was the obvious ending, especially if they didn’t want the fans to storm the ring or something. Not bad at all and Coffey looked fired up.

Post match Gallus says this is their kingdom to try and cool the fans off but it doesn’t work in the slightest. Wolfgang wants Dave Mastiff next week but Joe tells him to focus on the four way.

We look at Pete Dunne training for his rematch with Walter in two weeks.

Ilja Dragonov is coming.

Nina Samuels vs. Kasey Owens

The fans are behind Kasey, who looks to be a little goofy. Nina stomps her down in the corner to start and a dropkick to the back makes it even worse. The chinlock goes on until Kasey fights back up for a running dropkick of her own. A shot to the back takes Kasey down again though and Nina cartwheels off the top to avoid a charge. The fireman’s carry backbreaker finishes Kasey at 2:52. Notice how they’re building Nina up. Instead of beating the champ and going for the shortcut version, she’s winning a bunch of matches in a row before she gets the bigger match. It’s worked for years and it still works now.

Post match Nina talks about how she respects Toni Storm but she’s coming for the title.

Dave Mastiff promises to beat up Wolfgang next week and smash Gallus’ kingdom. He leaves but here’s Kay Lee Ray to take his place. Kay applauds Nina for her gumption, but Kay is getting the next title shot.

Preview of the remaining qualifying matches.

Tag Team Titles: Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Amir Jordan/Kenny Williams

Jordan and Williams are challenging. Before the match, Gibson says the title match isn’t happening because Jordan is injured. The fans need to put their shoes back on and head home because the fairy tale ending isn’t happening tonight. Williams comes out to accuse the champs of attacking Jordan so he has a replacement partner.

Tag Team Titles: Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Kenny Williams/Noam Dar

Williams and Dar are challenging. The fight is on in a hurry with all four heading outside. Back in and Dar knocks Gibson into the corner with a northern lights suplex getting two. Drake comes back in for a running dropkick to Dar’s head and it’s a forearm to put him on the floor again. We settle down to Dar getting beaten down with Drake driving a knee into the ribs to keep him in trouble.

A diving save cuts off a hot tag attempt and for once it doesn’t go through a few seconds later. Dar gets in a clothesline and dives over but Gibson pulls Williams to the floor at the last second. The third attempt works a bit better and now it’s Williams coming in to clean house in a hurry. A bulldog sends Drake head first into the corner and a tornado DDT makes it even worse.

The champs head to the floor for a springboard trust fall from Williams, followed by a top rope back elbow for two on Drake. It’s back to Dar for a kick to Gibson’s knee into the ankle lock but Gibson is too close to Drake for the tag. That’s fine with Dar, who ankle locks Drake with a grapevine. Williams does the same to Gibson at the same time but Gibson kicks and punches his way to freedom.

Everyone is down until Drake gets a half crab on Dar’s recently repaired knee. Williams grabs the hand to block the tap and then kicks Drake in the face for the save. A running clothesline has Gibson in trouble but he’s right back with a middle rope Codebreaker to Dar. Williams’ wheelbarrow faceplant gets two on Gibson but Drake breaks up the Nova Roller. That leaves Williams alone against the champs, with Drake hitting a running dropkick in the corner. Helter Skelter into the 450 retains the titles at 13:30.

Rating: B. I wasn’t expecting much from the match in the first place but they made a very smart change by swapping Dar in for Jordan. This was a serious match and there was no room for Jordan’s dancing in the middle. Dar isn’t my favorite guy in the world but he was working well here and the match was rather good as a result.

Overall Rating: B+. These shows have gotten better recently and this was no exception, mainly because of another NXT principle. The main event wasn’t the biggest deal in the world but the announcers treated it like something that mattered more than anything else going on. They didn’t spend the match talking about the four way or the UK Title match and it made all the difference in the world. Rather good show here and the Glasgow crowd helped carry things very far.

Results

Moustache Mountain b. The Hunt – Dragon suplex/clothesline combination to Primate

Joe Coffey b. Flash Morgan Webster – All The Best For The Bells

Nina Samuels b. Kasey Owens – Fireman’s carry backbreaker

Grizzled Young Veterans b. Noam Dar/Kenny Williams – 450 to Williams

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Worlds Collide: Cruiserweights Collide
Date: April 17, 2019
Location: Pier 12, New York City, New York
Commentators: Aiden English, Tom Phillips

In case the last one’s name wasn’t obvious enough for you. This time is more of an international flavor though with wrestlers from NXT UK and 205 Live facing off in a series of matches. There is always some potential there and if the matches are given some time, we could be in for a fun show. Let’s get to it.

The announcers give us a quick preview.

Tyler Bate vs. Brian Kendrick

During the entrances, we get a cool photo of Bate when he was about fifteen, meeting Kendrick at an indy show in England. Naturally there’s a handshake before the bell and Kendrick thinks the BIG STRONG BOY chants are for him. A BRIAN KENDRICK chant is a little more clear as they lock up to start. Bate easily gets the better of a test of strength and Kendrick seems like he wants to try something else.

The hammerlock (Kendrick: “HA HA!”) works a bit better until Bate bounces up and down, picks up his own foot, and puts it on Kendrick’s arm for the escape. How British of him. Kendrick uses the more traditional rope break to get out of a hammerlock and tries a headlock. That means a flipping escape and right hands for the first real show of aggression. The power sends Kendrick outside, where he asks a fan why he wasn’t informed of Bate being a big strong boy.

Back in and Kendrick pokes him in the eye, which makes the referee think the match shouldn’t continue. They keep going though and Kendrick tries it again, only to have Bate block this attempt and get in an eye poke of his own. Back up and another pair of eye pokes are blocked so Bate punches him in the face instead. The referee actually yells about the punch though, allowing Kendrick to knock Bate to the floor. The USA vs. UK chants begin as Bate is holding the back of his head after a hard shot. Kendrick sends him head first into the buckle and it’s off to a double arm crank.

Since Kendrick is a veteran, he gets a USA chant going again to make sure the fans don’t get too bored. A neckbreaker gets two but Bate Hulks Up and snaps off a rather un-Hulk like hurricanrana. The running shooting star gets two and a backslide is good for the same. Kendrick is staggered but manages to snap on the Captain’s Hook in the middle of the ring. You don’t use a hold on a guy as strong as Bate, who powers him up into the airplane spin. The rolling Liger kick drops Kendrick again and the Tyler Driver 97 finishes Kendrick at 13:57.

Rating: B-. This took some time to get going but they built it up into something good by the end. Kendrick can still go in the ring every single time and he helped Bate have a good match. Bate is awesome, and the more than he gets to spend time in the ring with veterans who work a different style like this, the better he’s going to be.

