wrestling / Columns

Csonka’s Top 20 Matches of May 2017

June 2, 2017 | Posted by Larry Csonka

WELCOME back, back to the column that makes lists and hopes that you enjoy them. This week’s column will look back and the month of May and the top 20 matches I have watched for the month. I always hear a lot of people saying that they can’t decide what to watch because they do not have enough time to follow everything, so maybe this will help those of you short on time find some stuff to check out. Have fun, and always, thanks for reading. Also, if you saw matches from companies I do not regularly catch; feel free to share them with the others (I will also be doing a supplemental column from time to time, looking at matches I missed from the promotions I do not regularly cover). The more wrestling we share, the more fun we can have. Thanks for reading!

– 20. From WWE Raw 5.01.17: The Miz defeated Seth Rollins and Finn Balor @ 22:55 via pin [****]
– 19. From WWE Backlash: WWE United States Championship Match: Champion Kevin Owens defeated AJ Styles @ 21:10 via countout [****]
– 18. From The WWE UK Championship Special 5.19.17: Pete Dunne defeated Trent Seven @ 15:55 via pin [****]
– 17. From Evolve 84: EVOLVE Championship Match: Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Ethan Page @ 14:10 via pin [****]
– 16. From WWE 205 Live 5.23.17: Street Fight: Akira Tozawa defeated Brian Kendrick @ 14:30 via pin [****]
– 15. From NJPW BOTSJ (Night 5) Review 5.22.17: Tiger Mask IV defeated ACH @ 11:45 via pin [****]
– 14. From NJPW BOTSJ (Night 1) 5.17.17: Dragon Lee defeated Hiromu Takahashi @ 18:40 via pin [****]
– 13. From Evolve 85: EVOLVE Title Match: Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Lio Rush @ 19:20 via submission [****]
– 12. NJPW BOTSJ (Night 12) Review 5.31.17: Marty Scurll defeated Ricochet @ 14:05 via submission [****]
– 11. From Evolve 84: Keith Lee defeated Donovan Dijak @ 18:55 via pin [****]

– 10. – From Lucha Underground 5.31.17: Lucha Underground ALL NIGHT LONG Title Match: Champion Johnny Mundo vs. The Mack went to a draw @ 52:25 (Mundo retains) [****]

9. WWE UK Title Match: Champion Tyler Bate defeated Mark Andrews @ 24:20 via pin [****¼]: They shake hands and we’re all friends to begin. Bate looks to ground Andrews early, they both look to work the arm and then work into a slick grappling exchange and into a standoff. Bate picks the leg and takes Andrews down, and then tries to rip off Andrews’ arm. Bate has a great subdued aggression, never really looking angry, but allowing his body language speak volumes. Bate sets Andrews up top, and we get a clean break. Back to the mat and Bate works a full nelson. Andrews with a slick escape but Bate slips out, and works the Indian death lock and then a modified Romero special. Andrews escapes to the ropes, and then picks up the pace, hitting arm drags and then cartwheels out of a Bate RANA; they both miss dropkicks, kip up and stand off. Andrews tries to show off his grappling ability, works the octopus hold, but Bate manages to walk him to the ropes. Bate cuts off Andrews with clotheslines and a slam, the senton follows for 2. Bate then works the reverse Boston crab, grabs the arms and had Andrews struck in the pendulum. Bate transitions into a pinning combo for 2. Bate then works Andrews over in the corner with strikes/uppercuts, but Andrews hits the enziguri and RANA, sending Bate to the floor. The tope follows, and Andrews then rolls Bate back in and hits a roll up into a double stomp, the northern lights follows, but Bate stops the moonsault with an uppercut. Andrews hits a kick, taking Bate down and now hits a standing moonsault for 2. Bate fires back, sending Andrews to the floor and hitting a suicide dive. Andrews fights off the Tyler driver 97, they work into a counter sequence, Bate almost loses Andrews but Andrews turns it into a spiked RANA for 2. Bate cuts off Andrews with uppercuts, to the apron and Andrews kicks him in the face. Andrews then hits a sliced bread on the apron, but Bate rolls away and to the floor to avoid being pinned. Andrews looks for a moonsault off the apron, caught by Bate, but turns it into a tornado DDT. Andrews rolls Bate back in. Andrews looks to go up top, but Bate grabs his leg to stop him. Bate up on the ropes, eats an enziguri, and Andrews follows him up and Bate crotches him onto the top rope and follows with a diving uppercut for 2. Both men are down, they start to trade strikes from their knees, Bate starts to land more and they start to light each other up on the feet, but Bate hits the left. Andrews rolls back in and eats an uppercut and airplane spin. Andrews then hits the reverse RANA, scoring a great near fall. Andrews now heads up top, but Bate is up and hits an enziguri and then follows him up top. Bate snags up Andrews onto his shoulders, buy Andrews counters with the RANA and running shooting star press for a close 2. Andrews then walks into a superkick, and a lariat followed for bate. Bate manages to counter the suplex into stundog millionaire! He heads up top, but the shooting star press eats knees. Bate then hits the rolling front kick, hits the Tyler Driver 97 and retains the title. This was another great match, worked in a completely different style than Seven vs. Dunne from the same show. Face vs. face matches can be really rough to pull off, but I thought that they made it work excellently here. The hot crowd helped, and they just worked the right pacing, layout and peaked at the right time. Andrews more than held his own and came off great here, and is a guy I wish we’d see more on WWE TV. Bate is amazing to watch, the kid is 20 (yes I am old enough to call him a kid he could be my son), but works with such confidence and poise that you’d think he was a 10+ year veteran. He and Dunne will look to capture greatness again and provide a worthy sequel to their UK Tournament final

