The Jordan Devlin Cruiserweight Championship Tour comes to NXT UK!
The Irish Ace didn’t pin the Kiwi Buzzsaw at Worlds Collide, but he has beaten him in the past. Which way does the NXT Cruiserweight Championship go?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Imperium VS Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith; Imperium wins.
- Aoife Valkyrie VS Nina Samuels; Valkyrie wins.
- A-Kid VS Noam Dar; Dar wins.
- NXT Cruiserweight Championship: Jordan Devlin VS Travis Banks; Devlin wins and retains the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
Imperium VS Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith!
The Ring General may be the Prince’s target, but the soldiers look to keep the NXT UK Tag Division under their thumb. Will Fabian Aichner & Marcel Barthel continue to win against the Predator Killer and the Prestige?
The teams sort out as fans “WOOP!” for Smith and Carter. Carter starts with Barthel at the bell, but Barthel doesn’t seem to take Carter serious. They tie up, Carter grabs the arm but Barthel clamps onto a shoulder. Barthel chinbars Carter off his arm to then go after Carter’s arm. Barthel tortures the arm and then hooks a leg to bring Carter to the mat. They go around, Barthel hooks a leg again to tie Carter up. Carter endures the modified death lock and reaches back to pry Barthel off. But Barthel rolls to get the hold again. Fans rally up as Carter keeps fighting, but Barthel floats to a Bow ‘n’ Arrow stretch. Carter pops out and covers, TWO! Carter snapmares but Barthel kips up to snapmare and KICK!
Barthel talks trash in German but Carter swings a kick. Barthel gets under it, only to get the heel hook return! Carter runs in but Barthel whips him away and Aichner tags in. Barthel drops and Carter jumps over, into Aichner’s arm-drag! Aichner goes after Carter’s arm while fans boo and jeer Imperium. Aichner cranks on the shoulder and shifts to a hammerlock to keep Carter down. Carter powers up as fans rally and cheer. Carter reaches back and snapmares Aichner off! Hot tag to Smith! Smith and Aichner ram shoulders but neither falls. Aichner rushes Smith but Smith jumps over. Smith jumps up again but Aichner catches him in a fireman’s carry! Smith fights out and swings, but Aichner catches the arm. But Smith scoops Aichner for a sidewalk slam!
Tag to Carter and the two coordinate. Carter slingshots up and over for Smith to send back in, Silly String Splash! Cover, TWO! Carter drags Aichner up but Aichner knees low. Aichner whips but Carter uses that to hit Barthel! Carter dodges Aichner in the corner then dodges Barthel. Barthel eats buckles then eats a windmill kick! Carter tilt-o-whirl for a headscissors! Carter sends Barthel out and trips up Aichner, to then rewind wizard! Fans fire up as Carter jumps to the ropes, but Barthel trips him up! Fans boo but Barthel tags in. Barthel drags Carter up and throws him into buckles. Barthel talks trash and CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS and clubs and clubs and stomps Carter down! The ref backs Barthel off and the fans boo, but Barthel just shouts “NEIN!”
Barthel digs his boots into Carter at the ropes then drags him up. He uppercuts Carter hard to the Imperium corner then tags in Aichner. Aichner CHOPS Carter on his back! Aichner clubs and stomps away on Carter now, but the ref backs him off. Fans rally up for Carter as Barthel tags in. Imperium meets at the corner with dropkicks! Carter barely stays on the apron as Imperium poses on the ropes. Tag to Aichner and he drags Carter up. Aichner brings Carter around to club him on the back, and then combines a high wristlock with a chinlock. Fans rally up again and Carter fights his way up to throw body shots. Aichner and Carter start throwing forearms but Aichner then kicks low. Aichner tries to sucker punch Smith but Smith hits him first!