Flash Morgan Webster/Mark Andrews vs. Ariya Daivari/Mike Kanellis

No Maria with Mike, lowering his interest level by at least 73%. Mike does however get a rather strong chant before the match and the fans are very pleased when he starts against Andrews. And like someone who knows what he’s doing, he hands it off to Daivari to really start instead. Another tag continues the stalling as there’s no contact in the first minute. They finally lock up at about a minute and a half with Andrews snapping off some armdrags.

A hair pull takes him down though as the fans are completely behind Kanellis again. Andrews is right back up with an armbar but it’s quickly off to Kanellis vs. Webster for a change. Webster grabs a drop toehold and it’s a standing moonsault from Andrews with Webster adding a standing Swanton for two on Kanellis.

It’s back to Daivari who has some luck by stomping Webster down in the corner, followed by a sliding boot from Kanellis for two. Daivari’s hip swivel neckbreaker gets two as he and Kanellis are getting into a nice groove with the alternating beatings. The big boot gives Kanellis two and Daivari slaps on a chinlock. Webster finally gets in a clothesline and it’s back to Andrews for a double crossbody.

The double stomp to the ribs sets up the standing moonsault to Daivari and Kanellis gets knocked down. An assisted 450 gets two more on Daivari and there are the stereo flip dives to the floor. Back in and Webster gets crotched on the top so Kanellis nails a Michinoku Driver. Kanellis superkicks Daivari by mistake though and Andrews hits the Stundog Millionaire. Webster’s Swanton to the back finishes Kanellis at 13:06.

Rating: C+. This took some time to get into but it turned into a straight formula tag match with the time to set it up. That’s something that is going to work every time, which is why it became the formula over the years. Webster has grown on me so much in recent weeks and his tagging with Andrews has been a big part of that. Nice match here.

Albert Hardie Jr. vs. Gran Metalik vs. Ligero

Hardie is better known as ACH. Just to make sure he fits in, he even puts on an invisible ask as the feeling out process begins. Ligero runs Hardie over but walks into an armdrag from Metalik. That means an early standoff as the fans seem to be behind Metalik so far. Ligero gets kicked to the floor so Hardie can flip around a lot and send Metalik to the floor. Back in and Ligero returns the kick to Hardie’s face, meaning it’s already time for Ligero vs. Metalik. The latter’s rope walk dropkick gets two but Hardie is back in to kick Metalik’s leg out.

Hardie slows things down with an abdominal stretch until he has to get rolled up to give Ligero two. A big flip dive to the floor takes Metalik down and it’s time to rip at Ligero’s mask to make Hardie a bit of a heel. It’s back to the abdominal stretch as Hardie continues to be a little different.

Metalik is more of a traditionalist and superkicks Hardie in the face to break it up. The handspring back elbow drops Ligero and Hardie and a suicide dive drops Hardie again. The Metalik Driver gets two on Hardie with Ligero making the save. Ligero’s springboard Stunner drops Metalik and there’s the big flip dive to take him down again. A bridging German suplex gives Hardie two on Metalik and a kick to the face sends Metalik outside. That leaves Ligero to hit C4L to put Hardie away at 11:12.

Rating: C. This was a moves match as they went from one spot to another with nothing in the middle. I’ve never been a big ACH fan and a lot of the problem stems from this being his go to match: a bunch of very athletic stuff, minus anything to bridge it together. It’s a perfectly watchable match, but it feels like something I’ve seen a dozen times.

Akira Tozawa vs. Jordan Devlin

Devlin starts slowly with some kicks to the leg so Tozawa takes him down for a stalemate. A hammerlock into a front facelock has Devlin in trouble so he reverses into a leglock as the grappling continues. With that not working, Tozawa kicks him in the face and drops the backsplash, setting up the hard corner stomps.

A backbreaker gets Devlin out of trouble and he kicks Tozawa in the back to make it worse. The release Rock Bottom into the standing moonsault (onto Tozawa’s side) gets two and it’s off to a waistlock. That’s broken up with elbows to the face and a knee to the face drops Devlin again. Devlin is smart enough to roll away from the top rope backsplash so Tozawa hits a suicide dive instead.

The Black Widow makes Devlin scream but Tozawa is no AJ Lee so it’s not quite enough. Tozawa wins a slugout until an exchange of kicks to the head puts both guys down. Devlin is up first but the slingshot cutter is countered into a bridging German suplex for two. The top rope backsplash hits knees though and Devlin’s pull up Saito suplex finishes Tozawa at 13:08.

Rating: B-. Another good match here as Devlin has found his groove and become one of the best things about whatever show he’s on anymore. Tozawa was his usual entertaining self as his charisma and work are more than enough to carry him in any match. Devlin seems destined to be a star though and that’s a good sign for NXT UK’s future.

Overall Rating: B. Pretty solid show here, even if it’s nothing that you need to see and nothing I’m going to remember in about a day. That’s the problem with these shows: they feel like they’re just content for the sake of content and that’s not the most thrilling thing in the world. Check this one out though as it’s four rather good (at worst completely watchable) matches in front of an energized crowd.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: April 24, 2019
Location: Pier 12, New York City, New York
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

We’re still in New York and the big story seems to be the setup for the rematch between Pete Dunne and Walter for the UK Title. That’s more than enough to carry the show for the time being as the match itself feels so huge. Couple that with some of the rather nice midcard material they have and we’re in good shape. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Ligero vs. Kassius Ohno

Ohno powers him down to start and talks trash about Ligero being one of the best British wrestlers around. A sunset flip attempt is blocked and Ohno kicks him in the face for one. Back up and Ligero grabs a headscissors to send him outside but the flip dive from the apron sends Ligero head first into the steps. Ohno: “DID YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT???” The chinlock goes on with Ohno laying back to bend Ligero over his knees. With that broken up, Ohno steps on Ligero’s hand and kicks him in the head a few times. The pump kick and backsplash miss though and Ligero starts firing off kicks to the knee.

Some kicks to Ohno’s head even things out a lot and a top rope splash gets two. Sliced Bread is blocked so Ligero gets two off a victory roll. Code Red gets the same and there’s a running flip dive over the top to drop Ohno again. Sliced Bread off the steps plants Ohno on the floor and he barely beats the count back in. With nothing else working, Ohno goes for the mask to blind Ligero, setting up the Roaring Elbow for the pin at 10:08.

Rating: B-. I know it makes sense but I’m rather tired of going for the mask against luchadors. Otherwise this was a rather good match with Ohno being all cocky and arrogant until Ligero fought back to make it even. Ohno needing to cheat in the end completed the story very well and there’s a good chance that we’ll be getting a rematch, which could be rather entertaining.

