IMG Credit: WWE

NXT UK
Date: July 10, 2019
Location: Download Festival, Leicestershire, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Aiden English

We’re still at the Download Festival and this time it’s all about a six man tag, with the Hunt and Dave Mastiff facing off with Gallus. With the rise of Imperium meaning that we need a fresh team to challenge them….well ok Gallus isn’t fresh but they’re at least a team who could give them a fight. We could be in for something entertaining here though so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Imperium interfering in last week’s Tag Team Title match and wrecking Moustache Mountain. Tyler Bate seems to have been beaten up very badly.

Ilja Dragunov vs. Ashton Smith

Smith grabs a headlock and hopes for the best but his shoulder has no effect. Ilja tells him to bring it on so the second shoulder works better. A nice spin move allows Dragunov to hit a shot to the face into a backsplash to take over. Smith tries the leg but Dragunov grabs a chinlock and forearms him in the back for the break.

With that not working, Smith tries another leglock, though this time he has Ilja in front of him for a change. That’s fine with Dragunov, who reverses into a powerbomb and knees Smith in the face. Smith is right back up with a fisherman’s buster for one but it’s a discus lariat to take him back down. The Torpedo Moscow finishes Smith at 4:43.

Rating: C-. It’s interesting that Dragunov isn’t pushed as invincible as he took some offense here but the intensity gets him out of trouble. Dragunov is going to be the kind of guy who can steal the show in a longer form match but you can’t take your eyes off of him because of how much he puts into everything.

We look at Jazzy Gabbert attacking Xia Brookside, who got some revenge by eliminating Gabbert from the #1 contenders battle royal. Gabbert tried to distract Brookside against Killer Kelly but Brookside won anyway.

Brookside says Jinny is the real problem and next week, she gets her chance to face her one on one.

Nina Samuels narrates a video about fans coming out to see her. She even interviews fans while trying to walk over hay and mud.

Candy Floss vs. Toni Storm

Non-title. We get a quick handshake as the fans are behind Storm to start. Floss spins into a wristlock so Toni takes her to the mat without much effort. A headlock into a headscissors is reversed without much effort and Toni even offers her a hand back to her feet. Back up and they trade headlocks again with Toni’s taking her to the mat.

Floss escapes so Toni says she likes this one. In the middle of the technical exchange, the fans want tables. They’ll have to settle for Floss getting forearmed in the face for two so Floss is back up with a backslide for her own two. A small package gets the same so Storm blasts her with a clothesline. Storm Zero finishes Floss at 5:56.

Rating: C. Storm was having fun here and there’s nothing wrong with losing clean to the champ. It was nice to see someone getting an endorsement like that, even when she is nowhere near Storm’s level. Storm continues to come off like a star with little competition, but that wasn’t what they were going for here. It was fine for a showcase and that’s all they were going for.

Post match Storm congratulates Floss but here’s Kay Lee Ray to jump Floss from behind. This is said to make things personal, because attacking someone Storm interacted with for about seven minutes is serious business.

We get another part of the interview with Ligero, who needs to improve his win/loss record and get fired up again. There is always a way to come back and turn things around and things could always change.

Here’s a serious Trent Seven to address what happened last week. He doesn’t usually do this alone because he tends to have at least one person with him. Pete Dunne has his hands full elsewhere though and they can’t expect him to drop things and come help them. Bate however is hospitalized and injured, but Trent is here. He’s been here since the beginning and this place was built on British Strong Style.

Now you have Imperium running around saying this mat is sacred. Was it sacred when they tied him up and made him watch Bate get sent into the post over and over? He’s coming for Walter and it’s for Pete, Tyler and the Trent Seven Army. Heck of a promo here and one of the best that they’ve had in NXT.

Next week: Mark Andrews vs. Kassius Ohno.

The Hunt/Dave Mastiff vs. Gallus

It’s a big brawl to start with Gallus being chased off to some polite applause. We settle down to Primate vs. Mark with the latter being kicked into the corner. A big clothesline cuts Primate down though and it’s off to Wolfgang to stomp him in the head. Joe comes in for a cross arm choke but Primate fights up and rolls over for the tag. It’s Boar coming in and promptly getting chokeslammed by Joe.

Wolfgang gets two off a running backsplash to a sitting Boar and Joe grabs a bearhug. Boar’s comeback is cut off by a running shoulder and it’s right back to the bearhug. An overhead belly to belly finally gets Boar out of trouble and it’s Mastiff coming in to clean house. A German suplex puts Joe down for two and an overhead suplex gets two. Wolfgang comes in and gets kicked down, allowing Mastiff to Regal Roll Joe onto him for a big crash.

Joe is right back up with a powerslam as everything breaks down. Another German suplex sends Mark into the corner and Joe is tossed on top of him. Joe is able to avoid the Cannonball so Mark takes the whole thing, leaving the Hunt to hit stereo suicide dives. Everyone heads outside until Joe is left alone with Primate, meaning it’s All The Best For The Bells to give Joe the pin at 12:25.

Rating: C-. This didn’t feel as long as it was, though some of the holds could have been cut out. Gallus winning is good and Mastiff continues to look strong, which has been the case since the promotion started. Someone is finally going to pin him and it’s going to be a big deal, which is a very valuable point.

Overall Rating: D+. Maybe it’s that they need to start the real build towards Takeover or the lack of the entertaining chants but these Download shows are running out of steam. That Trent Seven promo was very good but the rest of the show just came and went without leaving much of an impact. Get to the big stuff already because the clock is going to start ticking soon.

Results

Ilja Dragunov b. Ashton Smith – Torpedo Moscow

Toni Storm b. Candy Floss – Storm Zero

Gallus b. The Hunt/Dave Mastiff – All The Best For The Bells to Primate

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: July 3, 2019
Location: Download Festival, Leicestershire, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Aiden English

We have to be coming up on the end of this taping cycle. This week has a title match included with the Grizzled Young Veterans defending against Moustache Mountain in a rematch from Takeover: Blackpool. The crowd reactions continue to be the most interesting parts of these shows as the fans might not be the most familiar with the product. That makes for a better chance to see what works and what doesn’t, assuming NXT actually pays attention. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at the Grizzled Young Veterans winning the titles and Moustache Mountain fighting to get back to the title shot.

Opening sequence.

Rhea Ripley storms to the ring and, after telling the cheering fans to shut up, calls out Piper Niven for a fight right now.

Rhea Ripley vs. Piper Niven

Rhea manages to pound her down to start but the big running crossbody out of the corner gets Niven out of trouble. A trip to the floor lets Ripley snap Niven over the top rope and the beating continues outside. Niven gets posted to give Ripley one as the fans have moved to split. We hit the bodyscissors on Niven for a good while until Piper dropkicks her into the corner. Niven does exactly the same thing but Rhea drops her across the ropes.

