Artful Dodger or dastardly coward? You decide!

Last time he was on NXT UK, Trent Seven gave us crocodile tears and betrayed Tyler Bate! What will Seven say this week about what he’s done?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Blair Davenport VS Angel Hayze; Davenport wins.
• Emilia McKenzie VS Fallon Henley; Henley wins.
• Wolfgang VS Sha Samuels w/ Noam Dar; Wolfgang wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Blair Davenport VS Angel Hayze!

NXT UK beware, it’s the return of the heir! The gothic gladiator is back after that freak accident during her NXT UK Women’s Championship match with Meiko Satomura. Will Blair prove that nothing will stop her from taking the throne this time? Or will Angel leave her in a haze in her first match back?

The bell rings and the two circle. Blair and Angel tie up, go around, and Blair puts Angel on the ropes. The ref counts but Blair lets off fast. Blair and Angel reset, tie up, and Blair shoves Angel down! Fans rally up as Angel and Blair reset again. They tie up, Angel gets around to waistlock, Blair arm-drags free and Angel flounders to a corner. Blair runs in but Angel goes up and over, TWO! Angel boots Blair’s punch away, sobats then runs, to SHOTGUN Blair down! Cover, ONE!! Fans rally, Angel drags Blair up and reels her in, but Blair fights the suplex. Blair powers up, wrenches out and WRINGS the arm!

Fans rally as Blair snarls and stalks Angel. Blair runs in at the corner, Angel goes up and over again, but runs into a CHOP BLOCK! Blair DROPKICKS Angel in the back! Blair pushes Angel over to CLUB her on the back. Blair pushes Angel around, kicks her, and Angel gets to a corner. Blair is after her already and throws a heavy body shot! Angel hits back but Blair CLUBS her down again. Blair hauls Angel up, whips her to ropes and runs her over! Cover, TWO! Blair clamps onto Angels with a chinlock and she grinds Angel down. Fans rally as Angel endures, but Blair thrashes her around. Blair cranks the hold but Angel fights up to her feet.

Angel throws body shots, Blair CLUBS her again! Blair hauls Angel up to whip her to a corner. Blair runs in and GAMANGIRIS! Blair shoves Angel onto ropes, then runs side to side, SLIDING KICK! Cover, TWO! Angel survives and Blair is annoyed but the fans rally up. Blair shoves Angel to a corner, but Angel hits back. Blair CLUBS Angel, stands her up and whips her corner to corner. Blair runs in but Angel dodges and Blair hits buckles! Angel returns with a forearm smash! And then a back elbow! Angel keeps moving, she evades the lariat to fire off forearms and a ROLLING ELBOW! Angel runs again, SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally as Blair goes to a corner. Angel runs corner to corner but into a BOOT! Blair hops up and leaps to missile dropkick! Blair drags Angel up, reels her in, but Angel wrenches out to reel Blair in! GUILLOTINE! Angel has Blair in the body scissors, too! Blair endures, stays up, CLUBS Angel and powers out with a BIG suplex! Fans fire up, Blair hauls Angel up for the FALCON ARROW! Cover, Blair wins!

Winner: Blair Davenport, by pinfall

And the heir gets right back on track! Blair gets the mic to say she is back! And she is here to crush all of your hopes. Is that key word a message to a certain someone? Or is it a message to everyone who would dare defy the heir?

NXT UK Media caught up with Sid Scala.

The Assistant General Manager returns to his office, and Kenny Williams is there waiting! Kenny says it’s about time Sid showed up! Kenny’s been working all night, as we can see by the conspiracy web taking over Sid’s office, and Kenny claims he has finally figured it out! Tiger Turan has to be none other than… Sid says Kenny needs to stop, this isn’t why Sid asked to meet with him. This is about next week, a match between Kenny and Tiger Turan! And just as Sid says that, Tiger steps in. Kenny says this is just who he was looking for. But here’s what will happen. Kenny will win, knock Turan out and take off his mask to reveal it’s Amir Jordan!

So right now, Tiger Turan can clean up this mess while Kenny prepares. Is the Scum of the Earth on to something? Is Tiger Turan obsessed with Kenny because it’s Amir Jordan, the man Kenny banished from NXT UK over a year ago? Or is he going to lose this match along with his mind?