Jordan Devlin isn’t happy that his match with Walter is going to be non-title because Johnny Saint wants to protect the rematch of the century. Devlin doesn’t care, because next week he’ll beat Walter up and earn himself a title match.

Video on Wild Boar and Primate.

Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel walk through Axxess, making fun of fans at the create an entrance booth. The entrance and the ring are sacred ground and they don’t like having it treated as a joke.

Here’s Toni Storm for a chat. She’s proud to represent this brand on the most important week of the year. Toni lists off all the great talent in the division (including Rhea Ripley) but promises to be champion for a long time. That’s it for Toni, but it’s Kay Lee Ray (who Storm didn’t mention) coming out as Storm is leaving.

Kay Lee Ray vs. Xia Li

With the hold broken up, Kay has to duck away from a spinning kick to the face and hits a superkick of her own. Li is in trouble in the corner and Kay makes it worse by sending the arm into the corner. The armbar doesn’t last long as Li throws her down and comes back with some forearms. A flying mare sets up a spinning kick to the face for two on Kay, who is right back with a superkick. The Gory Bomb finishes Li at 5:27.

Rating: C-. Li has gotten better since she was in the Mae Young Classic but this was all about getting Kay over as a star. The lack of a mention from Toni is a good way to start something between the two of them and Ray’s reputation suggests that she should be fine on that level. Kay looked good here, and that’s what matters.

Piper Niven is at Axxess (or at least on the Axxess set as there doesn’t seem to be anyone around. She’s ready to keep proving herself to Rhea Ripley.

The Grizzled Young Veterans throw Kenny Williams and Amir Jordan’s gear out of the locker room.

Mark Andrews/Flash Morgan Webster vs. Moustache Mountain

Bate and Andrews start things off and we get the handshake of respect. The battle over arm control allows Bate to use his very British counter to escape and it’s back to a standoff. Andrews’ armdrag attempt is blocked with pure power so he switches off to Webster to come in with a top rope stomp to Bate’s arm. That doesn’t hurt Bate’s leg though and he dropkicks his way out of trouble, allowing the tag off to Seven. Webster is fast enough to drop toehold him down and grab a front facelock, meaning it’s back to Andrews.

That doesn’t go very well as Seven rips the skin off of Andrew’s chest with some chops. The fireman’s carry slam into the Swanton from Bate gets two and it’s already back to Seven to keep Andrews down. Andrews finally elbows his way to freedom and it’s Webster coming back in with a standing Lionsault. Seven backdrops his way out of trouble and hands it back to Bate to speed things up again. That means running elbows in the corner to Andrews and Webster, followed by the airplane spin/giant swing combination (that will never stop impressing me).

Webster counters the Tyler Driver 97 so it’s an airplane spin on the floor. Back in and the running shooting star gets two on Andrews, who is right back up with the double Pele to both Mountaineers. The tornado DDT gives Webster two on Seven and we settle back down to Seven chopping both of them away.

Bate comes back in for the Dragon suplex/clothesline combination, meaning Webster has to come off the top with a Swanton to break up a double cover. Webster gets the blind tag and it’s a running knee/reverse hurricanrana combination (cool) for two on Bate with Seven making the save. Seven comes back in for the snap dragon suplex, setting up the Burning Hammer/top rope knee combination to finish Webster at 12:29.

Rating: B. This took its time to get going but at the end Moustache Mountain was sweating a bit, which is more than you would expect from a team like Webster and Andrews. The tag division needs teams like these and Andrews and Webster got a nice rub here. That being said, Bate and Seven are getting the titles at some point, as they should.

Overall Rating: B. Another strong show here with mostly good wrestling and things being set up for the future. It’s no classic and the American crowds aren’t as interested as their UK counterparts, but they saw a good hour of wrestling, which is more than a lot of audiences get. Good stuff here, and the big guns are coming back soon.

Results

Kassius Ohno b. Ligero – Roaring elbow

Kay Lee Ray b. Xia Li – Gory Bomb

Moustache Mountain b. Flash Morgan Webster/Mark Andrews – Burning Hammer/top rope knee drop combination to Webster

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: March 13, 2019
Location: Coventry Skydome Arena, Coventry, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

With less than a month to go before Wrestlemania, it’s time to get things ready for what should be the most obvious title match in years. Tonight Pete Dunne and Walter team up to face the Coffey Brothers in what should be an interesting match. Other than that it’s time to keep setting things up for what is probably coming up after New York. Let’s get to it.

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

Sid Scala and Johnny Saint arrive and promise a big night.

Opening sequence.

Flash Morgan Webster vs. Wolfgang

The Coffey Brothers go to the back as Wolfgang goes after Webster, who comes out with a jumping knee to the face and some right hands. The springboard attempt earns him a face first drop onto the top turnbuckle and a clothesline turns Webster inside out. The front facelock keeps Webster in trouble until he fights up for a dropkick to the floor.

A suicide clothesline to the back of the head and a regular suicide dive has Wolfgang rocked, followed by the big running flip dive to finally knock him down. An enziguri sends Wolfgang from the ropes to the floor but something like a 619 around the post is countered with a ram into said post. A powerbomb into the post sets up the Caber Toss to finish Webster at 5:19.

Rating: C. That’s one of the better matches Wolfgang has ever had and that’s not saying much. As long as he isn’t allowed to talk and tell us about how great he is, everything will be acceptable. Webster has grown on me just enough to make him tolerable and I think I like him a little more as a singles guy than in the team.

Post match Wolfgang beats him down a bit more.

Kassius Ohno finds it amazing that an American is bringing the European style to NXT UK. He follows the British tradition and these new guys have no idea what kind of opportunity they have.

Kenny Williams/Amir Jordan vs. Tyson T-Bone/Saxon Huxley

These four seem like an anachronism these days. Williams rolls Huxley up for two to start and a legdrop onto the arm keeps him in trouble. Jordan comes in and can’t sunset flip T-Bone, who drives him into the corner. Forearms to the back set up a suplex for two and it’s off to a chinlock. An enziguri finally gets Jordan out of trouble for the hot tag to Williams so the pace can pick up. Williams cleans house, including a backdrop to send Huxley outside. Good looking stereo suicide dives send the villains outside, followed by the Swanton Bombay to finish Huxley at 5:54.

Post match Jordan and Williams dance to not much of a reaction.

Jinny doesn’t want to hear about Toni Storm anymore because she just wants the title.

