Relive the highlights of NXT UK’s big first year!

To close out the year, NXT UK looks back on the best moments, matches and superstars of their huge run these last 12 months! Did your favorites make the highlight reel?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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PLAY BY PLAY

Tom Philips and Nigel McGuinness welcome us to the show!

Happy Holidays, Happy Boxing Day, and a Happy New Year while we’re at it. Nigel says it has been great to have Thomas with him after Victor (Vic Joseph) left to be part of Raw. And while Tom jumped in late, he has been honored to watch the brand that’s making waves. And above all, we must thank the NXT UK roster for showing they all belong in the WWE Universe.

“2019 was one for the books,” with debuts of both individuals and factions, and yet we’re still only getting started as TakeOver: Blackpool II is only two weeks away! January 12, 2020 will be one year to the day of NXT UK’s first ever TakeOver! All the titles will be on the line that night, as Joe Coffey challenges Walter for the WWE United Kingdom Championship, the NXT UK Tag Team Championships hang high overhead in a Fatal 4 Way Ladder match, and the NXT UK Women’s Championship is on the line in a Triple Threat! So much could change, who takes the gold in the first big event of the New Year?

Speaking of that first TakeOver: Blackpool, that was the night Rhea Ripley, the inaugural NXT UK Women’s Champion, defended her belt against the Lightning from Down Under, Toni Storm!

TakeOver: Blackpool I – NXT UK Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley VS Toni Storm!

Fans are strongly behind Toni’s side as they sing for her. Toni and Rhea slowly circle, then rush each other! Toni dodges and throws haymakers and clubbing forearms. Rhea gets loose but Toni is right back on her with forearms! Rhea shoves Toni again then flapjacks Toni! Now the two scrap on the mat! Rhea gets away but Toni gives chase. Rhea gets back in the ring and pushes Toni away. Toni keeps chasing her, then DIVES! Direct hit topples the champ! Toni stomps Rhea at the corner, then throws forearms. She chops Rhea then puts her back in the ring. Rhea gets Toni’s hair at the ropes, then kicks her back down. Toni staggers up but Rhea kicks her into the barriers! Flashbacks to their first match, but Toni’s back holds up.

Rhea puts Toni back in and bumps her off buckles. Fans duel as Rhea stomps a mudhole into Toni! Rhea drags Toni up to ram shoulders into her, but lets up at 4. Rhea checks her jaw, and she’s even angrier now. She stomps another mudhole into Toni but stops at 4. Rhea drags Toni to cover, TWO! Rhea drags Toni up as fans build to a rally. She puts on a body scissor and squeezes tight on Toni’s back. Toni sits up and pries at the hold, then pushes back for a cover. TWO and Rhea clubs Toni. Rhea grabs Toni’s hair and trash talks her. Toni pushes back again, TWO, and Rhea clubs Toni more. Toni turns around to throw forearms on Rhea! She breaks free but Rhea pushes her away. Rhea gives Toni clubbing forearms, then lifts in a stalling suplex! She drops Toni down, covers, TWO!

Rhea grows frustrated as fans rally up. Rhea drags Toni up for a scoop slam, then another. She’s clearly after the back, and covers, TWO! Rhea grins now, perhaps amused by Toni’s resilience. Rhea stands over Toni to put on the inverted cloverleaf, but Toni pushes her all the way to a post! Fans keep dueling as Toni runs in. Toni misses, and Rhea dropkicks her down! Cover, TWO! Toni narrowly escapes so Rhea kicks her in the back. Rhea grinds Toni’s face into the mat, then flips her over to drop the leg! And then another leg drop, cover, TWO! Rhea grows further frustrated as she picks Toni up again. Rhea tosses Toni then again! Toni keeps getting up so Rhea toys with her. Toni slaps Rhea so Rhea clubs and boots Toni. Rhea runs, but into Toni’s headbutt! Both women fall but fans are loving this!

A standing count begins as both women stir. The count passes 5 as they both sit up. Toni goes over to throw a forearm. Rhea hits back, and they stand up. Toni hits, Rhea hits, repeat. Then they pick up speed and the fans erupt for this! Toni and Rhea slow down, but then get a second wind! Toni gets the edge, and German Suplexes Rhea! She holds on, for another! Toni brings Rhea up again, but Rhea fights out with elbows. Rhea swings but runs into the underhook! She slips out to pump handle, but Toni makes it a crossbody! TWO! Toni can’t believe it, but she won’t slow down. She drags Rhea back up for another underhook, but Rhea back drops! Toni sunset flips, TWO! Rhea sits, TWO, sunset flip, TWO! Rhea grabs the legs, and lifts for the inverted cloverleaf! Toni endures as she hangs off the mat.

Fans rally as Toni claws her way over. Toni reaches but Rhea drags her away! So Toni rolls to get Rhea in an ankle lock! Rhea endures as she reaches, and gets the ropebreak. Toni lets go and Rhea gets in the corner. Toni runs in, big hip attack! And then that third German Suplex! Bridging cover, TWO! Toni is shocked but fans are loving this. Toni slaps Rhea around and then drags her back up. She brings Rhea up for furious forearms and palm strikes. She back kicks but Rhea throws her down by her hair. Rhea covers but Toni gets out before a count. Rhea pump handles, Riptide!! Cover, TWO!? Rhea cannot believe her best move failed!

Fans reach a fever pitch as Rhea drags Toni up again. Rhea reels Toni in for a big lariat, but brings her back up again. Rhea lariats again, but shows no mercy. She drags Toni up a third time, but Toni ducks and headbutts! Double underhook, STORM ZERO!! Cover, TWO!? Now Toni is the one shocked! Blackpool still loves it, and they duel again. Toni and Rhea slowly sit up but they’ve already given so much. Rhea and Toni lean on each other to stand, and Toni throws forearms! Rhea throws one back and rocks Toni. Pump handle, But Toni slips out to grab Rhea’s hair! Underhooks, STORM ZERO AGAIN! Cover, Toni storm wins!!

Winner: Toni Storm, by pinfall; NEW NXT UK Women’s Champion

Don’t call it a comeback, Toni’s been here for years! And finally, it’s #ToniTime!

The Storm took over, and knew she would be a target because of the #ShinyShiny. Toni speaks on the year she had. “2019 has been a massive year for me.” January, she became champion, and it changed her life. A lot of stuff has happened, which brings her back to Blackpool. She vows to win again and become two-time NXT UK Women’s Champion. However, she’ll have to do so against two former friends, one being the lethal lass that betrayed her over the summer.

Back in June, during the Download Festival, Kay Lee Ray won a Women’s Battle Royal to become #1 contender, and vowed to make everyone remember her name. She chose the time and the place to challenge Toni, and that would be NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff!

TakeOver: Cardiff – NXT UK Women’s Championship: Toni Storm VS Kay Lee Ray!

Toni rushes KLR but KLR bails out. KLR won’t let Toni do things her way, but Toni watches KLR closely as they go around the ring. Fans sing, “F her up, Toni, F her up!” but KLR stays away. KLR toys with Toni as she goes in only to slide out. So Toni DIVES to take KLR out! Toni and KLR scrap and club away. Toni throws furious forearms off on KLR as the ring count climbs. Then she throws KLR into barriers! Toni puts KLR in and drags KLR up for underhooks. KLR slips out to SLAP! Toni just fires off back! Toni has KLR in the corner but backs off when the ref counts. KLR boots but Toni whips her to DECK her! Toni kicks away on KLR now, being more vicious than she’s been since joining NXT UK. The ref backs Toni off and KLR gets to the apron.

KLR shoulders then kicks Toni down. KLR stomps Toni around but fans continue to cheer for Toni. KLR chokes Toni on the ropes but lets up at the ref’s count. Toni gets to a corner but KLR bumps her off buckles. KLR CHOPS Toni, and follows her as she staggers away. KLR snapmares Toni to a seated stretch and neck wrench. Fans rally and Toni fights, but KLR throws her down. KLR kicks Toni around then drags her up. KLR suplexes for a gourd buster! Cover, TWO! KLR grows upset already, but she keeps on Toni with SLAPS! Fans boo as KLR slaps Toni all around the head. Toni sobs, but then she bobs ‘n’ weaves to hit back! Toni turns that sadness into fury and she rains down hands!

