The NXT UK Championship Tournament rolls on!

It’s a double shot of the NXT UK Championship Tournament, as Mark Andrews takes on Joe Coffey, and Tyler Bate faces Kenny Williams!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Vacated NXT UK Championship Tournament, Opening Round: Mark Andrews VS Joe Coffey; Coffey wins and advances.
• Amale VS Nina Samuels; Amale wins.
• Andre Chase & Bodhi Hayward w/ Thea Hail VS Eddie Dennis & Saxon Huxley; Chase & Bodhi win.
• Vacated NXT UK Championship Tournament, Opening Round: Tyler Bate VS Kenny Williams; Bate wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

Vacated NXT UK Championship Tournament, Opening Round: Mark Andrews VS Joe Coffey!

South Wales Subculture and Gallus clash once again, but it’ll be the High Fiving, Stage Diving, Skateboarding Rockstar taking on the Iron King! Will #MANDREWS head for singles gold? Or is this Joe’s chance to finally strike gold?

The bell rings and the two circle. Fans rally as the two shake hands. They tie up, Joe arm-drags Andrews but Andrews gets right up. They tie up again, Joe whips Andrews to ropes but Andrews holds ropes to stop. Andrews comes back to headlock, and he holds on as Joe tries to power out. Joe back suplexes but Andrews lands on his feet! Andrews headlocks again but Joe powers out to run him over! Fans cheer as Joe speeds things up. Andrews hurdles an arm-drags, but Joe blocks it! Joe brings Andrews up to whip but Andrews RANAS, only for Joe to block it! Joe brings Andrews up, Andrews pops free but leaps into Joe’s scoop SLAM!

Fans fire up for Joe as he stalks Andrews to a corner. Joe throws body shots, then whips Andrews. Andrews holds ropes to stop that, and he ELBOWS back hard! Andrews goes up, leaps, and RANAS! Fans fire up and Andrews keeps moving, but Joe pops Andrews up for a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Joe keeps cool and he drags Andrews up. Fans rally as Joe whips Andrews hard into the corner, then doe sit again! Joe scoops Andrews for a BACKBREAKER! Andrews writhes but Joe brings him up. Andrews throws body shots and forearms and CHOPS, but Joe hits a heavy body shot! Joe suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO!

Joe paces around Andrews and fans rally up. Joe half nelsons and even clamps onto the other shoulder. Andrews endures while fans rally up again. Joe thrashes Andrews around but Andrews throws body shots! Andrews tries to arm-drag but Joe holds on! Joe snapmares Andrews, covers, TWO! Joe drops an elbow but Andrews avoids it! Andrews throws heavy body shots in return but Joe throws them all back! Joe then clamps back onto the half nelson! Joe digs his knuckles into Andrews’ shoulder, but the fans rally as he endures. Andrews fights up, Joe wants the full nelson, but Andrews clasps hands!

Joe spins Andrews to EuroUpper! And again! Joe EuroUppers but Andrews hooks the arms! Joe fights the backslide, but Andrews still brings him down! Joe powers back up! Joe swings Andrews around but Andrews rolls him up, TWO!! Joe gets up but Andrews DROPKICKS him! Andrews runs to dropkick the legs out! Andrews keeps moving but Joe HEADBUTTS! Andrews falls down and Joe yanks him up! Andrews dodges the lariat and pops up to SATELLITE DDT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Andrews and Joe stir, Andrews runs in and ROCKS Joe! Joes wings, misses, and Andrews ROCKS him again! Andrews runs to CLOBBER Joe!

Fans fire up with Andrews and he throws forearms and CHOPS on Joe! Joe throws a body shot, shoves Andrews to ropes, but Andrews slides under the lariat to PELE! Joe ends up tumbling out of the ring, and his feet hook the bottom rope! Joe dangles over the floor and Andrews goes out to WOE STOMP him down! Fans fire up as Joe sputters and writhes! Fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” as Andrews brings Joe up. Joe shoves Andrews away, gets in the ring, and Andrews GAMANGIRIS him! Andrews springboards to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Joe survives but fans fire up behind Andrews!

