Will A-Kid make history again?

The Spanish Sensation made history by being the first-ever NXT UK Heritage Cup Champion. Can he make history again by being the first TWO-TIME Heritage Cup Champion?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Pretty Deadly VS Sam Gradwell & ???; Pretty Deadly wins.
• Isla Dawn VS Emilia McKenzie; Dawn wins.
• NXT UK Heritage Cup Championship: Noam Dar w/ Sha Samuels VS A-Kid; Time Limit Draw, Dar retains the NXT UK Heritage Cup.

PLAY BY PLAY

Pretty Deadly VS Sam Gradwell & ???

Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley didn’t appreciate being snubbed from the NXT UK Tag Team Contender’s series, but they also didn’t appreciate the Thunderstorm calling them names. They’re looking to get back at him, and whoever Gradwell managed to find for a tag partner. Did Gradwell get someone to team with him? Or will he end up in a Pretty Deadly handicap match?

Before the match, NXT UK shares Gradwell’s journey to finding a tag partner. He surprised Nathan Frazer during a workout, asks the pizza guy, the drive-thru attendant, A-Kid while he’s in the restroom, and even tweeted at Stone Cold Steve Austin! And Elon Musk! And Paul McCartney! Gradwell says Pretty Deadly think he has no friends, and Frazer says they might be on to something. As for A-Kid, he reminded Gradwell that he has a match for Thursday, the Heritage Cup match. Frazer reminded Gradwell that he claimed there were more cows than people on the Jersey Islands, Frazer’s hometown. Frazer at least wished Gradwell luck on the search.

A-Kid brought up how Gradwell insulted Spain and Gradwell says that could’ve been anyone. Gradwell tried asking a coach and got an arm-drag for his troubles. But then it struck him: Finlay! Finlay loves to fight, right? But then Kenny Williams laughed at Gradwell, saying, “That is preposterous!” Gradwell replied with, “You wot, mate?” and Kenny got up to repeat it, “That was preposterous.” The lights are preposterous, the camera crew is preposterous,  and Gradwell himself is a buffoon! Gradwell grabs Kenny by the ear and tells him not to forget where a little cockroach sits on the food chain! But then, just who is Gradwell’s partner?

Gradwell is waiting at gorilla and wonders where his partner is. Oh here he comes! Right on time! Saxon Huxley is Gradwell’s partner?! “You can count on Saxon!” Will the raving mad Divine Beast of the Astral Plane help the Thunderstorm crush the former tag team champions?

The teams sort out and Gradwell starts with Howley. They stare down, tie up, and then break. Gradwell smirks as he and Howley circle again. They tie up and break again, and Gradwell still smirks. They go again, Howley turns Gradwell around to CLUB him in the back. Gradwell comes back to headlock, Howley powers out but Gradwell runs him over! Howley scrambles back to his corner, Stoker tags in, Howley gets Gradwell’s leg and Stoker runs him over! “No one likes you, Sam!” Stoker brings Gradwell up for EuroUppers, whips him corner to corner hard, then throws forearms. Stoker whips corner to corner, Gradwell reverses and Stoker tumbles up, back and into a forearm!

Gradwell has Stoker by the ear! Gradwell CLUBS the ear, scoops and SLAMS Stoker, then tags Huxley! Fans fire up as Huxley corners Stoker, keeps him from getting away, but then Stoker gets around to CHOP and CHOP and forearm. Stoker avoids the boot, headlocks and punches, but Huxley powers out. Things speed up and Huxley runs Stoker over! Huxley stomps around, knees Stoker t ropes, then whips him for another knee. Huxley whips to scoop for a BACKBREAKER! Huxley runs, steps on Stoker, keeps running, and keeps running, to drop a big elbow! Huxley keeps moving and he CROSSBODIES Stoker against ropes! Cover, Howley breaks it!

