By Liz@Ms_Deathwish
This week’s episode brings us the last two quarter finals matches in the NXTUK Women’s Championship tournament. Tonight we have Xia Brookside vs Rhea Ripley and Isla Dawn vs Toni Storm as the best of the NXTUK Women’s division all fight for the honour of being called the inaugural NXTUK Women’s Champion.
Match 1: Xia Brookside vs Rhea Ripley
The opening match this week sees these two Mae Young Classic entrants both fight for a place in the tournament semi-finals. Xia Brookside is a cute and feisty competitor whereas Rhea Ripley casts an intense and dominant shadow over any match she is a part of. As the bell rings, Xia attempts to start things off with s show of respect, offering her hand to Ripley for a sportsmanlike handshake. Ripley scoffs and slaps her in the face.
The early stages of this match focus mainly on mat-based grappling. Ripley has the edge here with a strength advantage and impressive technical abilities. Xia puts up a good fight but Rhea is aggressive and dominant throughout. Tossing Brookside around the ring with ease, showing her strength to great effect with a textbook Delayed Vertical Suplex. Rhea continues to dominate the action, tying up Brookside’s legs in a submission hold which sees her dangling from the strong arms of the Aussie for a long period of time.
Xia manages to escape this submission hold and uses this momentum to try and mount a counter attack. She climbs to the top rope, looking to take out Ripley with some high risk offence, but she is caught out of mid-air and drilled hard into the mat with the Pump-Handle Powerbomb finisher “Riptide”, giving Rhea Ripley a decisive victory.
Result: Rhea Ripley wins via pinfall
A solid opening match from these two promising young superstars. Rhea continues to dominate every match she is in, cutting an impressive figure who seems impossible to stop. She plays an excellent heel which adds to her aggressive in-ring style, making for a brilliant character who is fun to watch. Xia Brookside also impressed with speed and athleticism, but it wasn’t enough to take out the powerful Australian.
Before the next match Radzi is backstage looking to get some words from Zack Gibson and James Drake. Last week Drake came to Gibson’s aid, helping him secure a victory over Trent Seven of Moustache Mountain. Gibson makes their intentions clear. They are after the tag team gold when the belts are finally introduced.
Following this is a backstage segment showing Trent Seven getting taken out by the Coffey Brothers and Wolfgang. The three scottish brutes call out British Strong Style, standing over a hobbled Trent Seven stating “One down, two to go!” This statement is obviously referring to Seven’s alliance with his Moustache Mountain partner Tyler Bate, and NXTUK Champion Pete Dunne. I’m looking forward to seeing where they take this, but it seems that Trent and Tyler have people coming at them from all angles right now.
Match 2: Eddie Dennis vs Jack Starz
I haven’t seen Jack Starz before but the first thing that strikes me is the massive size difference between him and Eddie Dennis. This doesn’t seem to bother him though and he tears out of the starting blocks with a spirited attempt to try and take down the rangy Welshman. There is something strangely unsettling about Eddie Dennis. He has a crazed look in his eyes that would throw even the most focused performer off their game.
Starz tries his best but Dennis proves far too much for him as he is almost snapped in half with a brutal back-breaker. He manages to kick out of the pin attempt but all this does is seem to rile up Eddie even more. Starz continues to keep up his attacks with admirable fighting spirit but Eddie gets the better of him, tossing him into the turnbuckle with a Crucifix Buckle Bomb, dubbed the “7th Bridge”
Eddie Dennis is able to capitalise on his dazed opponent, winning the match with his finisher the “Next Stop Driver”
Result: Eddie Dennis wins via pinfall
Another impressive showing from Eddie Dennis cementing his reputation as one of NXTUK’s most dominant big men. Jack Starz also showed potential, refusing to back down from the challenge of the malevolent Welshman, even after he had been knocked down countless times. His performance was yet another reminder of just how deep the NXTUK roster is, constantly delivering new and exciting talent.
After this match we are shown a backstage segment from last week. Dave Mastiff faces off against Tyson “T-Bone” following their encounter on last week’s show. General Manager Johnny Saint puts a stop to the fracas before the announcement is made that these two will meet for the first time in a match next week. This will be the first time two big men will collide like this on NXTUK and I for one look forward to seeing which one will come out on top.
Match 3: Mark Andrews vs “Wild Boar” Mike Hitchman
This is the first time these two have met in an NXTUK ring and it’s an interesting pairing for sure. The lithe and athletic Mark Andrews goes up against the ferocious powerhouse Mike Hitchman. Initially, as the two grapple, Hitchman seems to have a slight edge, asserting his dominance with his greater power and strength. Andrews athleticism is nothing to be sniffed at though, with him escaping a number of holds and hitting a series of Lucha style arm-drags. As the action spills out of the ring, a missed Moonsault from Andrews allows Hitchman to land some heavy blows, including some on the unforgiving ring apron.