8. From NXT Takeover: Chicago – NXT Tag Team Title Ladder Match: Champions The Authors of Pain defeated DIY @ 20:22 [****½]: They brawl at the bell, with DIY sending the Authors to the floor. DIY go after ladders, but the Authors fight back and want no part of this ladder shit, as they whip DIY to the barricades, but Ciampa sends one into the steps as Gargano hits a cannonball off the apron. They head up the ramp and go for the giant Jeff hardy approved ladder. The Authors cut them off as they try to bring it into the ring, but Gargano hits a suicide dive through the ladder to wipe out the champions. DIY attack with ladders, they try to work double teams, but the Authors cut them off and look to climb. Akem holds the ladder for Rezar, but DIY cuts them off with ladder shots. Rezar was holding a ladder, and Ciampa tries to climb it but Rezar shoves him away. The Authors climb now, get cut off and DIY climbs, but the ladder is toppled over and Ciampa is selling his knee. The Authors then start to brutalize DIY, slamming them into ladders. They trap Ciampa in the corner and slam the ladder into his gut. The Authors again look to climb, but stop and opt to attack DIY and beat them down further. They then grab a ladder and run into DIY with it and send them to the floor. The Authors get more ladders, and set them up between the ring and barricades, making some ladder bridges. They tease powerbombs, Ciampa saves Gargano and DIY then hit superkicks and the Authors roll onto the ladder bridges. They then climb the big ladder in the middle, and hit stereo splashes off of the ladder. That looked as if it sucked for all involved. Ciampa back into the ring and looks to climb. Akem in and climbs with Ciampa, Gargano back in and sets up another ladder but Rezar is stirring and is back in and climbs with Gargano. Everyone fights on ladders! Ciampa knocked off and then shoves over the other ladder, Gargano climbs but Ellering in to stop him and eats a superkick! Akem then takes out Gargano, and beats on Ciampa and now Rezar is back in. They set up a ladder in the corner, and repeatedly slam Ciampa onto it and just beat him down with clubbing strikes. The Authors look to take out Ciampa with the ladder, but Gargano saves him and takes the bullet for his partner. The Authors climb, but Ciampa rushes up the ladder and hits a GERMAN ONTO THE LADDER IN THE CORNER! Akem climbs, but Gargano is alive and tries to stop him. Akem grabs the ladder, but Gargano grabs it and gets taken out. DIY fight back with superkicks and the adder is stuck on Akem’s head and hit the superkick/knee strike combo! Ciampa again is selling that knee. DIY struggle to their feet, set up a ladder and climb. They grab the rigging, and the Authors knock out the ladder and hit powerbombs and the super collider; they climb and grabs the titles to retain. This was GREAT; did really well here as the Authors came off like beasts, but DIY had plenty of hope spots and near grabs to make the drama work and also make you feel DIY could overcome the monsters. The Authors are 22 & 23, and have been progressively improving and also delivering on the big shows.

