By Ross Casey
Hello NXT UK fans! I'm back with this week's episode recap ALMOST live. This week we have Devlin v Ligero for a spot in the four way title shot and a hoss battle between Wolfgang and Dave Mastiff. Let's get to it!
PIPER NIVEN v JAMIE HAYTER
The Scottish Piper gets a nice ovation from the hometown crowd. Jamie Hayter doesn't get an entrance, so we can assume she is taking the fall here. Nightmare if you have her in the shot round. I have never seen her before, but I know that James is a big fan. I'm ready to be impressed.
Hayter takes control early with a shoulder stretch with an added fishhook for good measure. Already impressed. Good heel tactics! She then slaps Piper and gives it the big one... AND EATS A HEADBUTT! She awoke the beast.
Cannonball in the corner! Michinoku driver! Piper wins! Lesson learnt - don't rile her up. A complete squash here, with the match only lasting a matter of minutes. Piper looks the real deal and Hayter did her job well. Thumbs up.
WINNER - PIPER NIVEN
TONI STORM INTERVIEW
Toni Storm responds to Nina Samuels bringing up her family last week. "Mess with my head and I will become dangerous. I now want this match more than she does. I'll even put my title on the line. She wants her 15 minutes of fame? She's got it."
Well played, Nina Samuels. Well played.
SID SCALA GETS INTERRUPTED
Sid Scala is talking about next week's monumental rematch between WALTER and Pete Dunne when Kassius Ohno interrupts him and demands he be added to the four way qualifiers. Sid Scala says that he will have an answer next week. Kassius was bloody brilliant here. What a treasure, so condescendingly nice to 'Classy Sid'.
LIGERO v JORDAN DEVLIN
Tell you what lads, this should be good. We have Devlin v Ligero for a spot in the four way. Bring it on! Interesting that they have pointed out Ligero has lost his last two matches against Ohno and Dennis coming into this one. Good crowd atmosphere to start this one off...
Devlin comes undone with Ligero's lucha style to begin, so he cowers in the ropes, regroups and grounds the Leeds Luchador. Devlin then tries to break his own neck by taking a code red like a piledriver. Easy on, Jordan!
Ligero dropkicks Devlin over the ropes and lands a dive to the outside. Devlin takes control by driving Ligero's spine into the apron and then the boardings by the fans. Back in the ring, Devlin arrogantly strikes away at Ligero, who gasps for air.
The pace picks up with a standing moonsault from the Irish Ace, before Devlin goes back to his more methodical approach. The crowd get behind Ligero when he's in a submission and he manages to fight out.
Middle rope dropkick lands for Ligero, followed by a beautiful Lucha pinfall combination for a close 3. Big splash by Ligs, but Devlin gets his knees up for an even CLOSER three! Devlin attempts a moonsault and eats two feet to the face! He comically falls out of the ring.
Powerbomb by Ligero! Another 2! Big splash lands! ANOTHER two! Loving this slow burner. Both men are selling their pain very well. Enziguri to the back of Ligero, Devlin Side (Someone poisoned the well) wins it for Devlin. Very enjoyable match!
Devlin orders referee Tom to "Take the trash out of my ring" and then gloats to the crowd upon his victory. Devlin joins Joe Coffey in the four way! Radzi attempts to ask Devlin a question, but gets cut off by Jordan. "This match shouldn't have taken place. There should be no number one contender match. I AM THE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER." My oh my, he is good.
WINNER - JORDAN DEVLIN
WALTER PROMO
WALTER says that he doesn't know pressure. He is the Ring General for a reason. He accepted Pete Dunne's challenge because he respects he was the first to step up and he likes that The Bruiserweight is training hard, because he welcomes competition.
MOUSTACHE MOUNTAIN PROMO
Tyler Bate bigs up his BSS brethren Pete Dunne and says that he will win back his title against WALTER in their rematch next week. Seven adds that it is all about rematches as they are due one against the Grizzled Young Veterans and as long as they get theirs he doesn't really care.
