By Liz@Ms_Deathwish
This is a moment so many British wrestling fans have been waiting for. Following on from an outstanding United Kingdom Championship Tournament, we had the announcement of a new TV show NXT UK, a spin-off of the popular NXT brand.
As an English wrestling fan, especially someone quite newly acquainted with our thriving independent scene, I was hugely excited to see what NXT could do with our UK stars. The shows they have put on so far have all been excellent. Every match that the UK Champion Pete Dunne has competed in has been in a class of its own. With the power of a whole show and dedicated brand behind them, surely the sky’s the limit for British Wrestling.
A New Brand Is Born
To kick off the show we are shown a montage of many famous UK landmarks along with the faces of some of the stars to be featured by the NXT UK brand. We see men and women from Progress Wrestling, ICW and many other popular British independent promotions. A great way to build up some hype and introduce these new faces to the viewers.
One of the things I love so much about British shows is the crowd. There’s always such an exciting atmosphere, you can feel it even watching on a screen. Plus you always know you’ll be treated to the most creative chants out there!
Introducing the show we have Vic Joseph and British wrestling legend Nigel McGuinness. They start proceedings by announcing tonight’s main event, a UK championship match between Pete Dunne and new challenger Noam Dar. The “Scottish Supernova” has been making waves on 205 Live recently, but it’s great to see him on the UK brand. I feel like we will really be able to see what he’s made of against an opponent of Dunne’s calibre.
Mark Andrews vs Joe Coffey
The first match tonight is between Mark Andrews and one half of the Coffey brothers who hail from Glasgow, Scotland. This match is a result of the interference of the Coffey brothers in the fatal four-way that took place back in June at the UK Championship tournament. The match featured Mark Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster, Travis Banks and Noam Dar (who would go on to win the match and earn his shot at the championship against Pete Dunne). Joe and Mark Coffey used this match as a way to make a statement by coming in and disrupting it with a series of brutal attacks on the participants. It is clear from this booking that “Mandrews” (as Andrews is sometimes known) wants a shot at vengeance for the attack.
This match was a solid opener, showcasing the speed and high-flying ability of Mark Andrews against the heavyweight, high impact style of Coffey. There is some nice chain wrestling from both to kick things off, with Andrews using his athleticism to compliment his accomplished technical ability. He pulls off a nice wheelbarrow arm drag as an attempt to put some room between him and the Scottish big man.
When he has some space, Mark impresses with some really nice aerial moves and strikes, seeming to give him an early advantage over the heavyweight. Coffey’s power proves too much for Andrews though, as he takes control with a series of brutal knife-edge chops. His hard hitting style leads the action, culminating in a beautiful butterfly suplex off the back of a lengthy butterfly-hold spin in the middle of the ring. The Welsh cruiserweight manages to kick out of a pin attempt with the support of the Cambridge crowd, but fails to mount any serious offence against his opponent.
Thanks to a distraction provided by his brother, Joe Coffey builds yet more momentum on the outside of the ring. Andrews is rolled back into the ring and takes the opportunity to try and take back control of the match. He executes an excellent series of strikes and Lucha Libre style moves, finishing with a standing corkscrew moonsault in the middle of the ring. Coffey kicks out of the pin attempt and there follows a back and forth between the two men with each trying to go for the finish.
Andrews manages to reverse a suplex attempt into his signature Stundog Millionaire move. He goes to the top turnbuckle to finish, but Joe is pulled out of the ring by his brother, so he switches position and pulls off a moonsault onto the brothers outside the ring instead. With all three men down, Andrews gets to his feet and gets Coffey back into the ring to attempt his finisher again. Mark Coffey causes a distraction again, allowing Joe to pick up the win following a monster belly-to-belly suplex off the top rope and a final discus clothesline to finish.
Following the match, both brothers decide they’re not done with Andrews yet and take to the ring to dish out some more punishment. He is saved by “The Modfather” Flash Gordon Webster, another entrant in the previous fatal four-way. He sees off the Scottish brutes by using his scooter helmet as a weapon, like something straight out of Quadrophenia. The ever popular Webster is greeted by chants of his name as he shows his support for the fallen Andrews.
All in all a great match to start, showcasing Andrews as a legitimate baby-face who was over with the crowd, against the convincing heel team of the Coffey Brothers. With the arrival of Webster to add to proceedings, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next with these great competitors.
Moustache Mountain
Following a brief video introducing another UK star, Eddie Dennis, the big, strong boys of Moustache Mountain make their way to the ring to a rapturous crowd. What follows is a speech regarding the arrival of the much anticipated NXT UK Tag Team Championships. Former UK Champ Tyler Bate and his partner Trent Seven put the NXT UK locker room on notice, saying they want to take on the best when a tag team division is finally established. This segment is as much to hype the crowd as anything else, as they talk up British wrestling as a whole with a thank-you to all the fans and wrestlers who have made this possible. It was a nice way to get the crowd excited and involved and certainly made me feel proud as a British fan.
Dave Mastiff vs Sid Scala
Anyone who has not heard of Dave Mastiff certainly will have after this show has gone out. He is against a guy I’ve not seen before, Sid Scala, someone I instantly feel sorry for. As Mastiff walks into the arena, the camera shakes as if the ground is shaking, reminiscent of a T-Rex in Jurassic Park, which I thought was a nice touch to add to the drama.
Scala shows some serious balls against the 320lb plus bearded beast from the Black Country. He attempts to trade blows with him but quickly comes off worse as Mastiff knocks him down easily. He is picked up from the floor like a rag-doll and subjected to an impressive delayed vertical slam from the big man. Mastiff keeps up the brutal assault with heavy blows, throwing Scala all around the ring. He manages to pull off a nice dropkick, no easy feat for a man of his size, and follows up with a massive release German suplex. He finishes the match with a spectacular cannonball into the corner.