Noam Dar & Sha Samuels enter the NXT UK Performance Center.

The Scottish Supernova isn’t sure why they’re here, but the East End Bookie/Butcher promises it is for good reason: they’re going to make some big money. Dar then sees the ring and the training session Mark Coffey is helping with. Dar & Sha taunt them and Mark walks over to ask, “What’s wrong? Run out of ways to cheat?” Dar says he never needs to cheat, and certainly not to beat Mark. Dar didn’t need to cheat to beat “Dog Man” Wolfgang, or to beat big brother Joe and run him out of town. Mark points out Dar only won because of his bookie at ringside. Mark guarantees that if Sha isn’t around, Mark wins the cup.

Sha says no way, Dar is the best ever! Mark says they can bet on it. Sha takes that bet! 100 to 1, Dar still beats Mark! Sha puts money on it quite literally, and says the market is open! Everyone else swarms Sha, wanting to put money on this, too! Dar looks worried with just how many want to join in. Are they betting all on Mark? Dar is a bit upset by that, but will he prove Sha right and take everyone, including Coffey, to the cleaners?

Emilia McKenzie VS Fallon Henley!

#SuplexMillie is still Meiko Satomura’s protégé, but she might be feeling the pressure as of late. The Final Boss demands the best out of her disciple, but will those expectations be met? Or will the Cowgirl rope herself a big win just like Briggs & Jensen did?

The bell rings and the two tie up. They go around, end up in a deadlock, but Millie shots around to waistlock. Fallon pries at the hold, standing switches, and SLAMS Millie down. Millie slips out to hammerlock and fans rally for Millie as she cranks the hold. Fallon fights to sit up, rolls out and has the wristlock. Millie slips through, wristlocks back, but Fallon pries at the hold. Fallon slips through, hammerlocks Millie now, but Millie works on the hold. Fallon rolls Millie up, TWO! Fans applaud the opening exchange as the two stare down. Fallon and Millie reset, tie up with knuckle locks, and they have a test of strength!

Millie wrenches the wrists, kicks an arm, rolls and trips Fallon to have a standing toehold! Fallon endures, uses her free leg to kick free, but Millie cartwheels through. Fans applaud again, and even Fallon offers a handshake. Millie accepts and fans cheer the sportsmanship, and the two tie up again. Millie powers Fallon back but Fallon turns it around to arm-drag Millie away. Fallon shoots in but Millie sits on the cover, ONE! Fallon sunset flips, ONE! Millie tries a jackknife but Fallon rolls through it, TWO! Millie has the sunset, TWO!! Fans fire up for that exchange and the two reset again.

They tie up, Millie headlocks, but Fallon powers up. Millie holds tight, Fallon pries the hold open and turns it around onto Millie! Millie endures, powers out but Fallon runs her over! Fallon does a two step then runs, but Millie keeps up with the drop, sidestep, but Fallon counters hip toss with a hip toss! Fallon arm-drags Millie away and Millie takes a moment to catch her breath. Fallon is on her but Millie EuroUppers! Millie kicks low, CLUBS Fallon on the back, and has her on the ropes. Millie CLUBS Fallon again, has her in a corner now and kicks her low. Fallon throws shots back but Millie CLUBS Fallon, into the TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally and Millie clamps on a chinlock. Millie shifts to have almost a bully choke but Fallon endures. Fans rally again as Fallon fights up. Fallon throws elbows, body shots, but Millie EuroUppers! Fallon catches on to hooks and a backslide, TWO! Fallon rolls Millie again, TWO! Millie CLOBBERS Fallon! Cover, TWO! Millie is on Fallon again, going after the arms. Fallon fights but Millie still gets a COBRA CLUTCH! Fallon endures, resists, and fans rally as Millie still tries to lock this on! Fallon fights, Millie might just have it! Fallon is fading as Millie bends her backwards!! But Fallon gets a second wind and pries free to arm-drag Millie away!

Millie comes back to ROCK Fallon, Fallon ROCKS Millie! They throw hands, and Fallon DECKS Millie! Fallon fires up to back elbow Millie in a corner! And then a RUNNING FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Fans fire up as Millie survives! Fallon drags Millie up, fireman’s carries, but Millie slips off and shoves to then LARIAT! And again! Millie shoots around to get Fallon up for a BIG bag suplex! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Millie snarls as she hauls Fallon up. Fallon fights the German Suplex, pops free to switch, but Millie elbows Fallon. Millie whips Fallon to a corner but Fallon goes up and over. Fallon’s leg tweaks! Millie shows no mercy, CHOP BLOCK!!