KLR kicks but Toni yanks her into a waistlock. KLR fights out and springboards but Toni saw that coming. Toni gets under, SUPERKICK to clothesline! Waistlock, BIG German Suplex! Toni runs to LARIAT! Fans fire up with Toni as she drags KLR off the mat. Toni underhooks, but KLR drops down and hits the legs. KLR slips around to chicken wing, but Toni makes it a DESTROYER! Cover, TWO! KLR survives but this is definitely not as easy as KLR thought it would be. Toni stands up and fans fire up with her again. But KLR cradle counters, TWO! KLR kicks Toni but Toni headbutts back! Toni underhooks, STORM ZERO! Cover, TWO!? KLR survives Toni’s best move and she can’t believe it! Cardiff is stunned silent themselves for a moment.

Toni kicks KLR and stands back up. Toni drags KLR up but KLR shoves her away. KLR SUPERKICKS! Then SUPERKICKS! Then GORY BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Now Toni survives KLR’s best! KLR is furious, but Cardiff rallies back up for Toni. KLR hobbles back over and drags Toni up. KLR hoists Toni to the top rope and then SLAPS her. KLR climbs, clubs Toni on the back, then goes for those underhooks. Toni fights back, and now she has KLR in underhooks! But KLR resists and fights Toni into a back drop! But Toni lands on her feet, And gets KLR with a SUPER GERMAN! Cover, ROPEBREAK! Toni can’t believe she didn’t account for that.

Toni kicks KLR in frustration until she’s out of the ring. Then Toni DIVES! The Lightning strikes, but she’s not done with KLR! Toni puts KLR in but KLR knees her back out! KLR goes to the corner, climbs up, and LEAPS! The cannonball takes both women out, but KLR still gets up first. The fans cheer for “NXT! NXT!” as KLR puts Toni in. Toni staggers but headbutts back. KLR mule kicks then chicken wings, for a Gory Hotshot! Then another chicken wing, GORY BOMB! Cover, KLR WINS!

Winner: Kay Lee Ray, by pinfall; NEW NXT UK Women’s Champion

The fans are shocked, but it seems even KLR surprised herself! #ToniTime ends in Wales as the K L eRa begins.

But we mustn’t forget the third woman in this Triple Threat. Piper Niven made her NXT UK debut in March, and she immediately made an impact as she went after Rhea Ripley. Piper always felt she’d be famous for something, and that something turned out to be pro-wrestling. Her family is supportive but worried, and are proud of her no matter what. Piper went back and forth and even teamed with Rhea, and has the inaugural champion’s seal of approval. But in a battle of former friends turned fierce enemies, who comes out on top as THE NXT UK Women’s Champion?

TakeOver: Blackpool II is also the anniversary of another great story.

After not being able to settle their differences at the first TakeOver, Travis Banks made sure to get after Jordan Devlin the following months, culminating in a Falls Count Anywhere in February (though it didn’t air until March). The Kiwi Buzzsaw and the Irish Ace used that stipulation to the fullest, including a dangerous diving crossbody from the upper deck! Devlin would survive that dive bomb and go on to win, but Banks still set the bar for daredevil stunts.

NXT UK had a GRIZZLED Summer!

Zack Gibson and James Drake were the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions from TakeOver: Blackpool I, and reigned through the year into the Download Festival. Liverpool’s Number One and Mr. Mayhem were disgusted that they had to be near the mud and the muck, and the fans. The “locker room leaders” were also disgusted they had to defend their titles in front of the “sweaty goffs” in the crowd. The Download Festival was just a bunch of noise and nonsense, but GYV would retain their titles against Moustache Mountain the following episode. But let’s relive the match that started this tag team saga!

TakeOver: Blackpool I – NXT UK Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals: Mustache Mountain VS Grizzled Young Veterans!

The teams sort out as fans chant for the “Big Strong Boys!” Bate starts against Gibson at the bell and fans only get hotter. Gibson tunes the fans out as they boo him and sing for Bate. Bate grins as he and Gibson circle. They tie up and are even in power. Gibson gets a chinbar to bring Bate to the mat. Gibson goes after the wrist but Bate kips up. Bate tries to get Gibson down, but Gibson uses the wristlock to bring him back down. Gibson wrenches as fans boo. Bate kips up and gets the headscissor takedown. Fans say “If you hate Gibson, shoes off!”

Gibson pops out and has the wrist but Bate brings him back down into the headscissors. Bate squeezes but Gibson moves around. Gibson pops out and covers, TWO as Bate gets one shoulder up. Gibson tries the other, TWO. He tries both, but Bate bridges! Bate manages to power up and stand, but Gibson drives him back down. TWO with another bridge, and the Big Strong Boy rolls it up and over into a straitjacket! Gibson arm-drags Bate off but Bate lands on his feet! Fans applaud but Gibson talks strategy with Drake. Gibson and Bate tie up and go around. Bate gets the wristlock but Gibson powers him to the corner. Drake tags in but Bate gets away! Gibson backs off and Drake waits as Seven tags in. Mr. Mayhem and the artful dodger circle and fans sing “Trent Seven Army!”

Seven and Drake tie up and push each other around. Drake puts Seven on the ropes then turns him around for clubbing forearms. Drake wrenches and brings Seven over but Seven breaks free. Seven chops away on Drake! That third one knocks Drake off his feet! Cover, ONE, so Seven drags Drake over. Tag to Bate and Bate climbs. Wasteland slam to knee-board senton! Bate brings Drake up for European Uppercuts. Bate whips Drake but Gibson bails Drake out. Fans boo as GYV regroups. Drake runs in but Bop goes up. He won’t let Bang hit, so Bate baits him with a test of strength. Drake falls for it, so Bate goes up, over, around and under to roll Drake up. TWO, and a dropkick drops Drake!

Bate handsprings and brings Drake back over. Drake breaks free and gets a headlock. Bate powers out but Gibson tags in. Bate sees Gibson coming and huricanranas! Seven tags in and gets the hand-off. Gibson throws forearms and goes after Seven’s arm. Seven powers out but Gibson runs him over. Things speed up and Seven hits a crossbody! Cover, TWO! Seven goes right after Gibson’s arm! Fans rally but Gibson whips out. Gibson swings but Seven ducks to scoop. Gibson slips out and tags Drake. Seven CHOPS away on both Grizzled Young Veterans! Seven hip tosses Drake down, then gets him in a waistlock. Gibson tags back in as Seven rolls Drake. Seven rocks Gibson with a right, then DIVES onto Drake! Drake backs away as Seven pursues. Drake suckers Seven into Gibson’s throat chop!

Gibson drags Seven up and into the ring to ground ‘n’ pound. Fans boo but Gibson tags in Drake. The GYV stomp Seven down, then Drake throws hands. Seven crawls but can’t get the tag. Fans rally up but Drake gives Seven a backbreaker. Cover, TWO! Drake wraps on a half nelson and chinbar. Seven endures and feeds off the fans’ energy. Seven fights his way up but Drake wrangles him back down. Fans sing again and Seven stands. Drake throws him out hard then tags Gibson. Gibson drags Seven up, and GYV combine for the slingshot stomp backbreaker! Bate comes over to check on Seven but Gibson tells him to back off. Gibson puts Seven in the ring and drags him back over. Drake tags in and Gibson feeds Seven to Drake’s forearm! Cover, TWO! Seven continues to survive but his arm and back are problems.

