The NXT UK Tag Team Champions have their first defense!

The NXT UK Tag Team Champions are Pretty Deadly, but that could all change! Who will be carrying the titles beyond the Prelude?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Aoife Valkyrie VS Stevie Turner; Valkyrie wins.
• Teoman VS Josh Morrell; Teoman wins.
• NXT UK Tag Team Championships: Pretty Deadly VS Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan; Pretty Deadly wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Aoife Valkyrie VS Stevie Turner!

With the Scary Queen of Scots still reigning over the Women’s Division, the race to be the next contender is still on! Will a refocused Valkyrie launch herself into the stratosphere? Or will the “four dimensional” Turner use Aoife as a shortcut to the top?

The bell rings, Turner and Valkyrie slowly circle as the BT Sports Studio rallies up. They tie up, Valkyrie headlocks, and holds tight as Turner tries to power out. Turner powers out on the third try, but Valkyrie goes up and around in the corner, then ducks under to get the headlock back. Turner powers out but Valkyrie whips, only for Turner to arm-drag and drag Valkyrie to a headlock! Valkyrie endures the grind now, but fights up and pries free. Valkyrie and Turner fight with the top wristlock. Turner bends Valkyrie but Valkyrie bridges, so Turner sweeps the legs! Cover, TWO as Valkyrie kips up. Turner arm-drags Valkyrie over and has the cording hold!

Valkyrie fights up but Turner whips her away. Valkyrie goes up and over and hurdles to dropkick! Turner sits up and Valkyrie stomps her! Valkyrie kicks Turner to ropes, grabs at her but the ref has her back off. Turner gets a leg, trips Valkyrie and kicks away! Valkyrie rolls but can’t get away and Turner kicks more. Valkyrie gets to a corner but Turner runs in to EuroUpper her down! Turner YANKS Valkyrie for a slam, covers, TWO! Turner keeps on the legs and SMASHES the knee into the mat! Valkyrie hobbles to another corner but BOOTS with the good leg! Valkyrie goes up and over and cartwheels to then duck and go up, RYDER KICK! Cover, TWO!

Valkyrie grows frustrated but she back kicks, ax kicks and enziguris! High stack, TWO! Turner is hanging tough but Valkyrie keeps focused. Valkyrie headbutts low, CLUBS Turner then whips, but Turner goes up and over and BACKSTABBERS! Cover, TWO! Valkyrie is still in this and Turner grows frustrated. Turner scuffs Valkyrie and toys with her but that upsets Valkyrie. Valkyrie stands, blocks a kick and glares at Turner as she fires off windmill haymakers! HEEL KICK! Valkyrie goes up top, aims at Turner, PERIPETEIA!! Cover, Valkyrie wins!

Winner: Aoife Valkyrie, by pinfall

Unfortunately for Turner, Valkyrie’s still undefeated! Will this help the young Warrior Princess become a contender?

NXT UK hears from A-Kid.

He recounts how things have been for him since winning the Heritage Cup Championship. He was doing interviews all over, and especially with shows from his home country of Spain. At 15 years old, he only ever wanted to get out of school and go watch Angel Martin Gomez presented. And so, to know Angel was watching A-Kid and the Heritage Cup, with the entire country watching along, he knows he is a role model to a new generation of A-Kids. He loves connecting with the people, and is excited to represent Spain in the WWE. He is beyond excited for Prelude, Dar VS Bate, and seeing who becomes his next challenger.

Piper Niven meets Jack Starz at the UK Performance Center.

She’s surprised he’s already here, she was showing up early. Well he was setting stuff up. As she can see, their set-up is special. Sledgehammer, sleds, ropes, cones, squats, presses, dumbbells- Jack, slow down! Piper gets Starz wants to be the best, so well done, he’s the best at exercising. There’s more to wrestling than working out. Look at Piper? She’s not Ms. Olympia, but can she beat the living daylights out of anyone, even the boys? Yep! So trust her, for one hour, switch the brain off and follow her lead.

See this bag? Show it what you can do! Unleash the rage inside on it! Starz suplexes, slams, hammers and rams the bag all over the ring! Elbow drops and stomps, body slams and more! That’s what Piper likes! And Starz says it did feel good. Will Starz & Pipes unleash their beast modes on the roster of NXT UK?

Teoman VS Josh Morrell!

The Evil Eye is staring down #TurboTerry and is looking to run right through him! Will Teoman continue to make NXT UK admire, respect and FEAR him?