Millie stomps away on Fallon’s leg and fans fire up! Millie drags Fallon up, reels her in, SHIN BREAKER! And then another SHIN BREAKER! Fallon hobbles, Millie gets her again, but Fallon sunset flips! FALLON WINS!

Winner: Fallon Henley, by pinfall

Millie showed her killer instinct, but maybe she let it get the better of her! Will this be the exact opposite of what Meiko wanted for Millie?

NXT UK Media catches up with Oliver Carter.

They ask him if he’s been keeping in contact with Ashton Smith while he’s out with injury. Of course! Oliver has Ashton on speed dial. They are brothers, that’s never gonna change. But then Teoman and his Die Familie “brothers,” Rohan Raja and Charlie Dempsey slither in and say hi to “Oli.” They sit with him and they feel like this is deja vu. Oliver’s alone, no Ashton Smith, no titles. Oliver needs a family to watch out for him. It is a dangerous place out there. Join them! It’s in his best interest. They’ll let him think about it, and take their leave. Is there anything to think about? Or will the Hottest Superstar Under the Sun actually consider their invitation?

NXT UK Media catches up with Sarray.

The Warrior of the Sun is about to get in a set of squats as they ask her how she feels after her NXT UK debut. Sarray says it was very good. She got a win over Nina Samuels, and she- “Aww~, look!” Xia and Eliza return to mock Sarray for simply training in the UK PC after her first win. It’s so cute. But has Eliza heard the good news? Sarray’s sticking around for a bit. Oh, is she? But then Meiko and Millie step up to back the bullies down. Eliza tells Sarray that she better just play by their rules, or they’ll be more than happy to teach Sarray a few things.

Meiko tells Eliza that she talks too much. If Eliza & Xia want a match with Meiko and Sarray, then Eliza & Xia will be the ones being taught a lesson. Millie seems a bit surprised Meiko didn’t choose her, while Xia & Eliza storm off, Xia complaining about who is teaching who lessons. But with that, Sarray finishes putting up the weights for Meiko to take a turn. Will Final Boss & Warrior of the Sun prove to the bullies the power of Joshi Strong Style?

Wolfgang VS Sha Samuels w/ Noam Dar!

The Last King of Scotland heard the East End Butcher talking some smack like he wouldn’t hear it. But since he did, it’s time for Sha to put his money where his mouth is! Will Wolfgang get a big win and cash in? Or will Sha find another way to weasel out another victory?

The bell rings and the two circle. Sha gets some last minute pointers from Dar. They say they can frustrate Wolfgang and get the edge. But then Dar needs to give Sha another pointer. The ref insists they get this started already, and Wolfgang rushes in. Sha dodges, then dodges again. Sha goes back to Dar for that last pointer but Wolfgang throws Sha out of the corner! Wolfgang fires off haymakers, then an arm-drag! Wolfgang keeps on the arm with a wristlock, then stands Sha up to RAM shoulders. And again! And then a straight arm lever and SLAM! Fans fire up and Wolfgang drags Sha up again to RAM shoulders again.

Wolfgang wrenches, and hits a straight arm suplex! Cover, ONE! Dar is upset but Wolfgang keeps on Sha’s arm. Sha ROCKS Wolfgang with his free arm, then bumps Wolfgang off buckles. Sha bumps Wolfgang off more buckles, then throws heavy back elbows. Sha runs in to SPLASH Wolfgang. Wolfgang shoves Sha away, runs in, but Sha sends Wolfgang into buckles! Fans boo but Dar wants to throw up the X. Sha grabs the bad arm for an ARMBAR DDT! Sha CLUBS the bad arm, uppercuts it, then hip drops on it! Wolfgang clutches that arm, tries to get it working, but Sha drops an elbow on it!

