2/25/2021: NXT UK Review and Results

Note: This article was originally posted on Blade Job Pro Wrestling.

Another day, another professional wrestling review - welcome to NXT UK!

Before I dive into this review, I think it's important to give my history and experience with NXT UK. Arguably, I believe that NXT UK is one of the least-watched programs under the WWE banner - and that's a tragedy. An hour of great professional wrestling is going to waste, rotting on the WWE Network where nobody is viewing. The last episode of NXT UK television I witnessed was NXT UK: TakeOver Blackpool. I loved it then, but the pandemic had taken this product out of my lineup. Today, I'm going to deliver the first BJPW NXT UK review, and see if NXT UK deserves to rot in the depths of the WWE Network, or if this is going to become a regular viewing experience for me. So let's do it...

The show begins.

A couple of things I've noticed to start off the production - there is a "new" (for my experience) commentary team on NXT UK. The last episode of NXT UK I watched had the two-man power trip of Tom Phillips and Nigel McGuinness; this time we are presented with Nigel McGuinness and Andy Shepherd. Fair enough to have the British wrestling show commentated by... well... the British.

We kick off with a promo package for the feuding tag teams of Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) and Pretty Deadly (Lewis Howley and Sam Stoker.) They're competing in the main event of NXT UK, tonight, for the NXT UK Tag Team Championships. I've never heard of Pretty Deadly, but I like their look! Last I watched of NXT UK, Gallus were heels, so I am interested to see just how this match-up plays out.

Nina Samuels vs. Xia Brookside

We begin the night with Xia Brookside making her entrance. This, however, is no normal one-on-one contest. Rather, the loser of this match must become the winner's personal assistant for one month! I don't know what has led up to this, but I am intrigued, nonetheless. Nina Samuels makes her entrance, and this match is set for one fall.

The match begins with some hot action, Brookside is showcasing a more vicious side to her than we've seen in the past. The action heads to the outside, where Samuels tosses Brookside into her luggage, which has been brought out to ringside (assumably if Samuels wins, she's going to make Brookside carry it all backstage again.) Brookside gets back in the ring, beating the count. It is at this point where I learn that the name of Samuels's current personal assistant is Henry. Samuels asks Henry to hand her a small purse so she can strike Brookside with it. Henry refuses and walks away. Frustrated, Samuels makes her way back into the ring where Brookside rolls her up in a bridging pinfall. Nina Samuels is now Xia Brookside's personal assistant for one month.

This match was serviceable and told a decent story, but I wish I would have gotten to see them do more. They leaned into Brookside's family history, but she doesn't really have much of an appeal to her (other than an admittedly cool name.) It appears Nina Samuels has taken over the role of "Jinny" since the last time I watched the product. It was fine, nothing special. I am interested in seeing where they take the "personal assistant" gimmick.

Result: Xia Brookside defeats Nina Samuels via Pinfall in 5:44. Nina Samuels is now Xia Brookside's personal assistant for one month.

Match Rating: 2 Stars

We now see a Trent Seven promo, detailing his time attempting to make it back in the ring. We see shots of Trent Seven climbing a mountain - a truly awe-inspiring scene. Seven then claims he is shooting his shot for the... NXT Cruiserweight Championship?! I could have sworn that Trent Seven was one hefty lad, but it appears he's been training to make weight for an NXT Cruiserweight Championship match. As a huge Trent Seven fan, I'm very excited about this. Check it out here!

Next up, we're taken backstage where we see Ilja Dragunov being interviewed. The interviewer asks Ilja about his match with Tyson T-Bone (a match that I did not get to witness, therefore, I am slightly lost.) Out of nowhere, a lad that shares a striking resemblance to a mini "Big Cass" antagonizes Dragunov. This lad with the awful haircut is Sam Gradwell. Gradwell wants a match with Ilja Dragunov, and Dragunov accepts.

Next, we see a match graphic announcing an NXT UK Women's Championship match for next week - Kay Lee Ray defends her championship against Japanese wrestling legend, Meiko Satomura. I am excited!

Bailey Matthews vs. Tyler Bate

Next, we have the debut of Bailey Matthews, who gets the jobber entrance tonight. For the uninitiated, Bailey Matthews is the son of NXT General Manager, William Regal. I have very high expectations for the working ability of Matthews tonight. Tyler Bate wants competition, and now he has it.

This match begins with a lot of technical/chain wrestling, which is always a joy to witness. Matthews maintains control throughout the majority of this match; never giving Bate a chance to breathe. Bate manages to take control and land a standing shooting star press. Matthews puts up an incredible fight, but Bate plants him with the Tyler Driver and pins him for the three-count. Bate shakes the hand of Bailey Matthews.

This match was very entertaining. I loved seeing Matthews get offense in on the former NXT UK Champion. I hope Bailey Matthews gets a bigger showcase on the brand - this is only the beginning. I wish it would've gone a little bit longer.