The bell rings and Teoman ties up with Morrell. Teoman wrenches the arm, drags Morrell down, grinds the shoulder, but Morrell gets up. Teoman YANKS the arm, wrenches again, Morrell rolls and handsprings but Teoman trips him up! Teoman grinds the arm, stands on it, and stomps it! Teoman drags Morrell up, wrenches again, but Morrell spins and handsprings through to then go up and around but Teoman slips out the back. Morrell runs, Teoman follows but Morrell snapmares him for a dropkick! Morrell gets Teoman with a facelock, puts him in a corner, but the ref counts the break. Morrell lets off at 4, Teoman grabs hair, but lets off so he can SLAP Morrell!

Teoman talks trash but Morrell ROCKS him with a right! Teoman hits back, Morrell dodges and ducks, Teoman hurdles and drops to sweep the legs then basement dropkick! Teoman scowls and he stomps Morrell’s leg! Teoman gets the leg, stands on it then stomps it again! Morrell writhes, Teoman paces like a shark, then drags Morrell up to talk trash. Morrell ROCKS Teoman, Teoman ROCKS Morrell but Morrell swings back. Teoman body shots, runs corner to corner to SLIDING FOREARM! Morrell might be out! Teoman grins as he gets back up and circles around Morrell. Morrell props himself up but Teoman drags him up to a neck wrench!

Morrell endures but Teoman punches him in the shoulder! Teoman leans on the neck wrench, Morrell fights up and throws body shots back! Teoman kicks low, whips but Morrell reverses, only for Teoman to handspring back elbow! Cover, TWO! Teoman gets annoyed with Morrell and he stomps him down again! Teoman continues to pace, talk trash, and dares Morrell to show him something. Morrell fires more body shots, forearms, and elbows! Morrell whips, Teoman comes back to DECK him! Teoman drags Morrell up, fires more forearms, but Morrell gives them back! They go ack and forth, Morrell DECKS Teoman!

Morrell whips, Teoman reverses but Morrell goes up and corkscrews over to then hip toss! Cover, TWO! Teoman CHOPS Morrell, and seethes as Morrell sputters for air. Teoman scoops but Morrell slips out to body scissor and O’Conner Roll, TWO! Morrell comes back, Teoman ducks the kick, STANDING MOONSAULT onto knees! Teoman whips, Morrell reverses but Teoman comes back with a dropkick to the legs! Teoman hurries to a corner, goes up top, leaps and missile dropkicks Morrell in the back! Teoman DOUBLE STOMPS Morrell on the back! And then DOUBLE STOMPS him in the chest! CROSSFACE!! Morrell taps, Teoman wins!

Winner: Teoman, by submission

Turbo Terry was not fast enough to outrun Teoman’s fury! Will Teoman soon have his Evil Eye on a prize in NXT UK?

Sid Scala presides over a tense sit-down.

Walter sits with Rampage Brown, the NXT UK Championship between them. Next week’s NXT UK, The Prelude, will have a battle between these two, should Walter make it through TakeOver: Stand & Deliver’s match with Tommaso Ciampa. Scala asks questions of champion and challenger. First, to Walter: Does Walter see himself as THE greatest NXT UK Champion ever? We can answer that for him. Is he not the longest reigning NXT UK Champion in history? Yes, he is. Isn’t he the longest reigning current champion, and of the modern era? Yes, he is. Then doesn’t that make him the greatest NXT UK Champion ever? Walter says it does.

Scala asks Rampage how he has prepared for this match. “Like I prepare for every match. This has been my job for 20 years.” Rampage doesn’t take a job lightly, doesn’t take wrestling lightly, and doesn’t take Walter lightly. Scala should be asking if Walter is ready for Rampage. Walter chuckles at how Rampage calls this “a job.” Do you know what this is for Walter/ His life. Every time he gets in the ring, he restarts the honor of this sport. He’s driven by completely different things than everyone else. Then does Walter respect Rampage? No. Why? Because he’s like everyone else. Oh? Rampage says the first time Walter came to the UK, Rampage beat him. Does he remember that?

Yes, Walter does remember. But you see, back then, Rampage was the guy to beat. What’s Rampage done since then? Walter’s traveled the world. Rampage doesn’t need Walter to tell him that because Rampage has been watching. But the thing was, before Walter came along and did it, Rampage did it first. Walter was waiting for Rampage to show up in NXT UK. And then he was waiting for Rampage to step up to him. Because then Walter could show Rampage that he’s just like everyone else. Just like everyone else Walter bullies? No, just like everyone who rides Walter’s coattails. Oh is that what this is for Rampage? He’ll bully Rampage, brush him off as nothing special? Walter’s full of himself.

