WWE NXT UK
Episode 20
#NXTUK
Original Air Date: December 26, 2018
Event Date: November 24, 2018
(available on the WWE Network)
City: Liverpool, England, UK
Venue: Liverpool Olympia
Commentary: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Andy Shepherd
Intro Video
“Dusted” by Astroid Boys
Match 1
James Drake & Zack Gibson vs Wild Boar Mike Hitchman & Primate Jay Melrose
(referee: Joel Allen)
Result: Zack Gibson pins Mike Hitchman after Ticket to Ride
Time: 4:54
Match Thoughts
Good match. It’s fun to hate Drake and Gibson, and the team of Wild Boar and Primate is just fun. There were definitely some big moves in this match, and it was more back and forth than I thought it might be. The NXT UK tag division is shaping up nicely.
Ring Area
After the match, Gibson says he knows a thing or two about winning tournaments. He also says that he loves his city, but he hates the people of Liverpool. The moment he got any success, the people of Liverpool turned on him. No one will be able to deny Gibson and Drake once they become tag champs.
Backstage
Moustache Mountain is ready to go through Gallus on their way to a tag title match at NXT UK Takeover: Blackpool.
Ring Area
Dave Mastiff heads to the ring for a match. Josh Morrell comes out next, but he doesn’t make it off the stage before Eddie Dennis attacks him. Mastiff wants Dennis in the ring, but Dennis just walks away.
Backstage
Joseph Conners says there are a lot of shiny new toys in NXT UK, but shiny new toys have a shelf life. Conners used to be shiny and new, but now he’s battered. He intends to batter all of the shiny new toys just like he was.
Match 2
Mark Andrews vs Marcel Barthel
(referee: )
Result: Marcel Barthel wins via pinfall after a fisherman release belly to back suplex
Time: 9:48
Match Thoughts
Good match. Barthel was able to avoid or counter a lot of Andrews’ flying, so the fight was pretty close throughout. Fabian Aichner came down to rinside late in the match and got involved in the finish. That made the match good for everyone involved since it furthered the feud between Aichner and Andrews, and it helped Barthel look good in his NXT UK debut.
Video
A look at Toni Storm and her upcoming title match at NXT UK Takeover: Blackpool.
Video
A look at Travis Banks.
Match 3
NXT UK Women’s Title Match
Deonna Purrazzo vs Rhea Ripley (NXT UK Women’s Champ)
(referee: Joel Allen)
Result: Rhea Ripley wins via pinfall after Riptide
Time: 11:21
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Purrazzo looked great in this. After a while, Purrazzo was very clearly dominating the match. Ripley was reeling when the finish happened. This finish came suddenly, maybe a little too suddenly, but it did put over Ripley’s strength and ability to win with very few moves.
Ring Area
Rhea Ripley attacks Deonna Purrazzo after the match, but Toni Storm runs down to the ring to break things up. Ripley exits the ring and walks up to the stage while Storm watches from the ring.
Show Impressions
This show was a lot of fun. All the matches were very good.
Match of the Night
Deonna Purrazzo vs Rhea Ripley
I’d have maybe liked to see a little more from Ripley at the end because it seemed like Purrazzo went down too suddenly, but other than that nitpick, this was a very solid title defense.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxtuk/2018-12-26-ep-02