Carter forearms Aichner but Aichner kicks low. Aichner suplexes but Carter slips out! Hot tag to Smith! Smith rallies, dropkicks Barthel and throws hands on Aichner. Aichner shoves but Smith runs to LARIAT! Barthel gets in but Smith back drops him! Smith fireman’s carries Aichner for a Samoan Driver! Cover, TWO!! Smith keeps on Aichner with a scoop and pop, but Aichner slips out. Aichner shoves and elbows Smith, but Carter tags in. Smith BOOTS Aichner down! Carter gets a boost for a back drop 450! Cover, Barthel barely breaks it! Barthel throws Smith out but Carter ROCKS Barthel. Aichner LARIATS Carter and drags him up. Barthel hops up top but Smith shoves him down! Carter huricanranas and covers, TWO!! Aichner survives but fans are fired up!
Carter brings Aichner up but Aichner pushes him away to CHOP, kick and EuroUpper. Carter SUPERKICKS Aichner but Barthel tags in. Aichner SPINE BUSTERS Carter, then Barthel adds the PENALTY KICK! Smith returns but gets an uppercut! Barthel is up, Aichner lifts Carter, EUROPEAN BOMB!! Cover, Imperium wins!
Winner: Imperium, by pinfall
Barthel and Aichner are victorious again and climbing up the ranks. Will they find themselves competing for the NXT UK Tag Team Championships in the near future?
Gallus discusses contenders.
“The Hunt, Imperium, Grizzled Young Vets, Flash and Mark, we’ve beat them all.” Since day one, they’ve been saying NXT UK is their kingdom, and now they’re proving it. And in the 20-Man Battle Royal, Joe Coffey vows that 19 others are getting hucked and he goes after the big score again. They pay their belt boy for a job well done, and Joe shows three Kings. Will Gallus be the three kings of NXT UK this Spring?
Other superstars talk about the NXT UK 20-Man Battle Royal.
Moustache Mountain is ready to face the other 18 men, and each other. May the best man, or Big Strong Boy, win. Alexander Wolfe vows to win to secure the interests of Imperium so that the mat stays sacred. The #1 Contender’s Battle Royal to Walter’s NXT United Kingdom Championship happens next week!
Backstage interview with Carter & Smith.
A great match against Imperium but a hard loss. They’re working together well as a team, so how do they keep building on that? Smith says that the moment these two decided to be a team, they knew it wouldn’t be smooth sailing. But they’re serious about NXT UK having the best tag team division. But speaking of, Pretty Deadly walks over to mockingly applaud Carter & Smith. Sam Stoker and Lewis Howley get on Carter’s nerves, but Smith keeps him back. Pretty Deadly say they’re just joking around. Smith says not to worry about them, the 20-Man Battle Royal is coming. #AlwaysForward! But will Smith and Carter gain much ground in a stacked field?
Aoife Valkyrie VS Nina Samuels!
The force of nature has a lot of “buzz,” but the Rose Pink Devil doesn’t believe the hype. Will the spotlight still be on The Nina Samuels Show after her encounter with the decider of fate?
The bell rings and Nina circles with Aoife. They tie up, Aoife headlocks but Nina uses a handstand and handspring to slip out. Nina poses but she and Aoife tie up again. Aoife headlocks, Nina powers out but Aoife runs her over with a shoulder. Aoife headlocks and throws Nina with a takedown. Nina pushes back and headscissors free, but Aoife bridges back. Aoife handsprings and pops out, then poses in return. Nina headlocks and throws Aoife, but Aoife handsprings right out! Aoife wheelbarrows and victory rolls, cover, TWO! Nina trips Aoife and jackknifes, TWO as Aoife bridges up. The two spin around and Nina reaches out a foot. Nina gets the ropebreak and also blocks the backslide. But before Aoife can stand, Nina reaches back to claw her face!
