We start the show with a sweet video package detailing the first ever NXT UK Women's championship defence tonight between Rhea Ripley and the challenger, Isla Dawn. Should be a good one!
JORDAN DEVLIN v WILD BOAR MIKE HITCHMAN
- Lots of grapple reversals to start with. They both managed to find the red zone plenty on their analog sticks. Nice.
- Devlin has had enough of the technical wrestling, instead switching to a brawling style with clubbing blows to the back of Boar.
- Devlin with a hard Irish whip into the corner floors Boar.
- Jordan gets down on his knees to taunt Boar - but the Welshman simply laughs in his face! Devlin is taken aback for a small second, then lands forearms and an uranagi but misses the moonsault!
- Boar lands a jumping senton!
- Hitchman follows up with a shoulder charge for two!
- Whirlwind Pele kick by Devlin for two!
- Devlin misses the top rope moonsault!
- POP UP POWERBOMB FROM BOAR!
- Boar misses the senton in the corner!
- Pull up backdrop driver from Devlin!
- IRELAND'S CALL!
- DEVLIN WINS!
- Post match, Devlin cuts a short promo explaining that when you bet on the Irish Ace it isn't a gamble... because the ace trumps all.
- Another decent showing from Devlin here. He showed a bit more of a brawling style here, looking a bit less polished which is sometimes good for a heel. If you're too flashy, your moveset can get you cheered and that isn't the idea yet with him. I like that he is dismissing the tag titles and only has eyes for Pete Dunne's belt.
MOUSTACHE MOUNTAIN PROMO
Trent says that tonight they are facing Tyson T-Bone and Saxon Huxley. Tyler adds that after they are finished with them, they will settle their score with Gallus. Once that is complete, they can win the NXT UK Tag Titles. Trent finishes by saying they have held gold before, and they will do again.
- Simple and effective promo from the well dressed men of The Midlands. It sets up tonight's match and their future plans.
MARK ANDREWS & FLASH MORGAN WEBSTER PROMO
Radzi asks what a win next week over GYV would mean for them. Andrews answers that they are two of the most exciting wrestlers on the roster and beating them would be massive. He says that there is no glass ceiling on this brand and Webster adds that the sky is the limit for them.
- Another simple and effective promo. I hope these two get a tag name soon.
FABIAN AICHNER v EDDIE RYAN
Eddie Ryan is announced as being from Plymouth, so he of course gets the big hometown pop which is great for his NXT UK debut. Can he deliver in the ring, though?
- Aichner offers his hand to Ryan, only to take it away in a show of disrespect, then cowers into the ropes.
- Aichner then wrestles Ryan into the corner, motions for a clean break, then fakes a punch and laughs in his face. He is being a proper douche and it is excellent.
- A dropkick is followed up by a clothesline over the ropes by Ryan, who fires up the crowd.
- Ryan runs for a jump to the outside but Aichner slides back in the ring and lands a backbreaker, silencing the home crowd.
- Ryan fights back with chops to the chest.
- Belly to back suplex for two by Aichner!
- Enziguri by Ryan!
- Jumping European uppercut off the second rope by Ryan!
- Aichner sends Ryan to the outside...
- He's done it again. He slams his opponent into the steps and then follows up with a running knee into the steps! Devastating!
- SPINNING POWERBOMB!
- AICHNER WINS!
- Another good showing from Aichner here. He continues to play on the ring step shortcut angle and it is getting over. Ryan was beloved here, but struggled to really show his worth.
MOUSTACHE MOUNTAIN v SAXON HUXLEY & TYSON T-BONE
- Bate and T-Bone to begin. T-Bone works him over with strikes, showing his bare knuckle background.
- He tags in Huxley and he follows with knee strikes. Bate fires back, hits the uppercut and Seven tags in and follows with chops.
- T-Bone distracts him, allowing Huxley to attack and tag in T-Bone.
- DDT by Seven!
- Huxley distracts him and T-Bone attacks with strikes. Huxley tags back in as they isolate Seven in their corner.
- T-Bone follows up with a running corner boot and covers for 2. Huxley tags back in, lays in knee strikes, and hits a running cross body for 2.
- T-Bone back in now and he drops the elbow and that gets 2. He grounds things,
- Seven fights to his feet, but T-Bone cuts off the tag. Snapdragon suplex by Seven and an enziguri follows.
- HOT TAG to Bate!
- Bate runs wild, Huxley accidentally hits T-Bone,
- XPLODER by Bate. The running shooting star gets 2.
- T-Bone accidentally hits Huxley, teething problems!
- LARIAT/GERMAN COMBO!
- MOUSTACHE MOUNTAIN WIN!
- Well, we can see this new partnership of T-Bone and Huxley falling apart again already can't we?! Poor old Huxley... as for Moustache Mountain, they continue to be one of the best tag teams in the world. Proper over.
DAVE MASTIFF PROMO
Radzi says that last week, Mastiff won an incredibly brutal match against Eddie Dennis. Mastiff agrees it was brutal, but that is what he brings to NXT UK. Radzi then says that by beating the undefeated Dennis, he proved he is the dominant monster of the brand. What next for him?
Mastiff says he wants the NXT UK Championship, but before he can go on... Eddie Dennis attacks him from behind. "You think we are done Mastiff. We are far from done... YOU HEAR ME."
- I liked this. We haven't had many backstage attacks on this show, so it felt different and fresh, plus it was filmed differently to Raw or Smackdown. The feud must continue...
RHEA RIPLEY v ISLA DAWN - NXT UK WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
- A strong grapple between the two somewhat surprisingly ends with Dawn coming out on top, who puts Ripley in a headlock.
- Double stomp by Dawn only gets a one!
- Dawn keeps control though, applying the headlock again.
- Ripley resorts to pulling the hair to get out of the headlock. BOO.
- MASSIVE dropkick by Ripley! Ouch.
- Ripley now toys with Dawn, hitting back strikes - allowing her to her feet each time and then repeating the hits.
- Delayed vertical suplex for two by Ripley.
- Rhea simply stands on the back of Dawn and poses her biceps. What a woman.
- Rear chinlock from Ripley.
- Dawn fights out of the submission but runs into a lariat.
- Dawn tries a victory roll, but Ripley catches her legs and applies the inverted Cloverleaf submission. One of my favourite moves of the year.
- Isla Dawn makes the ropes!
- Rhea Ripley posts herself!
- Forearms and kicks send Ripley to her knees...
- Back drop driver!
- Kick to the head!
- FLOAT OVER SUPLEX!
- RIPLEY KICKS OUT AT TWO!
- Ripley holds onto the rope to avoid an Irish whip...
- Dawn attempts a head kick but Ripley ducks
- RIPTIDE!
- RHEA RIPLEY WINS!
- I really enjoyed that. Dawn started strong, showing no fear, before the power game of Ripley became too much. Then once she posted herself, Dawn hit all her moveset but Ripley kicked out. Ripley survives the scare, although the crowd didn't buy the kickout to the max, as they probably weren't aware that was Dawn's finisher. Great main event though. Top work!
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