Overall, this was a successful show for me – presentation, crowd, arena, commentary, cool factor, introduction of 16 guys I’ve never seen wrestle before, got over who they needed to, and they shot a couple angles that had me hooked.
But the wrestling really kind of sucked. I came away thinking this: the CWC copied WWE main event style (Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens); the UK Title Tournament copied WWE Main Event style (Darren Young, Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas). A couple decent matches, but nothing really clicked and though each match seemed designed as kind of a showcase not many guys actually stood out.
It was a lot like the first round of the CWC – neat to see some new faces, but a lot of rough performances compared to the polished superstars you’re used to seeing on WWE TV. Wish there was at least a little BritWres – happy Gallagher and Sabre got the CWC showcase, but could’ve used a lad or two like them.
Arena was gorgeous. They had a British voiceover guy! WWE presentation, man. Everything seemed like a major deal and though the wrestling wasn’t high-end, just being on this show in front of these cameras with Michael Cole on commentary brought everybody up a notch. Trent Seven’s love handles, replay after replay of Burch bleeding, Let’s Go Jesus/Jesus Sucks chants… I have a feeling Vince McMahon was not much involved in this.
Crowd was great, classic U.K. lads having a good time. THEY WERE WHISTLING AT THE START. Every super average match got brought up a notch just being in front of them.
GREETINGS, GRAPPLE FANS! What a commentary duo Michael Cole and Nigel McGuinness were, eh? Cole was great – did his homework, name-dropped the U.K. scene, actually did play-by-play and called moves, talked guys up like he’d been watching tons of tape, treated stuff seriously, sounded professional and not like a hyper-active dork scared that his hand is about to be slapped by the old man. Amazing stuff. McGuinness just fit right in too; it was awesome.
Highlights were Danny Burch, Wolfgang and T-Bone doing something completely different (DO YOU GET IT? DO YOU UNDERSTAND? THAT IS A MONTY PYTHON REFERENCE. BECAUSE IT IS BRITISH), and a couple showcase spots for Trent Seven, Pete Dunne, Mark Andrews, and Tyler Bate. Dunne and Jordan Devlin are your heels, Tyler Bate and Mark Andrews are your good guys, and Danny Burch is your wildcard. It’s a start.
1. WWE U.K. Title Tournament – Round 1: Trent Seven vs. H.C. Dyer
Trent Seven is weirdly a superstar, loved the entrance – the strutting, the slow roll-in. Seven vs. HC Dyer was solid, a light showcase for each guy – liked Dyer’s frog splash and Seven’s reactions, especially the sell of the chop to the post. A basic match brought up a notch by being worked around Seven’s natural charisma. **1/4
FINN BALOR! LUTHER WARD!
2. WWE U.K. Title Tournament – Round 1: Danny Burch vs. Jordan Devlin
Danny Burch vs. Jordan Devlin was the story of two very different professional wrestlers. Love Burch, know he’s highly touted on Wrestling Twitter – my frame of reference is NXT where he had some of the coolest 5-minute matches. Guy is such a damn pro – everything has a purpose, smooth rope-running, sweet chain wrestling and mannerisms. And then there’s Balor trainee Jordan Devlin who kind of sucked a cock, but in the Reality Era of WWE that may have been the best thing he could have done. Guy wasn’t even a poor-man’s Finn Balor; he was a poor-man’s Noam Dar. Weak-ass chinlock, terrible strikes, played up being a heel but wasn’t very interesting and looked almost like a backyarder who worked his way onto the show. Finish was kind of genius even if it was super awkward, with an enzuigiri from Devlin cutting Burch open and the ref giving what was a clear 2.9 count the 3 – Devlin gets over as more of a piece of garbage and Burch is protected. Did like Devlin’s “hard fought victory” correction on the post-match interview – he’s 2006 The Miz but way worse. Not looking forward to more Devlin, but at least it was semi-interesting. Match rating is purely for Burch’s effort. **1/4
3. WWE U.K. Title Tournament – Round 1: Sam Gradwell vs. Saxon Huxley
Whoa, Powder got ripped. Sam Gradwell is a scary-looking man. Saxon Huxley was… Saxon Huxley? Match wasn’t very good or notable, all about the crowd and their Let’s Go Jesus/Jesus Sucks chant. Heck of a clothesline by Gradwell. A diving headbutt! OK. *1/4
DAVE TAYLOR!