The standing Cloverleaf has Niven screaming a lot until a rope is grabbed. That just makes Rhea even angrier so she slaps Piper in the face. A Saito suplex plants Rhea and the fans move to a more general NXT chant. An exchange of clotheslines goes nowhere but Rhea can’t hit Riptide. Instead Piper avoids a charge to send her shoulder first into the post, setting up the Piper Driver to finish Ripley at 8:33.

Rating: C+. I liked this more than I was expecting to and Ripley got in a lot on Niven. That being said, it makes sense to have Niven win here as we’ve seen Ripley at the top of the division before and it’s a good idea to let someone else get close to that level. Niven is an athletic monster and will likely be near the title scene soon enough.

Kenny Williams gets jumped by Noam Dar, who rubs his face in the mud.

Ilja Dragunov is back next week.

Jack Starz vs. Alexander Wolfe

The much bigger Wolfe works on the wristlock to start and then bends the arm back on the mat. With the arm work boring him, Wolfe hits a good German suplex and whips Starz from corner to corner. A pump kick rocks Starz again but he slips out of a fireman’s carry. Starz rocks him with a running uppercut in the corner but runs into a Death Valley Driver. The sitout powerbomb finishes Starz at 4:05.

Rating: D+. Nearly a complete squash here and that’s how it should have been. If nothing else it’s all you expect when Starz is out there. Wolfe is a great addition to the team as the four man unit looks better than the three man version. Imperium is going to need some long term competition and it could be interesting to see who joins British Strong Style against them.

Gallus is ready to destroy the Hunt and Dave Mastiff. The cameraman gets thrown out.

Toni Storm is in action next week as well.

Jazzy Gabbert vs. Mercedes Blaze/Dani Luna

Jinny is out with Gabbert. With Luna being knocked around, it’s quickly off to Mercedes, who gets crushed in the corner as well. Both women get crushed at the same time and it’s a Dominator to finish Mercedes at 1:44. Complete squash.

Kassius Ohno says NXT UK is in a state of emergency. If you want to save British wrestling, you need someone like him. Ohno likes a lot of the founding members of the roster but sees Mark Andrews as a follower. Andrews uses a superkick to be like Shawn Michaels, not realizing that it was a British wrestler named Chris Adams who perfected it.

Also next week: Gallus vs. The Hunt/Dave Mastiff.

Tag Team Titles: Moustache Mountain vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Seven gets sent outside for a slingshot knee/backbreaker combination. Back in and the chinlock keeps Seven down but a backfist finally allows for the tag to Bate. The BIG STRONG BOY chants start up and Gibson gets muscled over with a suplex. The standing shooting star looks to set up the Tyler Driver 97 but Gibson makes the save. That’s fine with Bate, who hurricanranas both of them down at once.

The big no hands dive takes out both champions at the same time and a powerbomb gets a very delayed two on Gibson. Everything breaks down and a superkick/neckbreaker combination sends Bate outside. A Backstabber into an assisted Fameasser gets two on Seven and Drake screams a lot. Seven tells him to take his best shot and it’s the Seven Star Lariat to take Drake down again.

The second hot tag brings Bate back in and a small package gets a hot two on Gibson. Everything breaks down again and Seven puts Gibson in the torture rack. Bate comes off the top with the knee to Gibson and a headbutt to Drake in the same landing. The Burning Hammer drives Gibson onto Drake but Imperium runs in for the DQ at 12:05.

Rating: B. I was getting into this one as they went along and the ending actually caught me by surprise. They came up with a smart way to protect the champs and keep the challengers looking strong while also setting up another match between Imperium and British Strong Style. Good stuff here.

Post match the beatdown is on as the fans dub Imperium as WALTER’S B******. Seven gets handcuffed to the corner as Walter apron bombs Bate. Imperium shouts a lot and poses to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. This was one of those shows where they did everything they could have done in just under an hour. The main event was the best thing on the show and Imperium continues to look like the best thing about the show in its short history. I had a very good time with this and it absolutely flew by, which isn’t often the case around here. Keep doing this as we head into Cardiff and they’re in great shape.

Results

Piper Niven b. Rhea Ripley – Piper Driver

Alexander Wolfe b. Jack Starz – Sitout powerbomb

Jazzy Gabbert b. Mercedes Blaze/Dani Luna – Dominator to Blaze

Moustache Mountain b. Grizzled Young Veterans via DQ when Imperium interfered

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: June 26, 2019
Location: Download Festival, Leicestershire, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Aiden English

We’re still at the Download Festival and that means we’re still in for a cool venue. The big story coming out of last week saw Kay Lee Ray becoming the new #1 contender to the Women’s Title, though you might not be seeing the title match for a little while. What we get tonight though is Walter defending the United Kingdom Title against Travis Banks, which could be rather interesting. Let’s get to it.

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

Travis Banks says he’s ready.

Opening sequence.

Mark Andrews vs. Joseph Conners

Andrews rolls out of a wristlock to start and takes him down with an armdrag. The fans are VERY appreciative of an armbar but Conners cuts them off by bending Andrews’ neck around the ropes. A running clothesline gets two and a suplex is good for the same as they’re keeping the offense simple so far. Some choking on the apron and a neck snap across the rope somehow wake Andrews up so he can slug away.

The knee slide into the enziguri sets up a suicide dive to the floor to rock Conners again. He’s right back with a sunset bomb into the corner though and a belly to back faceplant gets two. The fans are all over Conners, showing that the Download Festival has bad taste in heels. Andrews can’t get a backslide but can get a Stundog Millionaire. Fall To Pieces finishes Conners at 6:09.

Rating: C-. Just a match here and nothing that hasn’t been done better before. What makes me feel better though is that it seems Conners is falling down the card, which means we don’t have to listen to him anymore. Andrews is still easy to cheer for and that’s a good piece to have around on any show.

The Hunt is angry but Dave Mastiff comes up to suggest he’s on their side against Gallus.

Here are the Grizzled Young Veterans, with trash bags around their feet, for a chat. They’re not happy about having to defend their Tag Team Titles in front of a bunch of dirty fans out here. The fans clap so Gibson has to tell them that’s not something to cheer about. This is supposed to be a music festival but Gibson hasn’t heard a single instrument. They’ll defend their titles against Moustache Mountain and then they can go anywhere but here. Good stuff as usual, but the fans didn’t hate Gibson as much as they tend to do.

Video on Piper Niven vs. Rhea Ripley, with Niven standing up against Ripley for thinking she is the most dominant female in NXT UK. They meet next week.

In two weeks: Gallus vs. The Hunt/Dave Mastiff.

Killer Kelly vs. Xia Brookside

Xia is aggressive to start and forearms her in the back, but it’s not the best strategy against Kelly. A wheelbarrow suplex gives Kelly two and it’s time and it’s time for a double arm crank. With that going nowhere, Kelly hits a pump kick to put Xia in the ropes for some covering up. She’s fine enough to come back with a headscissors as Jazzy Gabbert and Jinny come out to watch. Kelly gets in a shot from behind as the two of them leave but Xia is fine enough to hit the Codebreaker for the pin at 3:16.