Result: Tyler Bate defeats Bailey Matthews via Pinfall in 5:43.

Match Rating: 2.5 Stars

Next, we see a promo video for a debuting superstar on the black, gold, and red brand. A mysterious Turkish superstar discusses his upbringing in Germany and announces that he is going to make the world know his name. This superstar will make the world respect him, and it all starts in NXT UK. I'm excited to see where this goes.

Next up, we see Joseph Conners being interviewed backstage when Piper Niven approaches him inquiring about Jinny's location. Conners seems to have aligned himself with Jinny recently and takes time to sing her praises. Verbal war between Niven and Conners leads to the former striking the latter. Jinny then attacks Piper Niven from behind. Piper Niven wants a match against Joseph Conners and Jinny, but the NXT UK Assistant-to-the-General-Manager, Sid Scala, says he cannot make the match. Niven grabs the nearest person with an NXT UK t-shirt on and claims him as her tag partner - it's none other than Jack Starz. The segment ends. I'm interested to see if this mixed tag team match happens.

Aiofe Valkyrie vs. Lana Austin

Aiofe Valkyrie takes on Lana Austin next. I'm not familiar with either of these two individuals prior to witnessing this match. Austin gets the jobber entrance. The only thing they really mention about Valkyrie throughout the match is that she is a mother of three and that she is trying to prove that a mother can do anything. Of course, she proves this to be the case, as Valkyrie puts Austin away in a relatively quick match with a diving axe leg drop.

There was nothing particular special about this match-up. It did the job and gave Aiofe Valkyrie a spotlight and a victory. Admittedly, I couldn't care less about Valkyrie and found myself more interested in Lana Austin after tonight.

Result: Aiofe Valkyrie defeats Lana Austin via Pinfall in 4:07.

Match Rating: 2 Stars

Next, we see a segment of Nina Samuels begrudgingly carrying the bags of Xia Brookside. That feud isn't over yet.

We now are taken backstage to an interview involving the tandem of Kenny Williams and Amir Jordan. I remember liking these two when I was watching NXT UK full-time! They say that they have their eyes set on tonight's main event, and they believe that a tag team reign is somewhere in their future. Kenny Williams announces that he's fully healed from his injury (which I didn't know he had.) It will be Amir Jordan and Kenny Williams vs. Ashton Smith and Oliver Carter.

NXT UK Tag Team Championship Match: Gallus (c.) (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) vs. Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker and Lewis Howley)

First thing, first. I absolutely love the Gallus theme song, it just gets me excited to watch their matches and I view that as an important element of professional wrestling entrance themes. It's time! Will Gallus's record tag team championship reign end tonight?

We start off with Mark Coffey and Sam Stoker in this one. We see frequent tags between both teams. We see a nasty-looking tag team monkey flip onto Lewis Howley. Howley's knee wrapped around the bottom rope on his way down, which did not look like a fun bump to take. We get an "everyone-in-the-ring-standing-off" spot in this match, which always a nice tension builder. Wolfgang gets an intense amount of offense on Pretty Deadly until he spills to the outside and bumps on the concrete. That did not look fun. Howley and Stoker utilize quick tags to keep the pressure on Wolfgang in this match. Wolfgang turns the tides with a painful-looking splash from the top rope onto the back of a standing Lewis Howley. Gallus is in control. Speaking of control - the referee loses it. This match spills all over the BT Sports Arena. Wolfgang eventually is sent over the barricade, leaving Coffey in the middle of the ring. We get a diving double knee facebreaker from Howley leading to a near-fall. Pretty Deadly grab the tag team championships and Howley drops Coffey with a DDT on the belt. Pretty Deadly hit a tag team finish on Coffey, pinning him for the three-count. We have new NXT UK Tag Team Champions.

This match was pretty good! I enjoyed the action, and I believe this was a great introduction to the tandem that is Pretty Deadly. I am happy to finally see some mobility within the NXT UK Tag Team Championship ranks and shout out to Gallus for holding those belts for more than a calendar year.

Result: Pretty Deadly (Lewis Howley and Sam Stoker) defeated Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) via Pinfall in 15:04. Lewis Howley and Sam Stoker are your new NXT UK Tag Team Champions.

Match Ranking: 3.5 Stars

Final Grade: B-

While this wasn't a Wrestle Kingdom-type event, it didn't have to be. This episode of NXT UK introduced some new faces and furthered storylines that I am very excited to witness come to fruition. The only cons were the consistently short matches. I understand that we only had so much time on the show, but I couldn't help but feel left with a feeling of wanting more and facing the crushing disappointment when matches ended (specifically, in Matthews vs. Bate.) This show was an easy watch and was fun to write about! For that reason, the grade of B- fits this show.

Did I miss something? Do you agree/disagree with a take of mine? Let me know in the comments below or reach out on Twitter @BladeJobPW!

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