wrestling / TV Reports
Chambers’ NXT UK Review 2.13.19
Loading...OFFICIAL RESULTS
Travis Banks defeated Jordan Devlin@10:19 by pin [****]
Jinny defeated Mia Yim @8:35 by pin [***]
Pete Dunne defeated Wolfgang @10:52 by pin [***1/2]
We are welcomed by Vic Joseph and Nigel McGuinness to Phoenix, Arizona this week, site of the Royal Rumble Axxess convention, and home to the matches on this episode. They tell us that the main event will be a non-title match between Pete Dunne and Wolfgang.
We start out with Toni Storm coming to the ring in her civvies. She recaps her recent accolades and laments the bullying tactics of Rhea Ripley, but calls herself a fighting champion who is ready to kick her ass in the title rematch. Rhea Ripley arrives in what looks like some kind of dope Freddy Krueger shirt. She talks about all the things she hates about Toni, like her “stupid hair”, and demands her rematch. Storm says they’ve talked enough and jumps her. They brawl sloppily, Rhea escapes, and Toni holds the title high. One week until the rematch. Not sure these two are ready to carry a segment like this on their own, their oration feels a bit too rehearsed for the message of spontaneous anger they’re trying to present. The NXT brands are supposedly places for less experienced wrestlers to perfect their craft, but unfortunately it does stand out when you see amateurish work these days because most on these shows seem so polished. Undoubtably, their actual match next week will be awesome though.
Noam Dar vs. Jordan Devlin: Awesomely intense technical arm-wringer trading sequence by the two, muscle striations emphasizing their simulated strain. Another great move comes next: a spinning backslide sequence by Dar to try and dizzy Devlin before the pinfall attempt. Devlin gains his own pinfall attempt after a frustrated takedown and standing moonsault. The moves started fast and sharp, both guys really doing excellently convincing work that transitions into a slower mid-point in the match where Devlin gains the advantage with some heavier strikes. Dar works well from underneath, selling the struggle to get back into it, but getting cut off at every attempt.
Things even out as Dar kicks Devlin’s foot out from under him when on the second rope. A series of criss-cross neck chops, running fore-arm smash, and a tossing Northern Lights suplex are just excellently executed by Dar. However, after an ankle-lock attempt, Devlin evens things out again with an “Irish Ace Cutter” leading to a tired lay out by both men. Their recovery from this rest cues the beginning of the end sequence, as Dar tries to kick Devlin on the outside and hits the steel steps instead. Devlin threatens to brutalize Dar’s ankle on the steps, which brings out Deviln’s rival Travis Banks to stop the same thing Devlin did to him from happening to another. This distraction by Banks costs Devlin the match, as Dar is limpingly able to roll-up his distracted opponent for the surprise pin.
As Nigel says, “There is no fury like an Irishman scorned” and Devlin attacks the recovering Dar after the bell, and hits him with a backdrop driver. He then turns his attention to Banks, and the two brawl down the entranceway into the shadows under the stage.
Noam Dar defeats Jordan Devlin@10:19 by pin [****] Just some fantastic wrestling on display here, in a match that ebbed and flowed with unpredictability and showcased the realistic and artistic skill of both men.
We get an announcement that in two weeks we will see Walter vs. Kassius Ohno, and next week is the aforementioned NXT UK Women’s Championship match.
Jinny vs. Mia Yim: An NXT vs. NXT UK match-up here starts with some technical mat-work that sees Jinny (who came to the ring in an impressive cape) mostly in control. As it moves to a standing fight, Yim seems to hold the advantage, absorbing or avoiding Jinny’s striking attempts. This leads to a brief MMA ground-and-pound sequence where Yim goes for a match ending arm-bar, which Jinny escapes.
As Jinny takes control, this becomes another showcase for the personality she puts into her arrogant striking and fancy submissions. However, whenever Yim can get the match back to the feet, she really dominates with her stiff striking. Despite being a “Fashionista”, which you make you think she’s delicate, Jinny recovers quickly from the big blows, hits a kick, and covers Yim with her feet sneakily on the bottom ropes for the win.
Jinny defeats Mia Yim @8:35 by pin [***] A really good vehicle for Jinny to get her character and innovative move-set across with a seasoned veteran who knows how to tell a balanced and nuanced story in the ring.
Another new match announcement, as the Joe & Mark Coffey will battle Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster next week.
Wolfgang vs. Pete Dunne: This one starts out with some tests of strength, with the smaller Dunne gaining the upper hand repeatedly, which frustrates Woflgang. Dunne soon hits a crushing running clothesline that Wolfgang tries to shake off on the ground with a worried smile, like when an MMA fighter smiles after taking a straight punch to the face.
For every move Wolfgang gets in, it seems Dunne gets in three. That does go to show how good Wolfgang is, as a pro-wrestling performer and competitor, as he hangs in throughout, and still has a shot to win it late into the match, especially after her surprisingly counters Dunne’s lethal finger snap into a big lariat and lung blower combination. But then he makes the mistake of going for a high risk maneuver, with a jump off the top rope, which Dunne catches in the armbar position and forces Wolfgang to tap out. Pete Dunne defeats Wolfgang @10:52 by pin [***1/2] While the result of this one was never in doubt, Wolfgang was game and didn’t let Dunne roll right over him. While midway through it seemed like this was going to be a “Bret Hart” style match for Dunne, the nice part about how the match progressed was the way it tricked you into not knowing how it was going to end, especially with the final sequence of moves. Definitely worth watching.
– End scene.
– Get well soon Larry.