Eddie Dennis is back next week to face Ligero, a mainstay in British wrestling for nearly twenty years. He’ll take NXT UK apart one by one and Ligero is the first victim.

Here’s Noam Dar for a chat. He’s been around before but this time he’s here to stay. Dar is here to bring his talents to NXT UK and next month, he’ll be around for the Glasgow, Scotland tapings. Dar was here last June when things got started and the people here have been doing a good enough job. 4/10 maybe. Some people showed up here and left just as fast or someone like Mark Andrews got dropped on his head and left on his skateboard. This brings out Andrews for an enziguri to send Dar running. Dar is a nice addition to the roster and a better fit here than anywhere else.

Xia Brookside says her last name is a blessing and a curse. She needs to stand up for herself and that means fighting bullies like Rhea Ripley.

Video on Wild Boar and Primate.

Kay Lee Ray vs. Candy Floss

This is Ray’s debut and she grabs an early armbar. Floss goes arm first into the buckle but manages a rollup for two anyway. That’s it for Floss as it’s a superkick into a Gory Bomb to give Ray the pin at 2:18. Standard debut squash and Ray looked dominant.

Moustache Mountain is thriving in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic but they’re not done with the NXT UK Tag Team Titles. Tyler Bate wants to face James Drake soon.

Scala and Saint make Drake vs. Bate for next week. Saint seems more and more useless in this role by the week.

Coffey Brothers vs. Pete Dunne/Walter

Pete and Mark get us going with Dunne not taking kindly to being backed up against the ropes. A takedown by the arm works a bit better for Dunne and the wrist cranking has Mark in more trouble. Mark grabs the arm as well but Dunne nips and spins right back into another armbar, this time with the arm stomp. Referee: “Easy, easy!” Seems rather appropriate in England.

Walter comes in to work on the arm even more, including copying Dunne’s arm stomp. Mark gets up and tries a chop, causing Walter to walk straight at him in an awesome visual. It’s off to Joe whose headlock and shoulder have no effect. Walter shows him how to throw a shoulder, followed by demonstrating chops for Dunne. Everything breaks down and all four head outside with Dunne and Walter dropping them on the apron before staring each other down in the ring.

Back in and Dunne hits a middle rope dropkick to Joe’s knee, followed by a surfboard double knee stomp. The blind tag lets Mark come in though and he intercepts a leapfrog into a German suplex to take over. The double teaming doesn’t last long as Dunne snaps off a German suplex of his own to drop Mark but Joe dives over to break up the tag. Say it with me: but it goes through a few seconds later, this time with Walter coming in to beat up the brothers.

A big boot in the corner sets up a running seated senton for two on Joe, followed by a swinging Rock Bottom for the same. It’s back to Dunne and Mark with Pete kicking and punching as only he can. Walter tags himself back in and dropkicks Mark into the corner with a butterfly suplex getting two. Joe breaks up a Boston crab by chopping Walter. It doesn’t break the hold by traditional means, but it annoys him so much that he lets go to chop Joe instead. Walter gets pulled off the ropes and slapped a few times, mainly because Mark isn’t that bright.

The sleeper goes on with Joe trying to make a save, meaning it’s a German suplex to both brothers at the same time. You know, because that can be done. Dunne kicks them both in the head and goes after Joe’s arm as Walter sleepers Mark. Joe finally slips out and slams Pete onto the other two for the save in an NXT trope. With nothing else working, Joe grabs the title and hands it to Mark, leaving Dunne and Walter to have an intense staredown. That’s broken up as well, though this time with Walter kicking Mark in the face and powerbombing him for the pin at 16:15.

Rating: B+. This was a great mixture of action and storytelling as Dunne has to prove that he can hang with Walter, who looked like he was doing a lot of this stuff with ease. Walter taking it up another level to win in the end with Dunne watching was a great ending and should set up their title match. Other than that you had the Coffeys looking awesome in their best performance outside of Takeover. Rather awesome main event.

Replays show that the big boot to Mark cut him off before he could hit Pete with the title to add another shade of gray.

Dunne goes to get the title but Walter steps on it and hands the belt to Dunne to end the show. Yep it’s going to be great.

Overall Rating: B. The great main event is all the show needed to be a solid one and that’s what we got here. They’re building towards the one big match right now, which is all they need to do. At best Dunne vs. Walter is going to get a spot on Takeover: New York and there’s no need to focus on much of anything else right now. The good thing is that’s more than enough to carry the show, which it more than did here.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: February 20, 2019
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s the second week in Phoenix and last week got things off to a good start. The different venue and crowd offer a nice change of pace and that can help freshen things up a little bit. We’re still on the way towards Walter vs. Pete Dunne for the UK Title and with the right build, it could be a classic. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Toni Storm beating Rhea Ripley to become Women’s Champion last month and Ripley not handling the loss well. The rematch is tonight.

Opening sequence.

Mark Andrews/Flash Morgan Webster vs. Coffey Brothers

For the sake of sanity, I’ll only refer to Mark Coffey as Mark and Mark Andrews as Andrews. Mark literally throws Flash around to start and it’s off to Joe for some stomps to the ribs. A quick dropkick gets Flash out of trouble and it’s off to Andrews as the pace picks up in a hurry. That’s a good thing for Andrews, though a blind tag lets the Brothers hit a pop up uppercut to take over again. You can’t beat the brotherly thinking. A double chop keeps Andrews in trouble and they take turns on full nelsons.

Joe switches to a double underhook but a buckle bomb attempt is countered and the hot tag brings in Flash. The standing Lionsault sets up a hurricanrana from the apron to the floor to keep Mark down. A jumping knee to the face into an assisted moonsault gets two on Joe. We settle back down with Joe slugging away at Andrews until Flash tags himself in to help on a tornado DDT. Stereo flip dives to the floor drop the Brothers and there’s a Stundog Millionaire to Joe. Mark suplexes Andrews onto the apron though and All The Best For The Bells finishes Flash at 8:29.

Rating: B-. This was a good sign on multiple fronts, starting with the fact that it was a rather nice match. As usual, power vs. speed is something that is always going to work and that was the case here. Other than that, it makes the Coffey Brothers they should have been all along. Joe vs. Pete Dunne was good, but when you have your brother right there, why is he teaming with another guy like Wolfgang? It never made sense, though Joe vs. Dunne was a better idea than Dunne vs. Wolfgang any day.

Video on Nina Samuels, who seems to like the spotlight.

Jordan Devlin is back in Ireland and promises to be the best, as always.

Video on Kay Lee Ray, who is awesomely Scottish and coming to the women’s division.