Hitchman drags Andrews back to the centre of the ring, nailing him with an explosive back senton and a series of low headbutts. Andrews counters this series of attacks, using his trademark high risk style to knock Hitchman off his feet, regaining control of the match. An evenly matched segment of grappling holds ends with Hitchman hitting Andrews with an outstanding Half and Half Suplex, followed by an Inverted Senton in the corner and a nearfall.
Frustration is beginning to show as Hitchman struggles to put Andrews away. He goes up to the top rope for a Frog-splash but misses, then attempts to grab Andrews for a Suplex. Andrews manages to reverse this suplex, hitting his signature Stun-Dog Millionaire before finishing the Wild Boar off with a stunning Shooting Star Press.
Result: Mark Andrews wins via pinfall
This was a great match, fast paced and exciting. I enjoyed seeing Mark Andrews take on this type of opponent. It showed just how adaptable he is. Wild Boar has a terrifying look which he more than backs up with his in-ring style. Some excellent skill shown from both men, with technical grappling, high impact offense and high risk aerial assault, this match definitely ticked all the boxes.
Match 4: Isla Dawn vs Toni Storm
I was excited to see this match as soon as it was announced. Isla Dawn is awesome, with a charismatic character and the ability in the ring to back it up. Toni Storm is Toni Storm. We don’t really need to say anything else.
As the winner of the 2018 Mae Young Classic, Toni Storm is the obvious favourite to win this match. She is probably many people’s favourite to win the whole tournament. However don’t count Isla Dawn out yet, she has the ability to go far and won’t make things easy for Storm.
The action kicks off with Isla taking the early advantage. She dominates Storm with her powerful kicking and striking ability for the first part of the match. Following a nice kick combo, Isla Dawn goes for a pin. She isn’t successful but using the momentum from the kick out, Dawn rolls Storm up into a Rings of Saturn submission hold. She keeps the hold locked for a long time, wearing down her opponent as much as she can. Toni finally manages to move herself close enough to the ropes to force a rope break, and comes back fighting with some strikes and kicking combos of her own. Once Storm manages to build some momentum, she becomes hard to stop and it isn’t long before she pins Isla using her Storm Zero finisher.
Result: Toni Storm wins via pinfall
Another excellent match from the women’s division. Toni Storm continues to show why she deserved to win the Mae Young Classic and Isla Dawn exhibited excellent skill with her strikes and kicks. The standings for the tournament at this point have Rhea Ripley taking on Dakota Kai in the first semi-final and Toni Storm locking horns with Jinny in the second. Both matches are on the next episode of NXTUK, meaning the tournament is progressing fast and we are one step closer to finding out who the first ever NXTUK Women’s Champion will be.
Main Event: Ligero vs Jordan Devlin
This match was booked as a result of Jordan Devlin calling out Ligero in a previous episode. It’s brilliant to see them mixing it up in terms of the main event matches, giving more athletes a shot at the coveted spot on the card. These two men certainly have the ability to carry a main event match so it’s great to see them being given the chance.
Jordan Devlin is looking to prove himself against the Luchador from Leeds. He carries himself with a cocky arrogance, but he backs it up in the ring, boasting an undefeated record in NXTUK. As the bell rings, the two men circle each other like animals facing off over territory. Devlin tries to ground the luchador during the initial grappling series, but Ligero uses his innovative offense to stay one step ahead of the Irish Ace. Jordan Devlin is also well versed in high flying moves though, with a nice atheltic series allowing him to finally get some sort of control over Ligero.
With Devlin in control, the pace of the match slows down, something that behooves the Irish superstar and his usual in-ring style. He continues trying to grind down Ligero with a series of holds and strikes. The luchador counters with a Code Red and subsequent near-fall, lighting a fire under Devlin that drives him to launch a high-impact assault against Ligero.
The action continues to the top rope, where Ligero tries to land a Frog-splash only to be taken out by Devlin’s raised knees. Following this Devlin hits a running Spanish Fly, allowing him to get another near-fall. Both men return to the turnbuckle, with Ligero tossing Devlin over his head in an ingenious fashion, leaving both men laid out in the centre of the ring. They both struggle to their feet and trade blows while standing on the apron. Devlin is the first to be forced off the apron and on to the steel steps. Ligero goes for a suplex off the steps but Devlin counters by planting him face-first onto the cold steel. As Ligero staggers away from the steps, Devlin hits a beautiful moonsault, allowing him to roll the Leeds luchador into the ring and finish him off with an innovative driver style finisher.
Result: Jordan Devlin wins via pinfall
Another top-notch main event from NXTUK. Jordan Devlin is really settling into his character and making himself a legitimate contender. Following the match he makes a point of calling out the NXT Champion Pete Dunne, making his intentions clear. I would certainly be down to see him take on the champ. I think they would have an excellent match. Ligero was a tough challenge for Devlin and showcases some impressive athleticism and exciting offense.
All in all another good installment in the NXTUK run of shows. Some excellent action from the women’s tournament and matches showing just how diverse the entire roster is. No matter what style of wrestling you enjoy, there really is something for everyone on NXTUK.