Rating: D+. Just a match here with Xia getting a win to get back some momentum after coming up just short in the battle royal last week. Kelly continues to show a lot of potential, though she almost never (if ever) actually wins a match. They keep her strong enough so that a win wouldn’t come out of nowhere though and that’s a smart way of doing things.

Toni Storm is happy that Kay Lee Ray won the battle royal but would love to know when Ray wants her shot. Toni is ready anytime and she’ll be in action in two weeks.

Noam Dar vs. Ligero

Dar holds his jacket out in an attempt to get Ligero to charge for a funny moment. The bell rings and Dar messes with Ligero’s horns before bailing out to the floor. Back in and Dar avoids an armdrag before knocking Ligero down for some more mocking. Dar can’t get a rollup so he hides in the corner as the stalling continues. A headlock works a bit better as Kenny Williams comes out with a chair to watch at ringside.

Dar is fine enough to work on Ligero’s knee, which is rammed into Dar’s head to break up a suplex. A Widowmaker and kick to the back give Ligero two but Dar kicks the leg out. Dar grabs a fisherman’s buster for two but the Nova Roller is broken up. Ligero’s enziguri puts Dar down for a bit, only to have Dar get back up and get a knockdown of his own. Dar misses a top rope double stomp and injures his knee but really it’s just a ruse to get Williams to give him the chair. Williams hands it to him but doesn’t let go, allowing Ligero to grab a rollup for the pin at 8:59.

Rating: C-. I don’t know what it is about Dar. For the life of me I can’t remember the last time that I went back and forth on someone so many times but I go from liking Dar to rolling my eyes about having to see him again. He’s not someone I want gone, but he’s someone who needs to figure out how he should be presented because it hasn’t happened yet.

We look back at Banks coming out to say he’s ready for Walter last week.

United Kingdom Title: Travis Banks vs. Walter

Walter is defending. Banks tries to circle the monster to start but gets taken into the corner. The big chops miss but a crossbody is pulled out of the air so Walter can lay him on the top rope. Walter’s chop puts Banks on the floor and a big boot to the face knocks Banks silly. Walter goes to the test of strength to keep Banks down but he manages to power up and kick at the leg. A big kick knocks Walter down and a Shining Wizard rocks the champ again.

The shotgun dropkick sets up a top rope double stomp for two on Walter and you can feel the energy going out of the crowd. The Slice of Heaven is countered into a Boston crab to crank on Banks’ back. A rope is grabbed so Walter throws him into the corner. Only to get caught with the Slice of Heaven. Walter bails to the apron and gets dropkicked to the floor, setting up a suicide dive. Banks stays outside for too long though and gets powerbombed onto the apron. Back in and a regular powerbomb retains the title at 8:49.

Rating: B. Banks wasn’t going to win here but he was trying as hard as he could. That’s not enough to overcome the situation though and it was pretty clear that the title wasn’t changing hands. Walter is likely to have a very long reign and that means he isn’t going to lose the title in his first defense. Banks was game here and they had something going near the end but it wound up being what was expected, which was fine.

Overall Rating: B-. This is an instance where they have to get through a bunch of stuff before we can get to the build to Takeover. Next week the Tag Team Titles are on the line and then we probably get the Women’s Title match soon after that. With those out of the way, we can move on to the Takeover stuff and that’s where it should get really good. This worked well enough, though you could feel it wasn’t as important.

Results

Mark Andrews b. Joseph Conners – Fall To Pieces

Xia Brookside b. Killer Kelly – Codebreaker

Ligero b. Noam Dar – Rollup

Walter b. Travis Banks – Powerbomb

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: June 19, 2019
Location: Download Festival, Leicestershire, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Aiden English

Things are shaking up around here as Imperium has added its fourth member with Alexander Wolfe. That is likely to set up a fourth member of British Strong Style, or at least a friend or two, to help fight off the villains. We could get something very good out of this and I’m rather pleased. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Wolfe joining Imperium last week in a good moment.

Opening sequence.

The arena is in a pretty large hall and the look is a nice change of pace.

Kenny Williams vs. Kassius Ohno

Ohno goes to the arm to start (the right one for a change) and cranks on it again to take Williams down to the mat. Back up and Williams flips over him but Ohno is too big for a sunset flip. For some reason Williams ties himself in the ropes, allowing Ohno to kick him in the face. The chinlock sets up a double arm crank as the fans implore Ohno to not eat Williams.

The backsplash hits Williams’ raised knees, which hurts the knee a bit due to Ohno’s girth. It’s fine enough to flip out of a belly to back suplex and grab a rollup for two. Ohno gets knocked outside for the dropkick through the ropes and a suicide dive. Back in and Ohno breaks up a springboard, setting up the discus elbow to the back of the head for the pin at 7:25.

Rating: C. Perfectly watchable match here with Ohno continuing to look like a formidable villain that a bigger name can take down later. It helps that Ohno knows all of these different styles and can wrestle against just about anyone, which was the case on display here. Williams continues to look good and he’s fine to have around for matches like this.

Post match here’s Imperium, now with their own graphic and matching track suits, so Ohno makes a hasty retreat.

Post break, Marcel Barthel is rather heavily booed before being able to say that the people seem to think Imperium is here to entertain them. That’s not true, because they’re here to restore the honor of their sport. The fans want wrestling as Barthel talks about their numbers increasing. Fans: “WHO ARE YA???” After being told to respect their values, the fans say that they want Pete Dunne.

Wolfe gets cut off by a SANITY chant before saying that he wanted wrestling to be treated with respect. Walter brings up #1 contender Travis Banks, who has an upcoming title shot but Imperium will decide how things will be done. The title match is next week and Banks is a fool for thinking he has a chance against Walter. Cue Banks to say he’s down for a title match next week and Walter needs to bring everything he’s got. The matching suits are a great look for the team and having Wolfe around makes the team feel that much more imposing.

We look back at Gallus attacking the Hunt two weeks ago.

Noam Dar was on the phone when a cameraman interrupted him to ask if Dar took a drive recently. Dar doesn’t like that accusation and mockingly applauds Kenny Williams for his loss. There is room for Williams under Dar’s arm but Williams threatens to treat his arm like his knee.

The Hunt vs. Gallus

It’s Mark Coffey/Wolfgang for Gallus here with Joe Coffey in the corner. The brawl is on in a hurry with the Hunt sending them outside for double suicide dives. We settle down to Boar and Coffey with Mark getting in a full nelson slam. It’s off to Wolfgang for a neck crank, a tag to Coffey for some stomping, and a seated full nelson from Wolfgang.

Coffey slaps on a cobra clutch on the mat as we run the full list of neck related holds. Boar finally flips out of another full nelson and brings Primate in to beat up Wolfgang. Everything breaks down and Boar gets driven into the steps. Back in and the enziguri/powerslam combination finishes Primate at 6:14.

Rating: C. I liked the match well enough and the Hunt can be heated up again without much effort later on. Gallus can be built up again to be fed to Imperium and that’s not a bad place for them. The most important thing though: how much better is the Hunt without their regular names? I’m so glad they figured that out.