Joe goes to a corner, Andrews runs in and DOUBLE- NO! Joe blocks the knees! Andrews CLUBS Joe but Joe throw shim away, BOOTS him, and OVERHEAD Belly2Belly suplexes! Fans rally back up for Joe as he crawls to the cover, TWO! Joe snarls, he drags Andrews up and suplexes, STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE! Andrews has Joe wobbling and he hurries to a corner! Andrews springboards again, but into an UPPERCUT! Joe runs corner to corner for the GLASGOW SENDOFF! Joe runs to give Andrews ALL THE BEST FOR THE BELLS! Cover, Joe wins!!

Winner: Joe Coffey, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

And with that, the Iron King is in the semifinals! Will he finally make NXT UK his kingdom by taking the top title?

NXT UK Media catches up with Joe Coffey backstage.

Joe is singing, “This is what it means to be Gallus~! We’ll be champions again as you know~!” Joe stops singing to say that IS what it means to be Gallus. Did you see that match? Just like that, Joe’s first time back since his long time off, and he is feeling MANIC. The UK Championship escaped him two times before, but at the end of this tournament, there will be one man standing! This will be Joe’s kingdom! Gallus Boys On Top!! Coffey is all fired up, but will he finally be a golden Iron King?

Amale VS Nina Samuels!

The French Hope has wanted her own road back to the top title, but there are many obstacles in her way. There’s Blair Davenport, Eliza Alexander and Isla Dawn for sure, but the Leading Lady isn’t exactly helping things by trying to boost her ratings using Amale. Will Amale make sure the Nina Samuels Show is taken off the air once and for all?

The bell rings and fans rally behind the “FRENCH HOPE! FRENCH HOPE!” Amale and Nina circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Amale headlocks, grinds, but Nina powers up, only for Amale to hold tight. Nina fights up, lifts Amale, but Amale uses that for a flying takedown! Amale grinds the headlock but Nina rolls it to a cover, TWO! Fans duel, Amale rolls Nina with her arm to ghost pin, TWO! Nina kicks low, whips Amale to a corner, but Amale goes up and over! Amale headlocks for another takeover! Fans rally and sing for Amale but Nina fights up. Nina throws body shots, powers out, but Amale runs her over!

Amale runs, Nina stays low and then jumps. But Amale fakes her out to dropkick the legs out! Amale then runs, redirects and basement dropkicks Nina down! Nina staggers up into a SHOTGUN! Amale drags Nina to a cover, TWO! Amale keep son Nina but Nina hooks the ropes. Amale yanks her away but Nina uses that to RAM Amale into the corner! The ref counts, Nina lets off at 4, but Amale dodges the sucker punch! Nina uses the ropes as defenses, then she BOOTS Amale down! Nina stomps Amale down after the cheap shot, then she drags Amale to ropes. Nina bends Amale against the ropes, CLUBS her, then runs to dropkick Amale down! Cover, TWO!

Nina drags Amale around to dribble her off the mat! The ref reprimands, Nina sits Amale up for a chinlock. The fans taunt Nina but she shouts back at them. Nina digs her knee in but Amale endures. Amale fights up, pries at the chinlock, but Nina JAMS Amale in the back again. Amale still endures, fights her way up, but Nina JAMS her down again. Fans rally for the “FRENCH HOPE!” again and she fights up. Amale throws body shots but Nina scoops and SLAMS Amale down! Cover, TWO! Fans still sing for Amale but Nina talks trash. Nina slaps Amale around, sits her up and scuffs her with her boot!

Nina keeps kicking but Amale blocks the boot! Amale breaks free to ROCK Nina with forearms again and again! Nina shoves Amale, then scoops her for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Amale survives but Nina is furious. Fans taunt Nina but Nina makes Amale smile! The ref counts, Nina lets off and pulls Amale up into the motorcycle stretch in the ropes! The ref counts again, Nina lets off again, but Amale dodges the straddle attack! Amale rallies on Nina with haymakers and forearms! Fans fire up for the ROLLING ELBOW! Nina falls and Amale fires up! Amale runs in to rally with big clotheslines and elbows!