This was an impressive showing for Mastiff, cementing him as an intimidating super-heavyweight with the potential to go far in the NXT UK brand.
Toni Storm vs Nina Samuels
Before this match we have a backstage segment showing Nina Samuels being interviewed and asked her thoughts on the upcoming match. Her attitude is sneering and arrogant, making her role as the heel for this match apparent. It would be hard to be anything else against the hugely popular Toni Storm at this moment in time.
The match opens with some solid grappling from both women, with each trying to gain the upper hand. The more experienced Toni Storm outshines Samuels, showing dominance, but is met with a very cheeky slap in the face from Nina followed by a little trash talk. Toni hits back with a combo of her own and some absolutely brutal kicks before she is dropped in the corner and Samuels picks up a quick pin attempt. She uses this advantage to taunt her opponent, garnering “boo”s from the crowd. Nina manages a decent run of offence against the Aussie native, including another pin attempt. Her frustration gets the better of her though as Storm hits back with a flurry of forearms to the jaw. She briefly regains control with a competent Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker before Storm floors her with a powerful snap German suplex. She grabs the dazed Samuels and picks up the win with her Storm Zone finisher.
A great match between these two Mae Young Classic competitors. Samuels shows real potential and Storm looks as dominant as ever with her brand of sass and attitude. The future of British women’s wrestling is definitely looking bright.
Main Event: NXT UK Championship match – Pete Dunne vs Noam Dar
Now we come to the main event of the evening. As Dar makes his entrance, all I can think about is his little fingers as he uses them for his signature crowd salute. He really shouldn’t be giving Pete Dunne any ideas!
Dunne comes out to an intense and rowdy crowd, reminiscent of the enthusiastic response my husband and I experienced when seeing him live for the first time at Progress Wembley a few weeks ago. He really has helped to put British wrestling on the map and I consider him an exceedingly worthy champion.
NXT UK General Manager Johnny Saint is in the ring to help introduce the match. Both men engage in a little trash-talk as “Bruiserweight” chants fill the arena, giving this match a real “big fight” feel. Before the match even starts, Dunne lives up to his reputation by flinging his jacket into Dar’s face showing his opponent zero respect. The bell rings and the two competitors lock horns for what promises to be an epic battle.
There is some back and forth grappling with some jovial taunts from both sides. The British crowd is more than living up to its creative and passionate reputation. Following a “Dar” rendition of The Imperial March, the revelation that it is Noam Dar’s birthday causes the crowd to erupt into an impromptu chorus of “Happy Birthday”. That creativity is mirrored in the ring with some innovative exchanges between the two superstars. A flurry of quickness from Dar is brought to an end by an emphatic clothesline from Dunne, giving the Bruiserweight an early advantage.
Dunne showcases his brutal, technical style with a series of submissions and and stomps, focusing on Dar’s previously injured knee. Dunne goes for a step up and backflip in the corner (a nod to Daniel Bryan who trained him) but his leg is taken out by Dar, leaving him flat out on the mat. Dunne takes some punishment on the outside of the ring before Dar brings it back inside the ropes only to take a massive X-Plex from the champ. Dunne attacks with a furious combo, taking Dar to the ropes and using the ref’s count to his full advantage. Following this, Dunne lands the step up backflip he attempted earlier and hits a powerful series of high impact moves, going for the pin after a sit-out powerbomb, with Dar just about managing to stay in the match.
A chant of “British wrestling” breaks out, the perfect backdrop to this amazing example of young UK talent. Dar manages to come back from a near-fall with a great series of kicks and strikes, ending in an unsuccessful pin attempt for the challenger. Both men seem to be exhausted by this point, with action moving to the ring apron and an exchange of kicks and strikes. Dunne executes his signature finger-holds, wrenching Noam’s fingers back painfully. The Scottish Supernova counters with an excellent Release Fisherman Suplex on the apron, taking so much out of both men and leaving them collapsed on the floor. They struggle to get back to their feet and into the ring, only just answering the referee’s count of ten.
Once they have both seemingly regained their faculties, we are treated to an amazing spot of technical submission wrestling, with both men exchanging holds. Following this, some “British Strong Style” with an exchange of blows, kicks and strikes. Dar seems to gain the upper hand, only to be taken out by a vicious punch to the jaw from Dunne. The champ goes for his finisher but Dar, using a reversal, manages to lock in an ankle lock/knee bar combination submission hold. The crowd is reaching fever pitch as Dunne spectacularly sells the hold, looking as if he can’t take it anymore and is about to tap out, but he manages to crawl to the ropes for the rope-break.
The champion uses his last reserves of energy to grab the fingers of his exhausted opponent. He does, something I can only describe as hideously nasty, a stomp onto his hand with split fingers. The way he does things like this look legitimately painful. He’s so convincing with his calculated and despicable style, it gets me every time. With Dar screaming in pain, Dunne finally hits his finisher, The Bitter End, and picks up the win.
An another outstanding match featuring Pete Dunne. He can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned. Every time he steps between the ropes, he makes magic. The fact he manages to have so much charisma and talent at such a young age just blows my mind. Noam Dar really impressed me as well. It was nice to see him really be able to let loose and show us what he can do. I look forward to seeing what he does next.
And that ends the first night of NXT UK featured on the WWE Network. A great way to introduce British Wrestling to a worldwide audience and an event that makes me massively proud to be a part of this thriving and exuberant fanbase.