Post match Joe joins in for the big beatdown. Dave Mastiff makes the save.

Moustache Mountain is getting a Tag Team Title shot in two weeks. They’re focused on Imperium, but getting the titles is what matters most.

Battle Royal

Xia Brookside, Jinny, Jazzy Gabbert, Kay Lee Ray, Piper Niven, Isla Dawn, Nina Samuels, Killer Kelly, Candy Floss, Rhea Ripley, Rhio, Kanji

The winner gets a future Women’s Title match. Everyone but Jazzy go to the ropes to start before three of them go after Jazzy instead. That means Rhio and Kanji being tossed out, followed by a Dominator to Floss. Jinny gets rid of her and the ring has cleared out in a hurry. Ray is sent outside (not over the top) and comes up holding her knee. Niven picks Jazzy up and puts her on the apron, allowing Brookside to get in a sliding dropkick for the elimination.

That leaves Jinny surrounded so it’s a triple team from Brookside, Dawn and Niven. Jinny is thrown over the top but Jazzy catches her and slides the boss back in. Jazzy is ejected so Xia gets rid of Jinny a few seconds later. Ripley muscles Kelly out and we’re down to five. Brookside and Dawn go after Ripley but Xia gets tied in the Tree of Woe for her efforts.

There goes Dawn and it’s the Ripley vs. Niven showdown. Hang on though as Samuels is tossed and it’s Ripley, Niven, Brookside and Ray on the floor. A Cannonball crushes Ripley but she shoves Ripley over the top to the apron. Niven pulls her out with her and Brookside eliminates them both with a dropkick. The celebration is on but Ray comes back in and dumps Brookside for the win at 8:40.

Rating: C. It’s the right end result and the match was well paced but STOP WITH THAT STUPID ENDING!!! It feels like every other battle royal has that same exact ending and it’s so overdone these days. As soon as Ray was seen on the floor, you knew where this was going because that’s how so many battle royals go these days. Ray winning is fine, but come up with a better way to do it.

Overall Rating: C+. The Imperium segment and the right result for the main event made for a good show, though not quite as solid as some of their recent shows. What matters here is how they set things up for the future, with the UK Title match next week and the Tag Team Titles in two weeks. It makes me want to keep watching and that’s the right idea.

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: June 12, 2019
Location: Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

Tonight is a huge show as we have British Strong Style vs. Imperium, which should be the awesome match that everyone is expecting it to be. It’s not exactly a secret that there should be something big happening at the end but the question is what. Hopefully they can live up to the hype, which almost always tends to be the case. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the six man tag, including a quick history of both teams. Tonight it’s their first showdown and it feels big.

Opening sequence.

Xia Brookside/Isla Dawn vs. Jinny/Jazzy Gabbert

Jinny and Dawn take turns working on the arm to start with Dawn getting the better of it. Brookside comes in for an aggressive headlock and a dropkick to send Jinny into the corner….for the tag to Gabbert. Xia actually tries a sunset flip but gets powered down, allowing Jinny to come in for the stomps in the corner. A quick crawl across the ring lets Dawn come back in but Gabbert swats away the strikes. The Dominator plants Dawn but Jinny demands the tag so she can get the pin at 4:16.

Rating: D. Nothing match of course but it went exactly as it should have. Gabbert is the first monster the division has seen and having her under Jinny’s control is a fine story. She destroyed Brookside and Dawn here and that’s all she needed to do. Not exactly a good match, but the right presentation, which is what matters more.

Video on Ligero, who only had sight in one eye until he was eight years old due to his eye not opening. It caused other kids to pick on him so he decided to wrestle under a mask so he wouldn’t have to worry about how his face looked during his career. The mask is his identity and that’s what people are going to remember. Short piece here but it’s a nice way to get behind someone like Ligero.

Kenny Williams says Noam Dar can be annoying but he still likes him. What Dar does doesn’t affect him and it won’t affect him next week against Kassius Ohno.

Joseph Conners vs. Ilja Dragunov

As usual, Dragunov has an awesome entrance and looks insane. They lock up rather hard to start with Conners’ forearm to the back annoying Dragunov. The strike to the face sets up a neck crank with Dragunov making some rather strange noises at the same time. Back up and a jumping enziguri drops Conners, but he’s able to duck a running crossbody to send Dragunov into the ropes.

The chinlock goes on but Dragunov powers out and stares Conners down, setting up a knee to the face. A sunset bomb into the corner has Dragunov in some trouble but he counters a slingshot into a Death Valley Driver into the corner. The Torpedo Moscow finishes Conners at 4:49.

Rating: C-. Dragunov is one of those guys where you can’t take your eyes off of him and that’s the kind of thing you can’t create. It’s a special kind of intensity and that’s going to carry him very far. If nothing else, it’s always nice to see Conners getting destroyed and bludgeoned in various ways.

Toni Storm has beaten all comers and if Kay Lee Ray wants some Toni Time, come get it. Either way, the shiny shiny stays at home.

Video on Travis Banks, who talks about having such a strong work ethic. His time in NXT UK has been a mixed bag with great experiences but his injury held him back. Jordan Devlin was a thorn in his side but then he defeated him once and for all. Now he’s the #1 contender and it would be pretty cool to beat Walter for the United Kingdom Title.

The Hunt wants Gallus.

British Strong Style vs. Imperium

Dunne goes right at Aichner for some stomping in the corner to start but Aichner comes right back out with a hard clothesline. Bate comes in and it’s time for a double arm crank on Aichner. Barthel comes in and gets dropkicked but Bate takes too much time messing with the mustache, allowing Barthel to take over. That doesn’t last long though as Bate brings him into the corner for the tag from Seven.

Trent gets taken into the wrong corner though and Walter comes in to a lot of booing. Seven’s chop just annoys Walter so Seven does it again to a bit of success. Walter’s one chop puts Seven down though and it’s back to Aichner to keep Seven down in the corner. A swinging Rock Bottom gives Walter two on Seven and it’s back to Barthel to start in on the arm. Seven slugs away but walks into a spinebuster from Aichner to take him right back down.

A jawbreaker and enziguri get Seven out of trouble and it’s Dunne coming back in for an enziguri of his own. Dunne’s middle rope dropkick to the knee takes Walter down but he has to backflip out of the sleeper hold. The German suplex drops Walter again but he’s right back with a suplex of his own. Bate and Aichner come back in with Tyler taking over off a knee out of the corner.

An exploder suplex sends Barthel onto Aichner and it’s time for the airplane spin to various villains. Bop and Bang staggers Walter but Aichner saves him from an airplane spin of his own. A brainbuster gets two on Bate with Dunne making the save. The Backstabber into the top rope double stomp combination is good for the same but it’s back to Seven for some fresh strong style blood.

The Seven Star Lariat into the Bitter End into Spiral Tap gets two on Barthel with Walter making the save this time. Walter gets sent into the steps though and we’ve got a masked man. With the referee getting knocked to the floor, the masked man unmasks as Alexander Wolfe (formerly of Sanity). He knocks Bate out with a powerbomb and Barthel steals the pin at 14:03.