But Walter defends that he is the most selfless person here! What Walter does is not in the ring for himself. He’s in the ring for the SPORT! Rampage will never understand, which is why Walter will never respect him, and why Rampage will never understand what it means to be champion! Well, we’ll see. Will the Prelude have two titans colliding for the top spot in all of NXT UK?

NXT UK checks in with Gallus.

Mark Coffey asks who they’ve got. This big lad right here. Alright, alright. 500 on Wolfie in under a minute. They’ll take that bet. Mark goes to get Joe and Wolfgang, and says it’s sorted. How’s Joe’s arm? Doing good now, getting better. Wolfgang asks, “How long?” Mark tells him to put the guy out immediately. They head out while Joe works on his punches. Wolfgang jumps into the street fight ring, has his dukes up, ducks one to DECK the guy then hammers away! Mark says that’s it! Joe says that’s it! Left right, left right, good night! Gallus Boys On Top! Will this trio have an even sharper edge when they return to NXT UK?

Kay Lee Ray heads to the ring!

The longest reigning NXT UK Women’s Champion, and longest reigning Women’s Champion period in the modern era, gets a mic. “I asked for the best in the world, and NXT UK delivered. Not only did they get me the best female wrestler, they got me one of the best wrestlers in the world, full stop. And not only did I go toe-to-toe, but I beat the legendary Meiko Satomura!” And everyone’s thinking, “This is it!” This was the moment she was going to lose her title. But clearly, she can now tell you, you were wrong! KLR is STILL NXT UK Woman’s Champion! The FOREVER Champion! And get used to this because she will forever- Wait, Emilia McKenzie is interrupting?

Well, long time, no see! It has been awhile since McKenzie was last here. But she’s been traveling, training and waiting for the perfect time to return. Now, she’s back, because she wants to beat the best! Sometime very soon, their paths are going to cross. KLR says she doesn’t see any reason why their paths can’t cross right now! KLR goes out to meet her at the ramp, but ISLA DAWN attacks McKenzie!! Isla puts her in the ring, stomps McKenzie down, and KLR smiles as she watches all this happen. Isla drags McKenzie up, and sets McKenzie up, but here comes MEIKO SATOMURA! The Final Boss fires off on KLR! KLR shoves her away, Isla runs over but Meiko fights her off!

Meiko and McKenzie turn things around on KLR and Isla! Meiko ROUNDHOUSES KLR out, McKenzie fires off on Isla! Isla swings but into McKenzie’s GERMAN SUPLEX! Meiko and McKenzie stick together, but what an alliance between the Scary Queen of Scots and the Wicked Witch of Scotland! Will this be a battle unlike anything NXT UK’s seen before?

NXT UK profiles Prelude’s Heritage Cup Championship Contender’s Match!

Tyler Bate will not be a doormat for Noam Dar. Bate wishes Dar well outside of the ring. Because in the ring, Dar is just in Bate’s way. Dar says he’s all fun and games, until he’s not. It was once said, “Be like water.” And Bate will be a tidal wave, so Dar better have a lifeboat. Dar says he needs this, deserves this, has earned this, and will get this. Bate better stay sharp, because one misstep, he’s done. Dar is feeling dangerous, but Bate is still the Big Strong Boy! Who wins in the Prelude to head for a showdown with A-Kid?

Kay Lee Ray speaks with Isla Dawn backstage.

KLR isn’t sure who McKenzie thinks she is. Isla’s been here the whole time, so why is McKenzie trying to jump the line? NXT UK Media asks what just happened out there, but KLR says she was trying to cut a promo and- Sid Scala runs over with a message from Johnny Saint! KLR & Isla will be facing Meiko & McKenzie in a tag team match next week! Some times, KLR really doesn’t like Sid. KLR heads out, Isla gives a lingering yet concerning smile before following after. Will someone in that match be earning a title shot?

NXT UK Tag Team Championships: Pretty Deadly VS Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan!

Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley finally have their first title defense in their young championship reign, but will it be their last? Will the Lucky Yin keep his promise to the Bhangra Badboy and do this the right way? Or will Williams’ inner Chancer take over?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if the champions are as good as they look!

The teams sort out, Jordan and Howley start. They circle, tie up, and Howley shoves Jordan away. Howley dares Jordan to step up, they tie up again, and Howley wrenches the arm to yank it! Tag to Stoker, Jordan gets free but everyone stands off as Howley exits. Jordan ties up with Stoker, and Stoker headlocks. Jordan powers out, Stoker runs him over and he also dares Jordan to step up! Jordan and Stoker approach, Stoker kicks low then whips Jordan to a corner. Stoker bumps Jordan off buckles, clubs him on the back, and whips him the other way. Jordan goes up and over and dropkicks! And dropkicks again!