Amale hauls Nina up, whips her to a corner and runs in to clothesline! Then BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Fans still rally and Amale drags Nina up. Amale waistlocks but Nina fights! Nina drop toeholds Amale into ropes, but Amale elbows back! Nina runs in but Amale drop toeholds her into buckles! Amale runs side to side, for the BOOT WASH! Amale drags Nina up and fans chant “OUI! OUI! OUI!” for the HOPEBREAKER! High stack cover, Amale wins!

Winner: Amale, by pinfall

Another great win for Amale, but will it be enough to convince management she deserves a title opportunity? Amale tells Blair, Eliza and Isla that they better be watching, because they’re next!

NXT UK Media catches up with Oliver Carter.

He gets another check up with the trainer, and he knows they want to know how his leg is doing. It’s all good, but then Trent Seven walks over to say, “But is it, though? Because to me, Oliver Carter, that looks like a very, very heavily bandaged and braced left knee.” What Seven suggests is Carter just gives up now and lets Seven go the finals. Go on, say it. Carter will say it. If Carter remembers last time, when Carter & Smith faced Seven & Bate, they made Moustache Mountain into ex-champions.

Seven says yes, that did happen. But it was also the most important and pivotal moment in Seven’s career. Because now, the WWE Universe and Carter get to see the REAL Trent seven. And the real Trent Seven will break that leg!

Ilja Dragunov speaks.

“This is my message for every competitor in the NXT UK Championship Tournament. Impressive, inspiring, how every single one of you are willing to give everything they have for this prestigious prize. And I’m curious to know who will take my place as the champion. But pay attention to the wording: MY place. Whoever you will be, you better sleep well, fight hard, because the second, the very second I will be back, I will throw my entire existence in front of you in a way you haven’t ever seen before. Long Live the Czar!”

Andre Chase & Bodhi Hayward w/ Thea Hail VS Eddie Dennis & Saxon Huxley!

The former headmaster crashed a lecture, and now Professor Chase and his star pupil are ready to give him a #TeachableMoment! But will the Welsh Dragon be able to guide the Divine Beast of the Astral Plane to victory? Or will they fail Chase U’s test?

Dennis is already trying to teach Huxley some self control in his energy, but Huxley just runs the ropes like the wild man he is! The teams sort out and fans taunt Dennis as he starts against Chase. The teachers circle, tie up, and Chase wrenches the arm. Chase hits an ELBOW BREAKER, then wristlocks. Dennis spins through, wrenches and waistlocks then spins Chase for an arm-drag! Dennis tells Huxley to learn from that catch-as-catch-can! Chase and Dennis reset and circle again. They tie up, Dennis wrenches to a wristlock but Chase rolls, handsprings and lips through to a top wristlock and arm-drag!

Chase SLAPS Dennis on the head! That was a TEACHABLE MOMENT! Dennis rushes in, but into a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! The fans spell out Chase U as Chase stomps away on Dennis! Chase clinches Dennis, brings him over and tags in Bodhi. Feed into the shoulder then Bodhi slingshots to sunset flip! Cover, TWO! Bodhi stays on Dennis with a wrench and tag back to Chase. Chase CLUBS the arm, wrenches it, then hooks it. Tag back to Bodhi, and he CLUBS the arm! Bodhi wrenches and wristlocks and tags Chase back in. Chase goes up the corner for AX HANDLES! Chase wrenches but Dennis knees low!

Dennis wrenches and brings Chase over to tag in Huxley! Huxley goes up, but Chase pulls Dennis in, Huxley AX HANDLES Dennis! Huxley and Dennis argue about the miscommunication, and Dennis shoves Huxley, into a roll-up from Chase! TWO and Dennis realizes he almost made a mistake! Chase kicks Huxley, EuroUppers, but runs into a cheap shot from Dennis! Chase DECKS Dennis for it, then dodges Huxley, only for the THESZ PRESS to hit on the return! Huxley dribbles Chase and Bodhi protests! Huxley runs and drops the BIG elbow! Cover, ONE!! Huxley drags Chase up to bump him off buckles!