4. WWE U.K. Title Tournament – Round 1: Pete Dunne vs. Roy Johnson
Pete Dunne is far too young to be wearing the old man singlet with his balls hanging out. Liked Dunne vs. Roy Johnson, most interesting match up to that point. Dig Dunne’s bruiser shtick – stomp on the hand, stretches, nice strikes. A PUNCH COUNTER OF A DIVE!! Did enjoy Johnson’s dance sell on the early shoulderblock, and they got a nice near fall off that Samoan drop. Weak-ass snap German. Neat finish by Dunne even if it’s one of those stupid wrestling finishers where they just add something to a move so it looks pretty but it makes no sense. Cautiously impressed by young Peter. **1/2
5. WWE U.K. Title Tournament – Round 1: Wolfgang vs. Tyson T-Bone
Those Wolfgang/T-Bone videos HYPED ME THE FUCK UP. Liked whatever these two fellas had going for em – strong characters. T-Bone has such a video game character vibe to him, like something out of the Far Cry series. And Wolfgang is super likable… guy was featured a LOT in the tournament preview so they might see something in him. This was a damn pub fight with leg lariats. Loved the headbutt at the start. Wolfgang took some heat, they did a big suplex struggle which I always mark for, Wolfgang hit a Wasteland and a damn moonsault and Swanton bomb. A good time was had by all. **3/4
6. WWE U.K. Title Tournament – Round 1: Joseph Conners vs. James Drake
Michael Cole making out for Joseph Conners sure was interesting; Conners vs. James Drake was not. Just such a MATCH – no story, no standout performance, and the wacky crowd seemed to take a break on this one. Both guys looked like bad Adam Cole clones or something. And I saw that comparison online multiple times, so yeesh. A couple decent spots, but this just struggled to hit even first gear. *1/2
7. WWE U.K. Title Tournament – Round 1: Mark Andrews vs. Dan Moloney
“What things have you seen?” “I probably shouldn’t say.” DAN MOLONEY!!! WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN!?!? DAN MOLONEY IS ONLY 19 YEARS OLD. He wasn’t super notable but at the same time has me INTRIGUED. I dig Mark Andrews – nice flips and guy has a presence. Mostly a showcase of his stuff. Cool finish, crowd went bonkers for the Shooting Star Press. **1/4
8. WWE U.K. Title Tournament – Round 1: Tyler Bate vs. Tucker
TYLER BATE IS ONLY 19 YEARS OLD. Bate vs. Tucker (TUCKER???) was Match of the Night and a credit to both guys that they ended a mediocre show on a strong note. Liked Bate’s cheeky chain wrestling, his sell on the enzuigiri, the elbow counter of the tope, Tucker’s rana, the big time airplane spin, even small stuff like Bate’s entrance being all about him politely waving to the crowd. Just a lot of fun stuff here. What a god damn super kick by Tucker too. I flip out for a good rolling koppou kick and Bate hit a nice one here, and the Tyler Drive ’97 is a tremendous finish that reminds you that TYLER BATE WAS BORN IN 1997. MOTN. ***
Loved the closing angle. Time to tell a god damn story!
In the end, while some was a slog, I got to see a show filled with guys I’ve never seen before and it was some cool content that made that $9.99 worth it. Plus most of these guys are so young – as a developmental showcase it wasn’t a terrible first round, but as a tournament to determine the first U.K. Champion it kind of was. 4/10