Trent Seven vs. Shane Thorne

Shane is making the rounds as of late and this makes as much sense as anything else for him. Feeling out process to start with Seven’s wristlock giving Thorne some early problems. Thorne’s shoulder doesn’t get him very far so he snaps Seven’s arm across the top rope. The shoulder gets wrapped around the post and it’s off to an armbar. Seven is right back up with a suplex into a slam for two and it’s off to a rather quick Figure Four.

The hold is turned over and they fall to the floor with both guys banging up their knees. Back in and Thorne gets slammed off the top but manages to block the Figure Four. A hard belly to back suplex puts Seven down for two and a kind of chickenwing hold is right back on the arm. Not that it matters as Seven shoves him away and hits the Seven Star Lariat for the pin at 8:59.

Rating: C. I know the Mighty wasn’t the most popular team in the world but Thorne is carving out a very nice place for himself as someone who can have a watchable match with just about anyone. That’s going to keep him around for a long time and we had a nice match here. Seven sells limb injuries well and this was no exception.

Jack Gallagher wants to wrestle in NXT UK and will talk to Johnny Saint about it over a cup of tea.

Here are the Grizzled Young Veterans for a chat. The heat isn’t as strong on Zack Gibson here as he talks about how hard the two of them have worked to get here. He doesn’t like being here instead of back home in Liverpool having a cup of tea, but he’s here to explain why British wrestling is the best in the world. They can’t have the best competition because they are the best competition.

The challengers can be from 205 Live, NXT or NXT UK because it won’t matter. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch can come for their shot whenever. Here are Burch and Lorcan in person with Burch telling Gibson to shut up. Burch is proud to be British but he’s more proud to represent these fans. The match is next week but Burch and Lorcan chase them off now.

Next week: Gallagher vs. Tyler Bate.

Also next week: Walter vs. Kassius Ohno. That’s a stacked show.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm vs. Rhea Ripley

Storm is defending and the fight starts before the bell with Ripley throwing her into the corner. The bell rings and Ripley stomps away before forearming the champ against the ropes. Ripley starts in on the back with a backbreaker getting two as the pace slows a bit. The bodyscissors goes on for a bit until Storm is up with some right hands.

Those just earn her a dropkick for two, which is quite the visual from the rather big Ripley. The standing Cloverleaf has Storm in even more trouble but she rolls Ripley outside. That means a suicide dive to start the real comeback and a running hip attack in the corner makes things worse for Ripley. The back is too banged up for Storm Zero so it’s a Backstabber instead, which works well enough.

Storm takes some time following up though and it’s a slugout from their knees. The champ gets the better of it but gets caught on top, allowing Ripley to grab a superplex for two. Ripley misses a charge into the post though and a quick Storm Zero retains the title at 11:00. That was a very fast finish and it felt like they had another minute or two in there.

Rating: B-. It wasn’t anything great but it was high enough quality to work just fine. Storm retaining wasn’t exactly a surprise and that’s ok for a pretty big TV main event. Both of them looked polished and the women’s division is getting some depth, meaning that it doesn’t have to be these two over and over. Ripley can go rebuild for a bit and she’s going to be fine in the long run.

Overall Rating: B-. This show worked well as it felt more like a regular NXT show: one feature match and enough other stuff to keep the whole thing entertaining. They moved around enough from one story to another and all of those things feel fresh. Also, and again just like NXT, they don’t have the same people on every week and it keeps the shows from being repetitive. They’re getting the formula right and that’s a very positive sign.

Results

Coffey Brothers b. Flash Morgan Webster/Mark Andrews – All The Best For The Bells to Webster

Trent Seven b. Shane Thorne – Seven Star Lariat

Toni Storm b. Rhea Ripley – Storm Zero

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: January 16, 2019
Location: Empress Ballroom, Blackpool, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

So despite not being on the schedule, this show is airing tonight because there’s always one more episode than what you might actually want. This seems to be the standard dark matches from Takeover show and hopefully it’s more like Takeover than the regular TV show. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a long recap of Takeover. It really was a heck of a show.

Opening sequence.

Saxon Huxley vs. Ligero

Ligero soaks it in a bit but charges into a delayed slam for two to cut himself off. Some knees to the ribs give Huxley two and it’s off to a quick crossarm choke. Back up and Ligero hangs onto the ropes to block a whip, setting up an enziguri to put Huxley down. The missile dropkick gives Ligero two and a bottom rope springboard Stunner is good for the same. The springboard tornado DDT (C4L, Crazy 4 Ligero) finishes Huxley at 5:23.

Rating: D+. That choke killed a lot of the momentum they had as Ligero was doing most of the work here. Huxley’s big power offense was a single slam, which is probably why he got beaten clean by Ligero. I could see a nice little mini push for Ligero but Huxley might need to be pushed out as it’s not exactly there for him.

Jinny vs. Isla Dawn

Back in and Jinny gets a boot up in the corner to stop Dawn, setting up an abdominal stretch. A Downward Spiral into the middle buckle gets two and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up with a belly to back suplex but Dawn gets crotched in the corner. Jinny plants her with an X Factor from the ropes for the pin at 6:17.

Rating: D. Jinny is the kind of person who needs the talking time to really make things work that much better. She’s fine in the ring, but this was little more than two people doing moves to each other until one of them got a pin. Dawn has already had her shot so it makes sense to have her get out of the way for Jinny to have her chance.

Travis Banks wants Jordan Devlin next week.

Mark Andrews/Flash Morgan Webster vs. Fabian Aichner/Marcel Barthel

Aichner avoids an early dropkick attempt and gets chopped down for his efforts. Barthel and Webster come in with Barthel getting knocked into the corner, leaving Aichner to catch Webster with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Barthel poses and puts on a chinlock before allowing Webster to flip out of a belly to back suplex. That’s enough for the hot (I guess) tag to Andrews so house can be cleaned. Everything breaks down and an assisted 450 gives Andrews two.

Aichner gets in a cheap shot to take over and it’s a spinebuster into a penalty kick for two more. Everything breaks down again and Andrews gets brainbustered out of the corner for the latest near fall. The fans actually get on their feet, which I’m not sure is quite yet deserved. A moonsault into a double kick to the head rocks the villains and Webster drops a Swanton for two on Aichner. The Stundog Millionaire sends Barthel outside but Andrews’ dive is countered into a drive into the barricade. Back in and Webster gets dropkicked, setting up a powerbomb/top rope European uppercut for the pin at 9:37.

Rating: C+. It takes something special to get beyond the levels of boring that Barthel adds to every match he’s in. The match was a nice high flying vs. power match and that’s something that is going to work every time you run the thing. Webster and Andrews can be a perfectly acceptable face team until their inevitable split and feud, which should be fun and let Webster turn into the heel that I always thought he was.