7. From Evolve 84 – Champion Matt Riddle defeated Kyle O’Reilly @ 16:18 via submission [****½]: They circle early, with both guys working leg kicks and slapping jabs. Riddle looks for an arm bar, transitions to the triangle choke but O’Reilly picks him up and walks him to the ropes. O’Reilly then rolls for the knee bar, but Riddle gets the ropes. They exchange knee strikes, and then work into a stand off. They then start to throw bombs, lighting each other up. They switch to kicks and work into some creative counters before Riddle hits the XPLODER. Riddle hits a northern lights toss and follows with the running senton for 2. Knee strikes followed to the grounded O’Reilly, and then rolling gut wrench suplexes by Riddle. O’Reilly fires back, taking Riddle down and starts to put in work on the arm to set up the arm bar finish. O’Reilly connects with the knee strike, and grounds Riddle with a body scissors and elbows. O’Reilly fishes for the arm bar, but Riddle gets the ropes. O’Reilly continues the assault on the arm his focus, but Riddle starts to lay in forearms with the good am; O’Reilly cuts him off with divorce court. O’Reilly then hits the side suplex and transitions into the knee bar. They both looks for knee bars, trade strikes and Riddle then lays in heel kicks to the chest of O’Reilly for the break. O’Reilly avoids the jumping knee strike, lays in kicks to the chest of Riddle and Riddle breaks that up with a right, hits bro to sleep and a German suplex for the near fall. O’Reilly looks for the hanging guillotine, pulls Riddle to the mat but Riddle powers out into a northern lights suplex only for O’Reilly to roll back into the guillotine. Riddle powers out once again, this time hitting the fisherman’s buster to break free. Riddle lays in kicks to the chest of O’Reilly, but O’Reilly blocks and then lays in the knee strikes and both men are down. Back to their feet and they trade German suplexes, and then clotheslines; Riddle hits an up kick, off the ropes and O’Reilly completely turns him inside out with a sick lariat. They trade strikes from their knees, work to the feet and O’Reilly hits rapid-fire strikes and knees. He locks in the sleeper, Riddle escapes and counters the kick and hits a sitout powerbomb, but O’Reilly locks in a triangle choke and then starts to rain down elbows on the champion. Riddle powers out, but O’Reilly works the guillotine but Riddle counters and hits the jumping tombstone and then locks in the bro mission and O’Reilly has to tap. This was an absolutely awesome main event, both guys were locked in and delivered an extremely entertaining and hard-hitting match. There was some really great stuff on this show, but this was on a completely different level; it looked as if it came off effortlessly for them. It had a great feel of realism I how they pulled off the grappling and striking, allowed O’Reilly to really embrace the style he loves, it also felt big time and important throughout.

