WWE NXT UK 8/18/2022

WWE NXT UK 8/18/2022

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2022/08/nxt-uk-8112022.html

NXT UK is no more. NXT UK tapings were cancelled a few weeks ago and there was a lot of speculation about what was going on. It was announced yesterday that it will go on hiatus until 2023 and become NXT Europe. A whole slew of roster members have already been fired, though maybe it's just temporary until NXT Europe begins and some of them may have just been let go because they didn't want to move to the US until NXT Europe is ready. It was a real sad day and it's genuinely hard to do this review because it's like watching something die in front of you.

I can't tell you how frustrating the lack of support for NXT UK (and NXT Black and Gold) was. The show was designed for hardcore fans, but they refused to watch it because they took a lot of talent from the UK indies. I really think people are going to look back at this show in 5-10 years and wonder why the IWC didn't care. It's been the best weekly TV show and they've had a lot of classic matches.

It should also be noted that the result of this tournament was already spoiled on NXT TV this week in a lame moment. This isn't the first time an NXT UK Title match result was spoiled on NXT either.

We do not know how many episodes are left, but we know this is one of the last ones. WWE will have a Worlds Collide event on 9/4/222 and that will be the official last show of this brand.

NXT UK Title Tournament First Round - Mark Andrews vs Joe Coffey

Mark has already been fired and Joe is now moved to NXT. Joe Coffey does an inset promo. He talks about how nice it owuld be if he and his brother were both champions. Mark Andrews said he made it ot the semi-finals of the NXT UK Title tournament in 2017. He said he showed a lot of potential and wants to live up to his potential now.

Joe throws him early then shoulders him over. Joe blocks an armdrag then Joe slams him. Mark 2nd rope hurricanrana's him. Joe backbreakers him then suplexes him. Joe snapmares him and misses an elbow drop and they trade gutpunches. Joe hits some euro uppercuts then Mark comes back with dropkicks to the knee. Joe headbutts him in the chest then pops him up and is ddt'd. MArk hits some running forearms and slides out of a lariat. He does a back enzugiri and Joe hangs from the bottom rope. Mark then double stomps him off the apron as he hangs.

Mark springboard crossbodies him then overhead belly to belly suplexes him. Mark hits a cutter out of a suplex attempt. He springboard and takes a euro then Joe crossbodies him and spinning lariats him ofr the win.

It was a shorter but decent match with Mark playing the underdog.

Joe Coffey talks in the back. He is pumped and says Gallus will be champs. He says he will be the last man standing at the end of this tournament and says it will be "Gallus Boys on Top".

Amale vs Nina Samuels

Amale has also been fired, which was a real shocker as they seemed to like her and because she's a black woman. She's not bad and she does have potential, but she needs a lot more time. Either they wanted her to move and she didn't want to, or they wanted to move on.

Nina Samuels was also fired. She has some personality, but I think she's about as good as she's going to be

Amale side headlocks her and takes her down. Amale shoulders her over then dropkicks her in the knee. Amale basement dropkicks her then shotgun dropkicks her in the corner. Nina puts the ref in front of her then kicks Amale from behind the ref. Nina ties her up in the ropes and gets some shots in then dropkicks her as she is tied up. Nina chinlocks her then slams her. Amale comes back with forearms then takes a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Nina chokes her on the ropes and tries to legdrop her on the ropes but bounces off. Amale fires up with forearms, back elbows and lariats then bulldogs her. Amale trips her into the bottom rope then facewash kicks her. Amale spinebusters her and wins it.

Pretty simple and basic match here with Nina playing dirty and Amale making her comeback to win. Nothing special, but totally fine.

Amale calls out Isla Dawn after and says she is next.

Oliver Carter is leaving the training room. He says his knee is good. Trent Seven comes in and says he doesn't agree. He tells OC to give him a buy to the finals. OC talks about him and Ashton basically breaking up Mustache Mountain by beating them. Trent says that was a pivitol moment in his career and says he will see the real Trent Seven, who will break his leg.

Ilja Dragunov talks. He said the competitors in the tournament are inspiring and impressive. He said he is curious as to who will take his place as champion. He says they are taking "his place" though. He tells them to be ready as when he heals up, he will throw his entire existence in the way at them to get his title back.

