By Jason Powell, Prowrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE UK Championship Tournament 2018
Taped on June 19 in London, England at Royal Albert Hall
Aired on WWE Network
The broadcast team was Mauro Ranallo and Nigel McGuinness… A video package aired… The broadcast team set the table for the opening match…
1. Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong vs. Tyler Bate and Trent Seven for the NXT Tag Titles. Seven was isolated by O’Reilly and Strong early on. There was a great near fall with Bate and Seven teaming up for a clothesline into a full nelson suplex combo on O’Reilly. They had the pin, but Strong drove Seven into the pin to break it up. O’Reilly came back and hit a brainbuster on Bate for another good near fall. Later, Bate avoided a double team move and sent Strong to ringside and then dove on him after Seven tagged himself in. Seen hoisted up O’Reilly on his back, then Bate leapt off the top rope and drove his knee onto the head of O’Reilly. Bate pinned O’Reilly. The fans chanted “you deserve it” as Bate and Seven celebrated afterward.
Tyler Bate and Trent Seven defeated Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong to win the NXT Tag Titles.
A shot aired of Zack Gibson lacing up his boots backstage and looking intense. They cut back to the tag title celebration with Bate and Seven celebrating in the crowd… An ad aired for the WWE 24 Hardy documentary that is available on WWE Network…
Powell’s POV: A terrific opener with an emotional and crowd pleasing finish. The fans were legitimately surprised and both Bate and Seven did a great job of putting over the emotion of the win from their initial reaction to winning the titles to their celebration with the fans.
Footage aired of UK Commissioner Johny Saint telling the “media” that he booked Travis Banks vs. Flash Morgan Webster vs. Mark Andrews in a Triple Threat for later tonight to determine the No. 1 contender to the WWE UK Championship…
2. Killer Kelly vs. Charlie Morgan. The fans popped for Morgan, who eventually set up for a surfboard, but Kelly countered into a dragon sleeper. Morgan escaped the hold only to be kicked in the back by Kelly, who then booted her to ringside. Kelly went to the apron and kicked Morgan from there. Kelly tossed her back inside the ring and covered her for two. Morgan came back with a springboard senton for a two count. In the end, Morgan countered a suplex into a small package and got the win…
Charlie Morgan beat Killer Kelly in 7:00.
Powell’s POV: Fine for what it was, but it’s hard to get invested without personality profiles on the women. The Triple Threat on Monday didn’t receive any video package love either. Hopefully they will do more with the NXT Women’s Championship, though both women are known from either NXT or the Mae Young Classic.
The broadcast team hyped some of the upcoming matches… Christian was shown standing in the crowd…
3. Flash Morgan Webster vs. Mark Andrews vs. Travis Banks vs. Noam Dar in a Four-Way to determine the No. 1 contender for the WWE UK Championship. It’s worth noting that Saint mentioned earlier that Webster and Banks earned a spot in the match due to their performances in the tournament, while Andrews got his spot based on what he’s accomplished over the last year. Banks still had his shoulder taped to sell his injuries from Monday. Just as the ref was about to call for the bell, Johnny Saint came out and added Noam Dar to the match. Ranallo noted that Dar had been sidelined by an injury for six months.
Dar targeted the bad shoulder of Banks and tried to tear off the bandsages before Banks punched him off. They did some rapid fire spots with all four men and they all ended up down on the mat. An NXT chant broke out. A short time later, Andrews performed an awesome reverse Frankensteiner on Webster for a near fall. Banks applied a submission hold on Andrews. Webster ended up stopping Andrews from tapping out and then delivering strikes to Banks until he released the hold.
Andrews put Banks down and sold a left leg injury while going up top. Banks avoided a shooting star press by Andrews. Banks set up in the corner for a move, but Dar grabbed his bad arm and wrenched it over the top rope. Dar threw a leaping kick to Banks and then pinned him…
Noam Dar defeated Flash Morgan Webster, Mark Andrews, and Travis Banks in a four-way in 9:05 to become No. 1 contender to the WWE UK Championship.
After the match, Joe and Mark Coffey hit the ring and attacked Banks and Andrews. Dar was on the stage and teased going to the ring to help before blowing off the idea. The attack continued. Dar walked toward the ring and stopped before heading to the back while the Coffeys posed in the ring…
Powell’s POV: A really fun four-way spot fest. The addition of Dar was a nice surprise and was well received by the live crowd. In fact, all four of these guys were over in a big way with the locals. The post match attack was a nice followup to Monday’s big heel turn by Joe Coffey, who beat up Banks after losing to him in the semifinals.
