We get told that the main event here will be Jordan Devlin against Ligero after the Irish Ace called him out for not knowing who he really is - as he wears a mask and a cape, but he's from Leeds. Can the British Luchador shut him up tonight?
XIA BROOKSIDE v RHEA RIPLEY
Xia Brookside is of course Robbie Brookside's daughter and at a young age has wrestled all over Europe and Japan. She is the smallest in stature in this tournament, but has plenty of heart. Her opponent Rhea Ripley is the biggest woman of the eight and will look yo impose herself here.
- The size difference is evident from the start!
- Xia tries to shake Rhea's hand, but receives an aggressive push in the face instead.
- Rhea has her way with Xia to begin with and every time Xia fights back, she gets beaten down.
- Brookside uses her speed to flip out of a wristlock and apply her own.
- Xia attempts a head scissors but Ripley is too strong and buckle bombs her in the corner!
- Standing vertical delayed suplex for 2 by Ripley.
- Cloverleaf WITH THE ARMS by the jakked Ripley! Pretty sure her arms are bigger than Brookside's legs...
- Counter by Brookside sends Ripley into the turnbuckle, followed by a Bulldog.
- This time Brookside lands the head scissors and follows up with double knees in the corner.
- Jumping nothing by Brookside who gets caught.
- Riptide Pumphandle powerbomb!
- RHEA RIPLEY WINS!
- Ripley attacks after the bell and poses to the crowd who boo.
- That served its purpose well. It showed Ripley to be dominant, aggressive and disrespectful and she looks a genuine threat heading into her semi-final against Dakota Kai. The crowd were fully behind Brookside (bar a few smarks), but the size difference proved too much in the end.
GRIZZLED YOUNG VETERANS BACKSTAGE
The interviewer tries to ask James Drake why he helped Zack Gibson defeat Trent Seven last week. Gibson interrupts saying he is a typical journalist, digging for a story that doesn't exist. Drake isn't getting in my good books, I've known him 13 years and if you want a headline - there is no tag team that comes close to me and him. This little 'interview' is over!
- How good is Zack Gibson?! He is the mouthpiece for GYV and rightly so - leave Drake to snarl -as Gibson rabbits on. The tag division just got interesting...
EDDIE DENNIS v JACK STARZ
Eddie Dennis beat Sid Scala on his debut and again he is facing a wrestler far smaller than him here. I have never seen Jack Starz wrestle before, but imagine England cricket legend Paul Collingwood in purple tights and you are halfway there...
- Eddie Dennis pats the head of Jack to begin. 'What is this?'
- Starz reacts with a forearm!
- Jack continues to go for Dennis with a range of strikes before he gets goozled into the ropes.
- Dennis feigns a clean break and then forearms the hell out of Starz. BOO.
- Eddie strangles Starz and then sticks his tongue out like a madman.
- Dennis hits a spinning backbreaker and it looks SAVAGE.
- Some folk were cheering for Dennis at the start, probably not knowing his new character. No cheers now, he's doing a grand job of being a dick.
- Starz is using the ropes to try and get back on his feet... Dennis screams STAY DOWN.
- The rookie beckons him forward and catches him with a back elbow!
- Starz gets Dennis down to a knee and goes for a top rope dropkick... but Dennis simply side steps it.
- SEVERN BRIDGE!
- NEXT STOP DRIVER!
- Dennis then gets in the face of fans on his way out.
- You have to love Eddie Dennis. His character change over the past year or so has added so much to his game and he is a truly despicable heel now. Great stuff.
MARK ANDREWS v WILD BOAR
- Andrews has the upper hand to begin with using his speed advantage with drags, tosses and kicks.
- Headscissors sends Boar to the outside.
- Andrews attempts a moonsault to the outside - Boar moves - but Mark lands on his feet.
- Boar plants Andrews face first on the apron and follows up with a senton! Never seen that on the apron before!
- Another back senton but in the ring this time by Boar.
- Boar slaps Andrews twice to get him riled.
- Andrews hits back with big sps and chops of his own.
- Knee Slide enziguri! I love that move from Andrews...
- Moonsault to the outside lands this time!
- Back in the ring Andrews lands a springboard cannonball.
- Boar lands a half and half suplex, a spear in the corner and an inverted senton for 2!
