NXT UK Episode #43 (15th May 2019)

We had a hot episode last week to kick off NXT UK in Glasgow, and this week looks to continue that momentum. After Joe Coffey punched his ticket to the Fatal Four-Way Number One Contenders match, we find out who will be joining him. This week, we have two more qualifying matches with Ligero vs Jordan Devlin, and in the main event Wolfgang vs Dave Mastiff.

Sam’s thoughts: Straight into build-up as the commentators tell us about the upcoming two matches featuring El Ligero Vs Jordan Devlin and Wolfgang Vs Dave Mastiff, and these two matches are going to be complete polar opposites, the smashmouth style of Wolfgang Vs Mastiff, and the more agile and fast paced style of Ligero Vs Devlin. The two contrasting matches I feel is a good touch, as it allows NXT UK to demonstrate just how varied their roster is in style.

Piper Niven vs Jamie Hayter

Hayter tried to take it to her bigger opponent, looking to bring her down with a headlock. Piper manages to fight out and apply a choke of her own. A big mistake on Hayter’s part as she fights out of the choke and slaps Piper. This is met with a hard headbutt, followed by a crossbody. Cannonball in the corner, and the Viper Driver gives the decisive win to Piper.

Winner: Piper Niven

A short match but it was nice that Piper was featured on these tapings. No clue who Jamie Hayter is, I’ve never seen her before. She came in to little fanfare, so I wasn’t the only one. It’s hard to comment on this match since it was so short. Since the first episode on the night was main evented by Dunne Vs Walter, it was good to start episode two with a squash, to allow the crowd to catch their breath.

Sam’s thoughts: Jamie Hayter, has previously been promoted for two events at my local wrestling company Reach Wrestling, but both times had to withdraw due to either being on tour in Japan or because her opponent was injured just two days prior, so I’m looking forward to actually seeing her in action! Hayter made a mistake slapping Piper, but it puts Piper over hugely, the idea that if you anger her, she will destroy you in short order. Her Cannonball into the corner is not the only comparison to Dave Mastiff, as she has the potential to have a consistent run of victories over the next few weeks.

Toni Storm Promo

Backstage, Storm is furious after the comments made by Nina Samuels last week. She said she never had a problem with Nina before she brought her family into it. She said this will make her dangerous, and that’s not good for Samuels. She now wants the match so bad, she’ll put the title on the line, and Samuels will finally get her fifteen minutes of fame.

This feels like a promo that would be cut in the midst of a personal feud, not a feud that’s had a week’s build. It feels like Samuels promo was just to add something to a match that otherwise wouldn’t have been that exciting. Judging by this promo, it looks like Samuels was successful in getting in Toni’s head and has what she wants.

Sid Scala & Kassius Ohno Segment

Ohno interrupts Scala during an interview, demanding to know why he isn’t in the qualifying matches for the four way. He wants to know what Scala & Saint are going to do to rectify the situation and Scala says he will get back to him next week. I already mentioned that Ohno was in a dark match on the first night, but he had a really good match on night two, which I believe this segment is leading to. I can’t say who it was against, but it’s a good one.

Sam’s thoughts: I can imagine he’ll end up being given the challenge of having to prove himself deserving, due to his reputation as ‘Jobber To The Stars’. This is the second week in a row that Johnny Saint hasn’t appeared at all, which is starting to become very noticeable.

Jordan Devlin vs Ligero

Ligero gets caught in a wrist lock and is able to flip his way out. Devlin tries to pin Ligero’s shoulders down, but he’s able to use his core strength. Looks to flip over and hit a Canadian Destroyer, which doesn’t look the best, and Devlin hits the back of his head on the mat. Ligero sends Devlin to the outside and hits a crossbody.

