NXT UK
Date: October 14, 2021
Location: BT Sports Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

It’s championship week as Ilja Dragunov is back to defend the United Kingdom Title against A-Kid. That has all the makings of a great match, but more importantly, there will be a crowd here for the first time in WAY too long as the United Kingdom has started to lighten their Coronavirus restrictions. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence, with a new song.

The fans are back!

Blair Davenport vs. Stevie Turner

Davenport jumps Turner before the bell as we start fast. That’s fine with Turner, who fights back at the bell and scores with a Thesz press to hammer away. Some right hands in the corner don’t work out so well as Davenport drops her face first onto the turnbuckle and scores with a basement dropkick to the back of the head. Turner is back up with a running boot to the face and some neckbreakers get two. Davenport BLASTS her with a kick to the head for two more but Turner is back with a Side Effect for the same. That’s enough for Davenport, who knees her in the face and hits a Falcon Arrow for the pin at 4:36.

Rating: C. This was short and to the point, as Davenport shrugged off Turner’s offense and pinned her in short order. You can tell that Davenport is likely the next big thing and eventually the top star in the division, but we still have a little while before we get that far. They had another good step here though, as it is nice to have Davenport back in the ring.

Sha Samuels commandeers a birthday party and gives it to Noam Dar instead. Samuels isn’t happy with the banners but Dar says this can be a warmup for the real celebration when he wins the Heritage Cup.

Rohan Raja makes excuses to Teoman for the Heritage Cup tournament but Teoman promises that the family will grow soon.

Sid Scala has a match to announce when Jinny and Joseph Conners come in. As luck would have it, the match was about her, as Jinny challenges Meiko Satomura for the Women’s Title in three weeks. Jinny’s advice to Scala: burn his clothes.

Flash Morgan Webster vs. Sha Samuels

Webster dodges to start and scores with some right hands in the corner. A few fast chops annoy Samuels, who takes Webster’s head off with a chop of his own. Some hard kicks to the back give Samuels two and a shoulder to the ribs in the corner gets the same. They head outside with the fans chanting for Webster, who is dropped face first onto the apron.

Back in and Webster suddenly picks up the pace, including a middle rope standing moonsault. Samuels is sent outside for a change and that means a suicide dive from Webster. They head back inside where Webster scores with a running kick to the face for another near fall, setting up a heck of a top rope flip dive to the floor. Back in again and Webster scores with a headbutt but walks into a spinebuster to give Samuels the pin at 8:16.

Rating: B-. They were starting to rock here with that Webster comeback being a standout highlight. This was a rather fun edition of power vs. speed and that is going to work every single time. Webster doesn’t get as much attention as Mark Andrews but he showcases himself well when he gets the chance.

It’s time for another Nina Samuels Show, with Xia Brookside not realizing she is the guest. Brookside calls over Leah James and gets a match with her instead. End of show.

We recap Dave Mastiff/Jack Starz cutting off Symbiosis’ attempt at interfering in a recent tag match. They’re facing off next week as a result.

Gallus interrupts Jordan Devlin’s meeting with Sid Scala. Devlin doesn’t want to hear this and threatens to take Joe Coffey out soon.

United Kingdom Title: A-Kid vs. Ilja Dragunov

A-Kid is challenging and circles around the champ to start until a headscissors pulls him to the mat. They go with some grappling until A-Kid rapid fires kicks to the leg. That earns him a big chop but he nips up and kicks at the leg some more. Dragunov checks one though and snaps off a German suplex, sending us back to the grappling. That’s broken up so Dragunov snaps off the rebound lariat, only to hurt his own arm in the process.

Now it’s Dragunov’s turn to crank on the leg but A-Kid chops his way out of a leglock. The leg gets cranked back again though and it’s time to chop A-Kid in the corner. Dragunov gets two off something like a powerbomb but A-Kid kicks at the bad arm to get a breather. The good arm is fine enough to blast A-Kid….who responds by kicking Dragunov in the face. The kicks to the chest (with the bad leg) don’t do much to Dragunov, who catches the leg and sends us back to a strike off.