Sha clamps onto the arm, Wolfgang fights the cobra clutch and throws body shots. But Sha wrenches and WRINGS the bad arm! Dar offers a drink but Sha says no, he has to keep working. Sha throws down elbows into the bad arm, then stands on Wolfgang to say, “ON THE MONEY~!” Sha KICKS the bad leg, then shouts out “EAST~!” Sha stomps Wolfgang but fans chant, “You’re a Mug! You’re a Mug!” Dar says yeah, Wolfgang’s the mug! But that’s not who they mean. Sha RAMS Wolfgang into the buckles, stomps away on the bad arm, then runs in to stomp it again! The ref backs Sha off, and Dar SMACKS Wolfgang around with the papers!

Wolfgang gets mad and he CHOPS Sha! And CHOPS again! And counter punches! Wolfgang suplexes Sha, but Sha fights to get to the apron. Sha HOTSHOTS the bad arm! Wolfgang staggers away and Sha gets in to run and LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Wolfgang is still in this, and Dar offers another drink. Sha says no, and he drops elbow after elbow on Wolfgang! Sha then goes up a corner, and leaps for a FLYING ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Wolfgang is still in this and fans rally up. Sha stalks Wolfgang, CLUBS him at the ropes, then pulls on the bad arm. Wolfgang ROCKS Sha and gives him a kitchen sink knee! BASEMENT SENTON!

Dar is worried as Wolfgang suplexes Sha for the CAB- NO, no toss! Sha slips off, CLUBS Wolfgang and has a top wristlock on the bad arm! Fans rally as Wolfgang endures, fights up, but Sha wants the arm! Wolfgang arm-drags free! Wolfgang goes to the corner, Sha runs in but Wolfgang sends him into buckles! Wolfgang bumps Sha off buckles, fires off haymakers, then keeps Sha cornered to CHOP! Wolfgang whips corner to corner, then runs in, into an uppercut! Wolfgang snarls, shoves Sha back in, and SPLASHES in the corner! Sha flops and Wolfgang is on the apron, working on the bad arm.

Wolfgang climbs but Dar distracts! The ref reprimands but Wolfgang leaps, into a SPINEBUSTER from Sha! Cover, TWO!! Fans rally for Wolfgang while Sha is furious! Sha hauls Wolfgang up, reels him in and whips, but Wolfgang slips off the scoop to POINT-BLANK SPEAR!! But the bad arm holds Wolfgang back from making the cover, and Sha crawls away to his corner. Dar fans Sha, but fans rally for Wolfgang. Wolfgang grabs at Sha on the apron, hauls him up the corner, but Sha throws body shots. Sha HOTSHOTS the bad arm again! Wolfgang is stuck up top and Sha ROCKS him with haymakers! Sha DECKS Wolfgang!

Sha climbs up again, for the FROG SPLASH onto knees! Wolfgang saves himself but both men are down and writhing. Fans rally up again and Wolfgang grits his teeth as he gets back up. Wolfgang rallies on Sha with the one good arm! Wolfgang whips Sha to then back drop him! Fans fire up, Sha gets to a corner and Wolfgang runs in to fire off forearms! Wolfgang howls and runs, to SPLASH again! Dar is up on the apron but Wolfgang BOOTS him down! Fans cheer and Wolfgang SLINGSHOTS to SPEAR!! Cover, Wolfgang wins!!

Winner: Wolfgang, by pinfall

Fans cheer as the Last King of Scotland stands tall! This Gallus Boy is on top, but will Mark Coffey be on top in two weeks after he gets one more shot at Dar and the Heritage Cup?

Trent Seven heads to the ring.

And what a strange thing, for all the fans to boo this Founding Father of NXT UK. He gets a mic and “thanks” us all for that reception. Seven heard the chant of “Why, Trent, Why?” Good question! He will use visual aids to explain just exactly why. The tron shows Trent giving Tyler Bate that truly underhanded low blow uppercut. Trent gets teary eyed as he says it is just beautiful. “It’s the best low blow ever. That’s what it is.” Just look at his positioning! A work of art, really. And more importantly, it represents a turning point. “That right there is the most important moment in British Sports.” Fans chant, “No it’s not! No it’s not!”