Devlin targets the back of Ligero, sending into the barricade and the ring apron. Back in the ring, he follows up with an inverted backbreaker. Continues to target the mid-section, cutting off Ligero’s comeback with the Urinagi, followed by the Moonsault.  Ligero counters a back suplex into a crossbody, and looks to build some momentum. Goes for a splash, but Devlin gets the knees up. He goes for a Moonsault, but Ligero gets the feet up, sending Devlin tumbling to the outside.

Ligero climbs the rope for a splash, but Devlin cuts him off. He climbs up looking to suplex him back in the ring, Ligero fights him off and climbs through the ropes hitting a Sit-Out Powerbomb. Climbs back up the ropes and hits the splash, which only gets a two count. Devlin hits a kick as Ligero goes for the springboard, follows up with the Back Suplex for the win.

Winner: Jordan Devlin

Post-match Devlin says he shouldn’t even need a number one contenders match. He says it doesn’t matter who’s in the Four Way, because they will fall short to The Ace. The match was better watching it back than when I saw it live. Nothing to do with the in-ring action, but on the night, most of the crowd were still recovering, having seen Walter vs Dunne a few matches earlier.

Of the two, Devlin was the right choice to qualify. I liked the theme of the match with Devlin’s hard-hitting offence, making hard for Ligero to fly as he usually does. Not sure why Ligero would keep trying to hit the splash despite having injured ribs. The commentators put this down to adrenaline.

Sam’s thoughts: Devlin and Ligero had some solid chemistry, the mixture of Ligero’s selling to Devlin’s viciousness telling a convincing story of a gradual breaking down of Ligero’s mid-section.

Walter Promo

Last week, we got a short video showing Pete Dunne training at the UK performance centre for his rematch for the UK Championship. This week we hear from the champion. Walter says he doesn’t feel pressure and that’s why he’s the Ring General. He credits Dunne for bringing the fight in New York and credits him for being a versatile competitor. He agreed to give him a rematch, because he appreciated when Dunne was the one to make the challenge for their first match. He likes that Dunne is training, because he wants him at his best and while he knows Dunne will be ready, so will he.

Sam’s thoughts: WALTER admitting that Pete Dunne is being granted a rematch because he gave him a shot and he loves the challenge not only puts WALTER over as a fighting Champion, but also at how impressive Dunne was as an opponent, making Walter that much more impressive whenever he beats Dunne.

Ilja Dragunov vs Jack Starz

Dragunov takes Starz to each corner, putting the boots to him. Straz catches him with an uppercut, which Dragumov just smiles at and hits him in the back with a clubbing blow. Starz ducks one clothesline, but Ilja spins round catching him with another. Starz tried to get a Sleeper, which Dragunov fights out of, hitting a chop followed by the senton. Torpedo Moscow gives Dragunov the win in his debut.

Winner: Ilja Dragunov

I remember being so surprised on the night when Dragunov’s name appeared on the TitanTron because I forgot he had signed. I don’t think the pop came through on TV, because I remember it being louder on the night. I felt bad for Starz, first Walter and then Dragunov beats the hell out of him. Seriously, who has he pissed off?

Sam’s thoughts: The use of red overlay on Ilja’s eyes for his Titantron is reminiscent of the Infected from 28 Days Later, a great little touch. An interesting element is how Ilja uses the ring, going from corner to corner to corner, allowing himself momentum in his attacks as he clubs Starz’s back (between the elbow print on his back and the handprint of his chest, Starz is being broken down). I’m not as convinced by yet, but Ilja overall looks like he could be a good inclusion to the NXT UK roster, very interested in where he goes from here.

Noam Dar & Mark Andrews Interview

Noam Dar & Mark Andrews are being interviewed, as they will step in the ring next week for the first time since they were injured in Coventry. Dar compares the ending to their last match to a bad night out in Glasgow, and apologises for some of the negative things he’s said about NXT UK. Andrews says they look forward to there being a proper conclusion, before they shake hands, agreeing to let the best man win.

I’m surprised that this is happening next week, as this match actually took place on night two of the taping. I remember, because I was happy to see Andrews as he hadn’t appeared on the tapings until that point.