Rating: B. This felt like a big brawl and having Imperium grow in size at the end is a great touch. Wolfe was rumored to be leaving WWE and technically he did, though this was quite the surprise that helped everyone out quite a bit. Now I wonder who British Strong Style could find to help even the odds.

The now four man Imperium poses to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The first two matches don’t add all that much to the show but this was ALL about the main event and the big surprise to end the show. There’s nothing wrong with that at all and it made for a good show. NXT UK is now to the point where it’s rare to have a bad show and that’s something I could more than get used to. Like more British Strong Styles vs. Imperium for instance.

Results

Jinny/Jazzy Gabbert b. Xia Brookside/Isla Dawn – Dominator to Dawn

Ilja Dragunov b. Joseph Conners – Torpedo Moscow

Imperium b. British Strong Style – Barthel pinned Bate after a powerbomb from Alexander Wolfe

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: June 5, 2019
Location: Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

We’re still in Glasgow and it’s another big night with the fatal four way to crown a new #1 contender. That’s quite the interesting match and most of the people involved are conceivable winners. Other than that we now have Imperium looming over the rest of the roster and that could get interesting in a hurry. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at the four way and how all four (Joe Coffey, Jordan Devlin, Dave Mastiff and Travis Banks) qualified.

Opening sequence.

The Hunt vs. Tyson T-Bone/Saxon Huxley

I had hoped T-Bone and Huxley had fallen in a hole somewhere. Huxley can’t do much with Wild Boar, who growls at him and fires off some forearms. A Thesz press gives Huxley a breather and it’s off to T-Bone vs. Wild Boar in a match that sounds like it’s out of a wrestling video game made by people who don’t watch wrestling. Vic: “T-Bone and Huxley have become quite the team over the last few months.” I don’t remember the last time they were on TV. Boar gets over for the tag though and it’s Primate coming in for some screaming. A Cannonball to Huxley brings Boar back in for a powerbomb/German suplex combination, followed by a double Swan Dive for the pin on Huxley at 3:41.

Rating: D+. The Hunt is a team that could be a solid midcard addition so I’m more than cool with having them beat a team like T-Bone and Huxley. They kept this quick because a team like the Hunt isn’t going to be the most intriguing in a longer match, so everything worked out fine here.

Post match Wolfgang and Mark Coffey come out and jump the Hunt. Wolfgang goes over to commentary to yell at Nigel as the Hunt is left laying.

Kay Lee Ray vs. Kasey Owens

In a bit of an odd thing to hear, Ray is billed as the ICW Women’s Champion. The fans chant ICW as Ray forearms away to start but charges into a boot in the corner. Owens’ over the ropes armbar is blocked with a kick to the back and a dropkick makes it even worse. Owens gets in some strikes of her own but misses a running kick and gets slapped in the chest. A Gory Bomb finishes Owens at 3:57.

Rating: C-. Ray is another name who could become a force in the division and be a rather strong challenger against Toni Storm down the line. There are a lot of names who could become top level performers in the division and Ray already has the success outside of the division. Just keep going like this and see where she can go.

Video on Imperium, who wants to destroy British Strong Style.

Video on Jazzy Gabbert destroying Xia Brookside last week.

Jinny says she got Jazzy to help her because she paid her off. She could either fight Jazzy or befriend her because Jinny is more than just a pretty face.

Here are the Grizzled Young Veterans with something to say. Zack Gibson was told not to come out here but he has something to say. They are the first NXT UK Tag Team Champions and now they’re having to defend the titles at the Download Festival. Gibson: “IS THIS A RIB???” Johnny Saint wants Gibson to walk through an ugly field in his custom boots to defend these titles while horrible bands like Slipknot ruin music? They are the NXT UK Tag Team Champions so they need some respect. If they’re unhappy, the rest of the locker room will be unhappy. That’s bad for morale, so old man Saint needs to figure it out.

Moustache Mountain are in Men’s Health UK.

Next week, British Strong Style vs. Imperium.

Jordan Devlin vs. Dave Mastiff vs. Travis Banks vs. Joe Coffey

One fall to a finish. Coffey shouts that this is his kingdom and it’s Banks vs. Devlin fighting on the floor early on. Coffey and Mastiff hit shoulders that send them outside. That works so well that they do it again a few times on the floor. Banks goes after Mastiff and gets thrown into the barricade, allowing Mastiff and Coffey to collide again. Devlin gets thrown down too and everyone is on the floor.

It’s Banks hammering away at Devlin back inside but managing to kick at Coffey as well. Running elbows in the corner have the villains in trouble and Devlin is thrown head first into Coffey’s crotch. Mastiff comes back in to start throwing people around but Coffey blocks the rolling German suplexes. Devlin takes them instead but Coffey manages to powerslam Mastiff. Just to show off, Coffey throws Banks on his shoulders and reverse giant swings Devlin at the same time.

There’s a double underhook swing to Devlin but he sends Coffey shoulder first into the post. Some stomping keeps Coffey down and Devlin even manages to take out the invading Banks. A backbreaker keeps Banks down but Devlin makes the mistake of mocking Coffey’s pose. Now guess who pops up right behind him. Actually it would be Coffey and Mastiff, who knock him around with some forearms. Coffey’s running headbutt to the ribs hits the buckle though and Mastiff’s German suplex gets two on Banks.

Devlin comes back in and gets knocked into the corner as well for a Cannonball from Mastiff. That’s broken up at two so Banks hits the running Spanish Fly for two on Devlin. Coffey’s top rope spinning crossbody crushes Mastiff and it’s All The Best For The Bells for two more on Devlin. The big guys get knocked to the floor though and it’s the Slice of Heaven into the Kiwi Crusher to give Banks the pin at Devlin at 12:15.

Rating: B. I like Banks getting the title shot like this as he can certainly go in the ring and would give Walter a heck of a run for his money. That being said, he’s going to need some allies to deal with Imperium. They’re keeping Mastiff strong as well and seeing Walter powerbomb him at the end of a hoss fight could be a lot of fun.

Overall Rating: B-. Nice show here, which again is a good sign without the top stars around. They’re doing a nice job of making the smaller names look important and that’s how you build up a successful promotion over time. Banks is someone who could be a very fun challenger to Walter and they kept the others looking strong enough. It’s like they’re thinking, which is a welcome idea around this company.

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 29, 2019
Location: Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Vic Joseph

It’s time for some fallout as last week saw Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel interfered to cost Pete Dunne his rematch against Walter for the United Kingdom Title. It seems like Dunne needs some friends and that’s just what he has. Other than that we have one more week before the four way for the #1 contendership. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at last week’s main event with Dunne getting cheated out of the title.

Opening sequence.

Here are Walter, Barthel and Aichner to open things up, with the fans giving a loud WE WANT DUNNE chant. We have to wait a second for the fans to calm down as it’s another case of no one being bale to say a word. Barthel says they are here to lead us to a better NXT UK and raise the professionalism of their sport. They are the ones to lead because they hold true power. Aichner says Dunne and British Strong Style have expired. None of them can lead NXT UK in the right direction so now it’s up to the three of them.