A kick to the head sets up a fisherman’s suplex (with the bad leg being raised) for two on Dragunov, who is right back with an STO. Dragunov takes him down with a hard knee to the ribs and the rolling German suplexes, though A-Kid cranks on the arm to escape. Some elbows to the head set up another suplex for two on A-Kid as the fans (accurately) deem this awesome. Dragunov misses a top rope backsplash and gets pulled into a sleeper. With that broken up, A-Kid scores with a running kick to the chest.

An armbar over the ropes has Dragunov hurt again but he drops A-Kid again. Torpedo Moscow is cut off with a kick to the face though and they’re both down one more time. They slug it out with A-Kid getting the better of things and Dragunov not being able to powerbomb his way out of a cross armbreaker. He can however flip out of an Oomoplata, setting up Torpedo Moscow to the leg. Another Torpedo Moscow retains the title at 19:25.

Rating: A-. This was excellent stuff and the two of them beat the fire out of each other. That is what you should be expecting to see from Dragunov these days and A-Kid was able to hang in there with him every step of the way. The battle of limb manipulation was great here and it felt like a huge main event title match. These guys brought it and the match was excellent throughout, as you probably expected.

Dragunov demands A-Kid stand up so the handshake can end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. There is a reason that this show has been so well received as of late and the fans being back only make it better. This show felt important again and the energy from the fans played a bit role in that change. Granted the main event being a nearly twenty minute clinic helped as well, as we had one of the better editions of this show in a very long time.

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It’s nice to get away every now and then.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/kbs-review-hey-look/

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

Jinny vs. Emilia McKenzie

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

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

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

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

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

A-Kid is ready for Ilja Dragunov.

Mark Andrews vs. Sam Gradwell

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

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

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

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

Ilja Dragunov is ready for A-Kid.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NXT UK
Date: September 30, 2021
Location: BT Studios, London, England
Commentators: Andy Shepherd, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back to the show that just kind of exists but still does enough good things to be one of the best wrestling shows going. This time around we get a visit from one of the best tag teams the show has ever seen as Moustache Mountain is getting back together. Other than that, the road to the Heritage Cup #1 Contenders tournament continues, because it can never end. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Oliver Carter/Ashton Smith vs. Moustache Mountain

Tyler Bate slams Carter down to start and Trent Seven comes in for a spinning slam. Carter takes him down by the arm though and it’s off to Smith to work on the arm. Seven gets slammed down onto some raised boots and we hit the quickly broken chinlock. Back up and Seven takes over on Smith, allowing Bate to…miss the flipping splash off of Seven’s shoulders. Bate is back with the airplane spin and now the flipping splash from Bate’s shoulders connects for two.

Seven powerbombs Smith out of the corner and hits the Emerald Flosion for two more. It’s back to Bate for a German suplex but Smith flips out and hits a Lionsault to a standing Bate for another two. Bop and Bang drops Smith for two as Symbiosis comes out to watch. Bate gets backdropped onto the floor but here are Jack Starz and Dave Mastiff to cut Symbiosis off. Back in and a superkick gets two on Bate but Seven pulls Carter outside for a dragon suplex. That leaves Bate to hit an apron German suplex on Smith (geez), setting up the rebound lariat/dragon suplex combination to finish Smith at 9:59.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of match that can help Carter and Smith go a long way, even in defeat. They made the famous team sweat and that is more than most teams can do. Moustache Mountain is in a weird place as they are too big of a deal to be a team without the title reign but no one can really come off as a threat to them. That leaves them as singles wrestlers, which isn’t going to be the best news for Smith. At least they’re good when they get together though, which was the case here.

Jinny and Joseph Conners don’t have much to say but Emilia McKenzie comes up. They run into Emilia McKenzie and Jinny mocks her, but McKenzie keeps training. Sounds like the next step towards McKenzie challenging Meiko Satomura for the Women’s Title.