Eddie Dennis and Saxon Huxley vs Andre Chase and Bodhi Hayward

Both Eddie and Saxon have been fired. WWE always seemed to like Eddie, so I was surprised by that. They may or may not return for NXT Europe, who knows. I was really looking forward to seeing where this thing goes with them too.

Chase wristlocks Eddie and Eddie armdrags him over. Chase rolls and kips up out of a wristlock then takes Eddie over. Chase then slaps him in the back of the head and says, "that's a teachable moment". Chase russian legsweeps him and does the C-H-A-S-E-U stomps. Bodhi slingshot sunset flips Eddie. Chase double axe handles Eddie off the top. Sax tries to do it to Chase, but hits Eddie instead. Eddie pushes him over. Eddie knees Chase from the apron as he runs the ropes then Sax thesz presses Chase. Sax elbow drops Chase for 2.

Eddie back elbows Chase for 2. Chase hits some nice punches on Sax. Sax throws him in the corner and kind of goes in with him then just throws him at the various buckles multiple times. Chase collapses and Sax misses an elbow drop. Bodhi gets the hot tag in and football tackles Eddie. He hits a nice splash then Eddie backdrops him. Sax top rope lariats Bodhi.

Sax and Eddie argue over who the star and teacher is then Sax leaves ringside. Bodhi puts Eddie on his back and Chase does the twisting flatliner and wins it.

This was fine with them pushing the Eddie/Sax story and Chase U being fun faces.

Eddie and Sax argue after and Sax chokebombs him after. Bodhi and Sax then bump chests and celebrate. Sax tries to do it with Chase, but Chase offers a handshake instead. They then raise Sax's arms in a fun moment. Sax holds up the Cahse U sign and seemingly joins.

Noam Dar and Mark Coffey do promos against each other. they talk about the Hertiage Cup being competitive and being 6 matches in 1. Dar says it's all about honoring the hertiage of the UK and they talk about past UK wrestling legends. Mark says he wants to be Heritage Cup champ for a long time. This was a good segment.

Trent Seven vs Oliver Carter and Joe Coffey vs The Winner of Bate/Williams is next week.

NXT UK Championship Tournament - Kenny Williams vs Tyler Bate

Kenny does an inset promo. He calls Bate a good little boy who finishes last. He says it's time a scumbag like him finishes first. Kenny is fired by the way now, and I'm surprised since it seemed like they liked him.

Tyler Bate is now on NXT 2.0. He does an inset promo and says he will get closer to becoming a 2 time NXT UK champ and crush Trent Seven's dream in the process.

Bate kips up out of a headscissors early. Kenny back elbows him out of a hammerlock and Bate does a complicated sequence into a roll-up. Bate teases punching Kenny and Kenny backs off. They trade slaps and Bate pounds on him as Kenny goes to ropebreak. Kenny then rushes at him with a double throat thrust.

Bate bridges and Kenny sits on top of him. Bate slaps himthen back body drops him. Bate then dropkicks him. Bate is dropkicked off the apron. Kenny goes through the ropes and Bate airplane spins him. Kenny grabs onto the post to stop it, then Bate hits his shoulder off the post. Kenny then flips him by the arm into the rails. Bate sunset flips him and hits chops. Bate is sent into the buckles chest first and Kenny suplexes him.

Kenny crossfaces Bate then Bate stands up with him on his shoulders and drops him back. Bate 2nd rope euros him then exploders him. Bate then running ssp's him for 2. Kenny backslides him and spears his knee. Kenny hits a side rolling death valley driver for 2. Bate blocks a headlock driver and airplane spins him. Bate lariats him. Kenny hits gets hit while on the ropes and rolls out then Bate does a nice dive over the top on him. Bate deadlift germans him for 2.

Kenny comes off the 2nd rope backwards and is german suplexed. Bate then rebounds off the ropes into a lariat. Bate then tiger drivers him and wins it.

It wasn't quite a classic, though they tried, but it was good.

Overall thoughts: Another good episode of NXT UK with the main being the highlight and every match being at least okay. It's bittersweet though as the end of NXT UK is here.