WWE NXT UK
Episode 12
#NXTUK
Original Air Date: November 28, 2018
Event Date: August 26, 2018
(available on the WWE Network)
City: Birmingham, England, UK
Venue: National Exhibition Centre
Commentary: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Andy Shepherd
Video
A quick look at the journey to the finals of the NXT UK Women’s Title Tournament.
Intro Video
“Dusted” by Astroid Boys
Ring Area
Joe Coffey heads to the ring for a match. Wolfgang and Mark Coffey accompany Joe to the stage, but Joe heads to the ring alone. Sid Scala comes out to the stage next, and he’s not in his wrestling gear. Scala says he hasn’t been cleared to compete tonight, but Johnny Saint has given Scala the opportunity to introduce his replacement for the next match. Scala introduces Tyler Bate.
Match 1
Joe Coffey vs Tyler Bate
(referee: Joel Allen)
Result: the match ends in a No Contest when Wolfgang, Mark Coffey, and Trent Seven enter the ring and brawl
Time: 9:47
Match Thoughts
Good match. I liked the energy and aggression to it. You could tell things were going to get messy once people started showing up at ringside though. Wolfgang and Mark Coffey came out pretty early in the match, and Trent Seven showed up a short time later. Tensions rose to the point where everyone wanted to get involved, and they all did.
Ring Area
After the brawl goes on for a few moments, Pete Dunne runs to the ring to assist Bate and Seven. British Strong Style clears the Coffey Brothers and Wolfgang from the ring.
Match 2
Dan Maloney vs Ligero
(referee: Chris Sharpe)
Result: Ligero wins via pinfall after a springboard tornado DDT
Time: 5:12
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Maloney used his size advantage to slow Ligero down for most of the match, but Ligero only needs a little space to mount some quick offense. This was short but fun.
Match 3
Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan vs James Drake & Zack Gibson
(referee: Joel Allen)
Result: Zack Gibson pins Kenny Williams after Ticket to Ride
Time: 8:25
Match Thoughts
Good match. Gibson and Drake isolated Jordan for a goofd part of the match which allowed Williams to kick off a sequence of fast and fun offense when he finally got a tag late in the match. Williams and Jordan are fun, but Gibson and Drake had superior teamwork and seemed more serious about hurting their opponents. I liked the matchup, though I’m not surprised by the outcome.
Ring Area
Johnny Saint heads to the ring carrying the NXT UK Women’s Championship.
Match 4
NXT UK Women’s Tile Tournament Final Match
Rhea Ripley vs Toni Storm
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Rhea Ripley wins via pinfall after Riptide and becomes the first NXT UK Women’s Champ
Time: 9:27
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Ripley had a good game plan, and she stuck to it. Ripley hurt Storm’s back early in the match, and most of the moves and strikes Ripley delivered focuses n Storm’s back. Storm has had a lot of come-from-behind victories in WWE, and it felt like that’s what ths might build to, but the damage done to Storm was severe and believable. I think that’s what I enjoyed most about this match, that it built on Storm’s style of match and the expectations that provides, while at the same time it felt believable in that Ripley fought hard and smart. There weren’t moves just because they looked cool. Pretty much every move meant something and built towards the final sequence.
Ring Area
Johnny Saint and Triple H present Rhea Ripley with the title belt While members of the NXT UK locker room applaud from the stage.
Show Impressions
Another good show. There was a little bit of story building, some good matches, and a satisfying and historic title match.
Match of the Night
NXT UK Women’s Title Match
The best match of the night. As it should be.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxtuk/2018-11-28-ep-02