Jack Starz and Dave Mastiff are interrupted by Nina Samuels who is trying to have her own talk show. They aren’t interested, but Samuels goes into a rant about Isla Dawn.

Dani Luna vs. Xia Brookside

They go with the grappling to the mat to start with Brookside having to slip out of a waistlock. Brookside tries to pick up the pace but her crossbody is caught in midair. A headscissors is countered into a faceplant though and Luna grabs a suplex for two. The armbar goes on to keep Brookside in trouble but she reverses another suplex into a small package for two of her own. Now it’s a crossface chickenwing to stay on Brookside’s shoulder but this time she fights up and hits a middle rope hurricanrana. Some running dropkicks put Luna in trouble for a change and a neckbreaker gives Brookside two. What looks like a Codebreaker is countered into a World’s Strongest Slam and a fall away slam. Luna flips a fireman’s carry into a sitout powerbomb for the pin at 5:37.

Rating: C-. This was power vs. speed and it worked well enough for a short match. Brookside’s downward trend continues but it is nice to see Luna getting somewhere. I’m not sure how much a win over Brookside really means, but a Brookside heel turn in the future would not surprise me. I’m jut not sure how well it would work.

Video on Blair Davenport being suspended but raiding the ring anyway.

Stevie Turner wants Davenport reinstated but Sid Scala will only think about it.

Sam Gradwell doesn’t like Mark Andrews, who comes in for the pull apart fight.

Josh Morrell vs. Charlie Dempsey

This is Dempsey’s debut (if you don’t count a one off match) and he is an old school technical guy. Dempsey takes him down without issues and works on the wrist in a variety of ways. After escaping a quick armbar, it’s a monkey flip to put Morrell down and we hit the pinfall reversal sequence. A Fujiwara armbar has Morrell screaming and Dempsey switches into a kneebar.

With that broken up, Dempsey sends him into the corner and comes out with a suplex for two. Morrell hits a kind of flipping powerbomb but Dempsey is back with a German suplex for two more. An armbar sets up…well it looked like a cover with Morrell’s head hooked but Dempsey bent the lower half of the bent knee down and grasped his hands, making it something like a cover into a surfboard? Either way, Morrell taps at 6:13.

Rating: C. It was a fine debut with some crazy good submission stuff, though I’m going to need a name for that finisher so I don’t have to try and describe it every time. They have something with the submission master in Dempsey, who looks just simple enough to seem like a threat. Nice start here, with the finish looking creative and deadly.

We get a sitdown interview between Ilja Dragunov and A-Kid. Dragunov talks about beating Walter but A-Kid talks about having experience. A-Kid isn’t interested in picking a fight and asks what would have happened if Dragunov had been forced to face everyone instead of one man. We get Shayna Baszler’s tap, nap or snap line and A-Kid talks about knowing that Dragunov is going to lose his temper. Dragunov promises to keep the title in two weeks.

Noam Dar and Wolfgang talk about what it means to win the Heritage Cup. Dar isn’t quite as serious. The tournament final is next week.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Joe Coffey vs. Jordan Devlin

Gallus is here with Coffey. Feeling out process to start with Devlin working on the wrist to limited avail. Coffey grabs a hammerlock so Devlin uses a flying mare to escape. A test of strength can’t keep Devlin down but he is shocked when Coffey flips over into the standoff. The headlock takeover works a bit better for Devlin but Coffey fights out in a hurry. Coffey hits him in the face and clotheslines Devlin outside.

Back in and Coffey gets two off a side slam before cutting off a comeback with a running elbow to the face. Devlin crotches him in the corner though and there’s a Backstabber to take him down. A running legdrop gets two on Coffey but he’s strong enough to block a backslide attempt.