Drake drags Seven up but Seven fights back. Drake puts Seven in the corner but Seven fights out! GYV mug Seven, but Seven throws Drake at Gibson! Seven scrambles but Drake drags him back. Gibson tags in and he stomps Seven out. Seven has blood from his head, that’s from Drake’s sharp elbow. Fans sing “If you hate Gibson, stand up~!” but Gibson suplexes Seven and floats to a cover. TWO, but Gibson is right on Seven with a cobra clutch. Seven endures and gets his second wind, but Drake tags in. Drake slingshots but Seven bumps Gibson into him. Drake goes down and Gibson lets go since he’s no longer legal. Gibson throws Seven out and Drake goes after him. But Seven CHOPS Drake back! Drake forearms, Seven CHOPS! They go back and forth, but there’s also the ring count.

Drake forearms and Seven chops again. Seven chops and chops then gets back in at 7! Drake scrambles after to stop Seven from tagging Bate! Gibson tags in and the GYV isolate Seven all over again. Gibson brings Seven up for a forearm, but Seven hits Drake and boots Gibson! Seven runs but Gibson catches him, Bate still tags in! Bate fires off with haymakers and keeps Gibson from running away! Drake comes in but Bate whips and back drops him! Gibson runs but into Bate’s knee! Bate hops up, flying uppercut! Fans fire up with Bate as he grabs Drake for the airplane spin! Around and around he goes, but then he throws him at Gibson. Bate then suplexes Drake onto Gibson’s shoulders, and then lifts them both! Bate does a double spin!

Drake slips off but Bate keeps spinning Gibson until he’s too dizzy. Bate goes at Gibson on the apron but Drake gets him first. But Bate brings Drake out to join him. They brawl on the apron, and Bate exploders Drake at Gibson! Bate kips up as fans reach a fever pitch, then shooting star tackles both Gibson and Drake! Bate puts Gibson in, double underhooks, but Gibson resists. Gibson back drops but Bate lands on his feet. Bop up, BANG hits! Seven tags in and scoops Gibson for a running powerslam! Bate adds a headbutt! Seven covers, TWO!! Mustache Mountain can’t believe their tribute to The British Bulldogs didn’t get it done! Bate DIVES onto Drake! Seven brings Gibson up, Burning Hammer!! Cover, but Drake breaks it just in time!

Fans rally up as Gibson and Seven crawl. Seven hammers Gibson but Gibson kicks Seven. Fans know “This is Awesome!” as Seven grabs Gibson’s foot. Gibson kicks Seven’s bad leg, hot tags to Drake and Bate! Drake tries to roll but Bate sits on it. ONE, Drake sunset flips, ONE, Bate high stacks, ONE! Drake sunset flips again, TWO! Rolling kick from Bate! Bate tags Seven again and Seven picks Drake up. Bate runs and rebounds, but Gibson hits a code breaker! Seven chops Gibson, but Gibson puts him in a corner, and Drake makes Seven #GritYourTeeth! Gibson hits Helter Skelter and Drake adds a 450!! Cover, TWO!? Gibson and Drake can’t believe it, but fans are thunderous! The Grizzled Young Veterans regroup, and Gibson tags back in.

Gibson drags Seven up and feeds him to Drake’s scoop. Seven slips out to throw Drake at Gibson. Seven chops everyone, but gets caught into the enziguri and Shankly Gates! Gibson hammers away and sinks it in deep! Seven endures but Bate is slowly returning. Drake intercepts with a facelock, but Bate powers up. Drake puts Bate in his own Shankly Gates! Mustache Mountain reach for each other as they endure the holds. Bate powers up again, to lift Drake and Death Valley Drive him onto Gibson!! All four men are down but the Empress Ballroom is all but exploding! They chant “UK! Woop Woop!” for “British Wrestling!” Both teams regroup, and tags to Bate and Drake. Bate fires off a strike fest! Bate gives some to Gibson! Drake hits a forearm, but Bate hits a DOUBLE rolling kick!

Seven’s back and tags in again. Mustache Mountain want it, Rebound Snap Dragon! Cover, TWO!?! Drake survives, but Mustache Mountain has one more thing to try. Seven drags Drake up as fans hope they “Fight Forever!” Gibson lurks, and anchors Bate! Seven lifts Drake but Drake slips out. Drake shoves Seven into Bate, and Bate’s in an electric chair. Seven Star Lariat misses, Drake DIVES to Doomsday Bate! Fans lose their minds over that one. Seven is furious, he DIVES but into Drake’s shotgun kick! Gibson drags Seven up and in, and GYV coordinate. Drake scoops, Ticket to MAYHEM!! Cover, Grizzled Young Veterans win!!

Winners: Grizzled Young Veterans, James Drake pinning; INAUGURAL NXT UK Tag Team Champions

Whether they were really “locker room leaders,” GYV would go on a run with these titles that truly set the bar for the NXT UK Tag Division. But standing tall with golden targets on their backs, Gibson and Drake would be hunted by Gallus’ Mark Coffey & Wolfgang, as well as the South Wales Subculture, Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster. Each team made their case and earned their way into this tag title match, and TakeOver: Cardiff would hold a Triple Threat Tag Team Championship match!

TakeOver: Cardiff – NXT UK Tag Team Championship Triple Threat: The Grizzled Young Veterans VS Gallus VS Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster!

Gibson tells Andrews to tune out the crowd and focus on him. Andrews is focused, even as fans taunt Gibson with song. The two tie up as fans take shoes off. Gibson wrenches one way then the other to arm-drag Andrews to the mat. Gibson gets both hands for a wristlock cover, TWO! Gibson powers Andrews back down, but Andrews bridges. Andrews monkey flips up to a sunset flip, TWO! Andrews wheelbarrows to arm-drag, but Gibson reverses right there! Gibson hammerlocks, wrenches and tags in Drake. Andrews gets free and arm-drags Drake once. Drake blocks, but gets the arm-drag on the other end. Andrews mule kicks then tags in the Modfather. SWSC double drag Drake, then hit a moonsault senton combo! FMW covers, ONE, but he keeps on Drake with a wrench and whip. He hits a forearm in the corner, tag to Andrews.

SWSC combine for a basement dropkick. Cover, TWO! Andrews keeps on Drake but Drake shoves him to the Gallus corner. Wolfgang tags in and goes after Drake while Coffey drags Andrews out! Wolfgang whips but Gibson saves Drake. Fans boo as Gibson has Wolfgang stay back. Everyone regroups and Drake returns to circle with Wolfgang. But then Drake tags out to FMW! FMW fires off on Gallus but Wolfgang hits back. Wolfgang shoves FMW but FMW comes back with a knee! FMW tilt-o-whirls to a sunset flip but Wolfgang sits on it. GYV shoves Wolfgang off and now all six men are in the ring! Fans are fired up as Coffey keeps Wolfgang calm. SWSC and GYV cool off, too, and Coffey tags in. Coffey waistlocks and slams FMW to then swing on Drake and Gibson! FMW comes back and huricanranas Coffey into GYV’s corner! Gibson tags in but FMW dropkicks him out!

Andrews hits Wolfgang, and Wales’ team has the ring! Andrews fakes out Coffey and Gibson, to then hop and boot Coffey! FMW comes around the corner, both he and Andrews wipe out Gibson and Coffey! FMW puts Gibson in and hits a moonsault! Cover, but Wolfgang breaks it. The ref reprimands Wolfgang but this is only proves to distract the ref. FMW hits Coffey but the GYV tag. Gibson and Drake work together, Mayhem in Motion! Gibson gives a stomp on the way out before Drake drags FMW up for haymakers. Drake rocks FMW out of the ring then tags back to Gibson. Gibson has FMW up, slingshot splash backbreaker combo! The Grizzled Young Veterans soak up the heat before putting FMW back in. Gibson scoop slams FMW hard then covers, TWO!

