Last week we built tonight's main event between Noam Dar and Zack Gibson, whilst also introducing the WWE Universe to plenty more UK acts. Let's get stuck into episode three shall we?
TRENT SEVEN v SAXON HUXLEY
Trent Seven gets a great reception from the fans in Cambridge, England. Last week his tag partner Tyler Bate beat Wolfgang in the main event and this week Trent is taking on Saxon Huxley. They meant it when they said they don't have any tag competition, didn't they!
Commentary reminds us of the heartbreaking moment when Tyler Bate threw in the towel to surrender their NXT Tag Titles to the Undisputed Era, because of the strain being applied to Trent's knee. Let's see if that comes into play here...
Saxon Huxley comes out to silence, but we do get a VT promo where he explains after his loss in the 2017 UK Tournament, he has burnt off the dead wood and the beast that lay dormant will now emerge. I like that promo, but I'm assuming he loses here, so it comes off a bit futile?
- Strong tie-ups end in stalemates
- Huxley blocks a chop and rits a running knee
- Chop fake into a DDT by Seven!
- Cricket bowl chop in the corner!
- Seven goes for the seven star lariat but Huxley ducks...
- Are you Jesus in disguise chant the crowd, lolz.
- Million Dollar Dream slows down Seven.
- SEVEN STAR LARIAT!
- Kojima chops from Trent!
- Snap suplex by Trent!
- BURNING HAMMER!
- TRENT SEVEN WINS!
- A solid win for Trent who was in serious mode here. Saxon brought the fight and that meant that Trent was unable to do his charismatic stuff and this ended up a straight up fight. The right person won here - I think that Huxley can play off the crowd chants more - he is getting a reaction once he's in the ring because of his looks - play on it! He also didn't try to work on the bad knee of Seven once. Sort it out, Jesus!
COFFEY BROTHERS VT
We get a cool video package of The Coffey Brothers beating people up and looking tough.
- The editing was excellent on this, it reminded me of the packages created for the Authors of Pain in NXT. Up next we see Mark Coffey in action against Flash Morgan Webster - who saved Mark Andrews from their beating in episode one.
FLASH MORGAN WEBSTER BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW
Flash is asked what his game plan is ahead of his match against Mark Coffey. He replies that he will bring the style and innovation as only he can. Mark Coffey has been a thorn in his side since the Royal Albert Hall and that ends tonight... because in Mod we trust!
- I liked this. Flash comes across as his own man with his own sense of style, you root for him as the underdog and he seems like the kind of guy who would be cool for a pint with. He's one of a few on the brand that seems at home on the mic and 'in mod we trust' should catch on as a catchphrase.
FLASH MORGAN WEBSTER v MARK COFFEY (W/ JOE COFFEY)
Commentary remind us that confidence must be high for the Coffey brothers after Joe's win over Mark Andrews in week one. McGuinness points out that Webster will be giving up so much size here he will need all the innovation he can bring.
- Webster ducks and dives to evade Coffey's attacks to begin.
- Webster uses his speed to hit Coffey with a variety of armdrags
- Inside out moonsault to Coffey!
- Mark Coffey rolls out of the ring to dust himself off.
- Joe Coffey gets on the apron to stop Webster perform a diving attack on his brother.
- The distraction pays off as Mark Coffey lands a spinning European uppercut!
- Coffey takes control with strong strikes and power moves.
- Webster shows heart by kicking out at two three times in a row!
- Webster uses his speed to fight back hitting a moonsault out of the corner
- HUGE jumping knee strike from Webster!
- Joe Coffey jumps on the apron again!
- Webster runs the apron and hits a hurricanrana around the ringpost onto Mark Coffey anyway!
- Another distraction from Joe Coffey who has some verbals with Flash.
- Mark Coffey is able to take advantage again and lands a big vertical suplex.
- Flash slips off the ropes but has the wits about him to turn it into an enziguri. Nice save!
- Joe Coffey again distracts Webster, and he takes a boot in the chest for his troubles.
- Back in the ring Flash hits a crucifix pin!
- FLASH MORGAN WEBSTER WINS!
- The crowd popped big for that result.
- The Coffey Brothers attack Webster after the bell
- Mark Andrews and Travis Banks are here for the save!
- The faces crowd the heels on the apron this time, showing their 3 on 2 advantage.
- The Coffeys roll out of the ring and powder.
- That was a good match, with a clear face and heel dynamic. Joe Coffey was great in his role as the antagonist outside the ring and Flash was clever in victory with his use of style and innovation, just as he promised.
JINNY VT
For those of you unaware, Jinny is a fabulous heel and will be a big success on this brand... here she is shown looking fashionable in many different outfits across many couture shops and locations, and she narrates saying that if her opponent is dressed unfashionably, she will teach them a lesson they will never forget.
- Whilst this is going on words such as CAPTIVATING, ALLURING and SAVAGE appear on the screen. It's great, quite frankly.