Overall Rating: C-. Well that was a completely necessary use of forty minutes. I didn’t see this show announced on the Network schedule and really, I can see why. The wrestling was fine but this episode didn’t need to exist as it offered a grand total of nothing that was necessary to see. At least they kept it a lot shorter though as dragging this out to the near hour (or more) that this show runs every week would have been an even bigger waste of time. Nothing too bad, but absolutely not worth your time.

Results

Ligero b. Saxon Huxley – C4L

Jinny b. Isla Dawn – X Factor

Fabian Aichner/Marcel Barthel b. Mark Andrews/Flash Morgan Webster – Powerbomb/European uppercut combination to Webster

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: January 9, 2019
Location: Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re coming up on the first Takeover and that means a few more things have to be pieced together. One such thing is the other half of the Tag Team Title match. We’ll take care of that tonight with the other semifinal match in the Tag Team Title tournament, with Flash Morgan Webster/Mark Andrews vs. Zack Gibson/James Drake. I think you know where this is going so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Jamie Ahmed/Dan Moloney vs. Amir Jordan/Kenny Williams

Jamie cranks on Jordan’s arm to start but Williams comes in to jump over Ahmed to start in on his arm. It’s already back to Jordan for two off a splash and a running forearm in the corner. A cheap shot from the apron lets Ahmed hit a clothesline for two and it’s off to Moloney to keep Jordan in trouble. It’s off to a hammerlock for a bit until a backdrop allows the hot tag to Williams. A springboard back elbow drops Ahmed and it’s time for some kicks to the face. Jordan makes a blind tag as Williams dives onto Moloney. The Swanton finishes Ahmed at 3:59. Williams and Jordan are shocked that they actually won something.

Rating: C-. Williams and Jordan looked good here but we’ve already established that they’re not going to win anything against a bigger name team. You have to build them up somehow though and this worked well enough. Their stunned look was a nice touch too as they haven’t had any significant success coming into this win so they’ll take anything they can get here.

We look back at Joe Coffey destroying Pete Dunne to end last week’s show.

Here’s Gallus (with Wolfgang playing Batista as the Coffey Brothers have matching shirts and Wolfgang is in a vest) for a chat. Joe says no one likes them and they’re fine with that. Next week (or later today if you live in the real world) it’s finally Gallus vs. British Strong Style. Dunne is going to be lucky to be able to walk out of the ring and make it to Blackpool because this is their kingdom. The group pose takes us out. Nothing to say here, but Joe has good delivery.

Earlier today we had a press conference (with the invisible press) for the Women’s Title match at Takeover. Toni Storm is proud of winning the Mae Young Classic but winning the title would mean even more. Rhea Ripley, with her feet on the table, isn’t worried about Toni because she’s beaten her before.

Toni was injured in the first match and that’s going to motivate her to win the title. She lists off all the women she beat in the tournament, with Rhea just saying “didn’t beat me”. Rhea doesn’t take kindly to her win being called a fluke because she’s the face of NXT UK. The fight is almost on with Johnny Saint holding them back as Rhea says Storm will never be champion. The press conference bit was kind of dumb but at least it was different.

Joseph Conners doesn’t think much of Ligero, who he faces next week.

Isla Dawn vs. Xia Brookside

We actually get a handshake to start as the fans aren’t sure who they like more here. A wristlock gives us a standoff so Dawn takes her down into a quickly broken armbar. Dawn slips out of a headscissors and works on the legs, which just seems to annoy Brookside. Back up and Brookside dances out of a crossarm choke to put Dawn in one of her own. Dawn reverses into the same thing before it’s off to a pinfall reversal sequence for some near falls each. Brookside tries a victory roll but Dawn uses the Owen Hart counter by sitting down on it for the pin at 4:59.

Rating: C-. This didn’t have the time to go anywhere but Brookside continues to be all kinds of charming and adorable while Dawn is the kind of person who could be built back up into something bigger down the line. They’re going to need some fresh challengers after Takeover and while Dawn has already lost a shot, it’s not like they have any better options at the moment.

Video on Dave Mastiff vs. Eddie Dennis. Eddie promises to put him down for good in Blackpool.

During the break, Jinny jumped Dawn, who seemed more surprised than anything else.

Damien Weir vs. Jordan Devlin

Devlin works on the arm to start and flips him over into an armbar on the mat. Weir gets taken into the corner where Devlin says this is just having fun because Weir isn’t in his league. That earns Devlin a right hand but it’s a release Rock Bottom into the standing moonsault. Weir gets his back bent over a knee and it’s off to the double arm crank. A victory roll gives Weir two so Devlin kicks him in the head. Devlin scores with a slingshot cutter and the hard belly to back suplex makes it worse. Ireland’s Call finishes Weir at 4:49.

Rating: D+. Just a squash here though Devlin is starting to separate himself from the rest of the midcard pack. They need to get to a big match for him already and having him vs. Travis Banks before Takeover would be perfectly fine. Neither of them is near the top of the show but you have to have some midcard feuds in there somewhere.

Post match Devlin grabs the mic but Banks comes in to chase him off. The proposed fight doesn’t happen tonight.

Moustache Mountain is ready for either team in Blackpool.

Tag Team Title Tournament Semifinals: Flash Morgan Webster/Mark Andrews vs. James Drake/Zack Gibson

The winners get Moustache Mountain on Saturday. Drake and Andrews start things off but it’s quickly off to Gibson to knock Webster off the top. A Doomsday Device gets two on Andrews and we’re only about 45 seconds in. That’s followed by a middle rope elbow/backbreaker combination on the floor as Andrews is still in serious trouble. Back in and we hit the chinlock, followed by a heck of a chinlock from Drake.

Gibson grabs another chinlock but Andrews finally kicks the villains into each other, allowing the hot tag to Webster. That brings the fans right back into it and Webster clotheslines Drake down to hammer away. A running flip dive drops Gibson on the floor, followed by the Baba O’Reilly Buster for two on Drake. Gibson counters a monkey flip with an armbar but Webster knocks him outside without much effort.

An assisted standing 450 gives Andrews two on Gibson but Webster gets pulled to the floor. Ticket to Ride is good for two on Andrews, who hurricanranas Drake into Gibson for a breather. Webster comes in with a Swanton to both guys and a reverse hurricanrana gets two on Drake. That puts everyone down and the fans are very pleased. Gibson heads outside and catches Andrews’ dive, reversing it into Helter Skelter on the ramp. Back in and another Ticket to Ride finishes Webster at 8:19.