Gibson smothers FMW into a chinlock, and then shifts to a seated cobra clutch. Fans rally up for FMW as he fights up. But Drake tags in, and Gibson reels FMW out for Drake’s forearm! Drake stares down with Gallus while Cardiff calls him “Ass Face!” Drake scoops FMW up for another backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Drake drags FMW around to drive his knee in. Drake puts on another cobra clutch but FMW fights up as fans sing. Jawbreaker! Coffey tags in and Wolfgang drags Drake out! Coffey forearms then suplexes, but FMW escapes! FMW boost then enziguris! He crawls and shoves Mark away. Gibson tags in and throws Mark out. Gibson drags FMW away to throw EuroUppers. Wolfgang talks trash, and FMW goes up and over! Hot tag to Andrews! Andrews fires off on Gibson! Then on Drake! Gibson swings, misses, enziguri from Andrews! Andrews runs, victory rolls Gibson, but tornado DDT’s Drake! But Gallus wrecks everyone!

Wolfgang feeds Andrews but Andrews double PELES! SWSC FLIES onto Gallus! Then they get back in to FLY onto GYV! Cardiff is thunderous as Andrews puts Gibson in. FMW knee triggers Coffey away! Then he helps Andrews 450! Cover but Drake breaks it! Drake throws FMW out then stomps Andrews. But FMW returns to Rude Boy Block the GYV! Gallus returns and Coffey tags off Gibson. Drake gets a double attack but Andrews gets run over. Coffey full nelson slams FMW, then double CHOPS Andrews! Tag to Wolfgang and Gallus gang up on Andrews. Catapult fireman’s carry, Samoan Drop! Wolfgang covers, TWO! Andrews survives but Gallus is still on him. They feed Andrews to a scoop, but FMW FLIES in! FMW takes out Coffey then boots Wolfgang. Andrews runs but is caught, but pops up, knee-trigger POISON-RANA! Cover, TWO!! Toast to 3 AM didn’t do it, but Cardiff is still cheering their boys and “NXT! NXT!”

Andrews goes up while FMW DIVES to take out Drake! But Coffey is saving Wolfgang while Gibson trips up and tags off Andrews. But Coffey is right on Gibson with a trip and a right hand. Coffey climbs up after Andrews while Wolfgang brawls with Gibson. Andrews resists and fights back. Andrews headbutts Coffey onto Gibson! Then he LEAPS onto everyone with a SHOOTING STAR! Cardiff is thunderous again for that insane dive! Andrews revives and drags Gibson up. Andrews puts Gibson in, and Gibson flounders. Drake anchors Andrews and Gibson clotheslines Andrews down! Gibson brings Andrews up, suplex, STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE! FMW is up top, SWANTON!! Cover, TWO!! Gibson survives and shocks SWSC! But “WALES~! WALES~!” still echoes out.

Drake drags FMW out, Gibson has Andrews by the tights, TWO! Wheelbarrow, but into a corner, GRIT YOUR TEETH! The dropkick rocks Andrews and Drake goes up, Helter Skelter to a 450!! Cover, TWO!?! Cardiff is reaching a fever pitch for their hometown heroes! The Grizzled Young Veterans are shocked, but they have more to try. Drake returns to the corner to officially tag in. Gibson grabs Andrews and feeds him to Drake. Knee trigger stops Gibson! Drake rocks FMW, but a 2-for-1 headbutt takes the champs out! Those four men are down, but the two left are Gallus! Wolfgang sentons on FMW then feeds Drake to Coffey. Coffey tags before he CHOKE SLAMS Drake! Wolfgang wipes out Gibson then slingshot SPEARS Andrew! Gallus fires up, Coffey runs and Wolfgang TOSSES him onto everyone else! Wolfgang howls and even Cardiff has to admit that was great. Coffey puts Andrews in, feeds him to Wolfgang, pop-up, enziguri power slam!

FMW crawls in but is stomped down. Coffey covers, but FMW breaks free to break it! Cardiff is loving the heart but Gallus clobbers FMW down. They hit Gibson and Drake out but now a brawl breaks out. It’s a lot like NXT UK from Wednesday as the chaos ensues! Gibson, Drake, FMW and Andrews beat down Gallus! But Gallus explodes out! Catapult, DESTROYER!? FMW takes Coffey out! GYV wipe Wolfgang out with an Electric Chair DIVE! A tope suicida Doomsday!? Fans lose their minds over that one! “This is Awesome!” but far from over. SWSC and the Grizzled Young Veterans are the only two teams still standing. And the hometown heroes dare the champs to do something! Gibson and Drake slowly return as “WALES~! WALES~!” echoes out again.

Drake tags in off Coffey, and the GYV step through the ropes. They stand face to face with Andrews and FMW, and fans fire up! The brawl is on!! Gibson throws FMW out and Drake suplexes, DOUBLE STUN-DOG! FMW tags back in and Drake is down! FMW is up, 630!! Cover, but Gibson drags out the ref!! Gibson begs this not disqualify the match, but Andrews slingshots out! Gibson throat chops Andrews down! FMW clobbers Gibson, dodges Drake and hits a EuroUpper. But Gibson tags in, and Drake counters the tilt-o-whirl, throat chop, TICKET TO MAYHEM!! But they don’t cover yet, Drake has to DIVE and take out Gallus! But Andrews Falls to Pieces to take out Gibson! Andrews puts FMW on Gibson, CARDIFF WINS!!

Winners: South Wales Subculture, Webster pinning; NEW NXT UK Tag Team Champions

History has been made! The first ever Welsh champions in WWE history and it happens IN Wales!

But even SWSC couldn’t keep the titles forever, and Gallus has their gold! The tag team division would get more and more heated, and that leads us to the instant classic that will be this year’s Fatal 4 Way Ladder match! Andrews and Webster speak, saying they had an incredible 2019, with that tag title win being the number one highlight. It can’t be described how great it felt to win in their hometown. But they vow to become the first-ever two-time NXT UK Tag Team Champions in Blackpool!

2019 was literally huge for the Iron King and Bomber from Black Country!

Joe Coffey and Dave Mastiff went to war on the way to Cardiff. They fought strike for strike, throw for throw, and all the way to a double count out! This would then bring about a massive Last Man Standing at TakeOver: Cardiff. It would go Coffey’s way, but Mastiff speaks. “2019 was a massive year for me.” He threw hands with Coffey, and will be the first to say “he clubs with the best of them.” In 2020, Mastiff has goals to reach a proper British heavyweight on NXT UK!

Never bet against the Ace on Halloween.

Because even though Jordan Devlin was up against said Bomber, he was able to trump the bigger and stronger Dave Mastiff. Devlin was able to survive big move after big move, even going Into the Void! But it was thanks to an opportune moment when Mastiff was on the top rope that Devlin would pull off a SUPER Devlinside suplex! Devlin himself speaks on that amazing match. Devlin is proud of himself for a great match, and gives credit to Dave. But when it comes to the NXT UK MVP of 2019, “you can’t look any further than the Irish Ace.” He started the year at Blackpool I, “pushing Finn Balor to his limits,” and hasn’t looked back since. “This entire roster is in awe of me,” putting on the best matches of the year. Tyler Bate knows his time is over, so some advice before Blackpool II: put your money on the Irish Ace. 2020 will be the year of Devlin.

Another big star to join NXT UK is the Moscow Madman, Ilja Dragunov!

The raging Russian made a huge impression since debuting in May for his intensity and skill. But the Swiss Cyborg had been watching and wanted a fight in Wales. And he certainly got one from Dragunov! Cesaro would win out, but would also commend Dragunov for being the opponent he had hoped for, and for even going above expectations. “You saw that match, you know what he did.” Keep an eye on Dragunov, because Cesaro sure will.

NXT UK 10/24/19 – Trent Seven VS Noam Dar!

The first time these two faced off, the Man from Moustache Mountain was pushed into a rage by the Scottish Supernova’s taunting. Seven lost because he got disqualified, and Dar would keep rubbing it in. Dar taunts Seven even now by having the towel he stole around his neck, and the letters “RIP BSS” written on it in marker. Will Seven get back at Mr. Supernova 11 for everything he’s said and done up to date?