Walter says this mat is sacred to them and the three of them will be known as Imperium. This brings out British Strong Style and they waste no time in starting the fight. A cameraman goes down so the camera sits on its side as referees come out….and we lose the feed. Nice job with the tease.

Sid Scala makes the six man tag for two weeks.

Mark Coffey/Wolfgang vs. A-Kid/Carlos Romo

Wolfgang runs Romo over at the bell and it’s off to Coffey for a toss across the ring as the destruction is on fast. The fans are behind Gallus for a change as Romo gets a rollup for two and brings A-Kid for a breather. That goes badly as well as Coffey hits a chokeslam and brings Wolfgang back in for more aggressive shouting. Coffey’s seated full nelson keeps A-Kid in trouble and he swings it around for a bonus. A jawbreaker gets A-Kid over for a tag….and Wolfgang ax handles him in the chest to knock him silly. Wolfgang powerslams A-Kid as Coffey adds an enziguri for the pin at 3:28.

Rating: C. Rebuilding Gallus isn’t the worst idea in the world as Imperium is going to need someone to fight after they get done with British Strong Style. Then again this was in Scotland so Gallus was going to be more over here than anywhere else in the world so it’s not likely to carry on from here.

Xia Brookside doesn’t like Jinny bringing in Jazzy Gabbert to do her dirty work. Isla Dawn comes in and offers a partnership, which intrigues Xia.

Joseph Conners wants to see how tough Ilja Dragunov really is.

Video on next week’s four way.

Kassius Ohno vs. Jack Gallagher

They take their time to start with Ohno’s headlock sending Gallagher over to the ropes for a clean break. Ohno takes him down and starts in on the leg but Gallagher spins up with ease to show off the technical skills. It’s right back to the ankle before Ohno switches over to an armbar. Gallagher tries three straight handstands before going with a headscissors to take over. Ohno uses his own bouncing escape before popping to his feet as it’s a chess match so far.

They go back to the mat with Ohno tying up the legs until Gallagher gets up again. This time Ohno tries a full nelson, which Gallagher breaks by raising his legs and pulling himself down. That means another standoff into a test of strength with Ohno taking him down again. Something like a spinebuster plants Gallagher but he spins out of another leg crank. The handstand in the corner legs Gallagher jump over Ohno….and he ties himself in a ball in the middle.

Ohno gets smart and stomps away before pulling on the leg again. Since we haven’t had an escape in a few seconds, Gallagher spins out and fires off forearms, only to get kicked in the head. The rolling elbow is blocked with a headbutt to Ohno’s arm and Gallagher, with a bloody nose, tries to take him down into an armbar. With that not working it’s off to a triangle choke but Ohno powers up for a slam. A backsplash crushes Gallagher and they’re both down. They chop it out until the rolling forearm knocks Gallagher silly for the pin at 12:33, with Ohno pulling the foot from underneath the rope after the pin.

Rating: B-. I had a lot of fun with this as they were going with the British style of counters and holds, making it quite the entertaining match. Gallagher’s foot being underneath the rope sets up either a rematch or gives Ohno another talking point when he talks to Scala and the invisible Johnny Saint.

Piper Niven is ready to fight Rhea Ripley whenever.

We recap the opening brawl.

Women’s Title: Nina Samuels vs. Toni Storm

Toni is defending. Feeling out process to start with Nina slipping out of an early armbar attempt. A kick to the chest sends Nina outside and Toni snaps off a cartwheel. Back in and a series of uppercuts give Toni two but Nina ties her up in the ropes for a dropkick between the shoulders. An armbar has the champ in some trouble and a Hennig necksnap gets two.

Two knees to the back get two but Storm is right back with a German suplex. Storm Zero is countered so Storm grabs an STF for something that looks a lot like a tap. The rope gets Nina out of trouble and she kicks Toni in the head to take over again. Toni headbutts the heck out of her for two, followed by Nina’s double underhook backbreaker for the same. Nina’s missile dropkick gets two more but Toni rolls some single underhook suplexes. Storm Zero retains the title at 9:44.

Rating: C-. This might as well have been a house show title match with no reason to believe that Samuels was going to win the title. The women’s division is too strong to believe that Storm is going to be threatened by a lower name like Samuels. Not with people like Jinny, Ripley, Gabbert and Niven around. It’s not a bad match, but the drama wasn’t there.

Overall Rating: C+. The wrestling was pretty good this week and the big angle at the beginning made the show work well enough. It’s not as good as last week but that’s not a fair comparison to make. At least we have two weeks worth of big matches to look forward to, which is something very few shows can pull off these days, or almost ever for that matter.

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: May 22, 2019
Location: Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for a big one as we have Pete Dunne vs. Walter II for the United Kingdom Title. The first match was the biggest match in the history of NXT UK and now Dunne wants his chance to get the title back. That’s all but a guarantee for some shenanigans but the question is what kind. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Fatal Four Way Qualifying Match: Travis Banks vs. Joseph Conners

Banks takes him down by the arm to start before heading outside early on. Conners sends him into the steps so the fans get behind Banks with the KIWI BUZZSAW chants. The chinlock cuts those off as the energy isn’t exactly here yet. Banks fights up and sends Conners to the floor again, this time for a heck of a suicide dive.

The Slice of Heaven misses back inside though and a running sunset buckle bomb (nice) gives Conners two, plus some polite applause. We hit the pinfall reversal sequence into a standoff as the fans get behind Banks all over again. Back up and Conners sends him into the corner but Banks comes out with the Slice of Heaven. The Kiwi Crusher finishes Conners at 8:27.

Post match Banks promises to run through Dave Mastiff, Jordan Devlin and Joe Coffey to becoming #1 contender. The match is in two weeks.

Nina Samuels is proud of how she manipulated Toni Storm into the title match. Now it’s time for her masterpiece next week when she wins the title in her series finale.

We recap Mark Andrews vs. Noam Dar from two months ago when they beat the heck out of each other and were too injured to finish.

Noam Dar vs. Mark Andrews

Of course Dar gets the big home country reception. Feeling out process to start with Andrews missing a kick to the head for a standoff. Andrews takes him down again though and a standing moonsault gets two. Dar grabs a very spinning backslide for two and it’s off to the quickly broken ankle lock. Instead Dar hits a bicycle kick for two but Andrews is right back up with a jumping enziguri. Stundog Millionaire sends Dar outside for the running flip dive with Dar’s knee giving out. That would be goldbricking though and Dar hits a quick Nova Roller for the pin at 5:50.

Rating: C-. Well that was a little shorter for the sake of the heel turn at the end, which isn’t the most interesting thing in the world. Their first match was quite entertaining and this one was more of an angle than anything else, which doesn’t do much for me. At least we got something out of it though and they didn’t waste time until getting to the ending.

The Grizzled Young Veterans don’t care about Moustache Mountain calling them out for a title shot because the champs decide when they defend their titles.