Nina spins Aoife and drop toeholds her throat into ropes! Cover, TWO! Nina drags Aoife by her hair and slams her on the apron. Nina laces the legs and pulls on the death lock. Aoife endures as Nina also digs an elbow into her shoulders. Fans rally up but Nina goes for the Bow ‘n’ Arrow. She bends Aoife back, but Aoife pops out to cover, TWO! Aoife dodges a punch to fire off strikes then whip. Nina reverses, but Aoife goes up and onto Nina’s shoulders. Aoife spins to arm-drag and enziguri Nina! Fans fire up as Aoife runs, for a BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Nina survives but Aoife heads up top. Fans rally but then boo as Nina bails out. Aoife jumps down to run and WRECK Nina with a dropkick!
Aoife sits on the ropes as she strikes her valkyrie pose. She then goes out to fetch Nina and put her in the ring. Nina flounders her way to the apron and she roundhouses Aoife down! Nina slingshots for a corkscrew splash! Cover, TWO! Nina is shocked and upset, but she refocuses and drags Aoife up. Nina fireman’s carries but Aoife sunset flips! She can’t bring Nina down and Nina brings Aoife up to SLAP! Nina mocks the valkyrie stance and whips, but Aoife blocks and elbows back! Aoife wheelbarrows but Nina pushes her up and over. Aoife HEEL KICKS Nina down! Fans rally as Aoife ascends. Nina stands and Aoife leaps, FLYING AX KICK! Cover, Aoife wins!
Winner: Aoife Valkyrie, by pinfall
The Valkyrie has slain the leading lady with Peripeteia, the reversal of fortune! Will Aoife change the fortunes of the entire NXT UK Women’s Division, especially the champion?
Backstage interview with Piper Niven.
Last week, the Scottish Viper came to the rescue of Dani Luna, mostly because of what Kay Lee Ray was doing. Piper has vouched for Dani as being “big enough and strong enough” to not need anyone looking out for her. But what Dani doesn’t realize is how dangerous KLR can be. Piper has watched KLR destroy one friend already, so she won’t let KLR do that to anyone else. Next week, Piper teams with Dani against KLR and Jenny. When Piper finally gets after KLR, KLR will pay.
NXT UK hears from Flash Morgan Webster.
The Modfather has an update on Mark Andrews after the attack backstage last week. No one really knows the extent of the damage yet and Andrews is undergoing further testing. We all hope it isn’t as bad as it looks. But FMW vows to find the person who did this and make them pay! Andrews wants FMW to focus on the 20-Man Battle Royal, and that is what he will do for both Andrews and the Southwest Subculture. Is the culprit among the other 19 entrants?
A-Kid VS Noam Dar!
The Spanish Ace was minding his own business, and didn’t appreciate the Scottish Supernova butting in. Will AK make Mr. 11 butt out and back off for once in his life?
The bell rings and AK circles with Dar. They tie up as fans duel, and AK grabs at the kick. Dar gets away and respects the speed. They go again, Dar gets a waistlock and takedown but AK gets free. Dar and AK tie up with knuckle locks and go shoulder to shoulder. Dar rolls back and wrenches AK to the mat. Fans sing for Darth Dar but AK kips up and bridges around to headscissor! Fans cheer that but Dar bridges back. AK keeps on and cranks Dar’s head in the hold. Dar moves up and around to pop free and then tackle AK for a headlock. Dar adds a noogie! The ref reprimands but AK fights his way up. AK powers Dar to ropes and the ref calls for a break. AK lets up but Dar shoves. Dar avoids the kick and brushes off his shoulder.
Dar and AK circle and tie up again. AK rolls and then gets a leg to then get a headlock. Dar fights to keep his shoulders off the mat and then works his way around. They stand, AK wrenches and hooks Dar up for an Octopus! AK pulls an arm but Dar pops free. AK sunset flips but Dar stays up. Dar stomps but misses and AK kicks him in the back! AK trips Dar up, runs but Dar trips him up. Dar tries a rear mount but AK slips out the back to trip Dar up and float to a ghost pin! TWO and Dar baits AK into a backslide. TWO and Dar shoves. AK leaps over for a sunset flip, TWO! Another ghost pin, ONE! Dar has the half nelson cover, ONE! AK has the ghost, ONE!