Seven wants to do his signature slow roll into the ring, but Dar dropkicks him out! Fans boo as Dar throws the towel and his jacket off. Dar goes out to throw Seven into steel steps! Fans boo harder but Dar drags Seven up to put on the apron for clubbing forearms! Dar uses the towel to tie Seven up to a post! The ref reprimands Dar, but Dark basement dropkicks the arm against the post! Seven slumps off the apron while Dar goes into the ring. Dar soaks up the heat while the ref checks on Seven. Seven gets up and throws off his jacket, too angry to let this rematch pass him by. The ref double checks but Seven says go, so the bell rings! Dar runs at Seven from the corner, into Seven’s LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Dar survives his own ego, and he eggs Seven on.

Seven goes after Dar with furious hands, but he lest up before the count. Dar runs in but into a hip toss! And then a scoop slam! Seven runs to drop the leg, brother! Cover, TWO!! Dar rolls away but Seven is back on his feet. Seven whips Dar but Dar holds ropes then side steps. But Seven knows about the table top and he stomps Dar down! Fans cheer as Seven loom over Dar. Seven torture racks Dar, but Dar rakes the eyes! Dar escapes to the apron, blocks the chop, and hotshots the bad arm! Fans boo but Dar gets in to take aim again. Dar runs in, but runs into an URENAGE! Seven has the fans firing up as he climbs to the top. But Dar sweeps the legs and Seven crashes to the mat! The ref wants Dar to stay back, but Dar refuses! Dar drags Seven up, fisherman suplex! Cover, TWO! Now Seven survives and frustrates Dar.

Dar stomps Seven down as fans boo and jeer. Seven refuses to let the ref end this, but Dar stomps him more. The ref backs Dar off, Dar says he knows how a five count works. Seven hits back but Dar snapmares Seven into ropes! Cover, TWO! Fans troll Dar with songs of Alicia Fox. Dar goes for legs, Seven kicks back, but he gets caught into an STF! Dar wants after the left arm! Dar shouts, “I love you, Pete!” as he goes after Seven’s fingers! Seven endures, so Dar lets up to stomp him out. Fans boo and jeer but Dar drags Seven back up. Seven throws big body shots back, and then uppercuts! Dar ducks to back suplex and crotch Seven on the ropes! Seven falls off and hits the apron on the way down! Fans rally up for Seven while Dar lets the ring count climbs. Seven gets to his feet at 4, and crawls in at 7. Dar dropkicks Seven in the head!

Dar drags Seven up and bumps him off buckles, then reels him in. “I love you, Tyler!” Dar goes to underhook but Seven falls down. Dar brings him back up, but Dar is no Big Strong Boy. Seven slips out to CHOP! And then back drop! And CHOP again! Fans fire up with Seven as he fakes Dar out. But Dar slips out the DDT to sweep the legs! Dar has the ankle lock! But Seven rolls to throw Dar off. Dar runs back in, into a Snap Dragon Suplex! Dar flounders around and out of the ring. Fans rally up, Seine runs and DIVES! The Lowpe blasts Dar into barriers! Seven gets up and puts Dar back in. Seven climbs up top again, but needs a moment. He gets his legs working, corkscrew senton FLOPS! Dar drags Seven up, underhooks and spins him around and around and around, but Seven scoop slams Dar first! Cover, TWO!!

Fans rally up for Seven again as he and Dar are both down. Seven rises and he looms over Dar. Seven clubs Dar before wrapping on the wristlock. Seven reels Dar out but Dar kicks the lariat away. So Seven SLAPS Dar! Seven winds up, but swings into a Complete Shot! Cover, TWO!! Dar has the ankle lock and grapevine! Seven gets the ropebreak, and Dar takes his time letting go. The ref has Dar back off, but Dar and Seven stay on the apron. Dar drags Seven up but Seven CHOPS! Dar boots and boots and boots, but Seven blocks the fourth! Seven fakes Dar out again, DDT to the apron!! Fans are loving this as Seven gets back in. Seven covers, TWO! Dar still lives but Seven shouts, “NO!” Seven grimaces as he clutches his bad leg. Seven fights through the pain and hobbles over to Dar. He drags Dar up and wristlocks, “This is for Tyler!”

Seven reels Dar out but Dar ducks the lariat. Dar wristlock ripcords Seven now! But Seven ducks to Snap German Suplex! And then he CHOPS back, to the SEVEN STAR LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!? Dar survives and Seven can’t believe it! But fans are loving “NXT! NXT!” for this one. Seven and Dar stir, and Seven gives Dar kicks from the mat. Dar dares Seven to bring it, and they start brawling on their knees. Seven throws a forearm, Dar gives it back. Dar taunts, “Let’s go, Strong Style!” Seven and Dar stand to throw more hands. Dar gets the edge, and pulls on the beard! But Seven pulls Dar’s hair to DECK him! Seven is seething, but misses at the ropes! Dar sweeps the legs and then climbs up top, double stomps to the knee!! But he runs into a SUPERKICK! SEVEN STAR- NO! Ankle lock and grapevine!!

Seven flails inside the Champagne Super Kneebar, but Dar stomps and kicks away! Seven shouts “NO!” and hammers Dar’s legs! Seven flails, reaches, grits his teeth and gets the ropebreak! Dar lets go at 4 but is frustrated that he hasn’t finished Seven yet. Fans are at a fever pitch as Dar goes back for the towel. Dar puts the towel around his shoulders to drag Seven up. Fans rally up for Seven as he rolls Dar up! TWO, but Dar BUZZSAWS! Cover, TWO!! Seven survives and shocks the Supernova! Fans have not stopped cheering and singing, but Dar drags Seven around. “All your crones have left you, old man!” Seven grabs Dar’s pinkie! Bop up, BANG! Finger SNAP! Torture rack, BURNING HAMMER!! Cover, Seven wins!!

Winner: Trent Seven, by pinfall

British Strong Style still lives through the silver-haired superman from Moustache Mountain! Seven gets even with Dar, and gets his towel back, as well, but is this just the beginning for a resurgence?

But even what led to TakeOver: Blackpool I was historic.

It was the first NXT UK of this year that brought us the culmination of Pete Dunne defending against Joe Coffey with their contract signing. The Iron King claimed he was going to claim his throne, but the Bruiserweight would counter with a snap of the fingers. Not his fingers, but Coffey’s fingers! And in the end, the contract was signed, and Coffey POWERBOMBED Dunne through the table! Dunne would not let that go unpunished, and he would win at TakeOver: Blackpool to retain the WWE United Kingdom Championship and continue his incredibly dominant reign. But that would also be the night WALTER made his NXT UK debut! Walter would leave his mark on Joe Coffey’s face, as Coffey has noted many times, but Walter would leave his mark on the roster with his in-ring debut at the end of January.

NXT UK 1/30/19 – Walter VS Jack Starz!

The Ring General finally gets some action in NXT UK, and it would seem Johnny Saint has found a lamb for the slaughter. Will Starz be able to stand after facing the almighty Austrian?

Fans sing along with Walter’s theme, the New World Symphony, and then chant his name at the bell. They also let Starz know, “Walter’s gonna kill~ you~!” Starz hits first and fast, but it does nothing to Walter. Starz chops Walter, but then Walter CHOPS Starz! Fans love that! Walter stalks Starz on the outside to then club him down hard! Walter gives Starz a back suplex on the apron! Starz writhes as fans sing again.

Walter puts Starz back in and dares Starz to put up a fight. Walter toys with Starz, who already has a red chest. Starz flails and staggers, but he does throw hands. His forearm is loud but Watler doesn’t flinch. Walter knees Starz hard, then whips him to ropes. Starz slides but gets caught and put in a corner. Starz elbows and dropkicks Walter, but Walter dropkicks Starz! Walter drags Starz up as fans fire up. Walter Bomb! Cover, Walter wins!

Winner: Walter, by pinfall

The Ring General has his first victory in NXT UK, and he made it look easy. Perhaps it was too easy. Will Walter dominate all the way to the throne of the Bruiserweight?

