NXT UK has done an admirable job at putting its pieces together as a new wrestling company right away – Pete Dunne as the ace, Moustache Mountain leading the tag division and working new guys, a tournament for the Women’s Title, Bomber Mastiff and Tyson T-Bone as hosses, Jordan Devlin on his way up, Wolfgang and Coffey as midcard heels and Andrews/Webster/Ashton as midcard babyfaces. Plus Zack Gibson promos. It’s not bad. It doesn’t feel like it needs to exist yet, but it’s not bad.
The post-production commentary remains awkward and means all the … charming? … U.K. chants are just washed over and ignored.
Vic Joseph is fine in the U.S. but they definitely need someone new with Nigel. Michael Cole is a busy guy but would bring some credibility. Or literally any British guy.
For these four shows, here’s what’s worth watching: Pete Dunne vs. Danny Burch for the NXT UK Title on NXT UK 5, Toni Storm vs. Dakota Kai on NXT UK 6, and Zack Gibson vs. Trent Seven on NXT UK 8. Bomber Dave Mastiff and Sid Scala have also cemented themselves as interesting and anything they did on this batch of shows was just delightful.
NXT UK 5 (11/6/18)
This was a pretty weak show with a strong main event.
The camera shakes as Bomber Dave Mastiff enters the arena now and because of that everything with him has clicked. He also had himself a pretty tremendous squash match with Damien Weir – all quick and efficient and fun and whatnot. I before E except after C but Damien’s family said fuck that.
Speaking of bombers, Ligero completely bombed that video package interview. You could just feel the lump in the editor’s throat as they tried to splice something suitable together from the generic shite Ligero gave them.
Until I can tell the difference between James Drake and Joseph Conners and Tucker it is going to be hard to get into a James Drake match. Especially if it’s against Ligero who just bombed that video package. So James Drake vs. Ligero didn’t work.
The Toni Storm/Dakota Kai backstage confrontation was the same old awkward, forced WWE developmental presentation. For the love of the Queen, stop forcing two likable acts to do this stuff.
The Wolfgang and Coffey Brothers promo was a fascinating piece of business in that the crowd apparently couldn’t hear them so just loudly shat all over it. It doesn’t help that Joe Coffey is a bad promo and had a lame script. NOT GOOD.
Eddie Dennis vs. Sid Scala was a solid semi-competitive squash. Sid Scala as NXT UK’s Sam Houston is very good. Eddie Dennis has the dirt worst wrestling gear but he is tall and feels violent and his theme is awesome.
Pete Dunne vs. Danny Burch for the NXT UK Title ruled, though not as much as I thought it could. Everything was snug, joints were snapped, and at the end of the day it was a match based around their fingers hurting where they’d pull on each other’s fingers to transition to offense and that’s very cool. It’s what you expect from these two quality wrestlers, though not much higher than that.
Dunne played heel and Burch had the “old guy trying to finally make it” gimmick thing going but this was another big match for Stone where he was paired with an opponent who’s tough to get over against, considering the crowd was all about Dunne.
It had an obligatory Pete Dunne hot finish, highlighted by a sweet spot where Burch basically rose from the dead and headbutted Dunne. The crowd didn’t quite buy Burch kicking out of the Bitter End, though I dug the finger break spot for the finish. Good stuff.
NXT UK 6 (11/7/18)
Toni Storm vs. Dakota Kai might have been setup with an awkward promo but they had a good match. I mean these two WORKED: strikes, big German suplexes, a cool spot where Kai trailed storm to setup a kick to the face. And JINNY showed up afterwards.
Zack Gibson vs. Amir Jordan was a squash among a billion squashes. Post-match had a Gibson promo and the atmosphere for these promos with the crowds just booing through the entire thing has been an early highlight of NXT UK. Trent Seven also got to be a cheeky bastard and trade some barbs with him.
Jordan Devlin vs. Kenny Williams was a decent showcase for Devlin. I derive from this 5-minute wrestling match that both these guys seem solid.
Mark Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster & Ashton Smith vs. Wolfgang & The Coffey Brothers was a very lackluster 6-man. I like them fleshing out the midcard with these guys, but Wolfgang and the Coffeys dished out a severely boring beatdown. The finish was the usual fun stuff with folks flying around but it’s been done so many times. Time to stand out boys.
NXT UK 7 (11/14/18)
Sid Scala is the revelation of NXT UK as the likable jobber to the stars. He enabled Jordan Devlin to have another match where he looked really good. They should re-introduce Noam Dar exactly like him.
Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan vs. Joseph Conners & Saxon Huxley had Conners show off some stuff but it was a painfully basic tag. What would make this show a little more exciting is to use these random tags to show that this style won’t be exactly like WWE’s American in-house style but here we are and it’s exactly that.
Tyler Bate is good but him vs. James Drake was a real formula 50/50 kind of match and I am still waiting on James Drake to do something that’s actually good. I am trying not to overuse the joke but I was legitimately convinced for half of this match that he was actually Joseph Conners.
At least Ashton Smith‘s WOOP gives the crowd something to do as I’m not sure anyone would’ve cared about anything else in the 5-minute squash match for freakin’ Wolfgang.
NXT UK 8 (11/14/18)
The NXT UK Women’s Title Tournament began on this show with Dakota Kai vs. Nina Samuels. It was a decent match outside of Samuels seemingly not able to take a Code Red. Her offense was solid though – if they’re giving you 5 minutes, working a Gory Special in there is smart.
TYSON T-BONE IS BACK! He had a fun squash cause he’s fun.
Bomber Dave Mastiff did the same thing right after it, and I am into a T-Bone/Mastiff hoss fight.
I like the cut of Jinny‘s jib, yes I do. Her and young Millie McKenzie are a couple works in progress but the thought is very much there for both and I imagine it gets better. A koppou kick finish endears me to Jinny very much.
Zack Gibson vs. Trent Seven got some time and was a fine wrestling match as Gibson and Seven both find their footing on this roster. Trent Seven is very good at selling and then getting people into the comeback. Very very good.