Howley tags in, he RAMS into Huxley and fires off hands! Howley whips, Huxley reverses and SPLASHES in the corner! Then a whip the other way, but Howley elbows back! Only to run into a THESZ PRESS! Huxley runs, but Stoker saves Howley from the crossbody! Howley drags Huxley up to POST him! Howley stomps away on Huxley, drags him up and RAMS him into the corner. Tag to Stoker, and Howley holds Huxley in for Stoker’s flying uppercut! Stoker stomps away, fans chant, “We Want Yogurt!” Stoker blocks a boot to CLOBBER Huxley at the ropes. Tag to Howley, Pretty Deadly double suplex to hang Huxley out on the ropes! Cover, TWO!

Howley drags Huxley up but Huxley throws body shots. Howley clinches to KNEE Huxley low over and over! Howley stomps Huxley at the ropes, fans rally up, but Howley stomps Huxley down. Huxley hits back from below with more body shots, but Howley knees him down! Howley drags Huxley up into a cobra twist, Huxley endures, even as Howley jams elbows into his ribs. Stoker reaches out and links up with Howley for more leverage! But Huxley fights up! Howley CLUBS him in the side to stop that but fans sing and rally for Huxley. Huxley endures as Howley digs his elbows in. Huxley shakes and fights to pick Howley up! And THROW him off!

Huxley and Howley crawl, Howley anchors Huxley to tag Stoker! Stoker gets the leg, but Huxley fights his way up, hot tag to Gradwell! The Thunderstorm rallies on Stoker! Gradwell hits a big forearm in the corner, whips corner to corner then back drops Stoker away! Howley gets in but Gradwell clotheslines him right back out! Stoker kicks low, CLUBS Gradwell to a corner, but Gradwell reverses the whip to knee low! BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Gradwell goes up, Howley rushes over but Gradwell CLOBBERS him! Gradwell leaps, into an UPPERCUT from Stoker! Fans chant for “GRAD~WELL!” but then Kenny Williams walks out along the barrier.

Huxley is distracted y the Scum of the Earth, and Howley CLOBBERS him off the apron! Williams CLOBBERS Huxley into barriers! Fans chant, “You Suck!” at Kenny, but Gradwell CLOBBERS Stoker! Huxley is down, though, with Williams waving and laughing. Stoker tags Howley in! SPILT MILK for Gradwell!! Cover, Pretty Deadly win!

Winners: Pretty Deadly, by pinfall

Stoker & Howley may have won, but Kenny Cockroach gets the last laugh here as he gets back at both Huxley and Gradwell. Will Kenny be laughing when Gradwell and Huxley come looking to exterminate him?

Jinny speaks.

“Hope. Amale, you choose to call yourself The French Hope. But I see straight through your pity story. The daughter of immigrants. Has a degree, had a very successful career outside of the WWE. Seems very, very familiar.” But the difference between Amale and Jinny is that Jinny doesn’t exploit her past for sympathy. Jinny doesn’t exploit the past for pity from the fans, because that’s what fans do. Fans pity Amale every time she’s in the ring, because she’s just like them: nothing. Jinny gets in the ring and gets booed because she is everything the fans wish they could be and never will be.

Next time Amale gets in the ring with the Queen of NXT UK, all that hope Amale has is going to be destroyed. Will the Spoiled Princess be the spoiler of hopes and dreams for Amale?

NXT UK looks at the fallout of last week’s tag team tournament match.

Rohan Raja & Teoman are furious over how Gallus cost them the match against Jack Starz & Dave Mastiff! But Gallus tells Die Familie that there’s no more running, hiding or sneak attacks. It’ll be a square go of 3v3! Die Familie can have their candlelight dinners, but GBOT! Gallus is the top firm, this is THEIR kingdom. But Raja says Die Familie has made Gallus look vulnerable. Gallus knows that Die Familie is the most dominant faction! Dempsey says no matter what, Gallus won’t like next week’s results.

And Teoman says it is family VS family, but only Die Familie is about respect, honor and loyalty! Everything that is NOT in Gallus! The Nezar sees all, and it sees that Die Familie will be on top against Gallus. #OneForAll. What happens when NXT UK has an international incident on its hands?

NXT UK hears from Blair Davenport.