A shot aired of Pete Dunne walking backstage… Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Wolfgang, who said his game plan was to break the teeth of Adam Cole and take his title…
4. Adam Cole vs. Wolfgang for the NXT North American Championship. Cole was cheered as he made his entrance and the crowd did the “Bay Bay” bit loudly along with him. Ring announcer Andy Shepherd delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Cole was over big with the fans. Wolfgang backed Cole into a corner and was booed when he shoved Cole’s face. It was all Wolfgang early, as he hit an early double knee gutbuster for a two count.
Later, the broadcast team scolded Wolfgang for taking too long as he played to the fans on the ropes. Wolfgang leapt off the ropes and into a kick from Cole, who then connected with punches, a clothesline, and a kick that knocked Wolfgang off his feet. Cole performed a Backstabber for a two count. Cole tried to hoist up Wolfgang unsuccessfully. Wolfgang blasted him with repeated elbows. Cole came back with a leaping kick and then hoisted him up and and dropped him on his knee for a two count.
Cole avoided a moonsault from the middle rope by Wolfgang. Cole hit him with several kicks before Wolfgang put him down with a lariat. Wolfgang went up top and went for a Swanton, but Cole put his knees up. Cole hit a brainbuster onto his knee and then hit the Last Shot running knee and scored the pin…
Adam Cole beat Wolfgang in 10:10 to retain the NXT North American Championship.
Powell’s POV: An entertaining match. The fans didn’t seem to buy into the possibility of Wolfgang winning. They were behind Cole early and applauded the outcome. They loved the “Bay Bay” routine and even called him back to do it “one more time.” Cole obliged. The old school fan in me wishes he would have left them hanging since Undisputed Era are heels, but there’s no denying the cool heels are over with the fans on both sides of the pond.
Backstage, Kelley interviewed Bate and Seven about winning the NXT Tag Titles. They spoke about how incredible it was. Bate noted that they’d been teaming for nearly five years. They hugged and slapped hands… The broadcast team set up the the NXT tag match and credited Saint to working out a talent arrangement with William Regal…
5. NXT Champion Aleister Black and Ricochet vs. Velveteen Dream and EC3. The fans were hot for all of the entrances. The fans were actually louder for the heel entrances, but all four men were over big. Dream laid on the barricade and waved to Ricochet from ringside during the entrances. Dream and Ricochet were going to start, but Dream tore off a t-shirt and said he wanted Black instead. Dream took off a second t-shirt and threw it at Black before tagging out. Black put the shirt in his corner. A “this is awesome” chant started even though all four men had been in the ring and yet no one actually locked up.
At 6:00, Dream dumped Ricochet to ringside and then went up top. The fans were fired up, but Dream dropped off the top rope to mess with them. A short time later, Dream tried to bring a chair into the ring. The referee stopped him, but then missed Ricochet tagging in Black, thus allowing the heels to continue working over Ricochet. At 9:30, Ricochet made a hot tag to Black, who worked over Dream until he cut him off with a belly-to-belly suplex. Dream went up top and slipped. McGuinness said it looked like EC3 grabbed the rope to balance himself and that caused Dream to slip.
There was a fun sequence around 12:00 with Ricochet kicking EC3, Dream kicking Ricochet, and then Black hitting a high knee on Dream. A short time later, Dream hit a unique DDT on Black for a good near fall. Dream hit Ricochet with an ice rolling DVD a short time later. EC3 tagged in and went for his finisher, but Ricochet blocked it and performed a standing shooting star press for a two count. At 15:10, EC3 limped to his corner for a tag, but Dream acted hurt, dropped off the apron, and walked to the back. EC3 turned into a Black Mass kick from Black, who pinned him…
Aleister Black and Ricochet beat Velveteen Dream and EC3 in 15:50.
After the match, Ricochet took the NXT Championship, looked at it, and then handed it to Black. They bumped fists and celebrated their win…
Powell’s POV: A really fun tag match with everyone getting a chance to shine. Dream was really fun. The bit with him walking out protected EC3 and sets up an issue with them. It’s hard to say whether they will follow up on that or if it will simply be forgotten.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Toni Storm about challenging for the NXT Women’s Championship. Storm said she’s been a champion all over the world and she knows what it takes to be a champion. She said Shayna Baszler has been in the ring with her before and knows what she’s all about. She said she would become the new champion…
6. Shayna Baszler vs. Toni Storm for the NXT Women’s Championship. McGuinness noted prior to the match that Storm beat Baszler in Japan, but he emphasized that it was early in Baszler’s career. Shepherd delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Storm sold a left ankle injury. Baszler reached down to grab her, but Storm slapped her. Storm followed up with a nice suplex and then went back to selling the injury.