Rating: B. This was looking pretty boring to start but my goodness it picked up steam as they got going. I was expecting Webster and Andrews to just be the spunky challengers who were little more than a roadblock for Drake and Gibson but they turned it into a rather good match with everyone working hard and giving us the obvious ending, but not before a great effort.

Overall Rating: B-. The main event helped a lot here and it made for a rather good show. That’s what they need as we get closer to Takeover, which isn’t the most thrilling show in the world. They can make something out of it though, and that’s the best effort they can get in at the moment. Drake and Gibson advancing should promise us a good Tag Team Title match as well and that’s what Takeover needs. Nice show, with one rather good development.

Results

Kenny Williams/Amir Jordan b. Jamie Ahmed/Dan Moloney – Swanton Bomb to Moloney

Isla Dawn b. Xia Brookside – Rollup

Jordan Devlin b. Damien Weir – Ireland’s Call

Zack Gibson/James Drake b. Flash Morgan Webster/Mark Andrews – Ticket to Ride to Webster

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: December 12, 2018
Location: Plymouth Pavilions, Devon, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

Last week’s show saw the in-ring return of Travis Banks, who offers some fresh talent around the top of the card. Banks might not be the biggest star around, but he’s someone who can add a lot to the show. Other than that, Rhea Ripley is still looking for competition and she might find some of that tonight. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the announcement of the Tag Team Titles. Wait when was that announced in the first place? I know we were promised an update this week but this is being treated like previous information.

Opening sequence.

Flash Morgan Webster vs. Fabian Aichner

Earlier today, Mark Andrews warned Webster to be careful with Aichner. There’s no handshake to start so Webster tries forearming away to little effect. An armdrag works somewhat better but Aichner sends him outside for a whip into the steps. Cue Andrews to check on Webster and he gets back in just in time. Aichner forearms away at the chest and hits an uppercut to the back of the head to keep Webster in trouble. Back up and Aichner gets in a hard slam for two and it’s off to a nerve hold.

Webster fights up and avoids a running knee in the corner to send Aichner outside in a crash. The Modern Knee gets two but Aichner is right back with a hard running clothesline for two of his own. Webster drops him again but this time Aichner rolls away before Webster can come off the top. Aichner pulls him outside for the knee against the steps, only to have Andrews stop him just in time. Back in and Aichner’s powerbomb is countered into a jackknife rollup for the pin at 9:36.

Rating: C-. Well it was nice while it lasted for Aichner. This promotion needs stars and that doesn’t mean a small guy like Webster who has a funny costume. Aichner has a great look and some power, along with the Evolve Championship, so of course he’s losing here to a guy like Webster. Rather annoying but it could be a lot worse.

Amir Jordan tries to get the interviewer to dance but Kenny Williams comes in and says it’s time to go after the Tag Team Titles.

Gallus is ready to take care of Moustache Mountain and Travis Banks. Apparently Mark Coffey and Wolfgang are going after the Tag Team Titles instead of, you know, the Coffey Brothers.

Isla Dawn vs. Killer Kelly

Some kicks to the legs don’t get either of them anywhere so Dawn takes her down by the leg. The leg is slammed into the mat but Kelly suplexes her into the corner. Vic calls that the hardest part of the ring, after YEARS of telling us that it’s the apron. Stop lying to me Joseph!!! Kelly’s cravate doesn’t go very far as Dawn is right back with a backdrop driver. A running knee rocks Kelly and the snap suplex Jackhammer gives Dawn the pin at 3:15.

Rating: C. This was the best match I’ve seen from either of them, though I’m having some issues with someone called the White Witch as a face. Kelly is someone who has gotten some good reviews and this was the first time I saw the potential in her. Nice match, especially with the little amount of time they had.

Post match Dawn says she wants the Women’s Title and Rhea Ripley. This brings out Ripley to say bring it. Dawn promises that it will be brought.

Dave Mastiff is ready for a title shot when Eddie Dennis comes in to offer a challenge of his own. Mastiff isn’t the only undefeated monster around here.

Kenny Williams/Amir Jordan vs. James Drake/Zack Gibson

Drake and Jordan get things going with Jordan hitting a quick running crossbody. The fans are already all over Gibson as Williams comes in to work on the arm. That means the armbar before it’s back to Jordan for a hiptoss. Stereo suicide dives put the villains down and Jordan hits a high crossbody for two on Drake. Gibson comes in and you can hear the energy go out of the crowd. He drops Jordan back first onto the barricade and it’s off to the chinlock as the fans have taken their shoes off in hatred of Gibson.

Jordan jawbreaks his way to freedom and scores with a neckbreaker but Drake blocks the hot tag….which goes through a few seconds later. I’m really getting tired of that trope. Williams comes in with a springboard back elbow to the jaw and it’s already back to Jordan for a Downward Spiral. Everything breaks down and Jordan gets sent to the floor, leaving Williams to take the reverse powerbomb into the Codebreaker (Ticket to Mayhem) for the pin at 6:55.

Rating: C+. This was the best performance from Jordan so far but that’s not exactly setting a high mark. Gibson and Drake are an awesome team and anytime you can have the fans going nuts on Gibson like they do, it’s always a great moment. He’s one of the only over heels on the roster and the more he’s out there, the better.

Moustache Mountain wants the Tag Team Titles.

Next week: Mastiff vs. Dennis.

Joe Coffey vs. Trent Seven

Tyler Bate and the rest of Gallus are here. They lock up to start with Coffey taking over on the arm as the fans chant for Trent. Some chops don’t get Trent very far so he slips out of a suplex, only to bang up his knee. Coffey ducks his head and gets caught in a DDT with the knee not letting Trent follow up. They head outside for the showdown between everyone at ringside and Joe uses the distraction to get in a jumping stomp from the apron. Back in and Trent sends him right back outside, meaning it’s time for another big staredown.

Bate and Seven dropkick the three of them off the apron and Bate hits a suicide dive on Wolfgang. The three not involved fight to the back, leaving Trent to hit his own dive onto Joe. Back in and Joe goes after the knee with some kicks in the corner. A running shoulder to the knee makes things even worse but a second running shoulder hits post. Trent’s knee is fine enough for a top rope superplex and they’re both slow to get up. Trent snaps off a German suplex for two and slaps on a quickly broken Figure Four.

They head to the apron with Coffey hitting a belly to belly suplex to the floor. That’s only good for a very close nine (with the referee slowing down so Trent could make it) so Coffey stomps and trash talks some more. A double powerbomb gives Coffey two and it’s off to a half crab. Trent finally grabs the rope and it’s time for a slugout with Seven snapping off a dragon suplex. The knee gives out again though and Coffey hits his own German suplex. One heck of a discus lariat finishes Seven at 15:02.

