Before NXT UK heads to Coventry next Thursday, the brand remained in York for one final episode, topped off with the physically biggest NXT UK Championship match in history.
Big Lads Battle
INTO THE VOID!!!
… But it's not enough to take down @WalterAUT on #NXTUK. @DaveMastiff pic.twitter.com/A82o8JPLok
— NXT UK (@NXTUK) March 5, 2020
It’s been nearly a year since WALTER captured the NXT UK Championship from Pete Dunne at NXT TakeOver: New York, but this was almost certainly his biggest championship challenge to date. Dave Mastiff. Two big hosses going one on one for the richest prize in NXT UK. As expected, both men used their size to their advantage, with ‘The Bomber’ even connecting with his Into The Void corner cannonball, but it simply wasn’t enough to pry the gold from around the waist of the mammoth Austrian. Despite being able to roll away from a top rope splash (the same move that saw ‘The Bruiserweight’ lose the title), Mastiff found himself pinned after taking an impressive powerbomb from ‘The Ring General’. If Dave Mastiff can’t take the championship from WALTER, then who can?
Wolfe In Sheep’s Clothing
👀👀👀👀#NXTUK @Travis_BanksPW @TheWWEWolfe pic.twitter.com/ILzF0ejKKQ
— NXT UK (@NXTUK) March 5, 2020
This week’s episode kicked off with quite the hard-hitting bout between Travis Banks and Alexander Wolfe of Imperium, with ‘The Kiwi Buzzsaw’ previously making some derogatory remarks regarding Wolfe’s position within the European quartet. From the get go, things were fast-paced, with Banks flying onto Wolfe at ringside, and downing him within the confines of the squared circle with a plethora of corner dropkicks, while the German native utilised a more hard-hitting offence, clubbing Banks out of midair as he attempted his signature Slice of Heaven kick. The former PROGRESS Wrestling World Champion connected with a brutal looking double stomp on the ring apron at one point (The Hardest Part of the Ring™). Eventually, a sitout powerbomb scored the win for Alexander Wolfe as he started things off on a high for Imperium on what was quite an important evening for them.
White Witch Falls
.@Real_Valkyrie claims another.
The #NXTUK newcomer picks up the win over @IslaDawn. pic.twitter.com/svLaqJkNBz
— NXT UK (@NXTUK) March 5, 2020
Despite being one of the original female competitors brought into NXT UK, Isla Dawn hasn’t had a huge share of success. ‘The White Witch’ has racked up one or two big victories against the likes of Nina Samuels, but she’s yet to score that much-needed win to rise her into championship contention. Unfortunately for the fiesty Glaswegian, her luck wasn’t changing this week as she battled newcomer Aoife Valkyrie, with the former Pro Wrestling: EVE Tag Team Champion using kick after kick to leave a mark on her face. Fair play to Isla because she did try her absolute best, including a gorgeous Meteora off the middle rope, but there’s no coming back once you’ve taken a Black Mass-esque kick square in the jaw. A flying Famouser off the ropes gave Aoife another victory in her NXT UK career.
Hometown Domination
POWER.#NXTUK @RidgeWWE pic.twitter.com/kGzANKnnvp
— NXT UK (@NXTUK) March 5, 2020
With this being the final NXT UK episode from York, it was only right that hometown boy Ridge Holland was in action, as he brutalised Saxon Huxley. ‘The Muscle Cat’ didn’t stand a single chance against the Northerner, being easily tossed around the ring, something that we don’t often see from opponents of Saxon. A big Alabama Slam scored the win for Ridge, as the former professional rugby player continues to dominate the NXT UK roster. Once he’s been properly built up, we could realistically be looking at a future NXT UK Champion.
What Else?
In addition to the explosive in-ring action, the currently injured Eddie Dennis spoke about the similarities of being a teacher and a professional wrestler, highlighting the mental aspects of the latter, NXT Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Devlin announced his comeback to the United Kingdom for next week’s episode, Ligero promised to shut Noam Dar up as the pair are scheduled to collide in singles competition when NXT UK heads to Coventry next week, and the NXT UK tag team division was put on display by way of a delightful video package.
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.