Here’s Rhea Ripley for a chat. She knows how much people want to see her wrestle tonight but it’s just not going to happen. Rhea has been told that Piper Niven is something of a big deal here in Scotland but she sees Piper as a wannabe superstar who reeks of fear. All Piper can do is talk about her and as soon as Piper steps in the ring with her, nightmares become reality. Short and to the point here.

Kassius Ohno is rather happy that he gets his update from Sid Scala and Johnny Saint this week. Since Saint isn’t here, Scala gives him Jack Gallagher for next week, which seems to work for Ohno.

Next week: Nina Samuels vs. Toni Storm for the Women’s Title.

United Kingdom Title: Pete Dunne vs. Walter

Pete is challenging and gets powered into the corner to start. That’s reversed into a series of rolls on the mat into a standoff. Dunne takes him to the mat this time and tries for the arm stomp but has to duck the chop. Back up and Pete grabs a headlock, which is reversed into one from the champ as they’re firmly in first gear. The sleeper is blocked and Dunne grabs the leg to send Walter outside.

Dunne follows though and this time it’s the big chop to give Walter his first real advantage. A kick to the arm doesn’t do much for Dunne as Walter kicks him in the face to take over again. There’s a whip into the barricade and Walter stomps him on the steps. Back in and Dunne is in trouble but he sneers up at the champ anyway. That just earns him some hard stomps and a reverse chinlock as things stay rather slow.

Dunne fights up and drops Walter with a single forearm as the fans are behind Pete (or Peter actually). A middle rope dropkick to the knee takes Walter down again and it’s off to a kneebar. Dunne can’t get it in all the way so he kicks Walter in the arm instead and hooks something like an Octopus hold while pulling on the finger. A crucifix bomb gives Dunne two and annoys Walter so much that he hits a rather hard clothesline.

The Boston crab stays on Dunne’s back but Dunne gets out again. Some stomps to the head have Walter in trouble this time and a double arm crank is broken up as well. Walter’s fingers are tied in the buckle and Dunne dropkicks the hand for a bonus. Dunne’s super hurricanrana brings Walter back down for two but he’s back up with a chop between the shoulder blades.

A German suplex rocks Walter, who is fine enough to explode into a clothesline for two on Dunne. The top rope splash is punched out of the air and Dunne grabs the Bitter End. The fingers are bent back….and here’s Fabian Aichner to push the rope toward Walter. With the referee on the floor with Aichner, Marcel Barthel runs in to hit Dunne with the belt. Walter’s powerbomb retains the title at 16:33.

Rating: B+. It’s good and a hard hitting brawl but it was a far cry from what they did in New York. The problem here was they went from the slow start to beating the tar out of each other in the span of a few seconds and it didn’t have the smoothest transition. The ending is a good way to move things forward while also keeping Dunne strong for the future. It’s a very good TV match, but not a great, classic one.

Walter, Aichner and Barthel post to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. They weren’t messing around here with a huge main event, a match to set up the #1 contenders match and a heel turn in the middle. They’re setting things up for the future and when you add that to the good stuff this week, it’s a heck of a show. This place is officially on a roll and the new villains vs. British Strong Style will work just fine for the time being.

Results

Travis Banks b. Joseph Conners – Kiwi Crusher

Noam Dar b. Mark Andrews – Nova Roller

Walter b. Pete Dunne – Powerbomb

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

205 Live
Date: May 14, 2019
Location: 02 Arena, London, England
Commentators: Aiden English, Byron Saxton, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the go home show for Money in the Bank, meaning it’s time for the final push towards Tony Nese defending against Ariya Daivari. Tonight is a special show though as we have NXT vs. the UK with some guest stars from NXT UK filling in some of the spots. That could be interesting, but you never know around here. Let’s get to it.

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

General Manager Drake Maverick introduces the show and runs down the two matches.

Opening sequence.

Jack Gallagher vs. Humberto Carrillo vs. James Drake vs. Mark Andrews

Drake bails straight to the floor so it’s a triple headlock from the other three, even though there are only two headlocks included. A standoff sets up a series of dropkicks for some near falls with Drake’s attempt to steal one not going well. Drake gets caught back inside with Andrews chopping away and doing the slide on his knees to send Drake right back to the floor. That leaves Carrillo to hit his really high springboard spinning crossbody on Gallagher.

Drake pulls Andrews to the floor for a reverse powerbomb onto the apron as the pace picks up. Back in and Drake kicks Carrillo in the face to put him down in the corner. With the other two on the floor, a snap suplex gets two on Carrillo and Drake even has the time for a chinlock. Gallagher gets back on the apron for an exchange of forearms with Drake but a hard one puts him on the floor again. Carrillo sends Drake outside as well for the big flip dive to leave the ring empty.

Andrews grabs a running hurricanrana off the apron to Carrillo, followed by a spinning DDT to plant Drake on the floor. With everyone else down, Gallagher busts out William the umbrella for the Mary Poppins dive off the top. Just to show off some more, Gallagher grabs a very delayed vertical suplex on Andrews to the delight of his home country crowd. Drake catches Gallagher on top but takes too long going up, allowing Andrews to snap off a top rope hurricanrana.

Gallagher gets in a headbutt, followed by Carrillo hitting Twisted Bliss for two with Gallagher and Andrews making a save. Stundog Millionaire hits Carrillo and the moonsault kick to the head takes both Carrillo and Gallagher down. Gallagher is back up with a headbutt to Andrews, but knocks himself silly, allowing Carrillo to grab a rollup pin at 9:48.

Rating: B. It was cool to see Gallagher this fired up and inspired again. I know his character would suggest that he is fairly one note but there is some charisma inside there and it can come out at times. Carrillo getting a big win is nice, though Drake or Andrews winning wouldn’t have made a bit of sense.

Post match Carrillo and Gallagher shake hands.

Ariya Daivari, in a tanning bed, thinks Tony Nese is intimidated by him. Now Nese is flying eight hours for a match he doesn’t need to be in. Daivari will be fresh and massaged for Money in the Bank and have no problem beating a tired champion.

Nese is wrestling tonight because it’s right rather than smart. Yeah he could be in a tanning bed or training, but he’s a champion and got there by working hard.

Video on Ligero. It’s rather strange hearing him talk.

Lucha House Party accepts the Singh Brothers’ challenge to a rematch for next week.

Tony Nese vs. Ligero

Non-title. They battle over arm control to start with Ligero flipping around quite a bit, earning a drive into the corner from Nese. Ligero ties himself up in a ball on the mat and rolls Nese up as he comes near, setting up a long pinfall reversal sequence. That’s good for a handshake, plus one for the referee for keeping up with them. You don’t see that one every day.

Nese gets two off a rollup, followed by Ligero snapping off a hurricanrana for the same. Back up and Nese moonsaults over him before ducking a clothesline with a nipup. A kick to the ribs sends Ligero to the floor but he catches Nese with a pump kick. The running dive is cut off by an elbow to the face to give Nese two more though and it’s off to the waistlock.