Dar again, ONE! AK again, ONE! ONE, ONE, ONE, ONE, ONE, ONE, TWO!! AK almost had Dar but he cartwheels to avoid the Penalty Kick! Fans cheer this great exchange and even AK smiles. But Dar growls and scowls as he and AK circle. They tie up again, and Dar puts AK on the ropes. Dar lets off but cheap shot elbows AK to the apron! Dar drags AK up and has him on the ropes a la Orton, but just lets him go. AK catches himself with his hands! But Dar kicks him in the face! The ref reprimands Dar but Dar flexes. Dar walks over and AK kicks him in the leg! Dar is furious and he stomps AK over and over! The ref backs Dar off, and AK throws himself at Dar’s legs. Dar drops an elbow and then drags AK up for a EuroUpper! Cover, TWO!
Fans cheer but Dar circles AK like a shark. Dar drags AK around with an armlock and digs his knuckles into wherever he can. Fans rally up and AK fights up to throw body shots and forearms. Dar kicks a leg out but AK runs, goes up and over and arm-drags! AK kips up to dropkick Dar out! Fans fire up as AK builds speed to the corner, but Dar gets in. AK adjusts to leap! Into a FUJIWARA! AK endures being bent around, rolls through, and catches Dar’s punch into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Dar powers up but AK holds on. Dar pops the legs apart to get a kneebar! AK stands up and spins out to get the armbar! Dar reaches and rolls to get a cover, TWO! AK ROUNDHOUSES Dar!
Dar wobbles, AK fires up and grabs Dar’s shoulders, but Dar mule kick LOW BLOWS!! The ref completely misses that! Dar runs for the NOVA ROLLA!! Cover, Dar wins!!
Winner: Noam Dar, by pinfall
The Scottish Supernova is controversial as ever! The referee’s angle may have been what screwed A-Kid over but Dar still wants to brag on the mic. “Well then. An over the top rope 20-Man Battle Royal. Ooooh~! More like 19 Dafties, 1 Supernova 11 and YOUR next NXT UK Champion! No pinkie, no party. Thank you, b-b-b-b-b!” Dar heads out, ready to turn it up to 11 and tear the knob off. But will he be able to win that match without cheating?
More superstars talk about the NXT UK Battle Royal.
Dave Mastiff IS “the most powerful superstar in the Battle Royal.” There is no one who can throw a proper British heavyweight like him over the top rope. The Wrestling Genius, Kassius Ohno, in a ring with 19 “mongrels and heathens,” and you will see technique, skill and acumen propel Ohno to victory. Ilja Dragunov doesn’t just train hard, he prepares for war. His plan for the battle royal? “Just go in.” 19 other superstars will just go out, because Ilja will hit the ring like a lightning strike! Those other 19 are great superstars, but he is the only one who is UNBESIEGBAR!!
NXT Cruiserweight Championship: Jordan Devlin VS Travis Banks!
For the first time ever, this brand will have this title defended between two of its superstars! However, champion and challenger each other well. Will the Irish Ace Cruiserweight Championship Tour continue past Coventry? Or will it be cut short by the Kiwi Buzzsaw?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and this rivalry is renewed with gold!
Banks and Devlin circle and tie up. They break then tie up again. Banks wrangles Devlin to the mat but Devlin gets up. Devlin arm-drags but Banks headscissors, only for Devlin to pop out. Fans rally and duel as the two go again. Banks gets the arm but Devlin chinbars. Banks wrenches and gets a headlock takeover. Devlin headscissors out but Banks pops out and the two stand off. Fans cheer again as the two go again. Devlin wrenches and brings Banks down to stand on his head. Banks sits up but Devlin shifts to a hammerlock. Banks gets up, spins and arm-drags Devlin away, and Devlin backs off as his bad elbow jams. Devlin comes back from the corner but Banks blocks his kick. Banks trips Devlin and traps one leg to crank the other.
