WWE NXT UK
Episode 22
#NXTUK
Original Air Date: January 02, 2019
Event Date: November 25, 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
Toni Storm vs Deonna Purrazzo
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Toni Storm wins via pinfall after Storm Zero
Time: 9:47
Match Thoughts
Very good match. This was a great match leading in to Takeover for Toni Storm. Purrazzo put up a good fight and worked over Storm’s arms, but Storm was able to endure the pain and come back with some big moves.
Ring Area
After the match, Rhea Ripley heads down to the ring and shows Toni Storm her title belt.
Backstage
Radzi asks Sid Scala and Johnny Saint who will be challenging Moustache Mountain at Takeover. Scala says that next week, Webster and Andrews will face Drake and Gibson with the winner facing Bate and Seven for the tag titles.
Match 2
Josh Morrell vs Wild Boar Mike Hitchman
(referee: )
Result: Mike Hitchman wins via pinfall after a diving splash
Time: 3:02
Match Thoughts
This was kind of a squash. Morrell got a little offense, but this was mostly about Hitchman throwing himself at Morrell. It was fun.
Backstage
Joseph Conners was sold a lie when he joined NXT UK. There is no “we” in NXT UK, there is only yourself. Conners is out for himself, and if he has to break all the shiny new toys to succeed, then he will.
Selfie Promo
Responding to Jordan Devlin, Travis Banks says that he loves his country. If Jordan wants to say otherwise, then maybe they should settle it in the ring.
Backstage
Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner argue will Sid Scala. They think they deserve to be in the tag tournament semifinal match, but Scala says Andrews and Webster deserve the spot more. Scala warns them not to interfere in that match, otherwise they will be out of NXT UK.
Match 3
Dave Mastiff vs Eddie Dennis
(referee: Joel Allen)
Result: the match ends in a double DQ when Dennis and Mastiff both push the referee
Time: 4:13
Match Thoughts
This wasn’t much of a match, it was just a way to set up another match at Takeover. I’m not sure that we really need another match since Mastiff already beat Dennis cleanly, but whatever.
Ring Area
Mastiff and Dennis continue to brawl after the match. Referees and Sid Scala attempt to break them up, but they won’t be stopped. Johnny Saint comes out to the stage and says that if they want to fight, they can fight at Takeover in a No DQ match.
Ring Area
Johnny Saint and Sid Scala are in the ring to oversee the contract signing for the title match between Joe Coffey and Pete Dunne. Joe Coffey heads to the ring firs, then Pete Dunne comes out.
Pete and Joe stand on opposite sides of a table and stare at each other for a while. Joe speaks first as the two men take their seats. Joe says Takeover will be historic. It will be a changing of the guard. Joe says everything in NXT UK is his, and the title will be his as well. Dunne has been the champ for too long. Why is he still champ? Because Joe Coffey has not been here. Now is the time for the iron king to stand and claim his throne.
Joe signs the contract, and as he does, Pete Dunne grabs his hand. Dunne snaps Coffey’s fingers, then he signs the contract as well. Dunne tells Coffey that he talks too much.
Dunne gets ready to leave when Wolfgang and Mark Coffey come out to the stage. Using the distraction, Joe Coffey attacks Dunne from behind. Joe powerbombs Dunne through the table and holds up Dunne’s title belt.
Show Impressions
This episode was mostly about setting up Takeover. The Storm/Purrazzo match was good, and Hitchman was fun, but everything else was focused on story and setup. These shows are necessary, and I think it did a good job of building some interest for the upcoming matches.
Match of the Night
Toni Storm vs Deonna Purrazzo
A very good match. I’m not sure if we’ll see Purrazzo in NXT UK again any time soon, but I’d like to see this match again sometime.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxtuk/2019-1-2-ep-02