On this edition of NXT UK, Pete Dunne, the current NXT UK Champion comes face to face with a new threat. Also, ‘The Kiwi Buzzsaw’ Travis Banks faces Jordan Devlin in the main event. Banks seeks retribution after Devlin attacked him prior to and during NXT Take Over Blackpool, resulting in Banks being unable to compete.
I’d love to see at least the current NXT UK Champion make an appearance in this years Royal Rumble match, but we’ll have to wait until Sunday to see if that happens.
The show kicks off with the arrival of the champ, Pete Dunne. He’s held the UK Championship for 610 days; the longest WWE title reign of the modern era.
He talks about how NXT Take Over Blackpool made history, he talks about the evolution of the brand but reiterates that one thing has remained the same (Him being the champion) . He is interrupted by the arrival of Gallus, who consist of Wolfgang and the Coffey Brothers. Joe Coffey is full of intensity as he promises that at the end of the war, he will be the one with the title around his waist. ‘If anyone else has a problem with that then they can get to back of the line’
The lights go out……….
Enter, Walter.
Gallus storm the ring but are swiftly disposed of, leaving Walter and Dunne face to face in the ring. A bit of a stare off follows and that’s the end of that segment. Simple, effective and to the point.
Sid Scala, assistant to the NXT UK General Manager, announces that NXT will be in Phoenix for the ‘Worlds Collide’ tournament AND three episodes of NXT UK will be filmed there too.
Sid spots the new NXT UK Champions and asks for a few words from them. They aren’t having any of it and they promise next week they will deliver their champions address but for now, he’s told to ‘Jog on’
Nina Samuels v Lana Austin
Austin is quite green, but the crowd love her, and the match has a nice pace. Nina Samuels has a pretty decent dropkick and they both sell their opponents offence well. Samuels is in control in the early going, wearing Austin down. Samuels has a great ring presence.
Austin delivers a leg sweep, a decent uppercut and series of forearms for a near fall.
Samuels sets up Austin in a fireman’s carry and finishes with a ‘Prima Donna’ securing the win.
I enjoyed this women’s match more than last weeks. I just wish is had longer.
Recap of how Drake and Gibson defeated Mustache Mountain to become the first NXT UK Championship.
Backstage interview with Moustache Mountain and it’s clear how disappointed they were not to have won the title match. They intend to get up, keep fighting and keep focused on the titles.
Eddie Dennis is up next.
But first an interview with Toni Storm immediately following NXT UK Blackpool. She talks with sincerity about much she loves the NXT UK brand and will do everything in her power to step it up.
Eddie Dennis v Jamie Ahmed
Straight off the bell, Dennis is on the offence and plants Ahmed with a right hand, right across his jaw!
Exchange of blows before Ahmed lands a nice hip toss. Dennis responds with a vicious clothesline. He’s quickly in control as he grasps Ahmed in a Neck Crank and locks it in deep.
In true heel fashion, he growls and throws Ahmed out the ring, goads the crowd and puts a beat down on him on the mat.
Dennis sets up Ahmed for the ‘Severed Bridge’ but it’s countered as Ahmed is on the offensive now with sharp body shots and a kick to the side of the head. He attempts to go to the top rope, but Dennis demonstrating his incredible flexibility, lands a boot on the upside of his head.
Dennis lands a beautiful Superplex from the middle rope and goes about taunting the crowd some more and relishing his control. Locks and lands the ‘Next Stop Driver’ for the win. Eddie Dennis is intense, and his character is an old school, almost effortless heel.
Announced for the main event next week – Moustache Mountain v Fabian Aichner & Marcel Barthel. Walter will also make his NXT UK debut
Main event time
Travis Banks v Jordan Devlin
I’m not sure if Jordan Devlin is just a little bit too arrogant right now. Banks doesn’t wait for the bell and immediately starts pummeling Devlin. Forearm exchange, knee to the gut and Devlin is thrown over the top rope. Suicide Dive through the ropes! The crowd love it as he executes another Suicide Dive.
Devlin tries to escape through the crowd, and they are exchanging blows whilst out in the middle of the NXT UK Universe. Banks boots Devlin back over the barrier onto the mat before spring boarding himself off a chair, over the barrier and landing on top of him. Banks firmly in control.
The tables soon turn, and Devlin is trying to wear down Banks’ knee but he shakes him off and delivers a double stomp to the back as Devlin tries to catch his breath.
Back in the ring and Banks is back on the offence, driving his knee and shin into Devlin’s chest. He does sell this well.
Devlin has some interesting moves in his arsenal. Vintage moves with a modern twist if you will. I like his Back Stabber and Back Breaker, which he lands across his opponent’s shoulders. I like his standing Moonsault too. Too bad, I’m not struck on him. I hate to say this but will he ever be able to have a match where Finn Balor isn’t mentioned?
This match has a strange sort of lull in the middle where both superstars appear to be lacking stamina. It hasn’t even been going that long. An exchange of lackluster and sloppy exchanges are not what you would expect from a main event.
They have a brief back and forth of counters and forearms on the apron which result in Banks being thrown, back first, into the post.
And then out of nowhere, Devlin lands a ‘Spanish Fly’ off the apron.
Both competitors only just beat the referees ten count.
Devlin sets up for the Irish Ace, which Banks counters, rolls through and gets a very long two count.
Banks is whipped off the ropes and Devlin lands a second ‘Spanish Fly’. But Banks is straight back up and turns Devlin inside out with a ‘Fighting Spirit Clothesline’. Both fall to the mat.
Back to exchanging forearms, jumping knee and a headbutt. High Angle Back Drop Driver from Devlin and another long two count.
Devlin climbs to the top rope, goes for the Moonsault but Banks gets his knees up. Banks lands a picture-perfect Missile Dropkick and then a ‘Kiwi Crusher’ but Devlin kicks out at two. He picks Devlin up and then climbs the ropes, goes for a cross body but instinctively, Devlin moves out of the way.
Devlin tries to set up for ‘Ireland’s Call’ but both superstars fall out of the ring. The referee counts to ten. Result; Double count out.
The match is over, but they are both still tearing each other apart as the camera stops rolling.
