No green screen or promo to start - but we do get a split screen of our main event competitors, Rhea Ripley and Deonna Purrazzo in a cool split screen. We are getting straight into tag team action...
GRIZZLED YOUNG VETERANS v WILD BOAR & PRIMATE
It has to be said that Zack Gibson gets a mixed reaction in his hometown of Liverpool. Weird seeing some folks cheer that bloke!
- The Primate has the match by the scruff of the neck against James Drake, before Gibson makes a blind tag.
- Gibbo pulls the second rope down, so Primate falls out of the ring and GYV hit their springboard backbreaker to the outside!
- The Primate is worn down once back in the ring with a headlock.
- Drake tags in, but Primate fights him off with a back body drop and makes the tag to Wild Boar!
- Running senton lands on Drake by Boar
- POWERBOMB by Boar!
- Boar attempts a back senton in the corner on Drake but Gibson pulls his partner out of the way!
- TICKET TO RIDE!
- GYV WIN!
- Post match Gibson does a promo. He says that the tag titles are right around the corner and he knows a thing about winning tournaments. He starts quoting Liverpool football songs. He says he loves his city - but absolutely hates the people of Liverpool. The second he had success the Scouse fans turned their backs on him. No one in the room can take his success away from him. He will continue to represent Liverpool - because no one else in this room could. GYV are SOOOON to be NXT UK Tag Champions.
'BOMBER' DAVE MASTIFF v EDDIE DENNIS
Josh Morrell is out second to face Mastiff, he looks very fired up. He gets blindsided by Eddie Dennis though, who slams him on the ramp! Eddie stares at Mastiff, who is in the ring being held back by the ref. 'I want you' screams Big Dave.
Eddie Dennis simply laughs and walks off, leaving Mastiff seething. NO CONTEST!
JOSEPH CONNERS PROMO
Conners says that in the NXT UK landscape, we now have a mod, a time traveller and a luchador. All shiny new toys. He knows all about that because two years ago, he was the shiny new toy. Not now. He's battered and bruised.
Therefore, he makes it his mission to make sure that all of these new shiny tours on the NXT UK roster are just as battered, scratched and torn as he is!
- Simple and effective use of Conners here. After his excellent squash last time out and this I am much more invested in the battered old toy of NXT UK.
MARK ANDREWS v MARCEL BARTHEL
The former Axel Dieter Jr makes his NXT UK debut! It is odd not hearing his Ringkampf music, but he still carries himself in the impeccable style he always does. This one is going to be good...
- Top marks to the Liverpool crowd for singing the Ringkampf theme at the start of the match!
- Marcel begins the match by applying a wristlock and not letting go at any point during Irish whips and hip tosses, finishing with an armbar. What a technician.
- Andrews manages to get a headlock, but Barthel uses an insane neck bridge to escape, followed by his scowl to the camera. What a bloke.
- Flying head scissors from Andrews changes the pace of the match...
- Barthel is not having that - he slows Andrews down with strikes.
- Andrews attempts another head scissors but Barthel PLANTS him face first!
- Penalty kick by Barthel! The Germans never miss those...
- Barthel follows up with a headlock.
- Andrews fights back - so Barthel uses the hair to slam him back down. BOO.
- Barthel hangs Andrews up in the ropes and lands a running missile dropkick!
- Roll through for two by Andrews - he almost stole one! Barthel gets up and shouts 'Nein'!
- A flurry of strikes now from Andrews! He's actually pretty snug considering his size.
- Kneeslide and then an enziguri! Love that kneeslide!
- Stomp 182!
- Andrews goes to follow up with a moonsault, but before he can Barthel shouts 'Nein' and rolls out of the ring. Fantastic!
- Fabian Aichner runs down the ramp and distracts Andrews!
- Inside cradle for two by Barthel!
- Barthel tries to suplex Andrews...
- STUNDOG MILLIONAIRE - You don't suplex Andrews!
- Andrews MISSES the Shooting Star Press!
- He attempts a springboard move from the apron but Barthel sends him outside...
- Aichner hits his running knee on Andrews outside and rolls him back in...
- FISHERMAN RELEASE BELLY TO BACK SUPLEX!
- BARTHEL WINS!
- Post match Aichner and Barthel shake hands. Are we seeing the beginning of a European Union?
- I bloody loved that. Great match and a great storyline arc too. Two thumbs up!
RHEA RIPLEY v DEONNA PURRAZZO - NXT UK WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
New music klaxon - Rhea Ripley has a new song. It's less aggressive than her original but still fits her.
- Purrazzo attacks at the bell, taking the fight right to Ripley and immediately grounding things as she looks to target the arm early.
- Ripley fires back with strikes, but Purrazzo cradles her for 2. The paradise lock follows, and Purrazzo then dropkicks her to the floor. Ripley counters the apron PK and slams Purrazzo to the apron and then the barricade.
- Back in and Ripley covers for two. Ripley follows with a delayed suplex and that gets two.
- Ripley then grounds things with a body scissors, slaps Purrazzo around and maintains control. - Purrazzo manages to escape, but Ripley lays in some ground and pound.
- Ripley counters out of the sunset flip into the modified cloverleaf. Purrazzo makes the ropes,
- Rhea cuts her off with the dropkick, they go to he floor and Purrazzo fights out of a suplex and hits a PK. The apron cannonball follows.
- Back in and Purrazzo hits the flatliner into the koji clutch!
- Ripley fights, and escapes. They trade strikes, Ripley hits a short flapjack, and lays in clubbing strikes. She takes Purrazzo up top and follows.
- Purrazzo fights off the superplex, and counters into a German off the ropes and both are down. - They trade strikes and slaps, Purrazzo goes crazy fists and follows with a DDT for two.
- Knee strike from Purrazzo, but Ripley sends her to the buckles...
- RIPTIDE
- RIPLEY WINS!
- Post match, Ripley continues to beat up Purrazzo - so Toni Storm comes out to make the save!
- This was an excellent main event, with Purrazzo really impressing on her debut, but Ripley coming out on top - as well as showing her ruthless side at the end and continuing the Storm feud.
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