WWE NXT UK
Episode 31
#NXTUK
Original Air Date: February 20, 2019
Event Date: January 25 (2), 26 (3) & 27 (1), 2019
(available on the WWE Network)
City: Phoenix, AZ
Venue: Phoenix Convention Center
Commentary: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Sarah Schreiber
Video
Last month, Toni Storm defeated Rhea Ripley for the NXT UK Women’s Title. Since then, Ripley has been doing anything and everything she can to get Storm back in the ring. Tonight, Ripley gets her rematch.
Intro Video
“Dusted” by Astroid Boys
Match 1
Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster vs The Coffey Brothers
(referee: DA Brewer)
Result: Mark Coffey pins Flash Morgan Webster after a forearm strike (Mark) and a discus lariat (Joe)
Time: 8:29
Match Thoughts
Good match. The Coffeys dominated early with their strength, but Andrews and Webster opened the match up with their speed and agility. Gallus had to try to keep up with Andrews and Webster, and though the Coffeys took a lot of high-flying moves, when they did get their hands on their much smaller opponents, Joe and Mark dominated once again.
Backstage
Trent Seven does some squats.
Video
A video package promo for Nina Samuels. She is about to take the stage.
Selfie Promo
Jordan Devlin has a message for Travis Banks. He says he is not finished with Banks.
Video
A look at Kay Lee Ray.
Match 2
Trent Seven vs Shane Thorne
(referee: Chris Sharpe)
Result: Trent Seven wins via pinfall after a short-arm clothesline
Time: 9:00
Match Thoughts
Good match. After the initial feeling out process, Shane Thorne started to focus on Seven’s shoulder. That would be Thorne’s main focus, and it was the focus of the match as well. Seven had to fight through the pain and try to string together a few big moves to get Thorne down. This was a nicely done match, and I like Thorne’s aggressiveness. Thorne was kicking and hitting and doing everything he could to get an advantage.
Backstage
Jack Gallagher thinks he might go talk to Johnny Saint about competing in NXT UK.
UK Performance Center
Joseph Conners says Ligero caught him on an off day in their last match, but Conners’ off dayre behind him now. Conners says he will always be better than Ligero.
Ring Area
The NXT Tag Champs, Zack Gibson and James Drake, head to the ring. Gibson says he and Drake are the best. He also says he’d rather be back home taking it easy, but he had to travel to the USA to educate some ignorant yanks about UK wrestling. Drake and Gibson shouldn’t have to travel to the USA to compete, the tag teams of NXT should travel to the UK, because Drake and Gibson have set the standard for tag team wrestling.
Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch come out to the stage. Burch tells Gibson to shut up. Burch says that he’s proud to be British, but ‘s also proud to represent NXT. He’s also proud to have Oney Lorcan as his partner. Since everyone is here, why not fight right now? Burch and Lorcan head to the ring, but Gibson and Drake leave and head up the ramp.
Match 3
NXT Women’s Title Match
Rhea Ripley vs Toni Storm (NXT Women’s Champ)
(referee: DA Brewer)
Result: Toni Storm wins via pinfall after Storm Zero
Time: 11:00
Match Thoughts
Very good match. I almost expected this to go longer, but it was a very entertaining and hard fought match. Ripley attacked Storm before the match started which allowed Storm to mount a comeback right from the start. This was a good step forward for Storm, and I don’t think it really hurts Ripley. It just seems like it’s time for Storm to move on to another challenger.
Show Impressions
Good show. Three solid matches. I feel like having Gibson and Drake cut a promo in front of the Phoenix crowd didn’t get the reaction they wanted though. Gibson gets booed out of the venue in the UK, but the people tonight didn’t really react much. That was a shame, but everything else on the show seemed to be well received by the live audience.
Match of the Night
Rhea Ripley vs Toni Storm
A good title match, and a good first defense for Storm. I think she’s going to hold that title for a long time.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxtuk/2019-2-20