“I’m a product of my environment. I am simply what my lineage made me to be. I am a Davenport, from a long line of Davenports. I was taught that everyone who isn’t us is an enemy. Davenports only care about Davenports. And is it really so wrong to only care about yourself? Hate me, ostracize me and reject me all you want, as long as you fear me. Scared, Meiko? You should be. Because I’m fury, and I am fire. And you have put me in a position where I have to show you how cold-hearted I can get. The simple fact is that Blair Davenport is the rightful heir to the NXT UK Women’s Championship. And enemies of the heir beware.”

Isla Dawn VS Emilia McKenzie!

The Wicked Witch of NXT UK has been building power, even through defeat, and now she could be heading for the NXT UK Women’s Championship! Will #SuplexMillie do her mentor proud and stop Dawn before she rises? Or will something wicked this way come?

The bell rings and fans sing for Millie as she circles with Dawn. They tie up, Millie waistlocks, but Dawn reaches back to grab at hair. Millie throws Dawn down and floats to shoot the half, ONE! Millie keeps the facelock to then get a hammerlock. Millie keeps Dawn grounded but Dawn keeps reaching for Millie’s face. Millie grinds the arm, hooks her for a lateral press, TWO! Millie is right back on Dawn to wrench the arm and have a wristlock. Fans sing more but Dawn throws body shots. Dawn headlocks to grind Millie, but Millie rolls to a cover, TWO! Dawn holds the headlock but Millie fights up.

Millie throws body shots, powers out, but Dawn blocks the arm-drag! Millie wrenches through but Dawn wrenches back to whip, and Millie SHOTGUN dropkicks! Then a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Cover, TWO! Millie keeps cool but Dawn  knees low. Dawn throws Millie out, but Millie shoulders back in! Millie slingshots to sunset flip, but Dawn stays up to DOUBLE STOMP! Dawn BOOTS Millie against the ropes, then chokes her! The ref counts, Dawn lets off with a kick. Dawn drags Millie up by the hair, reels her in, SAIDO! Fans rally as Millie flops to a corner, but Dawn stomps her down. Fans chant, “Burn the Witch!” as Millie throws forearms back!

Millie goes up the corner, Dawn ROCKS her with a right! Dawn climbs, Millie fights back, and Millie shoves Dawn down! Dawn scrambles up but Millie kicks her back. Millie sunset flips through, TWO! Dawn blocks a kick but Millie ENZIGURIS! Millie rallies with lariats, then gets around to hit a BIG back suplex! Dan flounders up, Millie storms in to fire off forearms! Millie whips, Dawn reverses but Millie SPEARS! Cover, TWO!! Dawn survives and she’s furious as she shakes her head. Dawn and Millie stand, Dawn ROUNDHOUSES! Then back suplex, but Millie lands on her feet! Millie gets around, Dawn drops to victory roll, ONE!

Dawn get sup, but into another SHOTGUN! Dawn bails out, Millie DIVES! Direct hit into barriers and fans are fired up! Millie puts Dawn back in, climbs up the corner, and leaps, but FLOPS as Dawn moves! Dawn snarls as she stalks up behind Millie, and drags Millie up for a fireman’s carry. SWINGING SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, Dawn wins!

Winner: Isla Dawn, by pinfall

The Unholy Enchantress gets another win! She talks to her box of treasures, and she promises she will win the title. She takes out Millie’s wristwatch she took months ago, and returns it to Millie. Is Dawn giving up the treasures to prepare for the greatest treasure of all in the NXT UK Women’s Championship?

NXT UK hears from Amale.

“Jinny has completely misunderstood the message I was trying to send. It’s not about her, it’s not about me, it’s about representation. Unlike her, I haven’t forgotten where I came from. For someone who says she’s a graduate like me, she doesn’t sound very smart. You said I call myself the French Hope. My name is Amale, I AM hope! And hope never dies.” Will Amale refuse to let Jinny crush her spirit?

NXTN UK prepares for another UK Championship match.