The Walter Chop is scary and unsettling for Tom, but imagine what it is to take one? Nigel wants Tom to see if he can take even a single chop. Tom doesn’t want to, but Nigel doesn’t give him much of a choice!

Imperium has invaded!

Walter has become the indomitable leader of a fierce faction motivated by their philosophy that “the mat is sacred!” And in their rise to power, The Ring General was next up to go after the Bruiseweight, and it culminated at WrestleMania Weekend, as part of TakeOver: New York!

NXT TakeOver: New York – WWE United Kingdom Championships: Pete Dunne VS WALTER!

Walter and Dunne stare down as fans cheer. They slowly start circling as fans cheer for the “UK! UK!” Dunne and Walter tie up, and Walter puts Dunne on the ropes. Walter lets up on the count of 4, then backs off to let Dunne return. They circle again and tie up. Dunne drops to go for a leg but Walter sprawls and catches him! Walter has Dunne in a modified crab but Dunne barrels through. Dunne has a toehold and he stands on a hand of Walter. Walter uses the free leg to push Dunne away, then gets in Dunne’s face to show he’s not afraid. Dunne doesn’t back down, and he circles with Walter. They tie up again and Dunne gets fingers but Walter gets the chin. Dunne bends the fingers while Walter pulls Dunne’s head.

Walter shoves Dunne off but Dunne avoids that infamous chop! Dunne shrugs as he and Walter circle again. They tie up and Walter throws Dunne! Walter eggs Dunne on but Dunne keeps his cool. They tie up but Walter throws Dunne again, then is on him immediately! Dunne narrowly avoids that chop again! Fans duel as Walter and Dunne tie up once more. Walter wrenches Dunne’s arm to a one-arm suplex and slam! Walter keeps on Dunne with a mounted armlock. Dunne pries his way out then nips up to a ropebreak. Walter lets up but Dunne forearms him back! Walter CHOPS Dunne off his feet! Now Dunne knows what that feels like. Walter toys with Dunne then drags him up for another CHOP! Fans fire up from the echo as Walter looms over Dunne again.

Walter rams his knees in but Dunne resists the cover. Walter floats over to a headlock, but Dunne works his way up. Dunne powers out of the hold and things speed up. Dunne manages to hurdle Walter, but the clothesline does nothing! Walter hurdles and BOOTS Dunne! Walter drags Dunne up and puts him on the top rope for a CHOP! Then he climbs up to stand on Dunne! The ref counts but Walter lets up at 1 and Dunne tumbles down. Walter fetches Dunne up for a back suplex onto the apron! Fans duel as Walter fires himself up. Walter returns to the ring and Dunne kicks back, but it doesn’t do enough. Walter stomps Dunne then goes after his foot with a toehold. Fans rally as Dunne endures.

Dunne pulls at Walter’s fingers while avoiding the cover. Dunne drop toeholds into a kneebar with heel hook! Walter endures and CHOPS, but Dunne holds onto the hold. Dunne kicks but Walter CHOPS him off! Walter brings Dunne around for a Boston Crab! And he sits in deep! Dunne endures and powers up to crawl for ropes. Ropebreak and Walter legs to. Dunne gets to the apron but Walter is on for clubbing forearms. Walter stands Dunne up for another, but Dunne catches the arm! Dunne has the fingers, bends them around, but Walter breaks free to BOOT Dunne down! Dunne falls to the floor while Walter checks his hand. Walter waits for Dunne as he crawls back in. Dunne gets in but gets knees from Walter. Walter grinds his boot in but backs off at 4. Dunne grits his teeth even as Walter kicks him against the ropes.

Walter dares Dunne to stand and Dunne does. Walter forearms but Dunne explodes with strikes! Dunne whips but Walter reverses, Dunne goes up and over to enziguri! Dunne waistlocks but Walter standing switches and German Suplexes! But Dunne lands on his feet to buzzsaw Walter! Walter bails out but Dunne goes to the apron, for a MOONSAULT! Direct hit take Walter out! Both men are down and a ring count begins. The count reaches 5 before Walter stands and gets in. Dunne stands at 8 and takes to the top rope. Walter intercepts him with throat chops! Walter climbs up to join Dunne, but Dunne holds on. Dunne grabs the fingers! He bends Walter’s arm around, then sunset flips! Dunne somehow gets Walter for a walking powerbomb! Cover, TWO!!

Walter rolls out of the ring but Dunne is also down. Dunne drags himself back to the corner, climbs back up and leaps for DOUBLE STOMPS! Walter writhes and screams from the damage done to his chest! The ring count begins again and reaches 4 before Dunne stands. Dunne puts dead weight Walter in at 5. Dunne runs in but Walter dodges. Walter sees Dunne going up and over and shotgun dropkicks him down! Walter drags Dunne up for a sleeper hold! Dunne grabs ropes but Walter CHOPS him on the back! Then German Suplex! Then WALTER BOMB! High stack cover, TWO!! Dunne survives and Walter is in disbelief. Dunne grits his teeth as he glares at Walter from the mat. Walter drags Dunne back up and clubs him on the back.

Walter stands Dunne up for another CHOP! He stands Dunne up again but Dunne SLAPS Walter! Walter CHOPS Dunne then stomps him out! Dunne somehow sits back up but Walter prepares another. Walter aims but it’s Dunne who chops and jabs back! Walter still CHOPS back and stuns Dunne. He drags Dunne up once more, but Dunne has the fingers! Walter and Dunne end up in a test of strength. Dunne bridges but Walter STOMPS! Walter lifts but Dunne slips out of the bomb to enziguri! Both men are down but Brooklyn is fired up! Fans continue to duel while both men slowly stir. Dunne stands on Walter’s hands, and stomps! Then buzzsaws! Then Dunne climbs up top, but Walter chop blocks a leg out! Walter climbs up behind Dunne, and waistlocks. Dunne holds on for dear life but Walter goes for a sleeper.

Dunne smacks Walter’s hands on the post! Walter clubs Dunne back and drags Dunne up, SUPER SLEEPER SUPLEX!! Cover, TWO!? Dunne survives but Walter keeps his focus. Walter stalks Dunne to the ropes, but Dunne catches the chop! Dunne SNAPS the fingers! Then SNAPS the other fingers! Walter runs but into a rebound German! Dunne keeps going, rolling crucifix! Cover, TWO!! Walter survives now and rolls away. Dunne stalks Walter while fans duel. Dunne drags Walter up for Danielson stomps! But Walter kicks back all the same! Dunne stomps Walter back! Walter reels Dunne into a sleeper! Dunne rolls through to give more stomps, then rolls Walter into a finger-bending Rings of Saturn! Walter endures as Dunne traps both arms and pulls the fingers past their limits! But Walter turns and gets the ropebreak with his long legs! Dunne lets go, because he’s also exhausted.

Walter gets under the ropes while Dunne crawls after him. Dunne climbs up high and drags Walter up to join him. Walter SLAPS Dunne back, then CLUBS Dunne right off the top! Dunne tumbles into a drop zone, and Walter climbs?! Walter leaps, but into a triangle!! Walter flails as Dunne struggles to put it on. Dunne ends up on top, and he wants the fingers, but Walter blocks and chops back! Walter stands to stomp Dunne out again! Walter goes back to Dunne but Dunne gets those fingers. But Walter stomps Dunne more. Dunne keeps those fingers in his grip, and stands up. Dunne ducks a boot, pump handles, but Walter CLOTHESLINES his way out of the Bitter End! Walter runs but into Dunne’s clotheslines! Dunne pump handles, BITTER END!! Cover, TWO?!? Walter survives Dunne’s best move?!