Ligero uses a rollup to block the running knee in the corner so Nese goes back to the bodyscissors. This time Ligero fights up with a tilt-a-whirl into a crossbody but it bangs up the ribs again. With the wrestling not working so well, Nese goes with the shots to the face, including a spinwheel kick for two. The springboard moonsault misses so Ligero nails a springboard splash, which only hurts his ribs again.

Nese bails to the floor and you just don’t do that against a luchador, meaning it’s a big flip dive to take him down again. Back in and a super hurricanrana drops Ligero again, followed by the 450….for two. Nese’s stunned face gets superkicked but C4L is countered into a powerbomb into the corner. The running knee finishes Ligero at 14:20.

Rating: B. The lack of drama didn’t help things here as you can only do so much to convince people that the champ is going to lose five days before the title match. Ligero looked good here though and could easily hang on a show like this full time. Nese is rapidly settling in but he needs a far more interesting challenger than Daivari to make the title reign feel more important.

Post match Nese raises Ligero’s hand but Daivari runs in to beat both of them down. They’re trying so hard to make this work but there’s a limit to what can be done given the circumstances.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a one off show with two rather good matches and that made for one of the best shows they’ve had in a long time. The title angle still isn’t working but it certainly isn’t for a lack of trying, which I can always respect. It’s one of the best shows they’ve had, even if it means nothing in the long term.

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: May 15, 2019
Location: Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re coming up on the big rematch between UK Champion Walter and Pete Dunne but we also need to look to the future with more qualifying matches for the #1 contenders fatal four way match. That alone should be enough for a good show but I’ve started to like the prospects of what we might be getting around here week to week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Piper Niven vs. Jamie Hayter

Jamie, making her debut here, grabs the arm to start but gets pulled into a standing chinlock. After slipping out, Jamie tries some trash talk and gets headbutted down for her efforts. There’s a Cannonball in the corner and the Michinoku Driver finishes Jamie at 1:48. Total squash.

Toni Storm warns Nina Samuels to stop talking about her career. An out of control Storm is not a good thing and she’ll even put the title on the line.

Sid Scala is excited for both the title match and the qualifying matches when Kassius Ohno comes up with a complaint. He’s here to showcase pure British wrestling but he’s not in a qualifying match. Scala promises an answer next week.

Fatal Four Way Qualifying Match: Ligero vs. Jordan Devlin

Feeling out process to start with Ligero sending him into the corner to start, meaning Jordan wants an early breather. Devlin takes him down in a test of strength but Ligero is right back with a scary looking Canadian Destroyer (or a very sloppy Code Red). Thankfully Devlin isn’t knocked silly as Ligero dropkicks him to the floor, setting up the slingshot dive.

Back in and Devlin trips Ligero right back to the floor for a ram into the barricade. A backbreaker sets up the release Rock Bottom into the standing moonsault for two as Ligero’s ribs are banged up. Something like a seated abdominal stretch stays on the ribs, meaning Ligero fighting up for a crossbody isn’t the best idea.

Ligero gets two off a middle rope dropkick but makes the big mistake of trying a top rope splash. That means raised knees so Devlin can get two, but his moonsault hits raised knees. A powerbomb into the top rope splash gives Ligero two, with the ribs being a casualty again. Devlin breaks up C4L though and it’s the Saito suplex off the middle rope to put Ligero away at 10:33.

Rating: B-. Ligero has really surprised me as you wouldn’t think of him as someone who could hang in a bigger match like this. What we’ve been getting instead is a guy who can wrestle a pretty good match against different styles of opponents, which I never would have expected from a guy in a mask with big horns like that. Good stuff here.

Post match Devlin says this match shouldn’t have happened because he should be #1 contender without a qualifying match. Every card in the deck falls short against the Ace.

Walter says there is normally pressure on the new champion but he isn’t normal. Being in the ring with Pete Dunne was difficult but enjoyable because Dunne brought the real competition. It’s good that Dunne is training so hard because Walter wants him at his best.

Moustache Mountain is ready to see Dunne win the title back. Then they want another rematch for the NXT UK Tag Team Titles.

Ilja Dragunov vs. Jack Starz

Nigel is VERY excited about Dragunov, possibly due to his entrance, which features a song of people singing in Russian and closeups of Ilja’s red eyes. Dragunov takes him straight into the corner for an elbow to the face and Starz’s uppercuts just make him smile. Some running clotheslines, followed by a standing clothesline, knock Starz’s head off and an even harder one does it again. Starz gets in a dropkick and a choke, which is easily broken up by Dragunov. A jumping backsplash sets up Torpedo Moscow (running headbutt to the chest) to finish Starz at 3:07.

Rating: C-. Oh yeah they’ve got something here with Dragunov. I’ve seen him before and there are very few people with that kind of intensity. The finisher of a running headbutt to the chest will work just fine, but Dragunov’s mannerisms and look will get him a long way. You can’t stop looking at him when he’s in the ring and that’s a great thing to have.

Noam Dar and Mark Andrews are ready for their rematch next week. Noam is sorry for what he’s done before and wants the competition.

Killer Kelly vs. Xia Brookside

Xia rolls out of a wristlock to start but gets pulled down with a top wristlock. A headlock doesn’t get Xia very far as she gets reversed into a headscissors. That’s reversed into another headscissors as the feeling out continues. Back up and they shake hands….and here’s Jinny to interrupt. Jinny brings out the debuting Jazzy Gabbert and the match is thrown out somewhere around 2:45.

Gabbert comes to the ring so Kelly runs, leaving Xia to take a Dominator. So Jinny has some muscle, which is an improvement for her future.

Fatal Four Way Qualifying Match: Dave Mastiff vs. Wolfgang

Mastiff wastes no time in running Wolfgang over for an early two so Wolfgang gets a little smarter with some clotheslines in the corner. An armbar works a bit better on Mastiff and Wolfgang even mixes things up with a full nelson. Mastiff fights up again so it’s an ax handle to the head into a fireman’s carry slam, which is good enough for some polite applause from the fans. The Howling misses though and Mastiff hits a running crossbody. A German suplex sends Wolfgang into the corner and Into the Void sends Mastiff to the four way at 4:35.

Rating: D+. It was short but those holds in the middle took away some of the energy the match had. Mastiff’s push continues to surprise me as you would have expected him to lose at some point already but that actually hasn’t been the case yet. That’s a positive sign for his future as the longer he goes before the loss, the better his chances are after that.

Post match the Coffey Brothers run in and beat Mastiff down, allowing Wolfgang to hit the Howling. That means the only WE LOVE GALLUS chant in history.

One more video on Walter vs. Dunne wraps us up.

Overall Rating: C+. This show came and went, which isn’t the worst thing in the world. It didn’t feel long and when you consider that it was little more than a way to set up a future match for a future title shot, that’s not too bad of a result. The wrestling wasn’t too bad and while some of it was better than the rest, nothing is horrible and I want to see next week’s title match. I don’t remember the last time this show was bad and that’s a good place to be.

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:

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