‘NXT: UK’ Review (Dec 5th 2018)
Welcome to this week’s NXT: UK review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have more from a brand that continues to fulfill its promise of being worth watching, so let’s see if that is the case this time.
Match #1: Joseph Conners def. Dan Moloney
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
Though Dan Moloney surprised Connors early on with his very effective offense, an attack by Connors on his opponent’s ear and subsequent assault on the apron allowed him to firmly secure the advantage. Moloney eventually came back and delivered a notable spinebuster for the near fall. But, when Connors executed a creative sunset buckle bomb into the corner and then drove his prey into the canvas with Don’t Look Down, victory was a foregone conclusion.
My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – This was good for what it was, but it didn’t quite show enough of what these guys can do.
Match #2: “Bomber” Dave Mastiff def. “Wild Boar” Mike Hitchman
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
In an animalistic clash, “Bomber” Dave Mastiff locked horns with “Wild Boar” Mike Hitchman. Though Mastiff kicked things off with a dominant fashion, Hitman soon took charge and hurled himself at his opponent in the corner with a beast-like aggression true to his name. He then introduced his opponent to his excruciating fish hook along with several clubbing blows to the head. The “Bomber” answered with a series of forearms, uppercuts and a vicious headbutt, before leaping onto his wild foe in the center of the ring. Hitchman didn’t relent, though, ramming Mastiff in the corner so hard that he took the big man completely off his feet. But, when he charged in again for the follow-up, he ran straight into Mastiff’s boots. The big man then surprised Hitchman with a dropkick, before finishing him off with the Cannonball into the corner to walk away with another impression triumph.
My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – This was a case of not getting enough time to do what they should have been allowed to do, but the potential for these guys is palpable at the least. This was like watching a boulder take issue with a redwood over who could smash more squirrels if given the chance. This match is what I assume Daniel Day Lewis dreams of when he sleeps. Captain Caveman looks at some-thing like this and sees some-thing to aspire to. Hell, Liam Neeson might just wish he could’ve done this instead of “Clash of the Titans”. Two big guys running into each other until they saw stars is just about what we’re getting at here, so you can expect to enjoy a 1.5 level earth-quake after this one is over.
Match #3: Ligero def. Tyson T-Bone
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
In his match against Tyson T-Bone, Ligero had a hard time getting out of the gate early on. Though he hit a strong inseguri in the opening moments, T-Bone answered by taking his opponent off the apron and down to the ringside floor with a single punch. He then proceeded to punish his masked foe both inside and outside. The Leeds Luchador used his quickness and agility to rail back, however, leveling T-Bone with an inseguri, dropkick, forearm combination, before hitting sliced bread on his tough opponent for the near fall. But, when Ligero climbed the top rope, T-Bone avoided his aerial assault and went on to hit the overhead toss. This opened the door on ruthless onslaught that included a not-so-tender face washer. Nevertheless, in the height of the action, Ligero evaded T-Bone’s pursuit and sent his opponent crashing into the turnbuckle. He then hit the cannonball senton outside the ring, before return to the ring to execute a splash off the ropes for the victory.
My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – These guys worked well together, but it’s hard to make something out of your match when the card is crowded on a one hour show.
Match #4: NXT UK Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley def. Candy Floss
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
The first-ever NXT UK Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley returned to her brand to hand-pick her first opponent as titleholder. That opponent … one Candy Floss. With an arrogant smile on her face, The Mosh Pit Kidd then set out to play with her opponent, that is until Candy surprised her with a dropkick that took the champ off her feet. The young competitor paid dearly for the bold maneuver, as Ripley got serious in a hurry and proceeded to execute a major offensive that ended with the earth-shattering Riptide for the win. Ripley was not satisfied, however, for after lifting her opponent off the canvas and raising her hand in a moment of apparent good-sportsmanship, the dominant titleholder suddenly unleashed a ruthless post-match assault on Candy from behind. Welcome to NXT UK, Miss Floss.
My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – This was not as good as Rhea’s last match, but it did display most of her abilities, so there’s that.
Match #5: Travis Banks def. Wolfgang
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
Travis Banks returned to action in a main event clash against Wolfgang. Starting things off with a fierce attack in the early moments, there was no doubt that The Kiwi Buzzsaw was out for redemption after suffering a Gallus assault back in Cambridge. Nevertheless, The Last King of Scotland soon got ahold of his prey and hurled Banks’ previously injured shoulder into the steel ring post and then into the steel ring steps, with a little Mark Coffey distraction mixed in for … good measure? The resilient Banks fought through the pain, however, and roared back with a dropkick that sent his opponent outside the ring, followed by a high-impact aerial assault off the apron and a wicked stomp back to the squared-circle.
At that point, Mark Coffey again opted to play a part in the action, providing a second distraction that helped Banks catch a boot to the face, a back senton and a vicious spear. In the final moments of the match, the resilient Banks hit a fierce kick on Wolfgang that convinced the Coffeys to once again get involved and they climbed up onto the ring apron. But this time, Moustache Mountain emerged to even the odds and swiftly dropped their adversaries back down again. Taking the lead from his assisting comrades, The Kiwi Buzzsaw dove through the ropes and sent both Joe and Mark crashing to the ringside floor. Though this opened the door for Wolfgang to hit Banks with a forearm as his opponent looked to refocus his attack on the apron, The Last King of Scotland’s attempt to bring Banks back into the ring with the suplex was thwarted by Trent Seven, who tripped him up while the official was distracted and allowed Banks to fall on his opponent for the pin.
My Take: 3 out of 5 – This was a good main event that got the job done and had a lousy finish. You probably won’t remember this match next week, but it didn’t kill the grass, if you catch my drift.
Final Verdict: 3/5
This was a fine broadcast that had no real personality to it, but it did provide solid wrestling, so at least it qualifies as an actual card, rather than Raw and Smackdown’s approach of “screw wrestling”.