The champion, Ilja Dragunov, whose life was always hard and whose path was always difficult. The challenger, Jordan Devlin, the Irish Ace who sees the NXT UK title as the cherry on top of the cake that is his life. Dragunov has his family behind him, but Devlin hopes his family doesn’t weigh him down. One fights for feeling and family, the other fights in spite of the distractions and animosity from the crowd. Dragunov says he is enough, but Devlin says there will be no even playing field. There’d have to be an empty arena match or something. And then it clicks. No one in Dragunov’s corner. Not a bad idea.

If Dragunov is the Czar, the champion, the man he says he is, then face Devlin when it is truly 1v1! No one cheering him on! See if you can step to the Irish Ace when the playing field is truly even! Challenge accepted! UNBESIEGBAR VS Irish Ace, just the emotions in their souls! Devlin breathes in air to breathe out words, but Dragunov breathes in air to breath out FIRE! Next week, only two men walk in, and only one walks out THE NXT UK Champion!

NXT UK Heritage Cup Championship: Noam Dar w/ Sha Samuels VS A-Kid!

The Scottish Supernova became the third-ever holder of this trophy through some nefarious and controversial circumstances, and has held onto it ever since. However, the Spanish Sensation wants to prove he can win the cup again and return to the former glory of being the first-ever Heritage Cup Champion. Will Dar fulfill the East End Bookie’s prediction of a win in the fourth? Or things not go as Dar and Sha plan?

The introductions are made, the cup is raised, and we see if history is made in a rematch from the inaugural tournament!

Dar and AK circle as the first round begins. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and go shoulder to shoulder. Dar cranks the wrists and taunts AK, but AK fights up. AK bends Dar back, Dar bridges but AK trips the legs. Cover, ONE, the two grapple but Dar gets away to ropes. Sha tells Dar to control the pace and the two circle again. Fans sing the Noam-perial march for Dar as the two tie up. AK rolls, trips Dar, drops down for a headlock and even traps an arm. Dar rolls to a cover, ONE! AK grinds the hold, Dar rolls around but AK keeps him down! Dar fights, headscissors, and holds tight as AK tries to kip free.

Dar goes for the rib tape but AK moves around to turn Dar over and pop out. AK has the legs, then a waistlock but the two roll. We’re under a minute as the two fight for control and the two break and reset. They tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, are in a deadlock, but Dar gets an arm. Dar wrenches, has a wristlock and then an armlock at 30 seconds. Cover, TWO, but Dar hits a hip toss. Cover, TWO! Dar is annoyed but AK waistlocks to SLAM Dar down! Fans rally, the last ten seconds count down, AK has the facelock but Dar looks to swing. The bell ends the round, Sha has Dar back off even as Dar eggs AK on.

Dar: 0; A-Kid: 0

Sha talks with Dar about keeping things on his pace. The break is over, on to round two! Dar and AK feel things out again, Dar shoots in to waistlock and drag AK down. Dar floats, AK slips out and facelocks and he keeps on Dar as Dar keeps trying to get away. Dar turns things around but AK bridges up to snapmare Dar down. AK has a cravat, Dar endures and fights up, then snapmarse, only for AK to hold on! AK grinds Dar, Dar uses a fish hook to get free! Dar wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! AK goes to a corner, Dar stomps him down. AK hits back but Dar hits a headlock takeover. Dar traps an arm and grinds AK down.

AK fights up, powers out, but Dar runs AK over! Cover, TWO! AK gets to a corner, Dar drags him up to kick the taped ribs! Dar wrenches the arm, has a top wristlock and throws more knees into the tape. Dar wrenches, knees low again, then taunts AK before hooking his nose and grinding his forearms in. We’re under a minute again, But AK pops Dar around to a EUROCLUTCH! TWO, and Dar bails out to the apron! Sha reminds Dar of the time, and Dar resets at 30 seconds. Dar kicks, whips, but AK springboards to arm-drag and dropkick! Cover, TWO! AK has the facelock again, Dar fights up and we’re under ten!

Dar puts AK on the ropes, runs side to side, and he boots, only for AK to dodge him! Dar takes a tumble out to the floor and AK taunts him with his one pinkies out. Sha talks trash and helps Dar up. Sha reminds Dar they’ve got until the fourth, so this is fine.