6. From NJPW BOTSJ (Night 5) Review 5.22.17 – KUSHIDA defeated BUSHI @ 16:15 via pin [****½]: The longtime rivals and former tops of the division face off, with both in desperate need of a victory. BUSHI offers a handshake, but then shoves the ref into KUSHIDA and attacks. He then cuts off the back handspring kick, and then takes KUSHIDA to the floor and beats him down. Drop toeholds BUSHI into a chair, sets him on it and then follows with a running dropkick. They work to the apron, where BUSHI spikes KUSHIDA with a DDT. Back in the ring and they trade strikes, BUSHI drapes KUSHIDA over the ropes and follows with a dropkick for 2. The neck breaker follows for another 2 count. BUSHI then works the STF, keeping KUSHIDA grounded. KUSHIDA makes the ropes, but as he makes it to his feet eats a missile dropkick. KUSHIDA cuts off BUSHI with a flatliner to the buckles and sends BUSHI to the floor and follows with a tope. Back in they go, KUSHIDA misses the kick, but counters the code breaker into the hover board lock. He transitions into a triangle choke and then an arm bar, but BUSHI rolls him up to escape. KUSHIDA follows with a DDT, but BUSHI then rakes the eyes. V now rakes the eyes in return as he’s getting desperate. BUSHI counters the back handspring with the back stabber and both men are down. BUSHI follows with a suicide dive. He calls for MX, but KUSHIDA avoids him and gets a backslide for 2. They trade kicks and into a double down. They now trade strikes from their knees, work to their feet and trade more forearm strikes. They then slap the shit out of each other. BUSHI hits the destroyer, but KUSHIDA survives. BUSHI follows with the MX, but KUSHIDA kicks out! BUSHI back up top, but this time KUSHIDA counters and catches him with the code breaker on the way down. KUSHIDA locks in the hover board lock, BUSHI fights but KUSHIDA pulls him back center ring but BUSHI continues to fight, but KUSHIDA rolls into God’s last gift and finally gets on the board. EXCELLENT main event, one of the best of the tournament so far. I think that they played very well off of their past encounters, but more importantly off of the desperation of the KUSHIDA character, who realized that he had to dig deep and change things up in order to get a win.

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5. From Night Eleven: KUSHIDA defeated Ryusuke Taguchi @ 23:00 via pin [****½]: We’re friends early, shaking hands and working clean breaks. Taguchi looks to ground KUSHIDA, they work back and forth on the ground and work into a stand off. They continue to work on the mat, but neither man can gain an advantage. They worked some really nice exchanges on the mat, and it’s refreshing to see Taguchi work outside of his wacky comfort zone. They pick up the pace, do some passes, and then both go for an ass attack and then both try for a dropkick and end up in a stand off. Taguchi smiles, gives KUSHIDA knux and then attacks, sanding him to the floor. Taguchi tries the flying ass attack off the apron, but KUSHIDA catches him in an arm bar on the floor. A desperate KUSHIDA picks up his aggression, slamming Taguchi’s arm off of the announcer’s table. Back in the ring and KUSHIDA focuses on the arm right away. KUSHIDA then rolls into a wacky hammerlock/koji clutch sort of deal, continuing his assault on the arm. KUSHIDA now works a hanging kimura, but Taguchi transitions out and into rolling suplexes. KUSHIDA then starts to favor his knee, and Taguchi attacks it right away, tying it up in the ropes. Back in the ring, Taguchi grounds KUSHIDA, completely focusing on the knee. KUSHIDA fights and makes the ropes for a break. He then fires up with chops, but Taguchi answers back with forearms and then gets the ankle lock, but KUSHIDA lunges for the ropes out of desperation to get the break. KUSHIDA then counters an ass attack, catching Taguchi and rolling through, hitting Taguchi’s dodon. They trade forearm strikes, but Taguchi rolls through a sunset flip attempt, hitting a basement dropkick. Taguchi fires up, hitting some running ass attacks, goes for on off the ropes, but KUSHIDA catches him again in an arm bar. Taguchi escapes, and they trade submissions, and KUSHIDA then locks in a figure four. Taguchi makes the ropes. KUSHIDA follows with leg kicks, and then attacks the arm with a dropkick. KUSHIDA stomps away at Taguchi, and they both fire up and trade strikes. KUSHIDA fires back with kicks, but Taguchi dropkicks KUSHIDA’s knee, hits the enziguri and ten fires up with big rights to cut off KUSHIDA. Taguchi then runs into a flatliner to the buckles, and KUSHIDA looks for God’s last gift, but Taguchi counters out and locks in the hover board lock. KUSHIDA makes the ropes for the escape. Taguchi then continues to borrow from KUSHIDA’s playbook, attacking the arm, but KUSHIDA counters with dragon screw leg whip. PK to the arm, but Taguchi then counters into dodon and covers for a great near fall. BUM A YE by Taguchi, KUSHIDA kicks out but Taguchi gets the ankle lock and has KUSHIDA trapped center ring. KUSHIDA struggles, crawls but Taguchi pulls him back, looking for dodon but gets the roll up for 2. KUSHIDA locks in the hove board lock, Taguchi rolls and fights, but KUSHIDA has him trapped center ring. KUSHIDA then rolls into God’s last gift and picks up the hard fought win! This was an absolutely great main event, worked with great aggression and purpose, as both men knew that they needed the win. I loved Taguchi breaking form formula, turning in his (at least one) traditional great BOTSJ performance, while KUSHIDA was a very desperate man, not only willing to get a bit dirty, but also play into Taguchi’s playbook. I also love, when done right, when guys start showing their desperation by stealing each other’s moves, which played very well here. This was one of the top matches of the tournament so far, and a must see match.

