Another jam-packed episode of NXT UK this week as we roll on to NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II on January 12th, 2020. This episode featured the in-ring return of a certain Welshman, the overall NXT UK return of a former Women’s Champion, and a colossal main event as eight of NXT UK‘s heaviest hitters collided.
Complete Chaos
When it was announced that Imperium (WALTER, Alexander Wolfe, Fabian Aichner, and Marcel Barthel) would be taking on the team of Ilja Dragunov and Gallus (Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, and Wolfgang), it was immediately clear that it would be extremely hard for referee Chris Roberts to keep things under control. While things did start off in a controlled environment, with the members of Imperium keeping Dragunov trapped in their corner, it would eventually get entirely out of control, leading to the referee throwing the match out as a no contest.
This is CHAOS! These two teams are dismantling each other outside the ring! #NXTUK pic.twitter.com/Sy4n3JaLW8
— NXT UK (@NXTUK) November 28, 2019
However, tensions between both sides wouldn’t die down at all, with all eight men brawling all over ringside and into the crowd even as the show was going off the air. Seeing as they were completely unable to get past their issues, the two warring factions will now meet in the ring next week in a meeting mediated by general manager Johnny Saint and his assistant Sid Scala. There, both Joe Coffey and WALTER will be able to go through negotiations to move forward. Good luck to Saint and Scala for attempting to keep the guys at bay.
Toni Time Once Again
In the opening bout of the show, two of the top contenders in the NXT UK Women’s Championship picture collided as Piper Niven took on Jinny, who had Jazzy Gabert in her corner as per usual. However, it didn’t take too long for the German powerhouse to be ejected from ringside after she was caught by the referee with her hands on The Vixen of Violence at ringside. From there, it was more or less a one-sided bout as Niven decimated The Fashionista, finishing her off with a cannonball senton and the Viper Driver for the three count.
SHE'S BACK! TONI STORM IS BACK! #NXTUK pic.twitter.com/vYXiDdhSec
— NXT UK (@NXTUK) November 28, 2019
What happened following the match however was far more noteworthy. Kay Lee Ray, the current NXT UK Women’s Champion, would confront Piper, who had let KLR know that she was intending on coming after her title. A brief brawl between the pair would be interrupted by the returning Toni Storm, a woman who had been waiting since NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff to get her hands on the person who had defeated her for the Women’s Championship. It would’ve perhaps had a better impact had this aired prior to Toni being part of Team NXT at Survivor Series, seeing as she’s primarily an NXT UK star, but a welcome return nonetheless. Looks like The Queen of Insanity has her work cut out for her going forward.
Message Sent
Up and OVER! #NXTUK pic.twitter.com/NpLK9DWW65
— NXT UK (@NXTUK) November 28, 2019
After making his return to NXT UK last week by staring down Trent Seven from the crowd, Eddie Dennis returned to in-ring competition by taking on the debuting Dereiss Gordon (better known to fans as Man Like Dereiss). As is typically the case when these enhancement talents get brought in, Dereiss was demolished, but it wasn’t necessarily in quick fashion. Dennis took his time picking apart Dereiss to send a message to Trent Seven, who has had a hand in the training of the young lad. A cheap shot at the Moustache Mountain member occurred when Eddie nailed Gordon with the Seven Stars lariat, followed by both a buckle bomb-style Severn Bridge and a Neck Stop Driver as the former headmaster picked up the win in his in-ring return to NXT UK.
Smith Impresses
.@McGuinnessNigel: "I've seen that somewhere before!"@NoamDar
#NXTUK pic.twitter.com/6CF7lvJZ7v— NXT UK (@NXTUK) November 28, 2019
Since coming to NXT UK last summer as part of the second annual United Kingdom Championship Tournament, Ashton Smith hasn’t really had that much luck. His recent alliance with Oliver Carter has sort of given him a bit more of a spotlight, albeit not that much, but it’s certainly more than he had before. The former two-time Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW) Tag Team Champion took on Noam Dar this week, putting in an immensely valiant effort against The Scottish Supernova, which included a beautiful sequence that saw a NovaRolla attempt countered into a blue thunder bomb. Although it wouldn’t be enough with Dar securing the win thanks to his signature NovaRolla, no-one can be arguing that he doesn’t have a place on the NXT UK roster. Let’s hope he continues that sort of momentum going forward.
What Else?
Aside from that, Joseph Conners requested and was a granted a match for next week courtesy of Johnny Saint, where he’ll face both Travis Banks and Ligero in a Triple Threat Match, while it was also revealed that Jordan Devlin will go one on one with A-Kid in one week’s time.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. Be sure to catch all of the NXT UK action via the WWE Network.