Dar: 0; A-Kid: 0

Dar steadies himself, Sha reminds him to use strikes. The third round begins and the two feel out another grapple. AK avoids the kicks, blocks a kick, then avoids more shots. AK blocks a kick but Dar ROCKS him with a forearm! AK BOOTS Dar, but Dark puts him on the apron. AK avoids the leg sweep but Dar ROCKS AK with an uppercut! Dar drags AK through the ropes, and he nods, but then drops AK to KICK him in the face! The Supernova doesn’t need to be the Viper, and he covers, TWO! Dar is frustrated but he drags AK up. AK swings but Dar blocks to knee away and KICK AK down! Sha cheers Dar on and Dar aims from a corner.

AK gets up, Dar runs in, but AK kicks! Dar blocks that, shoves AK away then sweeps the legs out! Dar resets, runs in again, NOVA ROLLA! Cover, Dar gets the fall!

Dar: 1; A-Kid: 0

The third ends with a minute and 25 on the clock! But now is the crucial money round! Sha says Dar can win big money on top of the cup with this one! Dar tells AK no one makes Dar bleed his own blood! The fourth begins, Dar shoots in to get a leg! AK boots Dar away, then gets a FLYING ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Dar clasps hands, scrambles around, but into an omoplata! Dar resists, rolls AK back and has the tights! TWO!! AK gets up, runs in but into a BOOT! Dar high stacks, but with the ropes! The ref sees that and stops the count! Dar and Sha argue with him, but AK rolls Dar up! TWO!!

AK staggers up, ducks the back elbow and PELES Dar out of the ring! Sha shouts for Dar to get up fast, but fans rally up and AK runs in. AK DIVES, but Sha gets Dar out of the way! AK crashes and burns! Sha tells Dar to get up and in so this can be by ring out! The count is climbing, Dar is in, and Sha has his head on a swivel. AK is up at 8 of 10! And in at 9.5!! Dar ELBOWS AK down, high stacks, TWO!!! Dar is shocked and fans are fired up as we’re under a minute! Dar hurries to get after AK, but AK KICKS Dar in the arm! And then the head! Dar staggers into a HAYMAKER! AK knuckle locks, goes up and up and avoids Sha for a FLYING DDT!! Cover, AK ties it up!!

Dar: 1; A-Kid: 1

And there goes the big money!! Sha is freaking out! He’s lost it all! “What’ve you done to me?!” But now, it’s round five! Can Dar even win flat out? Dar flounder sup, but he avoids AK’s attack! Dar dodges again, to sweep the leg! Dar hurries up top, but AK GAMANGIRIS! AK climbs up to get Dar, for a SUPER HALF HATCH! Cover, TWO!! Dar survives and AK is shocked! AK gets Dar with a waistlock for a rear bearhug. Dar fights up, pries free, drops down and kicks away on AK! Dar grapevines a leg, but AK fights up out of the kneebar to an ARMBAR! Dar scrambles, hooks legs with legs to turn AK back over, then get a FUJIWARA!

AK endures, turns over, drags Dar down, omoplata! Dar resists, moves around, rolls, but into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Dar fights to a high stack, TWO, and AK still has the hold! Sha shouts to Dar, Dar kips up to roll back, but AK slips under to GERMAN SUPLEX! AK holds on as we are under a minute! AK gets Dar up, Dar breaks free again to kick and kick and he drags Dar into an omoplata! Dar wants to use AK’s move but AK makes it a cradle! TWO, PENALTY- NO! Dar ducks to get the leg! AK fights up to avoid the kneebar, but Dar trips AK into a REAR NAKED CHOKE! But AK kicks and scrambles to roll back! TWO!!

Under ten seconds and now AK gets Dar for a SLEEPER! AK squeezes tight as the clock ticks away, Dar is still fighting, so AK lets go to run and PENALTY KICK! Cover, saved by the bell!!