4. From ROH War of The Worlds – Will Ospreay defeated Jay White @ 13:25 via pin [****½]: White is sporting some new gear here tonight; rocking all white, shedding the young lion black. They brawl at the bell, Ospreay fires up with kicks but White levels him with the clothesline and chops. Ospreay then sends him to the floor with the head scissors, teases the dive and hits the superhero pose. Ospreay to the floor, hits the bicycle kick and then goes for a suicide dive, but White catches him and powerslams him to the barricade. White then slams Ospreay to another barricade. Back in and White hits the running uppercut and then follows with the dropkick for 2. White then works the reverse Muta lock, but Ospreay makes the ropes. Ospreay then battles back with a back handspring into a head kick. Ospreay then follows with the springboard forearm, and running shooting star press. White cuts him off with a running back elbow, and follows with rolling suplexes. He then suplexes Ospreay to the buckles, they trade strikes, uppercuts by Ospreay and White then counters the RANA into a Liger bomb for 2. They trade strikes center ring, Ospreay fires up and dares White to hit him. Ospreay then hits rapid-fire forearm strikes, but White drops him with vicious forearms and then lays the boots to him. they work into a great series of counters, White looks to take control but runs into the Spanish fly for the double down. Ospreay up top now, misses the 450, rolls through but then hits the destroyer for a near fall. Ospreay then sends White to the floor, but White catches the Sasuke special and DESTROYS Ospreay with a slam onto the apron; missile dropkick by White follows, he counters the reverse RANA and hits a cobra clutch suplex and as he goes for a suplex, Ospreay hits the OsCutter and spin kick. White then catches the springboard OsCutter, lays in elbow strikes and hits the butterfly buster for a GREAT near fall. White sets Ospreay up top, he follows and they battle for position but Ospreay hits a head butt and then back to the mat, hits the trapped superkick. Ospreay then hits a shooting star press to the floor, back in, OSCUTTER and White is finally done. This was an absolutely awesome match, with great timing, a super hot crowd and both guys going all out for the win. More importantly, White came across as on Ospreay’s level and finally had that “Great Performance” many have been waiting for. He’s had a lot of very good matches, but this was on a completely different level. Go out of your way to see this one.