Devlin is back with a release Rock Bottom into a standing moonsault but he takes too much time MOCKING THE GALLUS POSE, allowing Coffey to launch him into the corner. The springboard spinning crossbody gives Coffey two but Devlin counters All The Best For The Bells with a Spanish Fly. Mark Coffey offers a distraction though, allowing Wolfgang to grab Joe’s hand. The delay lets Joe score with All The Best For The Bells and the pin at 11:35.

Rating: B. The ending was a bit unnecessary but I guess they were going for the strength in numbers. That’s a little weird when Devlin was the heel the whole time and Gallus has been leaning face for weeks, but at least they had a good match to get here. I could go for more of this and there is a good chance that they aren’t done.

Devlin yells a lot to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Another good show here as they had a pair of pretty awesome bookending matches, which is more than you should expect in an hour long show. The talent is here and they have set up the title match in two weeks, but it would still be nice to have SOMETHING to look forward to. Getting fans back will help, but a Takeover would help even more. Still though, another solid week, which isn’t even a surprise anymore.

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

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NXT UK
Date: September 23, 2021
Location: BT Studios, London, England
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Andy Shepherd

The tournament to crown a new #1 contender to the Heritage Cup is STILL GOING, despite the fact that Tyler Bate could have probably given everyone in the field a shot at this rate. It’s time for another semfinal match this week as we’re finally close to wrapping up. Other than that, stuff will happen. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Heritage Cup #1 Contenders Tournament Semifinals: Teoman vs. Wolfgang

Rohan Raja and the rest of Gallus are here too. Round one begins with Wolfgang going simple by hitting him in the face and then knocking Teoman down into the corner. Teoman punches him in the arm and takes it to the mat with a wristlock. A suplex sets up a failed Crossface attempt so Wolfgang is up with a clothesline, setting up the Caber Toss for the first fall at 2:01.

Round two begins with Wolfgang hammering away again but missing a charge to crash out to the floor. Teoman tries to follow up but gets dropped in a hurry, allowing Wolfgang to take him back inside. Never mind as Teoman is knocked outside again, only to get in a cheap shot to take over. Back in and Teoman scores with a missile dropkick for two. Teoman tries the Crossface but can’t get it on as the round ends.

Round three begins with Teoman winning a slap off until Wolfgang knocks him down. The basement clothesline gives Wolfgang two but Teoman is back on the arm. A running forearm to the side of Wolfgang’s head ties it up at a fall each at 1:12 of the round and 7:17 overall.

Round four begins with Teoman going after the bad arm so Wolfgang uses the good arm to clothesline him down. Teoman ties the arm around the ropes but misses the stomp, allowing Wolfgang to drive him into the corner. A middle rope ax handle connects but the seconds get up on the apron. Not that it matters as Wolfgang hits a spear for the win at 2:45 of the round and 10:04 overall.

Rating: C. It’s not a bad match but egads this tournament feels like it has been going on forever. It also doesn’t help that we’re having seven Heritage Cup rules matches to set up an eighth Heritage Cup rules match. Teoman seemed like the natural winner here but it can be nice to throw in a curve every now and then. Fine match, but not exactly interesting.

Blair Davenport is annoyed that she is still suspended and promises more bad things will happen. Reinstate her.

Subculture arrives and finds that Sam Gradwell has spray painted over their spray paint. The spray paint over his spray paint too.

Gallus has taken over Jordan Devlin’s dressing room and throw him out, stealing his sunglasses in the process. Devlin: “I’M GOING TO TELL JOHNNY SAINT ABOUT THIS!!!” Tell him he’s still part of the show too.

Isla Dawn vs. Jinny

Joseph Conners is here with Jinny and this is fallout from Dawn drawing a pentagram on Jinny’s mirror last week. Dawn wins an early slugout but Jinny kicks away at the ribs in the corner. A running shoulder lets Jinny hammer away even more but Dawn whips her hard into the corner. Jinny hits a running knee to the face and loads up some kind of a stretch, which is countered into a whip into the ropes.