But he says yes it is, and we all know it is, “because it’s the moment that Trent Seven saved the industry.” Fans boo but Seven asks they listen. It is the truth “because this place was dead! This studio was a ghost town! And now look at you all! Now look at you all back! The largest crowd in NXT UK BT Sports history is here because Trent Seven is on top!” Fans boo more but Seven says, “It’s a fact. This is where I like to be. Right here. Right at the top, right in the middle, the CENTER of attention!” Fans chant, “We Want Tyler!” and Seven is annoyed. “Tyler Bate is done. Now I am the center of attention, and we were the center of attention as British Strong Style! And as Moustache Mountain.”

Seven goes on about how they were touring the world, selling out every arena, and promotors were begging them to even be on the shows. “Please~! We need you~!” Yes, they did. And that is why fans need to understand it isn’t Seven who changed, it’s Tyler who changed. Seven never lost the killer instinct, he never stopped doing what was needed to win, but it was Tyler who lost his nerve. That will to win is gone, because “it’s all that rubbish, sitting in a field, hugging a tree.” But Bate isn’t coming back, and we know he won’t because he won’t fight Seven! Fans chant, “Yes, He Will!” Seven says no, he won’t, because Bate lost his fighting spirit.

“Tyler Bate is the Little Weak Boy. And I am NXT UK! I am this brand! I am NXT! I am British Strong Style! Come here! Come here! I am Moustache Mountain!!” Fans boo as Seven sets down the mic, and Seven says everyone knows he’s telling the truth. Is he telling the truth about the future of NXT UK? Or will Tyler Bate prove Trent Seven is a liar and make a heroic return?

Wait, a fan gets really heated about Seven saying Tyler is weak and afraid. So much so, friends and security are trying to get him to calm down. But the fan jumps the barrier instead! Security rushes in to stop this man from getting closer and Seven says, “We’ve got a live one!” And then he LOW BLOW KICKS the fan!! Referees rush out and say Seven is out of line! Seven says the fan is the one who got up in Seven’s face. Is there nothing Seven won’t do just to make himself feel like the bigger man?

My Thoughts:

A very good episode of NXT UK with some good set-up for the summer episodes. Blair Davenport gets a good return match win, with Angel Hayze still looking very good in the loss. And Blair emphasizing “hope” at the end of her promo has to be her setting up something with Amale before moving on to the title again. Kenny and Sid had a good interaction to set up Kenny VS Tiger Turan. But sadly for me and my theories, if Kenny also thinks Amir Jordan is Tiger Turan, then that must mean it isn’t because they wouldn’t do that. They can’t let Kenny be right about this, right? It’d be pretty wild for Kenny to win and be right about who Tiger Turan is under the mask.

Millie VS Fallon was a very good match, but I feel like they could’ve played up more of Millie struggling to be aggressive before it backfired on her. But Millie losing does help build her story of disappointing Meiko and herself. Millie also had a very good bit of character work showing her surprise and bit of hurt feelings when Meiko chose Sarray to be her tag partner against Xia & Eliza. But that’s still going to be an awesome match with Sarray and Meiko side by side. Meiko & Sarray will surely win and that will surely set up Meiko VS Sarray for an awesome NXT UK Women’s Championship.

We got a decent interaction from Oliver Carter and Die Familie. I would think Carter rejects Die Familie’s invitation, and he could easily team up with other superstars who don’t like Die Familie, like Mastiff & Starz or even A-Kid. And we got a pretty good promo with Sha, Dar and Mark Coffey about how we’re getting that 100 to 1 betting odds Heritage Cup match. If Mark is getting one more shot in what Dar claims should be his “retirement” match, does that mean Mark wins? Someone from Gallus should get something more, and Dar losing will be his own reason for “not retiring.” Plus, if Mark wins, and Joe Coffey comes back, I’d love seeing Mark VS Joe for the cup.

Wolfgang VS Sha was a great main event match, and I figured Wolfgang would win to get Gallus back up. I don’t know what’s next for Wolfgang, but he’s always been a solid character and in-ring worker. And then, we closed with a very good promo from Seven, with him playing off the crowd’s chants and booing very well. That final bit with “the fan” was quite a surprise but it sure adds to Seven’s Heel heat. But obviously, Bate is coming back and he is going to have one hell of a match with Seven. Can’t be sure who wins that, but it’d make a lot of sense if Seven cheated to win, and then somehow, Seven uses that to go after Ilja Dragunov and the UK Championship.

My Score: 8.5/10