Devlin endures, gets free and headlocks Banks back. Banks spins and arm-drags Devlin off to get the armlock. Devlin fights up but Banks snapmares him down for the crucifix cover, TWO! La Magistrol, TWO! Devlin headlocks but Banks powers out. Banks table tops Devlin to then rolling clutch, TWO! Devlin avoids a stomp and a roundhouse and bails out. Fans cheer as Banks waits patiently. Devlin catches his breath as he paces the ring, but Banks drags him up to the apron! Devlin hotshots Banks back then rolls in to URENA- Banks reverses with an arm-drag! Banks clotheslines Devlin out of the ring then builds speed to DIVE! But Devlin sends Banks’s tope into the barriers! The ref checks on Banks but somehow he’s okay to continue.
Devlin leaves Banks behind and dusts his hands off. Fans are divided as Devlin swaggers about the ring. Devlin even does push-ups while he waits. Banks stands and Devlin fetches him into the ring. Devlin wrenches to an elevator backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Devlin keeps his cool and blows a kiss to the lovely ladies before he drives elbows into Banks’ head. Devlin drags Banks up and whips to kitchen sink knee Banks down! Fans still rally for Banks but Devlin drags him into a seated cobra twist. Banks endures and fans rally up again. Devlin digs his knuckles in but Banks fights his way up. Banks throws body shots but Devlin uppercuts. Devlin whips but runs into Banks’ boot. Devlin runs back in but Banks goes up and over to trip Devlin up. Banks runs, into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!!
Devlin catches his breath and stands on Banks’ head. The ref reprimands and Devlin lets up to bring down the knee pads. Devlin brings Banks up for a double knee smash! Devlin brings his knee pads back up and he drives elbows into Banks’ shoulders. Banks gets to a corner but Devlin digs his boots into Banks’ head. Devlin lets off at 4 and shouts, “I know the rules!” Banks CHOPS Devlin, and CHOPS, and CHOPS! And CHOPS! Devlin turns it around but Banks dodges the chop to CHOP again! Banks brings Devlin out but Devlin jawbreakers back! Devlin grabs Banks’ arm and gives toying kicks. The ref reprimands Devlin but Banks eggs Devlin on! Devlin kicks and kicks but Banks just takes them all!
Banks gets up to throw forearm after forearm! But Devlin hits the URENAGE! And standing moonsault, onto knees! Devlin goes to a corner and fans rally up. Banks runs side to side for a big forearm smash! Then the other way for another! Then corner to corner, but he knows Devlin follows! Banks sweeps the legs and Devlin crashes into buckles! Banks goes corner to corner to CANNONBALL! He drags Devlin up for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Devlin still lives but Banks has more to give. Fans rally up and Banks gives Devlin kicks of his own. Devlin manages to sit up but Banks keeps kicking. Devlin blocks a kick and throws Banks down by the leg. But Banks trips Devlin to then run and SHINING WIZARD! Banks spins to ROLLING ELBOW!
Devlin fires up but Banks BOOTS him out of the ring! Banks runs and DIVES, direct hit with the tope! Fans fire up with Banks while Devlin is wiped out at the ramp. Coventry chants for “NXT! NXT!” as Banks drags Devlin back into the ring. Banks goes up top and leaps, DUMDUM STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Devlin survives and Banks can’t believe it! Both men stir and fans rally up again. Banks runs to the corner, but Devlin gets under. Devlin bobs ‘n’ weaves and ROCKS Banks! He yanks Banks in but Banks sunset flips, TWO! Devlin sits on the cover, TWO! Banks has the sunset again but Devlin rolls through to jackknife! TWO as Banks bridges up! Banks spins but Devlin resists the backslide. Devlin HEEL KICKS Banks! Banks HEADBUTTS back! Devlin falling HEADBUTTS Banks!!