Dawn is back with her own running knee and some kicks in the corner rock Jinny even more. They head outside where Jinny is sent face first into the apron, sending Conners into a panic. Dawn grabs his wrists and seems to try some kind of a spell to make it worse. Back in and some running knees give Dawn two but she stops to yell at Conners again, allowing Jinny to grab the Facelift out of the corner for the pin at 4:51.

Rating: C. This was a rather energetic and hard hitting match as Dawn loses again. She has a bad habit of that, though at least she is actually doing something with the witchcraft deal after a very long time of just mentioning it. Good enough match though as we keep trying to find some more main event level talent for the division.

Dani Luna is lifting when Xia Brookside comes up for a friendly challenge. Sure.

Charlie Dempsey is ready to debut next week and demonstrate how to hurt people like they did in the good old days.

Trent Seven challenges Oliver Carter/Ashton Smith to a match against Moustache Mountain next week. Sure, despite Tyler Bate not being here. That doesn’t seem too bright.

Nathan Frazer vs. Rampage Brown vs. A-Kid

The winner gets the next UK Title shot against Ilja Dragunov. Brown has to fight off a double teaming to start and knocks the other two outside in a hurry. Back in and Frazer dropkicks him into the corner, setting up a double dropkick to the floor. Frazer picks up the pace to run/flip away from A-Kid before hitting another hard dropkick. Brown comes in to whip Frazer hard into the corner so A-Kid comes back in to strike away.

A kick to the knee puts Brown down with Frazer joining in, only to have Frazer drop him as well. Brown is back up up to wreck them again, including a toss to send A-Kid into Frazer. A-Kid is knocked outside, leaving Brown to chop away at Frazer. Brown puts Frazer on top but A-Kid is back in to kick away at both of them. A triangle choke has Brown in trouble, or at least it does until he powerbombs A-Kid onto Frazer.

The Doctor Bomb is broken up though and A-Kid is knocked outside, leaving the other two trying to get back up. Frazer takes too long to go up top and has to flip out of a German superplex. A-Kid is sent outside as well, allowing Frazer to dive onto both of them. Back in and Frazer drops both of them again, this time for two on A-Kid. They get up for the circle slugout until Brown hits a double suplex for a double knockdown.

A-Kid is back up with a springboard armdrag/headscissors to put them both down, followed by a high crossbody for two on Frazer. A northern lights suplex sets up a cross armbreaker on Frazer but Brown is back in with a powerbomb for the save. Frazer kicks Brown down again and everyone gets a breather. Somehow Frazer manages to slam Brown and super flipping World’s Strongest Slam A-Kid for two with Brown making a save.

A-Kid is back up with a guillotine on Brown, who reverses it up into a suplex until Frazer nails a superkick for two in a nice sequence. Frazer’s springboard is (nicely) powerslammed out of the air and now the Doctor Bomb can connect. A-Kid superkicks Brown to the floor though and a running kick to the face finishes Frazer for the pin and the title shot at 16:32.

Rating: B. This was some pretty sweet stuff with everyone going hard throughout until we got an interesting winner. Brown vs. Dragunov feels like a downgrade from Walter and Frazer doesn’t feel like a real threat. A-Kid might not either, but he is certainly a unique way to go and that is a good idea. Make things a little more interesting and let him show what he can do in a fight against the champ. This was rather good while it lasted though, with some innovating spots and everyone doing their thing well.

Overall Rating: B-. The main event is the only thing worth seeing and that’s not a good sign. The show usually has at least one good match but it feels rather cold at the moment. Dragunov has been champion for about a month now and it still feels like he’s a complete ghost. The entire promotion feels like it has been forgotten about to do its thing and I don’t know what happens to it when WWE remembers it exists. Another nice show here, though it still doesn’t feel important.

