It’s Episode Fifty-Two, which means it’s a full year since the first NXT UK tapings and what a hell of a year it’s been, it has to be said. This week, we look to close the book on the Download tapings.
We have a cold open, with Assistant to the General Manager Sid Scala running down what’s coming up on the episode, and promising a great show.
Imperium (Fabian Aichner & Marcel Barthel) vs Saxon Huxley & Tyson T-Bone
Aichner trash talks T-Bone, which causes him to be caught with right hand. T-Bone tries to build momentum, only to be caught with a slam. Huxley doesn’t fair too much better as he’s caught with a Spinebuster running kick combo. Huxley tries to leap over, but Barthel catches him with a kick to the face.
Imperium beat him down in the corner, utilising quick tags and a double dropkick while Huxley was tied up in the ropes. It looks like Huxley is finally going to fight his way to a tag, but Aichner blind tags and pulls T-Bone off the apron, preventing the tag. Huxley doesn’t realise Aichner made the tag, allowing him to sneak attack him. Imperium secure the win with a Powerbomb Uppercut combo.
Winners: Imperium
A dominant win for Imperium. The last few weeks have really established them as a strong unit: you have Walter as the dominant champion, Aichner & Barthel as the strong tag team, and Wolfe as the wildcard.
Huxley looking like the underdog, fighting for the hot tag, was something I never thought I’d see.
Travis Banks Promo
Banks talks backstage about being disappointed that he couldn’t win the UK title. He says he will need to hit the reset button on his career.
Not much to say about thi,s as it felt like the generic promo any face cuts after a big loss. Basically, he has to go back to the bottom of the ladder. It’s a shame that he seems directionless yet again, after they’d done such a good job since the Falls Count Anywhere match at building him back up.
Xia Brookside vs Jinny
Jinny says she doesn’t need Jazzy at ringside, because she’s already beaten Xia. This leads to her nearly being pinned early with a roll up. Xia takes it to her until Jinny creates some brief separation with a right hand. Jazzy made her presence felt, pulling Xia off the rope. Jinny takes immediate advantage, kicking Xia while she’s down. She locks Xia in a surfboard stretch, but Xia manages to get one arm free to grab the ropes.
As Xia starts to build momentum, she accidentally knocks Jinny into the ref. This allowed Jazzy to grab Xia’s leg, which Jinny took advantage of with a roll up for the win.
Winner: Jinny
A decent match, but I think it was a bit too short. The purpose seemed to be to once again prove how much having Jazzy at ringside benefits Jinny.
Imperium Promo
Imperium boast about destroying British Strong Style, and that there is only Seven left. Walter’s teammates accept on his behalf, saying that Seven had no chance against the most dominant man in NXT UK. Walter says he will do the same to Seven, as he already did to Bate.
Later, it’s announced that this match will take place next week. You’d have thought they’d have Seven go through the rest of Imperium before getting to Walter. My theory is Imperium will cause a DQ finish, leading to some sort of stipulation match at Takeover. Maybe a cage match to keep Imperium out.
Kenny Williams Promo
Williams cuts a selfie promo, telling us that he has spoken to General Manager Johnny Saint and he will face Noam Dar next week. He promised that the trainers will be ringside when he rips the wing Dar wants to take him under off. He hopes to prove, you don’t have use underhanded tactics to stay lucky. This is another match I didn’t think we’d get so soon, but not every feud can lead to Takeover.
Gallus Promo
We get a recap of the conclusion of last week’s Six-Man main eventm before we see footage from when the show went off the air. Joe Coffey is having to be pulled away from the ring and from Dave Mastiff. Cut to Gallus in the trainer’s room, where Joe says they proved that wild animals can be tamed. He promises to finish the job with Mastiff.
I think Joe vs Mastiff is a definitely possibility for Takeover. After Eddie Dennis, Joe is the next guy who could physically match up with him.
Toni Storm Promo
Toni comes to the ring to comment on Kay Lee Ray’s attack on Candy Floss after her and Toni’s match. Toni says she almost doesn’t recognise Ray from the way she’s been acting recently, and recounts how nice Ray was to her when she first came to the UK. She says Ray doesn’t need to resort to those tactics to get her attention when Ray’s music hits.
Ray teases having her title shot then and there, before announcing she would have it at Takeover Cardiff. She finishes by saying she would make Toni’s life hell until then.
Backstage Sid Scala confirms the match, before announcing a Six-Woman tag match for next week. This will see Ray with Jinny & Jazzy Gabert taking on Storm alongside Xia Brookside & Piper Niven.
Nice to see a match finally confirmed for Takeover Cardiff and it feels like the obvious place to have this match. I saw these two face off back at ICW’s Square Go, so I know how good this match could be.
Kassius Ohno vs Mark Andrews
Andrews struggles to match technically with Ohno, who brings him down with a cravat. He does manage to send him to the outside with an armdrag. Looks to follow up with a suicide dive to the outside, but was caught and dropped throat first across an exposed part of the turnbuckle. Ohno then focuses on the throat, positioning it across the rope, taking full advantage of the five count.
Taunting Andrews while he had him locked in the cravat. Andrews tires to fight back, but when he went to the top, he got pushed and sent to the outside. Ohno chops him while yelling he didn’t belong in the ring with a wrestling genius. Andrews seemed to turn the tide, diving over the top and hitting a Hurricanrana. Back in the rin,g he gets caught in the back of the head.
Andrews unloads with strikes, before hitting a reverse Hurricarana. Looks to hit the Fall To Pieces, only to be caught in the cravat and hit with the Cravat Suplex. Follows up with a Cyclone Kick, and looks to hit a Tombstone, only to be rolled up.
Winner: Mark Andrews
I still would have liked to have seen this match at Takeover, but it was still very enjoyable. Andrews is suited to the role of the underdog, and he played that well here, refusing to stay down no matter how much punishment was dished out. Commentary made the point that Ohno could have pinned Andrews after the Boot, and that ultimately cost him.
A good main event to cap off the Download tapings, and the rest of the show was serviceable. The other matches did what they needed to, but the rest of the show was very promo heavy.
I’m looking forward to starting the Plymouth tapings next week, as we will firmly be on the road to Cardiff. Excited for some match announcements.
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