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NXT UK TV TAPINGS
AUGUST 25, 2018
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND AT THE NEC
REPORT BY LUKE WOODYATT, PWTORCH CORRESPONDENT
If you attend a live event, please send results in the format of the following report to pwtorch@pwtorch.com. Thanks!
My wife Sam, my son Charlie, and I went to the NXT UK taping at the NEC today. The tapings were in one of the halls so was quite small but very good.
DARK MATCH
(A) Charlie Morgan vs. Killer Kelly. They exchanged holds, bit of back and forth, then Kelly took over and won with a Dragon Sleeper.
Xavier Woods came out (he was at the venue for the Insomnia gaming festival which this event was co-branded with. He also won a Guinness book of records award for u”Up, Up, Down, Down,” but this wasn’t acknowledged). He talked about how NXT started, grew, and evolved and we have that opportunity with NXT UK. He (Woods, pronouns pal) called out Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne to announce that they will be playable characters in WWE 2K19. Woods and Bate then “New Day danced” and tried to get Dunne to join in but he blew them off.
1ST EPISODE
The participants for the NXT UK women’s championship tournament (Toni Storm, Jinny, Xia Brookside, Isla Dawn, Dakota Kai, Rhea Ripley, Nina Samuels, and Millie McKenzie) came out followed by Triple H and Johnny Saint. They then unveiled the title belt.
(1) Sid Scala vs. Jordan Devlin. Chants of “You’re just a sh– Finn Balor” for Devlin. Good work by both. Devlin has come a long way in the last 18 months and is arguably the best wrestler in the UK at the moment. Devlin beat Scala then cut a promo with an in ring interviewer saying he knows who he is but theres a bloke in the back claiming to be a Luchador with a mask and a cape from Leeds which made the crowd laugh.
(2) Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan vs. Saxton Huxley & Joseph Connors. Saxton was wearing tiger striped trunks so there were chants of “Tarzan Jesus”. The heels worked over Jordan til he got a hot tag to Williams.Williams then missed a dive from the tope rope to Connors but landed on his feet but Connors sunset flipped him into the middle turn buckle then hit his finisher for the win.
(3) Tyler Bate vs. James Drake. Chain wrestling at the start. Chants of “He’s got his face on his arse” to the the theme of “He’s Got the Whole World” to Drake and also Arse face.Then Nickleback due to Drake’s likeness to Chad Kroeger. Bate hit his signature spots including a Bop and Bang on the apron. Bate won with the Tyler Driver ’97.
(4) Ashton Smith vs. Wolfgang (w/the Coffey Brothers). Smith has a lot of offence,mainly airel, for a long time. Smith went for a DVD but couldn’t lift Wolfgang then Wolfgang took over and won with his finish. Afterwards Wolfgang and the Coffeys posed in the ring.
2nd Episode
(1) Dakota Kai vs. Nina Samuels in the first women’s quarter final match. Nina Over powered Kai at the beginning. There was a botched Gory stretch which had to be done again by Samuels to Kai which will probably be edited out.Kai then had a comeback and won with a seated sunset piledriver looking move to advance.
(2) Jake Constantino vs. Tyson T-Bone. Squash for T-Bone. Afterwards T-Bone got on the mike and said is this the best competition the NXT UK can offer which bough out Dave Mastiff who walked past T-Bone on his way to the ring.
(3) Dave Mastiff vs. Dan Maloney. Mastiff wore a Vader-esq singlet with MASTIFF on the front and a small Black Country (yay) flag on the back. Maloney’s first match back (i think) from injury (My son had his picture taken with Dan in the ring a local promotion earlier this year). Mastiff squashed Maloney , hitting an impressive cannon ball. T-bone jawed at Mastiff from the ramp after the match.
2ND EPISODE
(1) Jinny vs. Millie McKensie. Chants of “Primark princess” (Primark is a cheap clothes shop in the UK). Pretty even match until Jinny hit a kick in the corner on McKenzie then a Pele kick for the win.
(2) Zack Gibson vs. Trent Seven. Gibson cut his usual (PG) promo to mega heat before being interrupted by Seven. Chants of “Shoes off if you hate Gibson, Stand up if you hate Gibson, Sit Down if you hate Gibson and Gibson is a Wanker.” Hard-hitting match. Gibson tried to leave at one point before Bate cut him off. James Drake ran out at the end a held Seven’s leg while Gibson pinned him for the win. Moustache Mountain vs. The Grizzled Young Vets soon in NXT UK maybe? After GYV’s left the ring MM were attached by Wolfgang and the Coffey brothers.
3RD EPISODE
(1) Xia Brookside vs. Rhea Ripley. Ripley dominated with her power moves. Small comenack for Brookside but was caught attempting a cross body and got slammed before Rhea hit her finish to advance.
(2) Jack Starz vs. Eddie Dennis. Big size difference, Eddie won.
(3) Mark Andrews vs. Wild Boar. Boar used his power including some sentons, eventually Andrews hit Slumdog Millionaire and the Shooting Star Press to win.
(4) Isla Dawn vs. Toni Storm in the last quarter final. Even match which Toni won to advance.
The semi-finalists then stood on the entrance next to the belt and the semi finals match ups were announced for tomorrow. Kia vs Ripley and Jinny vs. Storm.
(5) Ligero vs. Devlin Even-steven for most of the match.. Ligero won with a splash from the top.
MAIN EVENT
Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate vs. Wolfgang & Mark Coffey (w/Joe Coffey). This was the evening main event. Not sure if this is part of the tapings, though. Both faces hit thier signature spots. We also got a dual Bop and Bang. Dunne hit the Bitter End on Wolfgang for the finish. They both posed after the match, my son rushed down and high fived Tyler Bate which made him happy.
FINAL THOUGHTS: All in all, a good event with some decent matches. We were ate next to local wrestler Sean Devine from @nbwtweets Nothing But Wrestling (a great local wrestling promotion to West Bromwich and the Sandwell area).
Biggest Pops
1) Pete Dunne
2) Tyler Bate
3) Triple H
4) Toni Storm
5) Mark Andrews
Biggest Heat
1) Zack Gibson
2) Jordan Devlin
3) Wolfgang/Coffeys after laying out Moustache Mountain
If you attend a live event, please send results in the format of the following report to pwtorch@pwtorch.com. Thanks!
NOW CHECK OUT THIS REPORT: 8/23 NXT TV TAPING REPORT (Spoilers): Ciampa’s next move, Gargano status update, an NXT first-ever, groundwork for upcoming specials, more
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