- Boar starts ripping his hair like early Mankind...
- Frog splash misses from Boar.
- Wild boar turns Andrews inside out with a lariat!
- He then makes a fatal error and tries to suplex...
- Stundog Millionaire! (You don't suplex Andrews)
- SHOOTING STAR PRESS!
- MARK ANDREWS WINS!
- That was another really enjoyable Andrews match. He was working with Boar here, who have been in more than 40 matches together, so they have good chemistry. Boar looked good despite his defeat and Andrews moves on to this new tag team with Flash.
EDDIE DENNIS BACKSTAGE
Undefeated? Jack Starz didn't even knock me off my feet. I've been waiting for an opportunity like NXT UK for 10 years... Ashton Smith then interrupts and says you told me to watch your match, and you have some good moves. But it's nothing I can't handle... then taps him on his shoulder and walks off. Dennis is enraged and says you can't touch me, I'm Eddie Dennis. I will destroy you just like I did Jack Starz.
- These two played an interesting vibe last time out where you weren't sure what the deal was, but it appears Smith has his confidence back and we are on our way to seeing these two have a match.
TONI STORM v ISLA DAWN
- Dawn strikes fast with a missile dropkick!
- Back suplex and meteora!
- Bloody hell, she's on fire!
- Dawn goes for pins after stomps and elbow strikes. I like this as it shows how desperate she is to win early, having caught the favourite, Toni Storm, off guard.
- Double stomp knees for 2 by Dawn!
- Storm finally gets some strikes in but a pump kick sends her back to the floor.
- Running knee for 2 by Dawn!
- Rings of Saturn applied by Dawn... wow she is fully in control here!
- Storm eventually gets the rope to break up the submission.
- Dawn stops being on the front foot to trash talk and pays for it...
- Storm hits a big boot and the butt bump in the corner.
- Release German suplex from Storm.
- STORM ZERO!
- TONI STORM WINS!
- Post match Storm respectfully shakes Dawn's hand.
- I loved the layout of this match. It's very rare you see the underdog completely dominate, but that is exactly what Dawn did, before changing tactic to a verbal game and paying for it. Storm advances but Dawn showed plenty here.
LIGERO v JORDAN DEVLIN
It's main event time!
- Brilliant exchanges to start ending with a creative pin by Ligero.
- Crowd firmly behind Ligero.
- Beautiful transition head scissors and a high angle leg kick from Ligero!
- Devlin hits his unagi into the standing moonsault.
- Jordan slows things down with a submission, grounding Ligero.
- Devlin stands over Ligero berating him. BOO.
- Ligero fights back and reverses a tilt the whirl into a splash!
- Sick kick by Ligero!
- Code red for 2 by Ligero!
- Devlin hits an AWESOME pull up back drop driver!
- WHAT? WHAT? reponds Nigel McGuinness. Quite. What a move!
- Ligero goes to the top rope but Devlin wisely rolls out of the ring, to boos from the crowd.
- Outside the ring Devlin back body drops Ligero, who bounces off the ropes and turns it into a head scissors!
- Devlin enziguris Ligero to stop him from jumping off the top.
- Ligero blocks a top rope spanish fly, knocking Devlin to the ground and goes for a top rope splash...
- Knees up from Devlin! Ligero kicks out at 2!
- The pair exchange strong strikes with a crescent kick flooring Devlin.
- Spanish fly from Devlin for 2!
- Victory roll for 2 by Ligero!
- FUCK! German suplex off the ropes from Ligero! Devlin just about survives with his life intact.
- TOP ROPE SPLASH LANDS!
- Devlin kicks out at 2!
- This is awesome chants from the crowd...
- Ligero tries to suplex Devlin off the steps to the floor, but Devlin reverses and Ligero smashes his face on the steps!
- Moonsault to the outside by Devlin!
- Ireland's Call!
- JORDAN DEVLIN WINS!
- Devlin screams PETER.... YOU ARE ON MY RADAR!
- NXT UK delivers ANOTHER excellent main event. This time, they gave the ball to two wrestlers yet to have one - and they knocked it out of the park. Brilliant pace, energy and storytelling from both. Ligero suffers his first loss on the new TV tapings, but put on a great performance and for Devlin, this was a coming out party. Loved it.
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