Tag to Dennis and Dennis stomps Chase. Fans rally for Chase and he fires body shots back! Dennis whips and CLOBBERS Chase! Cover, TWO! Dennis clamps onto Chase and gets an arm for a cording hold. Chase fights up, Huxley tags in and he KNEES Chase low. Huxley throws body shots but Chase JABS and JABS! Chase whips but Huxley blocks to reverse hard! Huxley then whips Chase and clotheslines in the other corner! Huxley whips again, then runs in to clothesline from behind! Huxley whips Chase again, and again, and Chase is being worn out by the buckles! Dennis shouts at Huxley, “What’re you doing, ya moron?!”

Huxley stomps whipping Chase around and Dennis tells him to finish it off! But Chase avoids the elbow drop! Fans rally up and Chase crawls, as does Huxley! Hot tags to Bodhi and Dennis! Bodhi CLOBBERS Dennis over and over, then runs through him to run him over! Bodhi fires up and STANDING SPLASHES! Cover, Huxley breaks it! Huxley drags Bodhi up to whip but Bodhi reverses and sends Huxley out! Dennis JABS Bodhi, hoists him up, and hits a BIG back suplex! Tag to Huxley and Huxley goes right up top! FLYING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Bodhi survives but Huxley fires up! Huxley double hand grips but Dennis tags in?

Huxley is confused, and not just because he’s crazy. Huxley says Dennis is a horrible teacher but Dennis says he’ll finish this off! Dennis drags Bodhi up but Huxley storms off! Dennis reels Bodhi in, but Bodhi back drops free! Tag to Chase! Bodhi spins Dennis around, Gory Especial, and Chase runs, ROLLING COMPLETE SHOT!! Cover, Chase U wins!!

Winners: Andre Chase & Bodhi Hayward, by pinfall

Dennis just learned that students only learn when teachers aren’t complete jerks! Huxley gets back in the ring to say as much but Dennis says its Huxley’s fault. So Huxley grabs Dennis for the TWO HAND CHOKE POWERBOMB! Huxley is running wild, and he chest bumps Bodhi! Chase shakes Huxley’s hand instead, will we see the wild man in Chase U some day?

NXT UK takes a closer look at the coming Heritage Cup Championship rematch.

Noam Dar says that NXT UK isn’t just here to watch the game, they’re here to change the game. That’s why they’re the only brand to use the Heritage Cup Rounds style. Mark Coffey adds that no one else has this. No one else produces the toughness that the UK does. The physical toughness, and the mental toughness. Dar says there’s nothing more competitive, and Mark says it’s like having six matches in one go. Step up or step aside! If you think you can do this, then EFFING C’MON THEN! That is what this cup is all about!

Mark says the Heritage Cup represents the history of pro-wrestling in the UK, and it is his honor to be carrying that forward. Dar says heritage is about giving thanks and praise to the legacy of this sport. James Mason, Johnny Moss, Robbie Brookside, Johnny Saint. Without those men, this brand wouldn’t be here. They do not let the past die. Mark is carrying their legacy while carving his own right next to theirs. Dar says to “all those old boys watching,” pat yourselves on the back. But Dar is here now, and all the levels those legends have set, Dar will best them. They can start thanking Dar now.

Mark says Dar is perhaps the greatest Heritage Cup Champion there’s ever been, but he also said he’d beat Dar without Sha in his corner, and look what happened. Dar isn’t here to talk about Sha. It’s never been about Sha, it’s been about Dar. Mark says Dar is lost without his corner man. But Dar says he’ll put away all the doubt and questions in the rematch. Fight IQ beats toughness, just like chess beats checkers, and like Dar beats Mark. Mark will bust through those rounds, those walls, and through Dar! Mark says the legacy is in his hands, because it is GALLUS’ KINGDOM! Next week, who wins the epic rematch to prove they are THE Heritage Cup Champion?

Vacated NXT UK Championship Tournament, Opening Round: Tyler Bate VS Kenny Williams!

Oliver Carter beat Charlie Dempsey and Trent Seven beat Wolfgang, giving us one semifinal match. Joe Coffey beat Mark Andrews to start the night, and he waits for the winner of this main event! Will the Big Strong Boy start towards a second NXT UK Championship reign? Or will the Scum of the Earth ruin all of that right here?

