WWE NXT UK
Episode 43
#NXTUK
Original Air Date: May 15, 2019
Event Date: April 19, 2019
(available on the WWE Network)
City: Renfrewshire, Scotland, UK (announced as Glasgow)
Venue: Braehead Arena
Commentary: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Andy Shepherd
Intro Video
“Dusted” by Astroid Boys
Match 1
Piper Niven vs Jamie Hayter
(referee: Joel Allen)
Result: Piper Niven wins via pinfall after a Michinoku Driver II
Time: 1:48
Match Thoughts
This was pretty much a squash. Hayter pissed off Niven, and that was the beginning of the end for Hayter and the match.
Backstage
Toni Storm warns Nina Samuels not to talk about her family. Stormsays she wants to fight Samuels, and she’ll even put her title on the line.
Backstage
Sid Scala talks about tonight’s show when Kassius Ohno walks up and interrupts him. Ohno isn’t happy that he was overlooked for the fatal four way number one contender match, and he wants to know what Scala is going to do about it. Scala says he will talk with Johnny Saint and give Ohno an answer next week.
Match 2
Qualifying Match for the UK Title #1 Contender Fatal Four Way
Ligero vs Jordan Devlin
(referee: ?)
Result: Jordan Devlin wins via pinfall after the Devlin Side Suplex
Time: 10:31
Match Thoughts
Very good match. This match was given a decent amount of time to develop, and Ligero and Devlin made the most of it. They match up very well. I wouldn’t have minded this being a number one contender match itself.
Ring Area
After the match, Radzi asks Devlin for some words. Devlin says this match shouldn’t have even happened. Devlin already considers himself the number one contender, so this match was unnecessary.
Video
A look at Walter heading into his rematch with Pete Dunne. Walter says Dunne is a tough and versatile opponent. Also, he granted Dunne a rematch because Dunne was the first man to step up and challenge him. Walter thinks he’s bringing out the best in Pete Dunne.
Backstage
Ilja Dragunov prepares for his NXT UK debut.
Backstage
Tyler Bate and Trent Seven think Pete Dunne is going to win back his title from Walter next week. They also want a title rematch with the Grizzled Young Veterans, and it’s only a matter of time until they get it.
Match 3
Jack Starz vs Ilja Dragunov
(referee: Joel Allen)
Result: Ilja Dragunov wins via pinfall after the Torpedo Moscow
Time: 3:07
Match Thoughts
Squash. Dragunov is certainly intense. He threw a lot of lariats and yelled a lot. I’m not familiar with Dragunov outside of the WWE umbrella, so it remains to be seen how he’ll progress in NXT UK. I think this match was fine.
Backstage
Radzi asks Noam Dar and Mark Andrews why they’re going to have a rematch. Dar says his match with Andrews made him realize how much he wants to compete with the best in NXT UK. Andrews wants the rematch so they can have a real winner this time.
Match 4
Killer Kelly vs Xia Brookside
(referee: ?)
Result: the match ends in a No Contest when Jinny brings Jazzy Gabert to the ring
Time: 3:45
Match Thoughts
This was neat for the short time it lasted. Brookside and Kelly worked on a wrist lock for a couple of minutes, and I really enjoyed it. This could have been a nice start to another one of Brookside’s technical-based matches, but Jinny interrupted everything when she came out and introduced Jazzy Gabert to NXT UK.
Ring Area
After the match, Kelly and Brookside watch as Gabert slowly heads to the ring. It looks like they decide to take on Gabert together, but Kelly decides to leave Brookside by herself when Gabert actually starts to get into the ring. Brookside tries to fight, but she’s quickly shut down by Gabert.
Match 5
Qualifying Match for the UK Title #1 Contender Fatal Four Way
Dave Mastiff vs Wolfgang w/ Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: Dave Mastiff wins via pinfall after Into the Void
Time: 4:35
Match Thoughts
I liked the match, but it was surprisingly short. I think NXT UK would do well to make Wolfgang a credible threat, but he just doesn’t seem to be one at this point. Wolfgang went for some big moves, but Mastiff didn’t have much trouble dealing with them. Mastiff was smiling by the end of this short match.
Ring Area
After the match, the Coffey brothers run down to the ring and attack Dave Mastiff. The crowd chants “we are Gallus” as Wolfgang hits Mastiff with a senton bomb. Gallus stands tall as the show ends.
Show Impressions
There were a lot of matches on tonight’s show, which I like, but so many matches in such a short amount of time usually means that some of those matches don’t get the time they deserve. That happened with tonight’s main event. I’m not disappointed with the result, I just think they could have had a more interesting match.
I think the debut of Dragunov was fine. It’ll probably take a while before he gets into something interesting. For now, he’s all intensity and (probably) all wins against random guys.
I hope Jazzy Gabert makes a better impressions here than she did in the first Mae Young Classic. I think she could fill a unique role in the NXT UK women’s division, I just hope she either got better or her match in the MYC was an off night.
I’m happy to see Jamie Hayter in NXT UK. I think she could do well. I’d like to see her overtake someone like Nina Samuels.
Match of the Night
Ligero vs Jordan Devlin
This was easily the match of the night. Granted, a lot of the matches tonight were various degrees of squashes, but still, this match was quite entertaining.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/nxtuk/2019-5-15