DANNY BURCH v SAM GRADWELL
We get VTs of both wrestlers before the match, which again introduces new characters to the audience as this is only episode 3. Burch is shown as the East London veteran who is here to prove he is the best after years of battling his way to where he is today.
Sam Gradwell is shown as the plucky competitor from the 2017 tournament. His look as changed since then as he now has a mohawk and a beard. He mentions that some wrestlers are here to put on five star matches, but he isn't here to be a firework, he's here to be a thunderstorm.
Sam Gradwell is out first and gets some great heel crowd reactions because of his demeanour, whilst Danny Burch gets a nice pop for his entrance thanks to his recent work in NXT.
- Strong style forearms to start with straight away! I can tell I'm going to enjoy this...
- Burch gets the upper hand to start with.
- Gradwell turns things around with a clubbing blow to the back
- You look stupid chant for Gradwell, who does look a little like a mini Sheamus now.
- German suplex by Burch!
- Follows up with a massive lariat!
- Are you Sheamus in disguise? Chant the crowd...
- Falcon arrow from Gradwell.
- Big right hand by Burch and both men are down.
- He's got a skid mark on his head chant from the crowd!
- Strong style strikes continue from both wrestlers.
- Headbutt y Burch!
- Burch hoists Gradwell's legs on the top rope and DDT's him! That looks so much more savage than Orton's as it is from the higher angle. Ouch!!!
- DANNY BURCH WINS!
- Post match Burch is interviewed in the ring. How does it feel to be performing back in the UK. I was born in London and I'm a proud Englishman. This will always be home. UK chants follow. This means so much because for 15 years I travelled the world flying the flag for British wrestling earning people's respect. It's coming home chant for Burch. Can tell this was filmed in the summer! I'm in the best shape of my life and it ain't about respect anymore... it's about getting Pete Dunne's attention. I was British Strong Style when you were running around in your nappy with snot coming out of your nose. Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough!
- That was a really fun sprint of a match. I rate Gradwell and Burch complimented him brilliantly here as they have similar styles. The post match stuff was fun but it is interesting that the crowd were so behind Danny until he mentioned Pete Dunne. A face v face dynamic doesn't work here because Dunne is SO over. I hope he loses the title to a heel for the heat it will get.
JORDAN DEVLIN VT
Jordan Devlin has been killing it in OTT and this brand will be far better off for having him on it. His VT seems to show him as a heel. He's the Irish Ace, the hottest property in Sports Entertainment. He's the most explosive and aggressive here and he is looking forward to walking all over the competition.
NOAM DAR v ZACK GIBSON
Commentary point out that Noam Dar took things for granted before his injury and he now has a much more committed attitude. Zack comes out to huge heat as always. We are reminded that Gibson called Dar an embarrassment last week.
- Dar grounds Gibson to start giving him a high five whilst in a wristlock. Cocky git!
- Noam asks the ref to take his shoe off so he can join in with the 'If you hate Gibson shoes off' chant. Legend.
- Dar tries to take Gibson's shoe off!
- It is shown that Dar has the better chain wrestling ability...
- Until Gibson synches on an armbar which grounds Dar.
- Gibson sells a leg injury after a violent legsweep.
- He moves top the apron and gets his leg kicked out from under him again.
- Dar runs the ramp and hits a dropkick to Gibson's knee!
- DDT and ground and pound by Gibson!
- Gibson hits a VILE European uppercut on Dar! Ouch!
- Zack Gibson mocks Dar as he uses his own taunts.
- Dar fights back with his signature strike combination.
- Northern Lights release suplex for 2 by Dar!
- Perfect Plex for 2 by Dar!
- TICKET TO RIDE! Dar kicks out at 2!
- Gibson can't apply the Shankly Gates before Dar reaches the ropes...
- DAR GETS POWERBOMBED ONTO THE RAMP!
- Gibson tries to win by countout...
- Dar breaks the ring count at 9!
- SHANKLY GATES!
- Noam Dar reaches the ropes!
- Dar takes out Gibson's leg again with a kick.
- Gibson ducks the Nova Roller.
- Dar double stomps on the knee off the top rope!
- CHAMPAGNE SUPER KNEE BAR!
- Gibson powers out...
- Zack goes for an enziguri off the middle rope but Dar catches him and puts him in an ankle lock!
- CHAMPAGNE SUPER KNEE BAR!
- Gibson slips out again
- Both slap the shit out of eachother sat down, exhausted.
- The crowd chant for British wrestling
- HELTER SKELTER!
- ZACK GIBSON WINS!
- That was an absolute belter of a match and Noam Dar is 2 for 2 on this brand in terms of bangers but 0 for 2 in terms of results. Long matches suit his style, hopefully we get to see more of this on 205 Live from him. Gibson is an absolute heat magnet and he now gets a shot at Dunne again, which should be great because after his performances at Royal Albert Hall and now here, surely casual fans take him as a bigger threat.
This was another decent episode of NXT UK with yet another banging main event. The storylines are pretty plain at the moment, but that will change once we get deeper into the tapings. What we do get is great wrestling in front of a hot crowd and I for one am enjoying it!
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