‘NXT: UK’ Review (March 13th 2019)

Welcome to this week’s NXT: UK review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have a nice big ol’ main event, an aperitif with a nice glass of red wine and chilled raspberry sigmon with blueberry drizzle…there’s no such thing as raspberry sigmon.

Match #1: Wolfgang def. Flash Morgan Webster

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Flash Morgan Webster kicked off the latest episode of NXT UK in a head-to-head collision against Gallus’ Wolfgang, their first one-on-one encounter on NXT UK. Despite The Modfather displaying a highly aggressive and always innovative offense throughout, The Last King of Scotland brought his efforts to a stretching halt. In the final moments, Wolfgang caught his high-flying opponent as Webster swung around the ring post and rammed him twice, spine first into the unforgiving steel. He then followed up with an earth-shattering powerbomb onto the ring apron. From there, Wolfgang’s victory was inevitable, as he reentered the ring and sent Webster crashing to the canvas with the Caber Toss for the three-count. The ruthless Wolfgang continued his assault after the bell, making the symbolic statement that all opposition to Gallus for the evening was in for a world of hurt.

My Take: 3 out of 5 – This was a nice match that had enough life to it to keep you awake. There was a strong undercurrent of aggression here that…I feel like Brian Williams before he forgot he was never on the helicopter/whatever the hell it was. These guys tried to pall baseball with each other’s heads for the better part of this, so if you hate Babe Ruth or Jackie Robinson, then this one’ll piss you off.

Match #2: Amir Jordan & Kenny Williams def. Saxon Huxley & Tyson T-Bone

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

In a display of excellent teamwork, Williams managed to get his tag team partner Amir Jordan to keep his dancing to a minimum long enough to take on the brutal duo of Saxon Huxley & Tyson T-Bone. In the end, the high-octane tandem hit high-impact stereo dives onto their opponent through the ropes and out to the ringside floor. From there, the Lucky Yin planted Huxley into the canvas and paved the way for Jordan’s high-flying Swanton Bomb halfway across the ring for another huge win.

My Take: 2.5 out of 5 – This was a fun, albeit brief match that had some nice moves but never got to get going anywhere real fast, if you catch my drift.

Match #3: Kay Lee Ray def. Candy Floss

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Following an impressive showing in last year’s Mae Young Classic, the Scottish Kay Lee Ray made her highly-anticipated NXT UK debut against Candy Floss. In the final moments, Ray connected with an earth-shattering chop and crescent kick. From there, she finished off her opponent by setting her up in the Widows Peak and driving Floss’ face hard into the canvas.

My Take: 2 out of 5 – I’ve farted longer than this thing lasted, but it had a nice performance from Ray, so there you go.

Match #4: (Main Event) Pete Dunne & WALTER def. The Coffey Brothers

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

In NXT UK’s incredible main event, United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne attempted to co-exist when he joined forces with WALTER against the always-imposing Coffey Brothers. Early on, Dunne and WALTER showed incredible dominance both inside and outside the ring – mixed with a bit of one-upmanship towards each other – as they tossed both Coffey Brothers onto the unforgiving ring apron like a couple rag dolls. But when Dunne didn’t see his opponents make the tag in a key moment, Mark Coffey snatched him up from behind and drove him to the canvas with an intense German Suplex. As he did, Joe Coffey simultaneously dropped WALTER off the ring apron and drove the intense competitor into the ring barrier, completely changing the tide of the matchup for Gallus for a time.

As the match roared on, highlights included Joe and Mark unleashing a vicious assault on Dunne, Joe rebounding for a massive WALTER assault to hit the big man with a German suplex, the BruiserWeight executing a beautiful moonsault on both Coffeys off the turnbuckle to the ringside floor, WALTER flooring Mark with a massive dropkick/butterfly supplex combination, an unfazed WALTER absorbing several massive crops from Joe as he held Mark in the Boston Crab before blasting Joe with a massive chop of his own, Joe hoisting The Austrian Anomaly up on his shoulders and setting up his brother to leap off the turnbuckle to send WALTER crashing to the canvas, and Dunne bending back Joe’s fingers so WALTER could execute an incredible double German Suplex on the members of Gallus.

In the height of the action, order completely broke down. Dunne locked Joe in a submission at the same time that WALTER locked Mark in the sleeper. In response, Joe overpowered the submission and launched Dunne onto WALTER, before pursuing the titleholder outside the ring and driving him into the ring barricade with incredible force. Though Joe then attempted to bring the U.K Title into the ring as a weapon, Dunne quickly took him out with an earth-shattering kick. When Dunne and WALTER got caught in a momentary stare down with each other, Mark charged them in a second attempt to capitalize with the title. But WALTER caught him with a big boot to the face and finished him off with the Powerbomb for the victory.

My Take: 3.5 out of 5 – This was an excellent match that did its job well while also making the time to just be a strong match for its own sake. WALTER was the best of the four here, as his personality came through in a pinch in numerous holds that would have otherwise been just by rote. Everyone beat the $#!@ out of each other, but never without a reason to do so, whether to wear down a body part or disorient enough to sneak a cheap fall on each other. This was smart wrestling that didn’t forget to entertain, which is what wrestling is all about. Overall, this was a good one.

News Of the Night:

1. Kassius Ohno is claiming to be teaching the roster how to wrestle proper British Pro-Style.
2. Jinny wants to take the NXT: UK Women’s Title from Toni Storm.
3. Eddie Dennis fights Ligero, next week.
4. Noam Dar, now a heel, is involved in a feud with Mark Andrews.
5. Xia Brookside wants to fight Rhea Ripley.
6. Wild Boar & Primate will return, next week.
7. Mustache Mountain wants another shot at the Grizzled Young Vets NXT: UK Tag Team Titles.
8. Tyler Bate fights James Drake in the main event, next week.
9. WALTER and Pete Dunne are engaged in a respectful war for the NXT: UK World Title.

Final Verdict: 3/5

Too much talking for a one hour show, but the main event was fine stuff.