Both men are down and fans are thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” Devlin sits up first and grits his teeth. He drags Banks to a corner drop zone and heads up top. Banks gets up to trip Devlin up! Devlin is in the Tree of Woe and Banks heads up top! Banks digs his knuckles into the knees, then leaps for WOE STOMPS!! Cover, TWO!! Devlin still lives and Coventry hopes they “Fight Forever!” Banks heads to a corner again and goes back up top. But Devlin enziguris Banks down! Devlin JABS Banks for good measure before climbing up. But Banks fights Devlin off. Devlin hops down to the apron and sweeps the legs! Banks is stuck as Devlin slingshots for a CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Now Banks shocks Devlin by surviving!
Devlin heads back up top and MOONSAULTS, but has to roll through as Banks moves. Banks leaps and LARIATS! Then goes to the corner, SLICE OF HEAVEN! Banks reels Devlin in, but Devlin escapes the Kiwi Krusher to O’Conner Roll, EuroClutch, WITH ROPES!! Devlin wins!!
Winner: Jordan Devlin, by pinfall (still NXT Cruiserweight Champion)
The Irish Ace had something up his sleeve and he cheats Banks! Devlin’s Cruiserweight Championship Tour continues, but is his luck going to run out?
My Thoughts:
A really good episode for NXT UK, but sadly the word is that even TakeOver: Dublin has to be postponed. That news only came out today, but I’m sure there will be an adjustment in next week’s episode to account for that. But since the 20-Man Battle Royal was already recorded, I’m sure we’ll still get that match aired next week. That match is really more about who isn’t in it, as the NXT UK Roster still isn’t that big. And as far as who comes out of it to (eventually) challenge Walter, I can’t be sure. Finn Balor has made it seem like he didn’t stick around in the UK but he might be a surprise entrant and win it all. Surely the plan was for Dublin to have more than just Jordan Devlin to cheer for as a “hometown” hero.
Speaking of Irish superstars, Aoife VS Nina was a good match, and naturally Aoife wins. She still needs time to build up as a character, and perhaps there will be promo opportunities so we can understand more of that character and the personality. Piper had a good promo, and her match alongside Dani Luna against KLR and Jinny will be an interesting one. Jinny wants a new sidekick after Jazzy Gabert left, I wonder if Dani turns on Piper to fill that role. Dar VS A-Kid was really good, but Dar wins with controversy to keep AK strong. I don’t know if Dar lasts that long in the battle royal but I would love to see Devlin VS Dar for the Cruiserweight Championship just for great Obnoxious Heel VS Obnoxious Heel segments.
Imperium VS Carter & Smith was a good tag match but Imperium was definitely winning as the more experienced team. Pretty Deadly mocking Carter & Smith surely means that will be a tag feud going on, but I don’t see either team becoming contenders so soon. Gallus’ card looks pretty open unless Moustache Mountain reunites while neither is doing much else. FMW says he wants after the superstar who attacked Andrews, but I still think it might be The Hunt turning Heel. However, I would also hope it’s Eddie Dennis coming back around to his original promos about being bitter towards old friends, Andrews and Pete Dunne. Dennis might even become the leader of The Hunt, being he’s nicknamed the Welsh Dragon now.
Devlin VS Banks was great again but I’m a bit surprised they had Devlin win with controversy. I can see them wanting to keep Banks strong if they want him to eventually get some kind of title somewhere, but it doesn’t really help Devlin’s power rankings back. Devlin is apparently going to be in the 20-Man Battle Royal, but I don’t know if he’d win. If there was originally the plan for Balor VS Walter at TakeOver: Tampa, which is canceled to be used as material for NXT TV instead, I wonder… Was Balor going to beat Walter and take the NXT UK Championship to then have Irish Prince VS Irish Ace, title for title? Not likely, as that would be a lot even for a great wrestler like Balor. But maybe one day, we get proper crossover between the Cruiserweight Division and other titles.
My Score: 8.4/10
