NXT UK RECAP (Ep 45)

By Ross Casey

We begin this episode with a great highlight package of the WALTER v Pete Dunne rematch, where Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel interfered on behalf of our formerly loved NXT UK Champion. What will the fallout be from the biggest match in this show's TV history? Let's find out!

WALTER, AICHNER & BARTHEL IN RING PROMO

The silhouettes of these three as their iconic music plays is a sight to behold. Lovely stuff. Also... BOOOO. Marcel Barthel is the first to speak. He scowls at the crowd and digests their hatred for him, stalling several times as the boos get louder. What a pro.

We are here to make a better NXT UK. To enhance professionalism in our sport. We are the ones to lead. We are the ones who hold true power. Aichner adds that Pete Dunne only got NXT UK so far, British Strong Style has expired and the responsibility of NXT UK is in their hands.

WALTER says that from this day forward they are known as IMPERIUM. Quick look up on google and it appears that it means 'Absolute Power' and hopefully nothing to do with the right wing fascism of the Daniel Radcliffe film...

Pete Dunne has heard enough and hits the ring! He hasn't come alone boys... Tyler Bate and Trent Seven join him. All six men have a stare down and I am fully expecting the heels to powder but we get a pier six brawl!

The cameraman is knocked down in the melee and we lose transmission as the commentators are going mental. That threw me. Something different that I have never seen done before and the thought of these six going at it at Takeover makes me very happy. (If that happens). As did the fact the screen went a bit Twin Peaks...

SID SCALA BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW

Radzi asks Sid (fresh off playing Patrick Bateman at the last PROGRESS show) what he is going to do about Imperium and British Strong Style. He says that clearly these two groups won't be kept apart. However, non-sanctioned brawls aren't what they do here in NXT UK and in two weeks time Imperium faces BSS. WOOF. Now there's a fucking match!

GALLUS (MARK COFFEY & WOLFGANG) v TEAM WHITEWOLF

Bloody hell, Whitewolf are on my telly! It doesn't begin well for the Madrid natives as Wolfgang attacks Carlos Romo from behind with vicious strikes as soon as the bell rings. Mark Coffey tags in and at one point Vic Joseph calls him Moffey which tickled me. He wedgee chokeslammed A-Kid, in what was not a laughing matter.

Mark Coffey slows the pace down and grounds his opponent with some submission holds. He is absolutely rag dolling A-Kid. Carlos Romo gets a desperation tag, but he gets a double chop to the chest and a tilt the whirl powerslam enziguri combination for the three. Wow that was a squash. Wolfgang was PUMPED here doing an unhinged style gimmick thanks to his loss last week, whilst Mark was the vicious, silent and focused hatchet man. Good stuff with an invested crowd as the hometown boys are super over in Glasgow.

Post match Wolfy tries to attack Romo again, but Coffey stops him.

WINNERS - GALLUS

XIA BROOKSIDE BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW

Radzi asks how Xia is feeling after Killer Kelly left her to fight Jazzy Gabert alone last week. Xia says she has seen it all before, people picking on the smaller people. Jinny just didn't have the guts to do it alone, so she hired Jazzy.

Isla Dawn arrives and overhears what Xia is saying. She says that they made magic when facing each other - let's go talk tactics about teaming up to take on Jinny and Jazzy. Do we trust Isla's intentions here?!!

GENTLEMAN JACK GALLAGHER v KASSIUS OHNO

On paper this looks like it should be absolutely fantastic. Bring me all the holds, strikes and reversals please, chaps! OMG! Chris Roberts is officiating! This just got incredible...

Ohno has claimed that he is the best British style wrestler in the world and now he faces arguably the best British wrestler right now. Jack escapes a wristlock by doing a headstand, and Ohno sarcastically applauds. Great start!

Jack then beautifully escapes an ankle lock to rapturous applause. I love these style matches, the crowd sit and watch the intricate action but still pop for the moments like that. Gallagher goes for a double takedown but Ohno fights him off. Jack sarcastically applauds him and Ohno looks PISSED.

This is SO GOOD. Both wrestlers escape holds in very creative ways and both receive standing ovations. Gallagher goes into a ball in the centre of the ring and rather than taking his hand and entering the next whacky wrestling hold, Ohno STAMPS on his head. Exhibition time is OVER!

He then punches Gallagher square in the jaw and pins him, but Jack makes the ropes with his hand. Incredibly, Roberts spots it and the match continues. Gallagher is bleeding from the mouth after the monster right hand punch.

Gallagher tastes his own blood and begins to use his MMA strikes now. This match has taken a 180! Yikes! Ohno takes Gallagher's face off with a disgusting thrust kick. Heabutt by Gallagher, but Ohno falls on top of him for two. They trade alternate strikes, each with less purchase than the last as exhaustion sets in.

ROARING ELBOW! Kassius Ohno sparks Gallagher out with his elbow and pins him, DESPITE the fact that Jack had his foot under the ropes. FOR FUCKS SAKE ROBERTS! You've had one match and you've fucked it up. Jesus christ. Top banter from the booking team!

WINNER - KASSIUS OHNO VIA ROBERTS

PIPER NIVEN BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW

Piper is asked about Rhea Ripley and the constant goading from the Australian. Niven says that she came to NXT UK to fight, not talk. So when Rhea Ripley is ready - she will be waiting! Looking forward to this collision course!

MAIN EVENT - NXT UK WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP - TONI STORM (C) v NINA SAMUELS

Nina works a cravat to begin after a stalemate beginning. Storm counters out and kicks her to the floor. Back in and Storm hits the basement dropkick. She follows with uppercuts, but Nina cuts her off with grounded strikes, and then lays the boots to her.

Nina grounds things, and then slaps Storm around and hits a neck snap for 2. Storm fires back, but Nina trips her up and then covers for 2. She follows with strikes, but Storm picks up the pace and hits a German.

The enziguri follows, but Nina counters Storm zero. Storm catches her with an STF, and Nina makes the ropes. Luckily for her, Roberts isn't reffing this one and Storm breaks the hold. They trade strikes on the apron and Nina hits a head kick and slingshot splash.

Storm counters Samuels' ushigoroshi finisher with a head butt and follows up with a German. Nina heads back up top and lands with a missile dropkick. Just when it looked like she was gaining momentum, Storm hits a headbutt and rolling suplexes before Storm zero finishes it.

Samuels did pretty well here, showing off a bit of her Lucha training but never looked like truly beating the champ - despite getting in her head with the pre-match mind games.

WINNER - TONI STORM

Next week we get the MASSIVE 4 way match to determine a new #1 contender for the NXT UK Championship.

Thanks for reading!

Ross