Dar: 1; A-Kid: 1

Sha shouts for AK to get back. This is the last round, Dar has to win so they can at least have something! Dar manages to stand, but here’s round six! AK and Dar throw forearms, AK EuroUppers but Dar EuroUppers back! Dar then hooks the uppercut to a backslide, TWO! AK La Magistrols but Dar blocks! TWO, AK has it, ONE! Dar has it, TWO, AK again, TWO!! AK waitslocks, but Sha hooks Dar’s feet to save him! The ref reprimands, AK dodges Dar and DIVES onto Sha! AK takes out Dar’s insurance policy, then body scissors Dar for a HEEL HOOK!! Dar endures, SLAPS, but AK SLAPS back! AK keeps on the hold, Dar throws more SLAPS, but AK cranks harder!

Dar reaches out, ROPEBREAK! AK lets go to KICK the arm! AK drags Dar up, stomps him, but the ref wants him to let off. AK brings Dar up, throws hands, but Dar throat chops! Dar turns things around to KICK, but that’s double-edged given his bad leg! Dar hobbles up, blocks AK’s kick to then BACK ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! AK survives and fans are thunderous! We’re at a minute left in this whole match! If it’s a draw, Dar will retain! Dar has pinkies out, he wants to end this! But he runs into a DYNAMIC DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!?? AK is stunned, but he drags Dar up and fires off strikes! Just 30 seconds and Dar kicks AK in the leg!

AK ducks the roundhouse but not the URAKEN! Roll-up, TWO!! And to an omoplata! AK gets the other arm, CLUBS away on the shoulder, RINGS OF SATURN!! But we’re under 10 seconds!! THE BELL RINGS!!

Time Limit Draw (Dar retains the NXT UK Heritage Cup Championship)

AK can’t believe it! This ends in 1-1, so Dar is STILL Heritage Cup Champion! Will A-Kid ever be back to try a third time? Or must he move on from the title he cherished so much? As for the Scottish Supernova, will he rebuild Sha’s fortune as he continues to reign over the Heritage Cup Division?

My Thoughts:

A great episode, with great stuff set up for the next few weeks. Jinny and Amale both had good promos, I appreciate the spin Jinny was trying to put on Amale’s promo and then Amale getting it through to Jinny that it’s her life and her name, not just a catchphrase. Their match is going to be killer. Same for the promos from Gallus and Die Familie, that Six Man is going to be a lot of fun. For all anyone knows, this could be Gallus’ last hurrah before the move to NXT 2.0. I really hope not but what else is there for them to do if Joe Coffey isn’t seen as singles champ material? It seems Blair Davenport as a persona for Bea Priestly is all in, even giving us a backstory of her lineage. As a Murican, it felt very Harry Potter Malfoy family.

And whoa, an Empty Arena Match for Dragunov VS Devlin? Was this to work-shoot COVID stuff? I do like that Devlin felt Dragunov’s real source of power was the interaction with fans, and on one level, he’s got a point. Dragunov lost to Walter- Er, Gunther, when it was Empty Arena Era of BT Sports Studio. But then Dragunov won when it was TakeOver 36 and fans were in the CWC. But Dragunov won plenty of times when BT Sports Studio was empty, so I have a feeling Dragunov wins in an epic showdown. Devlin also feels like a guy who could move on to NXT 2.0 but again, I hope not.

Dawn VS Millie was great stuff, and Dawn is clearly continuing her story of returning the trinkets she took as her power grows. Davenport may want after Meiko Satomura again, but it feels like Dawn is going to be a force of nature by the time she’s a contender. I loved Gradwell’s montage of failing to get partners, and I loved that Gradwell and Huxley ended up the team. Williams getting involved was an interesting move, maybe Williams gets a buddy to fight Gradwell and Huxley, but who knows. Personally, still hoping Williams, Dar, Sha and Devlin become a faction, but it feels less and less likely as time goes by.

Dar VS A-Kid was great stuff. They gave us the story going in of Dar wanting to end this in the fourth, and that added some drama when it didn’t work out that way. Dar winning because of the time limit draw was actually a great move, and that’s the fun of the British Rounds stipulation they’re using. There’s some realistic sports feeling here where AK could’ve won if he had more time, and Dar survives rather than wins. Maybe AK is on his way to the top title now, and things are open for Dar to face just about anyone next.

My Score: 8.7/10