Stoker uppercuts but into a backslide! TWO, Jordan has Stoker cornered but he bails out of the ring to go around the way. Stoker slides in, tags Howley, and Williams tags in off Jordan. Williams and Howley circle, tie up, and break. They go again, Howley puts Williams in a corner, but lets off to shove Williams! Williams shoves back, headlocks, but Howley pries free to wrench the arm and YANK it! Howley grinds the arm, Williams fights up, rolls and chinbars. Williams hooks a leg, too, but Howley powers to a wristlock. Howley wrangles Williams to twist the wrist. Howley brings Williams up, wrenches again, but Williams steps through and rolls to get a leg for a takedown!

Williams stands on Howley’s head while twisting the foot! Howley endures, keeps his shoulders up but Williams drops an elbow on the leg! Howley endures, Stoker starts to distract, and Howley fights up to get a headlock. Williams powers out, but Howley runs him over! Things speed up, Howley denies the hurdle but Williams keeps moving, only to run into a hip toss! Howley brings Williams up, tags Stoker, and Pretty Deadly double wrench to WRING Williams out! Cover, TWO! Stoker cranks the arm, Williams endures, fights free, but Stoker scoops! Williams slips off, shoves and arm-drags Stoker down! Stoker fights up, Williams wrenches and tags Jordan.

Jordan CLUBS the arm, wrenches again, grinds the arm and JAMS it! Stoker gets to ropes, Jordan is after him anyway, and tags in Williams. Williams springboards to ax handle the arm! Williams wrenches the arm, grinds Stoker down and goes after the shoulder. Stoker fights up, Williams tags Jordan, and Jordan kicks the arm! Jordan wrenches but Stoker ROCKS Jordan! Bump off buckles, tag to Howley and Pretty Deadly double back suplex! Jordan lands on his feet to double dropkick! Jordan elbows Howley down, whips Stoker away, and Williams gets a cheap shot in! Jordan clotheslines Howley out, Williams springboards to uppercut Stoker out!

The challengers dare the champions to do something, but things cool off a second. The ref starts a ring count, Stoker and Howley talk it out and understand their advantage is size and strength. Howley slides in, he and Jordan tie up. Howley powers Jordan back, whips him, but Jordan dodges and leaps to crossbody! Jordan hurries but Howley shoves him. Howley ROCKS Jordan, EuroUppers, but Jordan ducks the haymaker! Stoker tags in before the atomic drop hits! Howley leads Jordan on a goose chase, Stoker is waiting and he CLOBBERS Jordan around the way! Stoker drags Jordan up, puts him in, covers, TWO!

Stoker keeps on Jordan with a rain of right hands, but he lets off to bring Jordan up with a facelock. Stoker cranks the grovit but Jordan throws body shots. Stoker ROCKS Jordan with that EuroUpper! Tag to Howley, Pretty Deadly mug Jordan and Howley brings Jordan around for EuroUppers Jordan hits back, Howley ROCKS him, tag to Stoker. Pretty Deadly double whip, then double shoulder Jordan down! “Yes Boy!” They both run, SPLASH LEG DROP COMBO! Cover, TWO! Williams was there, too, Howley protests, but Stoker grinds Jordan down with a headlock. Stoker leans on Jordan, Jordan endures, but Stoker drives an elbow in!

Stoker wraps Jordan up again, grinds him, but Jordan fights up and fights back. Stoker clubs Jordan, whips him, but Jordan stops himself to hit a NECKBREAKER! Tag to Howley, he’s after Jordan but Jordan counter punches! Jordan backs Howley down this way, Howley trips Jordan up and stomps him down! Howley has the legs, catapults him but Jordan lands on the ropes! Jordan mule kicks Howley away! Howley exaggerates his pain to distract the ref, and Stoker trips Jordan up! Williams protests, Howley puts Jordan in the corner and Howley fires off jab after jab! The ref counts, Howley lets off and tags Stoker. Stoker scowls as he stomps Jordan down!

Tag back to Howley, Pretty Deadly talks trash and mugs Jordan. Howley scoops Jordan to SLAM him down! Howley jumps but Jordan avoids the knee drop and gets out! And then ROCKS him with an uppercut! Stoker tags in, Jordan avoids him, goes around the way, but Howley intercepts with a tackle! Stoker gets in, Howley drags Jordan back, but Jordan crawls under both of them! Hot tag to Williams! Williams rallies with uppercuts on Pretty Deadly! Williams stomps away on Stoker at the ropes, the ref counts and Williams lets off to then fire off body shots and uppercuts! Williams uses the corner for the FLYING BULLDOG! Howley gets in, Williams springboards to back elbow BOTH Pretty Deadly!