The bell rings and the two circle. Fans sing, “We want our Tyler back! We want our Tyler back!” Bate and Kenny tie up, Bate hits a headlock takeover but Kenny headscissors. Bate kips free, and the two stand off. Fans now chant, “Squash the Cockroach!” as Bate and Kenny reset. They tie up again, go around, and Bate wrenches to a wristlock, Kenny hooks a leg, but Bate cranks the wrist and wrangles Kenny. Kenny keeps his shoulder up, kips up, and he wrenches through. Bate rolls, wrenches and wristlocks back! Kenny spins to back elbow Bate! Kenny whips Bate to a corner, Bate goes up and under then knuckle locks to hammerlock.

Bate baits Kenny, goes up and under, baits him again to roll Kenny up, TWO! Bate whips but Kenny goes up, only for Bate to snapmare! Bop up, and Kenny scrambles away! Fans rally and sing for Tyler again as Kenny resets. Kenny offers a handshake, but then he leaves Bate hanging. Oldest trick in the book! Kenny mocks the mustache tweeze, “just like your old pal Trent!” Bate slaps Kenny’s hands away so Kenny SLAPS Bate! Bate DECKS Kenny! Bate fires off hands, Kenny gets in the ropes and the ref counts. Bate lets off, but just for a moment! Kenny pokes Bate in the eye! Kenny CLBOBERS Bate, covers, TWO!

Kenny knuckle locks and covers, TWO as Bate gets an arm up. Kenny puts that arm down, TWO as the other arm comes up! Kenny puts that down, TWO as Bate bridges! Kenny hops on but Bate stays up! Kenny is annoyed, but then Bate powers up more! Bate gets his arms up to do a full neck bridge! Kenny can’t believe it as Bate sits up!! Bate breaks the locks to SLAP Kenny! Bate whips Kenny to a corner, Kenny bounces off buckles into the back drop! Kenny staggers up into a DROPKCIK! Fans rally as Kenny bails out, and Bate builds speed! Kenny gets in as Bate slides out, and Kenny triangle jumps to back elbow!

Bate goes down and fans boo, but Kenny builds speed! Bate dodges the wrecking ball dropkick, and he pops Kenny up to a fireman’s carry! AIRPLANE SPIN! But Kenny grabs the post to stop that! Bate lets off, rushes in but Kenny sends him into the post! And then WRINGS him into the barriers! Kenny scurries into the ring and we’re at 6 of 10 on the ring count! Bate is up and in at 8! Kenny stomps away on Bate, fans rally but Kenny paces around. Fans chant, “Let’s Go, Tyler!” “Kenny Sucks!” so they’re really all on the same page. Kenny stands Bate up to DECK him! Kenny mocks the Big Strong Boy and he stomps again! Kenny covers, TWO!

Kenny CLAWS Bate’s back, then HIP DROPS him down! Kenny talks some trash, scuffs Bate’s face, then covers again, TWO! Kenny drags Bate up, shove shim and RAMS into him! Fans rally, Kenny shoves and RAMS Bate again, then whips him to ropes. Bate sunset flips but Kenny stays up! Bate avoids the fist drop, then CHOSP Kenny! Bate ROCKS and CHOPS again, whips corner to corner hard, and Kenny bounces off buckles! Bate fires off on Kenny at the ropes, then whips him to ropes. Kenny catches Bate for a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Kenny mockingly applauds Bate for surviving, and the fans rally up again.

Kenny rains down fists on Bate’s head, then CLOBBERS Bate with a crossface forearm! Cover, TWO! Kenny is frustrated but fans rally up more. Kenny HIP DROPS again, then clamps on with a chinlock. Kenny throws more of those crossface forearms, then sits on the neck wrench. Bate endures and fans rally up. Bate powers up to Electric Chair Lift Kenny, for the DROP! Fans rally as the standing count starts. Bate sits up but Kenny follows. Bate EuroUppers Kenny, and again, and again! Kenny kicks low and whips Bate to a corner. Kenny runs in, blocks a boot but not the KNEE! Bate then goes up to FLYING UPPERCUT!