Dunne is beside himself but he glares at Walter as they both slowly stand up. Fans duel again as Dunne and Walter stare down from opposite ends. Dunne and Walter approach, and the brawl is on! Dunne forearms but Walter CHOPS, and repeat! Walter eggs Dunne on and Dunne gives it. Walter continues to give CHOPS but Dunne continues to forearm back. Dunne eggs Walter on now and things pick up speed! Dunne fires off palm strikes and haymakers! The ref has to back Dunne off, Walter BOOTS him! Dunne looks out cold but Walter doesn’t cover?! Walter climbs up top?! Dunne’s back and SNAPS the fingers again! Dunne climbs up but Walter resists. Walter blocks the triangle takedown, to CHOP away! Walter lifts Dunne back up, SUPER WALTER BOMB!! Fans are losing their minds for that one! Walter leaps, WALTER SPLASH!! Cover, Walter wins!!

Winner: WALTER, by pinfall; NEW WWE United Kingdom Champion

The Bruiserweight’s reign finally ends! And the new reign is that of the Ring General!

Imperium would make this reign a reign of terror, and they would brutalize Dunne’s British Strong Style compatriots in Moustache Mountain. Alexander Wolfe would shock the world when he appeared in NXT UK and joined their forces, making them even stronger and more menacing than before! But the Big Strong Boy would not stand by as Walter imposed his will, and that led us to the epic encounter in Cardiff!

NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff – WWE United Kingdom Championship: WALTER VS Tyler Bate!

Bate and Walter stare down as fans sing for Bate. Walter and Bate circle and feel out the grapple. They tie up and Walter powers Bate to the ropes. Then he swings a big hand, but Bate gets clear! Bate kicks then backs off. Fans chant for “Big Strong Boy!” as he circles with Walter more. They approach and lock up, but Bate rolls back to get the wristlock. Walter grabs Bate’s head but Bate gets to ropes. Bate gets free to kick at the leg more. The singing gets stronger as Bate and Walter tie up again. The two go shoulder to shoulder in a test of strength. But Walter brings the wristlocks up to lean on Bate. Fans still cheer and Bate bridges as Walter pushes him back. Cover, ONE! Walter drops on Bate, TWO as Bate bridges again! Walter struggles to keep Bate down as the cheering continues!

Walter backs Bate up but Bate turns things around to have Walter on the ropes. Bate gives Walter an elbow grind before backing off. Fans want Bate to “F him up, Tyler, F him up!” But Walter gets Bate and throws a forearm! But Bate gives big hands back! Bate kicks the leg but Walter headlocks to a takeover! Fans rally as Bate endures the grind. Walter cranks back but Bate fights his way up to his feet. Fans sing to troll Walter but Walter throws Bate down again. Walter cranks Bate’s head more, but Bate fights back up. Bate endures more grinding as he crotch lifts Walter! Walter fights that off but Bate throws body shots. Bate powers out but gets run over! Walter has Bate up fast, but Bate slips out of the bomb! Walter back drops out of the driver but Bate lands on his feet. Bate rams his shoulder in, then runs. Walter hurdles Bate, but Bate scoops Walter! To slam him down!

Bate rams his shoulder in and Walter is on the outside! Cardiff is thunderous while Walter is reeling! Bate strikes a pose, brother! Walter gathers himself before getting back in. Bate dropkicks Walter a few times, but Walter swats the last one away. Walter scoops but Bate holds on! Walter rams Bate into buckles, then scoops him up. But Bate slips out to huricanrana Walter out! Bate runs and DIVES! But Walter catches him, pops him off and CHOPS him with those monstrous hands! And then apron WALTER BOMBS Bate! Flashbacks to the Download Festival! Walter leaves Bate for dead while he rests in the ring. A ring count begins and climbs to 5, but Bate is up. Bate climbs in but Walter BOOTS him back out! Walter follows after but Bate throws hands. Walter swats Bate then throws him into barriers. Walter runs in to BOOT Bate almost over! Walter has Bate again, POST BOMB! Bate is wrecked all over again and Walter wants to leave him behind.

The referee checks on Bate but Walter cares more about the count. A medic checks on Bate as fans rally up. Bate says he doesn’t want to lose like this, and fans cheer him on. Bate rises to his feet and this match continues. Fans say “F you, Walter!” as the ring count begins. Bate stands at 5, but has to drag himself in at 7. Bate kicks from the mat but Walter just stomps him back. Walter kicks Bate around but fans rally and sing again. Walter drags Bate up for another scoop slam. The fans still sing as Walter kicks Bate hard in the back. Fans now boo and jeer, but Walter just ignores them as he drags Bate up. Bate can’t stand but he does kick from the mat. Walter stomps Bate more, egging Bate on. Walter drags Bate up and Bate throws body shots! Bate throws hands but Walter kicks him back down. Walter drags Bate up and clamps his hands on for a neck wrench. Bate endures but fans rally again.

Bate feeds off the energy, even as Walter thrashes Bate around. Walter smothers Bate with his weight but fans give Bate the strength to stand, only for Walter to kick him back down! Walter looms over Bate as fans sing both ways. Walter sits Bate up for clubbing forearms, and then wraps on a sleeper hold! Bate endures and gets to the ropes! But Walter breaks the break, only for Bate to get behind him! Bate clobbers Walter with a big left hand! Bate tries to fireman’s carry, but that bad back gives out! Walter falls on top of Bate and clubs away! Then Walter puts on a massive crossface hold! Fans rally yet again and Bate gets the ropebreak! Walter just puts Bate on the ropes to stretch him out and club his chest! And again, and again!

Bate flops out of the ring and to the floor, but Walter just waits in the ring. Fans boo Walter while Bate hears the count. The count passes 5 as Bate forces himself up. Bate stands at 7 and drags himself in just before 8. But Walter is right on him, stretching those arms out and stepping on Bate’s back! The fans cheer for “Big Strong Boy!” and Bate sits up. Walter grinds his knee in now, but Bate keeps standing up. Bate works against the stretch, but Walter headbutts him down to stop the turn. Bate keeps trying, and the fans are still with him. He goes to turn the hold again, and has it, only for Walter to turn it back. So Bate flips and kicks Walter away! But Walter comes back to fall on Bate! Cover, TWO! Bate still lives and it annoys Walter. Walter watches Bate sit up just to boot him back down. Walter drags Bate up for a CHOP! Bate crawls to a corner but Walter looms over him.

Walter drags Bate up to CHOP him down again! Bate still glares defiantly, so Walter stomps Bate in the corner. Walter eggs Bate on, so Bate CHOPS back! Walter still wants more so Bate CHOPS him again! But Walter CLUBS Bate down, then drags him up to ram him into buckles! Walter has Bate on the top rope and he CLUBS Bate! Walter climbs up to stand on Bate! Bate flops out to the apron and Walter goes out to join him. Walter grabs Bate and brings him up. He brings him in, but Bate holds ropes to save his life! Walter clubs Bate but fans chant again. Walter stands Bate up for forearms. Bate catches Walter, for an EXPLODER off the apron! Fans lose their minds as both men crash down! A new ring counts as both men start stirring. Bate is up first, and he goes after Walter again.

Bate rams Walter into the barriers, then the apron. He puts Walter in at 7, then drops on Walter’s back! And then again, and again! Bate headbutts Walter from the mat, then drags him up again. Bate throws EuroUppers, and fans fire up with him. Bate runs into the corner with an uppercut, and keeps Walter there. Walter blocks the whip to reverse it. But Bate boots and knees back. Bate hops up, to leap into a CHOP! Walter puts on a Boston Crab on Bate’s bad back! Bate endures as Walter sits deep, and powers his way up! But Walter puts a knee into Bate’s neck, then shifts to a crossface! Bate endures all this stretching and pulling, and still manages to crawl for ropes. Walter elbows Bate down, then makes the hold a Chancery! Bate still fights, slips out and gets the ropebreak! Walter lets go in frustration, but Bate keeps kicking from the mat.