3. From NJPW BOTSJ (Night 2) 5.18.17 – Will Ospreay defeated Ricochet @ 27:34 via pin [****¾]: Aggressive lock up as they battle for control, they break and Ricochet takes it to the mat and works the arm. Ospreay counters out, they pick up the pace and do a series of side headlock takeovers, and then work into a stand off. They then work into a series of counters, with some flippity doos mixed in and then into the double superhero pose. They trade forearm strikes, and then do a double down off of a double kick spot. It’s all even early as neither man can gain an advantage. Chops are exchanged, and then more forearms by Ospreay. Ricochet lights him up with chops, and then a pop up back breaker. Ricochet then lays the boots to Ospreay, and then hits a side slam out of the submission attempt. Ricochet continues to lay in chops, and then works a wacky inverted stretch muffler, and then grounds Ospreay with an abdominal stretch. Ricochet then cuts off the back handspring attempt with a dropkick. Ospreay lands elbow strikes, but Ricochet the hits the northern lights. Ospreay then hits the back handspring kick. Ospreay connects with the enziguri and then the slingshot senton and hesitation dropkick to take control. Kicks to the chest follow for Ospreay, but Ricochet hits the 619 and running shooting star press for 2. Ospreay escapes the benadryller, and hits a tornado DDT for 2. Ricochet counters the OsCutter by shoving Ospreay to the floor. Ospreay then pulls Ricochet to the floor and follows with the Sasuke special. Back in and Ospreay hits the springboard forearm, running shooting star press and then the corkscrew moonsault for 2. They work into a series of counters, as Ospreay counters the suplex with a stunner. Ricochet then about kills Ospreay with a sitout tombstone (galleria) for a great near fall. Ricochet up top now, Ospreay cuts him off and they trade strikes as Ospreay follows him up. SUPER RANA countered as Ricochet lands on his feet. Ospreay then lands on his feet as Ricochet tries a top rope reverse RANA. They pick up the pacing big time, Ricochet finally connects with a German and both men are down. They struggle to their feet, Ricochet with chops, but Ospreay fires up with forearm strikes. Both guys are spent, but continue to trade strikes. Ospreay goes rapid-fire, but Ricochet absolutely kills him with a lariat. Ospreay to the floor, Ricochet to the floor and they keep countering each other and battle on the apron. Knee strike by Ricochet, the northern lights and then suplex follow all on the apron. They roll to the floor and we get the count out tease. Ricochet beats the count, as does Ospreay at the final moment. Back in and Ricochet hits the spin kick and OsCutter for the near fall and general fuck you to Ospreay. Ricochet seems completely annoyed now, heads up top and misses the shooting star press, lands on his feet and rolls through but Ospreay block the benadryller, and then HE hits his version for a near fall, and a fuck you very much. Ospreay up top, but Ricochet crotches him. Ospreay hits an enziguri and the trapped superkick, and then flies in with a DRAGON RANA. Ospreay follows with a series of kicks, hits the OsCutter and puts Ricochet away! This was an amazing main event, and not only played well off of their encounters from last year, but also told an excellent story that both men were on the same level, knew each other very well and knew that they not only had to dig deeper than ever before, but even had to steal from each other in order to take the win. They had a very good layout, starting slow and continually picking up the pacing, and escalating both the action and the drama putting on an absolutely awesome display that the crowd loved and was hot for the entire time. They’re the early leaders in the clubhouse for match of the tournament.

2. From NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2017 5.03.17 – Kenny Omega defeated Tomohiro Ishii @ 24:00 via pin [****¾]: Ishii charges Omega at the bell and takes the fight to Omega, hitting a German and a powerbomb for a near fall. Omega avoids the sliding lariat and takes a powder to the floor. Ishii follows, they brawl on the floor and Ishii teases a one winged angel, but Omega escapes. Omega fires back with a running dropkick, and Omega hits an apron bomb for a count out tease. Omega looks for the rise of the Terminator dive, but gets cut off. They fight over a suplex, rights by Omega follow and then V trigger and the snapdragon suplex and another V trigger connects for a close 2. Omega looks for the one winged angel, but Ishii escapes and hits a lariat. They trade strikes, Omega then hits chops and a DDT. Omega lays the boots to Ishii, but Ishii calls for more. Omega is more than willing to dish out more punishment. The neck breaker follows, and Omega covers for 2. Omega as been focusing on the neck ever since the DDT, trying to ground down, Ishii, ho really has no neck. Omega slows the pace here, continuing to attack. Ishii fires up with chops, but Omega cuts him off with the boot and leg lariat. Omega starts to slap away at Ishii, but he’s just getting pissed. Omega spits at him, and Ishii just starts to walk through strikes and misses a charge, but comes back with a powerslam. Omega fights off a suplex, but Ishii hits the Saito suplex for 2. Omega then hits the Finlay roll and moonsault combo for 2. Omega up top, but Ishii cuts him off and follows him up. They battle for position, and Ishii hits the superplex for a near fall. Omega hits the RANA and Ishii rolls to the floor. Omega follows, sending Ishii into the crowd. Omega then wipes out Ishii with a high cross, over the barricade from the top rope, almost over shooting him.

