By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
NXT UK Television
Taped April 19-20 in Glasgow, Scotland at Braehead Arena
Aired on May 22, 2019 on WWE Network
A brief preview aired and was followed by the NXT UK opening video… The broadcast team of Vic Joseph and Nigel McGuinness checked in and hyped the WWE UK Championship match…
1. Travis Banks vs. Joseph Conners in a qualifying match for the four-way No. 1 contenders match. Conners had a nice sequence that concluded with a powerbomb into the corner that led to a near fall. Conners showed frustration over not being able to get the in as the match moved on. Banks caught him with a flying knee from the ropes and followed up with the Kiwi Crusher before scoring the pin…
Travis Banks defeated Joseph Conners to earn a spot in the four-way match that will determine the No. 1 contender to the WWE UK Championship.
After the match, Banks was interviewed in the ring by Radzi. Banks recalled Jordan Devlin’s attack taking him out of a Takeover event and noted that Dave Mastiff is really big. He said he will become the number one contender. Joseph noted that the match will air in two weeks…
Powell’s POV: A good opening match with hard work from both men. The broadcast team did a good job even throughout the opening match of hyping up the WWE UK Championship match as something special.
A Nina Samuels video aired. She sat in front of a mirror and said Toni Storm played right into her hands and became the latest cast member of her show. She said her fans are already congratulating her on the series finale that will be her wining the NXT UK Women’s Championship…
The broadcast team hyped Storm vs. Samuels for the NXT UK Title for next week, then hyped this show’s main event… [C] Footage aired of Mark Andrews and Noam Dar fighting to a no-contest and being stretchered out of the building following a past match…
2. Mark Andrews vs. Noam Dar. The wrestlers shook hands prior to the match. Dar had a run of offense and went for a suplex, but Andrews countered into a Stun Dog Millionaire. Dar went to ringside and then Andrews performed a flip dive. Dar came up holding his surgically repaired knee. The referee held Andrews back while Dar struggled in the ring. Dar said he was okay.
Andrews went for a whip, but Dar cried out in pain and fell to the mat. Andrews, Dar, and the referee spoke. Andrews shook Dar’s hand. When Andrews turned around, Dar hit him from behind, then made a fishing hand gesture while McGuinness said, “Hook, line, and sinker.” Dar followed up with a Nova Roller and scored the pin…
Noam Dar defeated Mark Andrews.
Powell’s POV: A brief match. This was a good way to launch a real program between the two and I like that they started it on such a big show so that the angle should get extra attention.
Zack Gibson and James Drake were shown arriving at the building and were approached by Radzi, who informed them that “Moustache Mountain” Trent Seven and Tyler Bate called them out for a title shot. Gibson said a lot of people would love a title shot, but they don’t make the matches. Gibson said he and Drake decide when and who they wrestle… [C]
Rhea Ripley made her entrance. She said she knows how desperately the crowd wants to see her in action. “But too bad, it’s not going to happen,” Ripley taunted. She said that a little birdie told her that Piper Niven is a somewhat of a big deal in Scotland. “Piper Niven is nothing but a wannabe superstar that reeks of fear,” said Ripley. She said all Niven does is talk about her and obviously wants to be her. Ripley said that when you step foot in the ring with her then nightmares become reality…
Kassius Ohno spoke to a cameraman backstage while saying that he was hoping to talk with NXT UK general manager Johnny Saint and Sid Scala. Ohno entered their office and sat down on a couch with Scala. Ohno asked if he had good news for him. Scala said Ohno wants to prove that he’s the greatest at British wrestling. He said he would get the opportunity when he faces Jack Gallagher next week. Ohno said Gallagher is an exceptional wrestler on 205 Live. Ohno told Scala to tell Saint to return his texts, then shook his hand and left the room…
Split screen shots aired of Walter and Dunne preparing for their title match… [C] McGuinness hyped Storm vs. Samuels for the NXT UK Women’s Title for next week…
Powell’s POV: As good of a job as the broadcast team has done, it would have been nice to have seen more shots like this to help create the big fight feel throughout the show.
3. Walter vs. Pete Dunne for the WWE UK Championship. Walter was the early aggressor and dropkicked Dunne at ringside into the barricade. Walter placed Dunne on top of the ring steps and drove his knee into his jaw, which drew good heat from the crowd. There were also some chants for Walter as he continued to work over Dunne inside the ring.
Dunne made his comeback and put Walter in a kneebar triangle. Walter rolled onto Dunne and punched his back to break the hold. Dunne came right back with kicks and then applied an abdominal stretch. As Dunne had the hold applied, he removed some of Walter’s finger tape and then bent his fingers. Dunne rolled Walter into a crucifix style pin for a two count.
Dunne threw kicks at the head of Walter, who then fired back with a clothesline. Walter performed a nice suplex for a near fall. Walter applied a Boston Crab while Joseph noted that Walter had targeted the lower back throughout the match. Dunne rolled over and kicked his way free of the hold. Dunne blasted Walter with a kick and then held his arms while stomping his head repeatedly. Dunne applied an arm hold and bent the fingers of Walter in the process, but Walter reached the ropes to break the hold.
A short time later, Dunne applied a triangle while Walter was seated on the top rope. Dunne performed a huracanrana and covered Walter for a near fall. Dunne followed up a short time later with a good suplex, but Walter stood up and gave him a lariat that led to a two count. Walter went up top and leapt into a forearm from Dunne, who followed up a Bitter End. Dunne snapped the fingers of Walter.
Fabian Aichner showed up at ringside and pushed the bottom rope over so that Walter could put his foot on it to break the hold. The referee spotted Aichner and went to ringside to eject him. Meanwhile, Marcel Barthel entered the ring and hit Dunne with the WWE UK Championship belt. Walter performed a powerbomb on Dunne and pinned him.
Walter defeated Pete Dunne to retain the WWE UK Championship.
After the match, Aichner and Barthel entered the ring and looked at Walter, who put the belt over his shoulder and then struck his pose in the middle of the ring. Aichner and Barthel then posed on each side of Walter. Joseph stated that the landscape of NXT UK had drastically changed…
Powell’s POV: A good match and the launch of an intriguing faction. This match wasn’t as hot as their NXT Takeover match, but that’s mostly due to the finish being more of an angle to setup the new faction rather than a clean finish as there was at Takeover. Overall, a strong show. This was the biggest match in the show’s history, and the producers were wise to promote matches for next week’s show and even the four-way match for two weeks from now while they presumably had a bigger audience than usual. Haydn Gleed will be by later today with his audio review of this episode.
Check below for the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and guest Gursinder Singh (a/k/a Tony Gill), who explains why he asked for his release from Impact Wrestling. He also discusses his background, being trained by Lance Storm, being in the Desi Hit Squad, his future, and more.
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