Walter stands and looms over Bate. Walter stands Bate up to CHOP him down again. Fans have not given up on Bate, even as Walter circles Bate. Walter drags Bate up and goes to suplex, but Bate resists. Bate somehow holds Walter off, and the two start throwing body shots. Bate tries to suplex Walter, but that’s so much to lift! Walter spins out to CHOP Bate again! Walter suplexes Bate but Bate knees free. Bate tries again, and gets Walter up and over! Fans are on their feet for the Big Strong Boy’s big strong heart! The singing begins again and Bate stands. Walter follows but Bate is on him with hands. Bate EuroUppers and Walter staggers about. Bate runs, clotheslines, but Walter stays up! Bate tries again, still not enough. A third time, not yet! Bate tries a fourth, but gets rocked! Only to come back with the rolling kick!

Bate waistlocks, but Walter swings an elbow, only to end up in another EXPLODER! Bate somehow kips up!? And hits a standing shooting star! Cover, TWO!! Walter survives and Bate cannot believe it. “This is Awesome!” but far from over. Bate drags Walter up and wants the underhooks! But Walter resists, spins out and gives a EuroUpper. Bate gives one back, then turns Walter’s retaliation into a backslide! That he just flips over to underhooks! But Walter back drops out to deny the driver. Walter runs in, Bate goes up and over, but Walter dropkicks Bate in the back! Bate rebounds off buckles, into Walter’s powerbomb lift, only to make it a DESTROYER!! Cover, TWO!?! Walter almost lost for the first time in NXT UK! Fans cheer for “NXT! NXT!” again as Bate crawls his way to the apron.

Bate heads for a corner as fans declare “This is Wrestling!” Bate slowly climbs while Walter is still down. Bate reaches the top but Walter crawls to the apron. Fans boo but Bate just adjusts and stares down with Walter. They brawl, and Bate clubs Walter. Walter throws body shots and climbs up. Bate clubs him back, and sees where they are. Fans anticipate what’s coming, but Walter does, too. Walter fights and clubs back, then gets back to the apron. Walter CHOPS Bate off the top rope! Bate is in the drop zone and now Walter climbs up top. But Bate jumps up to headbutt! Bate fires up with the fans as he climbs up again. But Walter goes to chop, only for Bate to shout out the Bruiserweight! SNAP goes the fingers! SUPER EXPLODER!! Bate crawls to the cover, TWO!?! Walter still lives and Cardiff can’t believe it! Both men are down but fans are singing for Bate.

Walter sits up but Bate follows. Bate throws hands from the mat, showing that boxing training. Walter kicks Bate over but Bate kicks back. Walter CHOPS Bate, but Bate kicks a leg out! Bate tweaks the ankle, but Walter still stands. Walter throws a BIG forearm and Bate falls. But Bate is up again to throw hands! Walter CHOPS Bate, but Bate still rises! Bate throws more hands but takes another CHOP! How is Bate getting up again!? Walter doesn’t care, he welcomes Bate rising again. Walter CHOPS, but Bate grits hits teeth. Walter CHOPS and CHOPS, but Bate dodges. Walter sees through Bop to CHOP! But he still gets BANG! But then Walter falls on Bate’s body! It’s not a pin but Walter looks out cold! Bate gets free, and both men are down again.

Fans give another rally, and Bate feels his chest stinging. Bate and Walter can barely move, but they refuse to stop. Walter slaps Bate down but Bate kicks Walter. Walter forearms down but Bate drops a short elbow. Walter clubs, Bate CHOPS, and fans are still singing. The two men find the power to stand but Walter gives sumo palm strike! Bate fires off kicks on the leg, then dodges to rebound, into Walter’s Exploder! Cover, TWO!! Walter has had enough of Bate, powerbomb lift but scorpion kick! Bate tries, and somehow fireman’s carries Walter, for the AIRPLANE SPIN! They go around and around, but Walter grabs ropes to stop it. Walter climbs off but Bate kicks the legs! Bate has Walter stuck and just clubs away. Bate then brings Walter out on a torture rack, for a shout out to Trent Seven, with that BURNING HAMMER!! But Bate can’t cover, he’s too exhausted!

Bate crawls but Walter crawls to retreat! The fans hope they “Fight Forever!” at this point. Walter flounders about on the outside until he just topples over. Walter gets up again but so does Bate. Fans rally as Bate kicks Walter down! Bate runs, DIVES, and topples Walter over again! Bate staggers back into the ring and tries once more, and FLIES! Another direct hit, and Bate puts Walter back in. Walter is crawling and Bate is on him. Bate waistlocks, and dead lifts Walter for a German Suplex!! Bridging cover, TWO!! Bate won’t stop to wonder how Walter survives, he underhooks. But Walter back drops to a cover, TWO!? Underhooks, TYLER DRIVER ’97!!! TWO!?! No one knows what to make of this! Bate hurries up top, leaps, corkscrew senton! Cover, TWO?!? “This is Awesome” all over again, but what will it take to finish it?

Bate just forces himself to sit up while Walter stirs. The wrist tape comes off, and Bate wants Walter to stand. Bate starts throwing those hands! He has Walter reeling again, and in a corner. The referee reprimands Bate but Bate just fires off! The ref backs Bate off, Walter SLAPS and CHOPS and BOOTS! And into a sleeper hold with body scissors! Walter even rolls onto Bate’s back to smother him. But Bate again shows his Herculean heart as he stands up with Walter on his back! For a BACKPACK SENTON! But Walter rises like the dead to wrap back on! Bate is caught by the Austrian anaconda, but fights back up again. Cardiff gives Bate everything they have, and Bate uses the ropes to climb up, only for Walter to shove him out. Walter drags Bate up to club away, then put on a sleeper! But Bate drags Walter over with him!

Walter still has Bate in the hold, but Bate elbows free. Walter CHOPS Bate on the back! Sleeper Suplex to the apron!! The referee checks but Walter drags Bate in as fans lose their minds once again. Walter climbs up, LEAPING SPLASH! Cover, TWO!?!?!? This is insane! Walter sleeper holds, another suplex! Cover, TWO!! Walter just SLAPS Bate around, then hits the WALTER BOMB! High stack, ONE?!?! Just what is Tyler Bate?! Walter is in utter shock as Bate drags himself up, but then he CHOPS Bate again. Fans are going to lose their voices cheering for Bate. Walter runs to Clothesline from Hell! Cover, Walter wins!

Winner: WALTER, by pinfall; still WWE United Kingdom Champion

Walter has the toughest match in his NXT UK career, in this title’s history, and perhaps all of WWE 2019! And still, he reigns atop the UK brand. If Bate couldn’t dethrone him after all this, will anyone ever end the reign of the Ring General?

Joe Coffey vows to. “We saw Tyler Bate go up against Walter in a potential Match of the Year candidate.” It was phenomenal for sure, and Walter retained. But now, Walter faces “a totally different challenge.” When Coffey grabbed that title, he could see it in Walter’s eye that he feared losing hold of it. In Blackpool, “it’s gonna be a very, very different story.” Coffey will write his own legacy. A lot of people left TakeOver: Blackpool I with a nice little souvenir, but Coffey left with a bitter taste in his mouth. This year, Coffey vows to give Walter a souvenir in a mark on his face like what Walter left on his. And then Coffey leaves with the best souvenir of all: the WWE UK Championship. That will finally prove that this is Gallus’ kingdom! A career-defining match will start 2020, but whose career rises to new levels?

But 2020 starts off with an extreme main event!

To cash in on the deal made between Gallus and Imperium, Ilja Dragunov must face Alexander Wolfe in a No Disqualifications match! Will the Moscow “mercenary” survive the Ax Man? Or is this only going to be a sign of what’s to come in Blackpool?

My Thoughts:

I should preface that NXT UK did not air all these matches in their entirety. But since I’ve literally watched all the matches shown tonight, I figured we should go ahead and have the entire thing here for our readers! You’re welcome. But even with some matches in full, others in part, great choices all around. All the original material was great, such as the promos from the superstars. Also, I figured many of the Cardiff matches would be referenced because of just how big that event was. Probably still the best singular event all year just for coming out of nowhere, and I can’t wait to see how amazing Blackpool II will be since they made sure it would be on the exact same date as last year for a true anniversary.

My Score: 8/10