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

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NXT UK
Date: September 16, 2021
Location: BT Studios, London, England
Commentators: Andy Shepherd, Nigel McGuinness

The Heritage Cup #1 contenders tournament continues this week as we reach the semifinals. That’s probably a good thing as tournaments with one match a week take their sweet time getting along. Other than that, we are on the way towards…well absolutely nothing around here, which they might want to address. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Heritage Cup #1 Contenders Tournament Semifinals: Noam Dar vs. Kenny Williams

Round one begins with both guys going after the leg and not getting very far. They go to the mat with Dar’s chinlock not working as Williams slips out and grabs a headlock. Back up and Dar goes after the arm, setting up an armbar and then a wristlock. Williams shoves him away to wrap up the round with a bad shoulder.

Round two begins with Williams taking him down and raking his boots over Dar’s eyes. Some kicks to the back and a running dropkick in the corner let Williams start in on the arm as well. Dar gets smart and kicks the leg out but Williams grabs a rollup with tights for the pin at 2:24 of the round (6:00) to go up 1-0.

Round three begins with Dar bailing to the floor and diving back in, only to get stomped down again. Dar blocks a shot to the arm though and starts kicking away at the leg some more. A running uppercut to the back gets two on Williams and a shot to the face gets the same. Williams tries to bounce off the ropes but gets pulled into a kneebar. That’s a lot of trouble but the round ends to give him a breather.

Round four begins with Dar hitting Williams in the face and getting a rollup out of the corner, only to get caught with his feet on the ropes. Back up and Williams takes out Dar’s leg and goes for a turnbuckle pad. That takes too long though and Dar grabs…something out of the corner, which he throws to Williams. The referee yells so Dar pulls Williams into the kneebar for the tap at 1:27 of the round (11:39) to tie it up.

Round five begins with the slugout until Dar hits a Judas Effect for two. Williams pulls him into the corner and scores with a rebound lariat but Dar rolls outside before Williams can try something else. Dar is thrown back in but Sha Samuels pops out from underneath the ring and grabs Williams’ leg, allowing Dar to hit the Nova Roller for the pin at 2:28 of the round (14:46 total) for the win.

Rating: C+. This was a fine technical match but it wasn’t exactly interesting. Dar is a good pesky heel but Williams is just a guy in tights. There is only so much that you can get out of a match like this and I think they hit that limit here. Dar was the only choice to have move forward here and it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t exactly fascinating.

Sid Scala introduces Ilja Dragunov….on the screen. Dragunov talks about how it has been a long time but he made the impossible possible. Now he is the new NXT UK Champion and he will be back, but who is going to be the one trying to take the title from him? Cue Nathan Frazer, who says he isn’t supposed to be here. He used to think something like this was in bad taste but why not him?

Cue Rampage Brown to remind us of what he did to Joe Coffey. That means he should get the shot, but here is A-Kid to say he should get the shot because he doesn’t have a limit. He’ll face anyone to get that shot so the triple threat #1 contenders match is set. Dragunov pops back up to say he agrees and the brawl is on. This segment showed me one thing: NXT UK wrestlers have very similar music.

Jinny and Joseph Conners throw Isla Dawn out of Jinny’s dressing room, but Dawn has messed with some things, including drawing a pentagram on the mirror.

Moustache Mountain thinks things are interesting around here.

Stevie Turner vs. Emilia McKenzie

McKenzie drives her into the corner to start so they slap each other a bit. A wristlock has Turner in almost no trouble as she reverses into a headlock. That’s broken up as well and it’s an elbow to the face into a dropkick. Turner is back with a running knee and elbows in the corner as we keep hearing about how futuristic she is. I have no idea what is futuristic about her, but that’s the description they’re going with for her.

Another shot to the face gives Turner two and we hit the double arm crank. McKenzie fights up and starts hitting some running clotheslines. Turner hits something like a Side Effect for two but McKenzie is back with a German suplex. A running knee to the face finishes Turner at 5:20.