Baszler came back and applied a heel hook on the injured leg. Storm punched herself free. Baszler delivered a kick to the leg and then a knee to the face. Storm blasted her with a fist and then performed the Storm Zero onto her knee. She sold the leg injury and was slow to cover for a near fall. Baszler came back with a running high knee for a good near fall at 10:00. Baszler went for a rear naked choke, but Storm countered into a pin for another good near fall.
Baszler reapplied the Kirifuda Clutch. Storm rolled to the ropes to break the hold for a big pop. Storm rolled to ringside where Baszler reapplied the hold at ringside. Baszler released the hold and returned to the ring while Storm was weary and was counted out. Afterward, Baszler performed the Kirifuda Driver into the clutch again and left Storm lying…
Shayna Baszler defeated Toni Storm via count-out to retain the NXT Women’s Championship in 12:05.
Powell’s POV: A really good match with a terrific finish. I know it may seem odd to label a count-out finish as terrific and, yes, the live crowd was disappointed. This is about more than just one match. They can always go with rematches or simply keep them apart, as Storm is obviously a strong candidate to be the face of the NXT UK women’s division. Either way, there was no reason to establish her as being inferior to the NXT Women’s Champion at this point.
The broadcast team set up a video package on the main event and we finally heard a little something from Zack Gibson, who said he wasn’t there for applause, he was there to conquer. Meanwhile, Pete Dunne spoke about dominating and how the UK Championship belongs to him. Dunne said Gibson will tap out because no one makes a name off of him…
7. Pete Dunne vs. Zack Gibson for the WWE UK Championship. Shepherd once again delivered the in-ring introductions for the title match. For some reason, they dropped the time limits today. Gibson was booed and Dunne received a big pop during the entrances. Dunne got off to a quick start, but Gibson wrenched his arm and drove his shoulder into the barricade. Gibson targeted the shoulder, which plays into his finishing hold.
Dunne came back and hit a running forearm and then a high kick in the corner. Dunne got a two count off of the Crash Landing release suplex. Dunne delivered a big kick to the back of Gibson and then applied a wristlock. He released the hold and then double stomped Gibson, who rolled outside the ropes. A short time later, Gibson ran Dunne’s shoulder into the ring steps. Dunne hit another Crash Landing.
Back in the ring, Gibson worked over Dunne with punches to the body and then head. Gibson put the boots to Dunne and the ref dragged him out of the corner. McGuinness noted that Dunne’s mouthpiece fell out. Dunne put it back in his mouth and then held up his fists. Dunne delivered a series of clubbering punches to Gibson, who caught him with a Codebreaker. They exchanged lariats and both men were down.
Dunne and Gibson traded headbutts to the chest and shoulder. Dunne fell down. Gibson then fell over and couldn’t make the cover. Dunne hit a Dragon Suplex and followed up with The Bitter End finisher for a good near fall. Gibson performed a Codebreaker after leaping off the middle rope for a two count.
Gibson applied his finishing hold the Shankly Gates, but Dunne reached the ropes to break it. They went to the ropes and Gibson hit his Helter Skelter move. Gibson reapplied the Shankly Gates. Dunne reached for the ropes, but Gibson blocked it and maintained the hold. Dunne eventually powered his way to the ropes to break the hold.
Gibson put the boots to the head of Dunne and then jawed at him as he was lying against the bottom rope. Gibson talked smack while pointing at Dunne with his finger. Dunne reached up and grabbed the finger and did the finger snapping bit. Moments later, Dunne hit The Bitter End and scored the pin…
Pete Dunne defeated Zack Gibson to retain the WWE UK Championship in 13:00.
After the match, Gibson headed backstage. Dunne eventually followed. Triple H, Johnny Saint, and the British wrestlers walked onto the show. Hunter said they were the next chapter in British Wrestling. He said it’s their time and we are NXT. Ranallo signed off and then Hunter raised the arm of Dunne to close the show…
Powell’s POV: A top notch main event. This show had a lot to offer and a lesser main event would have felt out of place, but they did a great job and the fans were with them throughout. The overall show was not as hot as the better NXT Takeover specials, but it wasn’t far behind either, which is a compliment. The NXT UK division should be a lot of fun to follow. I will have more to say in my members’ exclusive audio review later today. Dot Net’s UK staffers Haydn Gleed and Darren Gutteridge will be by on Wednesday with their audio review of both nights of the UK special.
I thought this show was incredible! I’m super excited for NXTUK!