BT Sports Studio fires up with Williams as he WRECKS Howley with a dropkick! Williams skins the cat to DIVE onto Stoker! Williams puts Stoker in, climbs up top, and leaps for a crossbody! But Stoker catches it, pops Williams up, but Williams RANAS through! Cover, Howley breaks it in time!! Jordan gets in but Howley puts him out. Howley runs in but Jordan dumps him down! Williams drags Stoker up, Jordan hurries back, they tag! Williams & Jordan whip, Stoker drops to kangaroo kick them! Tag to Howley, Pretty Deadly CRISSCROSS, the #CrossingSwords! Cover, TWO!! Jordan lives and Howley grows frustrated. Howley aims, swings but misses, EDGE-O-MATIC!

Williams tags in and wheelbarrows for the FACEBUSTER! Jordan SWANTON BOMBS! Stoker runs at Williams but is sent out! Williams tilt-o-whirls to DDT Howley! Cover, TWO!?! Howley lives and the challengers can’t believe it! Jordan tells Williams to keep going, they’re so close! Williams is a bit frustrated but he agrees. Williams brings Howley up, but Howley jawbreakers back! Howley brings Williams over, tags in Stoker. Williams ROCKS Howley, tags Jordan, but Stoker runs over there! Jordan avoids the uppercut, shoulders into Howley, and slingshots to go up and over, but runs into Stoker’s DDT! Williams returns but Stoker ROCKS him!

Williams rewinds, Howley anticipate and shoves Stoker out of the way, but into the ref! Williams hits Howley with the LARIAT! But now EVERYONE is down!! Williams sees that, and smirks. Williams brings out the Chancer and gets the title belts! Williams sets one in a corner and tosses the other to Jordan! Jordan doesn’t want to do it like this! Williams says Pretty Deadly would do it to them! Jordan says no, they have to do it right! Fine, Williams will do it himself. Jordan argues with Williams, “We don’t need to cheat!” They don’t need to use the belts to win the belts!

Williams throws the belt away, Jordan drags Stoker up, but Williams gets the other, to HIT JORDAN?!?  And from the look on his face, Williams didn’t do that by mistake, either! Williams drops that belt, Stoker tags Howley, and watches Jordan get SPILT MILK! Cover, Pretty Deadly wins!

Winners: Pretty Deadly, by pinfall (still NXT UK Tag Team Champions)

Stoker & Howley survive because Williams stopped caring! The champions are still Pretty Deadly, but will they survive past their second defense? As for Jordan and Williams, will the Bhangra Badboy get half a chance to get even with The Chancer?

My Thoughts:

A very good episode right here as the go-home to the Prelude special during WrestleMania Week. Seeing Valkyrie again was good, as well as seeing another new addition to the Women’s Division. Naturally, Valkyrie keeps going undefeated, as she still needs the build to become a strong contender down the line. We also get a return with Emilia McKenzie, who was also just getting going a couple years ago. I don’t see the point of jumping McKenzie to this point, but it does work enough to bring Isla Dawn around. Isla teaming with KLR is an interesting twist, as I expected more of Isla as a spooky anti-hero Face taking on KLR, but maybe now she’s fully Heel.

We got a good face-to-face of Rampage VS Walter, but I feel like since these episodes were filmed before the last couple of weeks, they didn’t account for NXT USA wanting to set up Walter VS Ciampa for Stand & Deliver Night One, the day before Prelude. It is a telltale sign Walter is winning against Ciampa, and is making it very likely that he is winning against Rampage. Those two matches will both be great stuff, but still Walter’s to win. We got good promo segments for Gallus with the gritty street fighting and Piper getting Starz to train with his heart, not his head. A-Kid had a good video to help us see how it is for him being champion, and it’s better than nothing from him. We also got a good, very short promo from Dar and Bate for their match.

Teoman had a good second match but NXT UK likes giving their jobbers some shine. Morrell continues to do really great moves even in losing, it’s going to be big when/if he finally gets a win. The tag title main event had what I expected, in that Williams wanted to cheat but Jordan didn’t. I thought it was going to cost him and then someone gets rolled up for the loss and Williams snaps. Instead, we got the surprise of Williams snaps during and he screws Jordan over! That was a good twist, we’re still getting the feud that was building all year, and Pretty Deadly will continue on to face some other Face teams like SWSC and eventually the returning Gallus.

My Score: 8.2/10