Rating: C. They were doing well here, but I’m curious about the story they’re telling long term. McKenzie keeps standing up to defend Meiko Satomura and beats every challenger, making me think she is the next challenger. It’s not like there is anyone else out there to challenge Satomura at the moment anyway, so go with McKenzie later on. As for Turner…figure out what the heck she is supposed to be, or at least make her feel futuristic, because right now it’s just a weird buzzword.

Video on Wolfgang vs. Teoman in next week’s Heritage Cup tournament match.

Charlie Dempsey has been watching a lot of film and will show you something new. You might remember him as Bailey Matthews, or William Regal’s son.

During the break, the suspended Blair Davenport jumped Stevie Turner. Davenport promised to cause more bad things to happen until she is unsuspended.

Tag Team Titles: Gallus vs. Pretty Deadly

Joe Coffey/Mark Coffey are challenging here. Mark and Lewis Howley start things off with Mark messing with the hair to make this personal. A big hiptoss sends Howley into the corner and it’s time for a breather on the floor. Back in and Stoker makes a blind tag but Joe is right there with a headlock takeover. That’s broken up and Stoker teases rolling away but kicks Joe in the face for a nice counter.

Joe doesn’t seem to mind as he crushes Stoker with a crossbody and it’s back to Mark for a seated abdominal stretch. Stoker gets over for the tag to Howley so Mark takes the knee out. With nothing else working, Stoker low bridges Mark to the floor and hammers away. Back in and a hurricanrana sends Mark into the corner for the tag to Joe and house is cleaned in a hurry.

Something like a DDT/Codebreaker combination takes Joe down though and the champs take over for the first time. Well in theory at least as Joe grabs a suplex but Stoker elbows him in the back to cut him off again. A clothesline out of the corner drops Howley though and a backdrop allows the hot tag to Mark. House is really cleaned and a middle rope bulldog gets two on Howley. Mark’s spear is countered into a DDT (nice) and the champs take over again.

Howley and Mark collide to put them both down again and the hot tag brings Joe back in. The middle rope spinning high crossbody hits Stoker and Mark Pounces Howley against the barricade. The fans thinks THIS IS AWESOME, despite there not being any fans there. Back in and a high/low gets two on Howley with Stoker making the save. Joe is posted hard and Spilled Milk retains the titles at 14:24.

Rating: B-. Ghost crowd chants aside, this was another case where Pretty Deadly should have been destroyed and managed to survive as champions. That’s the kind of thing that works every time as Pretty Deadly continues to be far better than anyone would have guessed. Seeing someone finally solve the puzzle is going to be awesome and that’s because of matches like this one.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a completely watchable but also completely skippable show. They got through an hour rather easily and the main event was good, but it wasn’t exactly something you would need to go out of your way to see. This show still needs something to build up to, like a Takeover, but I’m not sure if that is actually going to happen. In other words, we’re just kind of left watching a TV show, which can work but doesn’t exactly build up the excitement.

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

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

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

We open with a quick preview for the show.

Opening sequence.

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the semifinals:

Noam Dar
Kenny Williams

Wolfgang
Teoman

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

Sid Scala announces that Davenport has been indefinitely suspended.

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

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

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

Ashton Smith/Oliver Carter/Saxon Huxley vs. Symbiosis

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

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

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

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

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

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

United Kingdom Title: Walter vs. Ilja Dragunov

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

Blair Davenport vs. Nina Samuels

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

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

Jinny takes credit for injuring Valkyrie.

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

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

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

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

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

Amele vs. Emilia McKenzie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

Jinny vs. Aoife Valkyrie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rampage Brown vs. Joe Coffey

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

Women’s Title: Stevie Turner vs. Meiko Satomura

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

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

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

McKenzie congratulates Satomura post match.

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

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

Saxon Huxley vs. Eddie Dennis

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

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

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

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

Video on Jinny vs. Aoife Valkyrie.

Isla Dawn vs. Dani Luna

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

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

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

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

Tag Team Titles: Moustache Mountain vs. Pretty Deadly

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

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

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

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

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

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

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