Xia Brookside vs Killer Kelly

A very technical start as Xia uses the ropes to flip out of a wrist lock and applies one of her own. She brings Kelly to mat with a headlock, which Kelly counters with the headscissors. Xia uses a headstand to fight out of it.

Before the match can get going, Jinny’s music hits and she comes out with the debuting Jazzy Gabert. Xia & Kelly look like they’re going to stand together, when Kelly abandons Xia. Jazzy manhandles her and hits the Dominator.

No Contest

Not much you can say about the match, given how short it was. There were a couple of good sequences and I’m sure these two could have a great match, but this was about making Jazzy look dominant. Just like with Dragunov, I forgot Jazzy was signed. Regardless, I’m glad to see her on TV, given how over she was in the first Mae Young Classic, and I think NXT UK is a good fit for her. Her as the muscle for Jinny could be interesting. She could be the factor that helps Jinny take the NXT UK Women’s title if she gets another shot.

Sam’s thoughts: Killer Kelly and Xia Brookside are both cult favourites who haven’t yet really been given an opportunity to utilise them at their full potential as main members of the NXT UK Women’s roster, and unfortunately that continued here. This was reminiscent of the old 2000s when matches between midcarders would be interrupted by the big star, making the midcarders look weak.

Jazzy Gabert and Jinny seem a very contrasting team, but I’d like to see something happen with it.

Dave Mastiff vs Wolfgang: Fatal Four-Way Qualifying match

The two men start with the lock before trying to knock each other down. Wolfgang went for a leapfrog and is caught with a slam. Wolfgang locks in a Full Nelson to try wearing down Mastiff. Just as it looks like he’s going to break out, Wolfgang hits a clubbing blow to the back and reapplies. Mastiff powers out of the hold and hits the senton.

Wolfgang manages to get Mastiff up on his shoulders and hits a Wasteland. Looks to follow up with The Howling, but Mastiff moves out the way. German Suplex into the corner and the running Cannonball allows Mastiff to qualify.

Winner: Dave Mastiff

Post-match, Gallus beat down Mastiff before he can be interviewed. Joe hits All The Best For The Bells, and the Coffey Brothers hold down Mastiff, so Wolfgang can hit The Howling.

It’s rare that a three-on-one beat down is cheered as heavily as this was. Just like in Coffey’s qualifying match, the crowd was vocally behind Wolfgang. Gallus acting like sore losers after the match while the crowd loudly chant “We are Gallus.” I did like that before the beat down, Mastiff shrugs his shoulders, almost apologising to the crowd that he had to beat the hometown guy

Unlike the other qualifier, this was more about power than athletic ability as Mastiff & Wolfgang are used to being powerhouses. Wolfgang has been known to fly, which he relied on several times as he couldn’t overpower Mastiff.

Sam’s thoughts: It was massively impressive to see Mastiff overpower Wolfgang with ease, really sells what a mountain ‘The Bomber’ is. Wolfgang having to change his game plan, focusing on some more agile and high-flying moves, was an interesting conclusion that also put over how dangerous Mastiff is.

This was a relatively convincing victory for Mastiff, who was much less bothered by the Glasgow crowd supporting the Scottish-based Wolfgang.

A great all-round episode of NXT UK this week. Both qualifying matches had great action while continuing the build for the Fatal Four Way, giving us a good look at some potential future contenders while hyping up a huge UK Title rematch. Two strong debuts, which leaves me excited where Ilja & Jazzy will fit in. With Dunne vs Walter, the Four Way & Samuels vs Storm, NXT UK is going to have some great main events in the next few weeks.

Dunne vs Walter especially I can’t wait to talk about. Next week should be a big one with that, the final Four Way qualifier & Andrews vs Dar.

Sam’s thoughts: Overall, another solid show that focused on continuing and developing storylines, with a few solid matches included. I’ve enjoyed watching NXT UK the last two weeks and can’t wait to see next week’s episode now.

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