Fans fire up as Kenny flounders! Bate runs in at the corner to EuroUpper! Bate whips, Kenny reverses, but Bate catches Kenny for an EXPLODER! Bate kips up and fans fire up! STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO! Fans rally behind Bate and he hauls Kenny up. Kenny throws elbows to fight the fireman’s carry. Bate EuroUppers, and again, but Kenny backslides! TWO, and Kenny CHOP BLOCKS! Kenny fireman’s carries, to ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! Cover, TWO! Fans rally again as the standing count returns. Bate and Kenny sit up at 5m and Kenny yanks Bate in! BAD- NO! No Bad Luck here as Bate swings Kenny around!

Bate fireman’s carries Kenny for the AIRPLANE SPIN! Fans count all the way to 11, but Kenny grabs the ropes! Bate pulls him away to keep going! The count is now 20, and Bate SLAMS Kenny down! Bate wobbles but the fans rally behind him! Kenny stands up, they both stagger, but Bate dodges, DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! Fans fire up for the “UK! UK!” and another standing count begins. Kenny and Bate sit up at 6, Kenny throws wrist tape at Bate before throwing a sucker punch! Bate hits back, then ROCKS Kenny with more forearms! They both stand, Bate CHOPS and Kenny wobbles!

Bate ROCKS, CHOPS, repeat, but Kenny kicks the leg! Bop up, but Kenny BOOTS! Kenny boots but Bate blocks this one! Bate EuroUppers Kenny, and blocks the yoyo for BANG! Kenny tumbles out, Bate builds speed and FLIES! Direct hit into the barriers! Fans are thunderous as Bate puts Kenny in! Kenny crawls but Bate drags him back and deadlifts for the GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Fans rally behind Bate and he huffs and puffs while pacing around Kenny. Bate brings Kenny up, underhooks him, for the TYLER DRI- NO, Kenny slips out to BAD- NO! No Bad Luck, Bate deadlifts Kenny again!

But Kenny runs forward to HOTSHOT Bate on the ropes! Bate sputters, Kenny rolls him up! Feet on the ropes!! TWO!! Bate escapes on his own as the ref missed that! Kenny ELBOWS Bate away, goes up the corner, and leaps back, into a waistlock! GERMAN SUPLEX!! Fans fire up again and Bate runs, rebound LARIAT! Bate gets Kenny up again, for the TYLER DRIVER 97!! Cover, Bate wins!!

Winner: Tyler Bate, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

And the Big Strong Boy is a semifinalist! And those matches are both happening next week! Will Bate return to an NXT UK Championship Tournament Finals?

My Thoughts:

A great episode for NXT UK, but unfortunately so much of this is made meaningless by the massive spoilers on NXT Heatwave, and the news about WWE transforming NXT UK into NXT Europe. It seems Worlds Collide 2022 is happening, and on September 4th to A) follow up WWE Clash at the Castle on the 3rd, and B) counter program against AEW All Out. On top of that news, there is news that a handful of NXT UK wrestlers are let go as of today, some of which we just saw today. Joe Coffey and Mark Andrews had a very good opening match to move the NXT UK Championship tournament along. Joe moves on as Gallus is getting to look strong right about now, and the entirety of South Wales Subculture is moving on from the WWE.

Very good match from Amale and Nina, and with Amale being part of that NXT UK Women’s Championship contender story, she wins and stays in the company while Nina Samuels is moving on from WWE. Good promo from Ilja Dragunov to remind everyone that he will be back, and he will definitely have a great match against the new NXT UK Champion *cough* Bate */cough* in the future. Great promo between Carter and Seven to hype up their match, that’ll be a lot of fun but I fully expect Seven to win to meet Bate in the finals. Really fun match out of Chase U, Dennis and Huxley, but I had a feeling Chase U would win to make Dennis look like a doofus.

Great vignette for Dar VS Mark 3, but some of those lines already haven’t aged well with the news we just got. This match could go either way because Gallus’ appearance on NXT Heatwave didn’t show Mark with the cup, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still Heritage Cup Champion. We’ll just have to wait and see, since Gallus is also going after the NXT UK Tag Team Championships next Tuesday. And we got a great main event match out of Bate VS Williams, the fans had a lot of fun having Bate back in action, and even without the spoilers, of course Bate wins to move on. Bate VS Coffey is going to be great, but of course Bate is going to win.

My Score: 8.4/10