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Chambers’ NXT UK Review 02.20.19 (Ep. 31)

February 20, 2019 | Posted by Jake Chambers
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Chambers’ NXT UK Review 02.20.19 (Ep. 31)  

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Joe & Mark Coffey defeated Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews @8:28 by pin [**]
Trent Seven defeated Shane Thorne @9:02 by pin [***]
Toni Storm defeated Rhea Ripley @11:01 by pin [**]

A video package to recap the Storm/Ripley rivalry opens the show.

Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster vs. Mark & Joe Coffey: On commentary, Nigel McGuinness points out at the bell that this one is a match of heavyweights versus cruiserweights (or Scotland versus Wales, if you prefer), so Andrews and Webster are going to have to show hat they can stand in there and take some punishment if they want to win this one. Quite early on, that’s just what happens; the Coffey brothers textbook isolate Andrews in their half of the ring. This is another great NXT UK TV opportunity for Mark Andrews to play a great “babyface in peril” and portray the damage done and pressure applied by the dangerous Scottish siblings.

FMW makes the tag eventually and comes in “like a house of fire” (great old school call by Vic Joseph). This leads to a very fast paced sequence where the quicker team starts to gain the advantage with double-teams and chain attacks. However, the size and strengths of the Coffey’s endures the assault and counters with sheer power, taking out Webster with a forearm shiver / clothesline combination.

Joe & Mark Coffey defeat Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews @8:28 by pin [**] A pretty basic match here, kind of glorified squash for the Gallus team. Mandrews and the Modfather are a great pair of polished and passionate wrestlers and so watching them demonstrate their roles, even as losers, can still be fun.

Promo video shown for “The Nina Samuels Show”.

We then get an phone cam, beach walk promo from Jordan Devlin warning Travis Banks that their feud isn’t over after Banks interfered in his match at the Worlds Collide tournament.

Kay Lee Ray puts the NXT UK women’s division on warning.

Trent Seven vs. Shane Thorne: NXT UK really digging deep into those Commonwealth ties to bring in another Aussie wrestler, as Shane Thorne formerly of “The Mighty Don’t Kneel” in Pro-Wrestling NOAH (and the typically watered-down WWE version TM-61), and the expectations for this one should be moderate but high as Thorne who learned the real (faux) “strong style” should be a good foil for a British Strong Style faction member.

Thorne methodically spends a few minutes wearing down Seven’s right arm and shoulder. Seven pays some attention to this weakness after he takes advantage of the match, even slapping the arm to get some feeling back into it later. They actually work a mid-match figure four, which is always appreciated, and they roll to the outside to break it up. They follow up with a teeth-gritting strike battle on the floor, which continues back onto the apron, followed up with a super-plex by Seven. Striking stays the game plan for both men, until Shane locks in a really unique looking chicken-wing/cobra clutch on Seven’s right arm, forcing Seven to make a desperate last spin-out counter, which turns into a (we can’t call it the) Rainmaker clothesline for the win. Trent Seven defeats Shane Thorne @9:02 by pin [***] While a better back-and-forth struggle here than in the first match, this was another clean, pro-wrestling formula on display here, as the debuting wrestlers gets a chance to showcase what makes him unique against a show star who must overcome the challenge with cunning and innovation.

Interview with Jack Gallagher asking if he’ll be heading to NXT UK, and he mentions that he’ll have to discuss it over tea with fellow former Billy Robinson student, NXT UK GM Johnny Saint.

Interview with Joseph Conners brings up the sore spot of Ligero who beat him a couple of weeks ago, but Conners says he’s focused on showing Ligero that he’s always been the better wrestler.

NXT UK Tag Team Champions, the Grizzled Young Veterans, come to the ring to talk, with the always braggadocios Zack Gibson proclaiming their greatness. He expresses regrets of having to come to Phoenix from Liverpool just to provide an education to this “room full of ignorant Yanks”. He calls out Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan, saying they’re ready for them anytime. This actually brings them out to the ramp where Burch praises the fans and says they’re ready to give them a fight now, but the champs run off once the challengers rush the ring. The match is on for the titles, next week! One of the weaker Gibson microphone performances since NXT UK began, and I think you can chalk it up to the Royal Rumble Axxess audience not really caring about him enough to feel offended by his insults.

Also next week will be Tyler Bate versus Jack Gallagher… and Walter versus Kassius Ohno. That’s some episode on paper, damn.

NXT UK Women’s Championship: Toni Storm vs. Rhea Ripley: Ripley Pearl Harbors Storm before the bell and just continues pummelling her after the referee eventually calls for the bell. Storm “weathers the storm”, as Joseph calls it, and somewhat battles back with some of her own big punches, but it doesn’t stop Ripley from bulldozering through. Rhea then maintains control for the next few minutes with submissions and wear-down holds.

After almost 10 full minutes of being in charge of the action, Ripley continues to dominate, even hitting a super-plex (second for the show) on Storm for a nearfall. Commentary plays up Ripley’s frustration, and this seemingly leads to her mistake of charging at Storm in the corner, who moves, sending Ripely shoulder-first between the turnbuckles and into the post. Storm follows right up with a Storm Zero for the out-of-nowhere victory.

Toni Storm defeats Rhea Ripley @11:01 by pin [**] Storm working from underneath for pretty much the entire match was dull, and I think the almost flash-pin victory at the end did Ripley no justice after such a dominating performance. I think it’s safe to call this one a disappointment.

– End scene.

– Get well soon Larry.

6.0
The final score: review Average
The 411
The first two matches were good for what they were, but nothing spectacular, while the main event rubber match between NXT UK's two biggest female stars was kind of a dud. Not a bad episode of the show, I'd say it was more of a proper dive into a pool than a belly-flop or a cannonball. You got three matches displaying different pro-wrestling formulas, all worked with precision by clearly solid professionals. A fine episode, but one that adds nothing to the canon of serialized NXT UK or gifts you with any spectacular wrestling.
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article topics :

NXT UK, Jake Chambers