WWE NXT UK
Episode 2
#NXTUK
Original Air Date: October 24, 2018
Event Date: July 28 & 29, 2018
(available on the WWE Network)
City: Cambridge, England
Venue: Cambridge Corn Exchange
Commentary: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Andy Shepherd
Intro Video
“Dusted” by Astroid Boys
Match 1
Ligero vs “Wild Boar” Mike Hitchman
(referee: Marc Parry)
Result: Ligero wins via pinfall after a springboard tornado DDT
Time: 4:51
Match Thoughts
This was fun. Ligero is fun to watch, and seeing his speed and agility go up against a powerful guy like Hitchman made for a good match. I feel like this was a showcase for Ligero more than anything else, but Hitchman was solid as well.
Video
Dakota Kai has a unique style, and Killer Kelly has a killer instinct.
Match 2
Dakota Kai vs Killer Kelly
(referee: Marc Parry)
Result: Dakota Kai wins via pinfall after a front-flip double knee backbreaker
Time: 4:09
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Kai looked good here, but Kelly didn’t put up much of a fight. Once Kai got on a roll you could see the end coming. This was a good match for Kai.
Ring Area
Radzi Chinyanganya enters the ring and asks Dakota Kai how she feels after her NXT UK debut. She feels “pretty damn good.” She’s also excited about the possibility of an NXT UK Women’s Title.
Video
Eddie Dennis talks about the age difference between himself, Pete Dunne, and Mark Andrews. Dennis isn’t happy that he is older and more experienced, yet he was not part of the inaugural UK Tournament.
Ring Area
Zack Gibson heads to the ring. Gibson says he will soon be recognized as NXT UK’s number one while the crowd continually boos him. He brags about pushing Pete Dunne to his limit just after winning this year’s UK tournament. He says if he were fresh, he would have won. He’s annoyed that Noam Dar got a title shot, saying that Noam Dar is an embarrassment.
Noam Dar interrupts and heads to the ring. Before Dar can enter the ring, Johnny Saint comes out to the stage. Saint orders both Dar and Gibson to his office. Right now.
Video
Ashton Smith talks about his roughneck style, and he’s coming up next.
Backstage
Radzi welcomes Travis Banks. Banks hasn’t forgotten what the Coffey brothers did to him at Royal Albert Hall, and he’s looking for payback.
Match 3
Aston Smith vs Tucker
(referee: Joel Allen)
Result: Ashton Smith wins via pinfall after the Ash Cloud
Time: 4:14
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Ashton Smith likes to throw in some unnecessary hops, but he’s pretty good. I think Tucker might be pretty good as well, but it felt like there were some slightly awkward moments with him in this match. They weren’t bad, just a little odd.
Video
Nothing has come easy for Danny Burch.
Match 4
Wolfgang vs Tyler Bate
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: Tyler Bate wins via pinfall after the Tyler Driver ’97
Time: 10:22
Match Thoughts
Good match. Wolfgang seemed to take Bate lightly, and that cost him late in the match. Wolfgang used his size and strength, but the longer Bate stuck around, the more likely he was to build some sustained offense. The later parts of this match were a lot of fun.
Show Impressions
This was a good show. They’re still establishing people and personalities, and that shows in most of the matches, but the main event once again delivered an entertaining and competitive match.
Match of the Night
Wolfgang vs Tyler Bate
I think both men could be in title contention, and this match showed why.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxtuk/2018-10-24