Trent came across quite heelish here, which is interesting. He didn't pass on well wishes to Pete, he seemed fully focused on his personal task. No humour from him compared to usual and in contrast to Bate's affable exterior. Interesting.
ILJA DRAGUNOV v JACK STARZ
First off, Ilja's WWE music is brilliant. Secondly, Jack Starz is said to have given up dreams of being a bus driver to become a wrestler. I bloody love NXT UK.
Ilja takes control from the off with his usual intense moveset and mannerisms. Starz hits a stiff European Uppercut only for Dragunov to laugh it off and club the back of Starz. Running clotheslines and a STIFF lariat.
He does his backflip over the ropes into an even harder lariat as McGuinness says 'Oh no' in a mixture of pleasure and horror. Starz looks done for but lands a dropkick to the Russian's mush and then locks in a Gator Hold.
Dragunov makes light work of his escape and lands a chop and a standing senton. TORPEDO MOSCOW! A great showing for Dragunov. He has kept his indie persona and in ring almost entirely. Starz was a good first opponent for him.
WINNER - ILJA DRAGUNOV
MARK ANDREWS & NOAM DAR PROMO
Radzi reveals that these two will rematch their no contest from the last UK tapings next week with the winner advancing to the fatal four way. Noam Dar says that the ending to the last match resembled a night out in Glasgow. The time way from his injury made him realise he wants to compete and be the best he can be in NXT UK. Not sure I believe him, Mark!
Andrews says that neither of them were happy with how the last match ended - so let the best man win. Absolutely mate, says Noam. Still don't believe him. Killer match, though!
KILLER KELLY v XIA BROOKSIDE
Talking of killers! This is a match between two faces, so we get a handshake and chain wrestling to begin. Brookside has very good fundamentals and Kiler Kelly kept her side of the bargain too. In classic Scottish fashion, they are booing the sweet Xia and cheering the tough looking Kelly.
Killer Kelly neck bridges out of a hold and when they both get back to their feet they shake hands. Then music starts to play...
It's Jinny. She then introduces JAZZY GABERT. What a specimen. Brookside and Kelly appear to make a pact to fight off the massive German, only for Kelly to bail and leave Xia to fight the battle alone. BOO.
Brookside quite rightly looks petrified and then gets destroyed with a Dominator. Gabert and Jinny stand tall. Tell you what, the NXT UK Women's Division is STACKED. No wonder Rev Pro can't find space for a match on their cards!
WINNER - NOT XIA BROOKSIDE (NO CONTEST)
DAVE MASTIFF v WOLFGANG
BIG LADS WRESTLING? YES! Wolfgang is PUMPED during his entrance. Just like last week, Gallus get a big ovation in their home country. They trade shoulder tackles to begin. Mastiff gains the upper hand with a powerslam for 2. He then hits his heavy uppercuts, but Wolfgang fires back with elbows. Wolfgang with a shoulder tackle off the ropes and he covers for 2.
Mastiff powers out of a nerve hold, but Wolfgang lays in strikes and works a full nelson. The crowd is firmly behind Wolfy here.
Mastiff powers out and hits the senton, which Wolfgang sells like a rhino fell on him. Which is basically what happened. Wolfgang rushes him to the corner, hits the splash and hits a double axe handle and a Wasteland slam. Wolfgang heads up but misses the swanton finisher!
Mastiff takes advantage and hits a high cross body, a HUGE German and the cannonball for the win to qualify for the four way. That did not look fun for Wolfgang. Mastiff gets booed upon his win, which he laughs off. Post match, Gallus attack in what Nigel calls a mugging. The Coffey's hold Mastiff down and this time Wolfgang hits the swanton. Gallus stand tall.
WINNER - DAVE MASTIFF
The NXT UK shows actually in the UK are well fun. Keep them on these shores, please! No more Axxess ones, thanks! Hope you enjoyed the read.
Ross
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