Omega back to the ring. Ishii follows, Omega up top and hits the missile dropkick and powerbomb for 2. Ishii avoids the V trigger, but Omega counters a German and hits the running high knee for a great near fall. They trade counters, and Ishii decapitates Omega with a lariat. Omega cuts off the lariat attempt, but Ishii counters V trigger and hits a head butt and another sick lariat for a great near fall.

Ishii looks for one winged angel, but hits a shoulder breaker instead and then the sliding lariat for another great near fall. Omega counters the brain buster and hits the reverse RANA. V trigger by Omega, the lariat follows but only gets 2. Big neck breaker by Omega, I like that he keeps going back to the neck. V trigger, one winged angel countered by a REVERSE RANA BY ISHII! Fucks sake. Huge lariat again by Ishii gets a great near fall. Enziguri by Ishii, but Omega lights him up with strikes. Ishii fires back, but runs into the knee and again. BRAIN BUSTER by Omega for 2; one winged angel gets Omega the win. This was an excellent match, playing well off of their previous encounters, and the fact that they knew each other so well> Omega survived the early onslaught by Ishii, and Ishii put in another tremendous performance in a loss, but even so had the crowd with him the entire way. Awesome stuff by both guys, putting in a great physical, back and forth match, with some amazing near falls down the stretch and I love them stealing each others signature stuff; this was on par with their New Japan Cup performance, which was also pretty amazing. This blew away everything else on the card with ease.

1. WWE UK Title Match: Pete Dunne defeated Champion Tyler Bate @ 15:40 via pin [*****]: Dunne attacks at the bell, taking bate down and grounding him early as the crowd is into both men. Bate escapes, but Dunne goes back to work, attacking the arm and hand. Bate with the slick escape, hits the dropkick and even had time to twirl his moustache. Bate follows Dunne to the floor, Dunne attacks the hand, but Bate hits him with a stiff jab and rolls him back in. Dunne rolls back to the floor, and hits an x-plex onto the apron. Dunne back to the arm, taking Bate down and then bending the fingers in a way they shouldn’t go. Dunne then works forearm strikes and stomps, but Bate fires up and hits a delayed XPLODER. Bate follows with running uppercuts, but Dunne cuts that off, only for Bate to hit a running shooting star press and bridging German for 2. Bate looks for another running shooting star press, but Dunne catches him in a triangle and lays in strikes and elbow shots. Bate looks to escape, and powers up Dunne and powerbombs him and is out. The crowd loves this. Bate shakes out the arm and hits the air plane spin with insane speed and then dumps Dunne, covering for 2. Both men are down, Bate makes it back to his feet and Dunne then counters the German and cuts off a springboard high cross with a straight right hand. The sitout powerbomb connects for a great near fall and the crowd is going bat shit. They trade strikes, going al Frye vs. Takiyama; Bate drops Dunne with the big left. Dunne hits the enziguri, they go face to face and then beat the hell out of each other, Bate then hits the rebound lariat and decapitates Dunne, covering for another great near fall. My word. Bate fires up, looks for the Tyler driver but Dunne counters only for Bate to counter the bitter end and hit a tornado DDT. Dunne rolls to the floor, and Bate hits the moonsault press to the floor. Bate then hits a spiral tap on Dunne for another great near fall. Dunne again bails to the floor and Bate goes for a tope, but Dunne swats him aside and then rolls him back in, hits the bitter end and wins the title. I loved every second of this. They took everything that they did in their UK tournament final match (which was excellent), streamlined it and made it even better in front of an absolutely insane crowd, great action and pacing with both men doing everything in their power to win; that felt really special. This was easily one of the best matches in NXT’s history. Bate is 20 and Dunne is 23, these men are special talents. I LOVE WRESTLING!

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

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