Rating: B. Coffey is starting to turn into a pretty good villain but I’m still not sure what the point is in having him wrestle as a singles guy while his brother is in a tag team. Then again, it’s certainly better than having Wolfgang as a singles guy. They’re building up a new star though and that’s what they need to do so well done on that front. Good match too, but that’s to be expected with Trent.

Overall Rating: B-. Well, it’s a step in the right direction. They’re starting to get some stories going around here but the positives of this show might be more about the lack of the weaker talent. This show had more of the big names and that’s going to do the show a lot of good. Unfortunately they can’t do that every week, which is where things start to slip. It’s similar to Ring of Honor in that way: good when it’s at its best, but the weaker shows are a rough sit.

Results

Flash Morgan Webster b. Fabian Aichner – Jackknife rollup

Isla Dawn b. Killer Kelly – Snap suplex Jackhammer

Zack Gibson/James Drake b. Amir Jordan/Kenny Williams – Ticket to Mayhem to Williams

Joe Coffey b. Trent Seven – Discus lariat

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: December 5, 2018
Location: Plymouth Pavilions, Devon, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re finally out to the third set of tapings and the road to getting this down to one show a week continues. Last week saw the crowning of Rhea Ripley as the first ever NXT UK Women’s Champion, meaning we might be hearing something from the new champ. With some luck, she’ll live up to the expectations on her. Let’s get to it.

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

In memory of Dynamite Kid. Rather appropriate given the show.

There’s also a crawler included offering condolences to Kid’s family.

Opening sequence.

Fabian Aichner likes the idea of facing some of the British talent because he’s used to facing the best in the world. In other words, “we don’t have room for you on NXT so go to England for a bit”.

Jordan Devlin is ready to earn another shot because he got so close last week. Picture the NXT UK roster like a deck of cards. He’s the ace and tonight, he’s facing the joker in Flash Morgan Webster. Just remember: ace trumps all. Unless it’s being played as the low end of a straight and then it’s not worth much but I get the idea.

Fabian Aichner vs. Mark Andrews

They shake hands to start and Andrews has to slip out of an early gorilla press. Andrews spins around his head into a headscissors to send Aichner outside, followed by a suicide dive. Back in and a backbreaker plants Andrews, which isn’t the most surprising strategy given how big Aichner is.

Back up and Andrews slides on his knees to duck a clothesline and nails an enziguri. A standing Whisper in the Wind splash gets two, followed by Andrews flipping out of a suplex into a hurricanrana (cool) for two more. Andrews scores with a 619 to the ribs and a victory roll gets two. That’s enough for Aichner so he clotheslines the heck out of Andrews, only to get caught with the Stundog Millionaire.

Aichner catches a Blockbuster and reverses it into a brainbuster (that’s some impressive power) for two but takes too long setting up a double springboard moonsault (which someone his size can just do). A very twisting DDT drops Aichner for another near fall but he moves before the shooting star can connect. They head outside with Aichner crushing Andrews’ head against the steps with a running knee for nine. Andrews is done so Aichner hits a helicopter bomb for the pin at 9:17.

Rating: B. Aichner is one of those guys with all the natural tools and Andrews has more than enough charisma and underdog status to make something like this work. He’s very good at making you believe that he can beat someone like Aichner, even as he comes up short in the end. Aichner could be a big star just with his natural look and skills alone so give him some kind of a character and he’ll be fine.

Video on Isla Dawn.

General Manager Johnny Saint has named Sid Scala as his assistant but Rhea Ripley comes in to interrupt them. She wants some suitable competition and grabs the much smaller Scala by the cheeks to mock him.

Isla Dawn vs. Nina Samuels

Dawn headlocks her down to start and then trips Nina down to make it even worse. That’s reversed into a chinlock as they’re certainly sticking with the mat work early on. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker mixes things up and gives Nina two before it’s off to the required arm work. Isla comes back up with a hard belly to back suplex though and a running knee to the face, followed by something like a snap Jackhammer for the pin at 3:18.

Rating: D+. Neither of them are doing much for me but they have to build someone up to face Ripley sooner or later. Dawn’s witch thing is better than nothing and it’s not like the rest of the division has much going for it. Samuels is pretty much just there and you need people like her around. Not a bad match, but neither exactly showcased themselves.

Video on last week’s Women’s Title match. Ripley brags and Toni Storm says she’ll be back.

Tucker vs. Eddie Dennis

Dennis wastes no time in using the size and power, including a heck of a backbreaker for an early two. The cravate goes on and Dennis throws in some knees to the face for good measure. Tucker spins out and jumps to the top for a back elbow to Dennis’ jaw but gets blasted by a clothesline. The Severn Bridge sets up the Next Stop Driver for the pin on Tucker at 2:28. Just a squash.

Next week: Banks vs. Wolfgang.

Flash Morgan Webster vs. Jordan Devlin

They start with the battle over arm control with Morgan grabbing an armdrag into an armbar to take over. Devlin will have none of that though and Rock Bottoms him down, setting up a standing moonsault for two. A backbreaker gets the same and it’s off to a seated abdominal stretch. He even pulls on the leg and then drives an elbow into the ribs for some bonus pain.

Webster falls out to the floor for a bit before coming back in to rake the eyes and slap the face. A running knee to the face drops Devlin again and the pace picks up, including a running clothesline to Devlin. Webster gets two off a super hurricanrana but the Baba O’Reilly Buster (seriously) is countered with a backdrop.

Devlin’s running knee in the corner sets up the pull into the snap overhead belly to belly for two and frustration is setting in. A hard headbutt to the chest puts Devlin on the floor and a Whisper in the Wind off the steps drops him again. Back in and Webster’s Swanton hits knees, setting up Ireland’s Call for the pin at 12:04.

Rating: C+. Devlin is growing on me but after last week’s loss, a lot of his momentum is gone. You have to give him a win like this to build him back up, but there’s only so much you can get out of beating Webster. I’m still not big on Webster though, as his work is just ok. As usual, that’s the case with a lot of people around here and that doesn’t seem to be changing.

Overall Rating: C+. There was good stuff on here, but it’s more of the same thing: a lot of people that I don’t care about having matches for the sake of having matches. Most of them aren’t advancing anywhere and the feuds they have aren’t the strongest in the world. It’s not a bad show by any means, but it’s nothing that I look forward to and nothing that I remember the next week. There’s talent around here, but without the spark and connection to them, it’s just a show that comes and goes.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 1997 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/11/20/new-paperback-complete-1997-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6