#wwe nxt uk takeover cardiff

[hazyheel]

WWE NXT UK 7/31/19

We opened with Johnny Saint and Sid Scala, cutting a promo about Takeover Cardiff. Right as they were about to start talking, Imperium interrupted, saying that since they showed up on the scene, the GM’s lost their power. The two men actually gave up their mics, and Walter demanded to know who would be challenging him at Takeover Cardiff. He has beat down everyone in his path, so who can possibly stand up to him. Just then, Tyler Bate’s music hit. Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner ran up the ramp to confront him, but he ran in from behind and started the brawl with Walter. The other Imperium members tried to run to his aid, but Bate sent them all out of the ring, only for referees and other wrestlers to run down and try to separate everyone. As the pullapart was happening, Scala announced that Bate would be the number one contender for the WWE UK Championship.

Grade: B+. Really good stuff here. It was an exciting return, a fun brawl, and the GM’s got some of their power back. Since they only ever appear backstage, it felt special that they were out in the ring. This was a high profile setup for what is bound to be the main event of Takeover Cardiff, and it worked really well. It’ll be hard to root against Bate during that match, but I will try my best because I love Walter. 

Up next was Gallus vs. Pretty Deadly. I don’t know who pretty deadly were, but the second I saw them I wanted them to be destroyed. Mark Coffey and Wolfgang represented Gallus. Howly and Wolfgang started things off, with Howly showing a bit of his agility, but he quickly got his ass kicked. Even when one of Pretty Deadly got a hot tag, they were beaten down. Gallus won with an ensiguri from Mark, followed by a powerslam from Wolfgang. 

Gallus then cut a promo, saying that they wanted some gold to control their kingdom. They proclaimed a challenge to Grizzled Young Veterans for the NXT UK Tag Team Championships, and they walked off. 

Grade: B-. Harmless squash, followed by an interesting challenge. I don’t think that Gallus vs. GYV will be the match at Takeover, but maybe a triple threat? I have no clue who the other team would be though. I can’t think of anyone at all. Could be fun though, multi man tag matches are exciting. 

Backstage, Jordan Devlin confronted Sid Scala about not having a rematch against Walter. He was complaining, when Scala booked him in the main event against Alexander Wolfe. Interesting, sounds like a nice match.

Then we had an interview with Dave Mastiff. He talked about Joe Coffey, and how they will have a face to face next week. He said that he is going to absolutely batter him after they talk a bit, and he can’t wait for it. Yeah, this match is probably going to Takeover. Mastiff is kinda like the Braun Strowman of NXT UK. They aren’t really willing to push him in a meaningful way, but they want to keep him strong in the midcard for no reason. Hopefully I’m wrong, because Mastiff is fun to watch. 

Then we had Rhea Ripley vs. a local talent. The jobber had some offense early on, but got shoved away onto her stomach and was beaten down for a couple minutes. She hit Riptide quickly and won. 

Grade: B-. Inoffensive squash.

Then we had a video package about Toni Storm and Kay Lee Ray. The two were friends right up until this championship match. She was thrilled to see Ray show up in NXT UK, but it wasn’t what she thought it would be. She said that Ray has changed, and Ray said that she will destroy Storm, because she knows exactly what to expect from her. Alrighty, nothing too groundbreaking here. 

Then we saw a video package of Eddie Dennis, detailing his surgery and injury. He blamed the fans for pushing the wrestlers too far, saying that we don’t like their matches unless there are exciting moves. He said that he has done nothing wrong. Intersting gimmick change, a lot like Sami Zayn though.

And in the main event, we had Jordan Devlin vs. Alexander Wolfe. They started with a bit of a lock up, and felt each other out a bit. They did some nice chain wrestling, which came to a complete stop with a slap to the face from Devlin. Devlin continued to try for some mind games, but it only angered Wolfe who beat down Devlin whenever he could land even a slight shot. Devlin was landing shots here and there, but couldn’t hit some of his bigger power moves due to Wolfe’s size, while Wolfe constantly used power moves to keep Devlin down. Wolfe worked over Devlin’s ribs and midsection in a general strategy to keep him down. At one point, Wolfe gave Devlin an inverted X plex onto the top rope, and Devlin bounced off and landed on the back of his head. Devlin fought back hard, getting a rollup into a double stomp, and then a slingboard cutter. The two then dueled on the mat, firing palm strikes back and forth over and over. Devlin got the advantage after a headbutt, but when he tried for his finisher, his ribs hurt too much. So instead, he kicked him in the head a couple times, which prompted Wolfe to nail a forearm. The two then jockeyed for position on a german suplex, with Wolfe nailing one after dodging a high kick. Devlin stayed in it with another high kick, but Wolfe dodged the follow up moonsault and hit a pump kick, and planted him with a high angle powerbomb for the win. 

Grade: B+. Really good match here. I never realized how good of a wrestler that Wolfe was until this match. Devlin really brought something good out in him. They had a good contest that went strike for strike, but it was the strength advantage that sealed it for Wolfe in the end. Good match and a hell of a main event. Match of the night. 

After the main event, Tyler Bate called out Walter backstage. He said that Walter thought he could take him out, but the big strong boy won’t stay down. He will fight for his friends and take his championship. I’m into that. 

[batmanbeyondrocks]

Here’s a song for you… Brick by Brick Junior

[frentique]

[christoplack]

Here's the top rope coming off after Mastiff threw Coffey into the turnbuckle. Again, this was completely by design. It adds a very unique element to the match.

[youraveragewrestlinggiffer]

[straightedgesavior434]

Cesaro just swung an adult man by the ankles for 40 seconds

[rawsmackdownnxtdivas]

Who will walk away with the NXT Women's Title?

[shikiyoshi]

Not seeing a lot of buzz here for NXT UK Takeover Cardiff, which is a shame because it’s been very good so far.

[thebuginthecornerofyourroom]

These people are ready for a full-on war

[storm-of-wrestling]

[hazyheel]

NXT UK Takeover: Cardiff Predictions

Ah NXT UK, an often overlooked part of the WWE Network. It took a while to hit its groove, but it’s now a pretty consistent good show. This is a pretty big show, but it seems like it is being overshadowed by All Out and Royal Quest. But I think that it’ll still be good, even great! Here my predictions for NXT UK Takeover: Cardiff. 

Noam Dar vs. Travis Banks: this was sorta a match to get two deserving stars on the show. The feud was short and sweet. Dar felt he was entitled to a match at takeover, while Banks was pissed that he takes for granted what Banks himself lost at Takeover Blackpool. Dar then taunted Banks about it, and Sid Scala booked the match. I think that Dar wins this, because he is kinda on a roll, and this isn’t the time to stop him. Should be a really good to great match, I’m definitely looking forward to it. 

Dave Mastiff vs. Joe Coffey in a Last Man Standing Match: Now this is a feud. Two big guys that just couldn’t settle their differences, so now they have to have a violent match where one man won’t be able to walk away on his own. I don’t really remember when this all started, but I know that Mastiff teamed with the Hunt against all of Gallus in a 6 man tag, with Gallus getting the win. Mastiff and Coffey then had a brutal match where they both really layed into each other, only for it to end in a double countout. The match was made Last Man Standing after that. I think Mastiff will win, because it seems like he is important enough to get the win here. He should win this, and then maybe get a match against Walter soon. This hoss fight will be violent and awesome, I’m think it’ll be quite fun.

Gallus vs. Grizzled Young Veterans vs. The South Wales Subculture for the NXT UK Tag Team Championships: Just to be clear who is in this match, it is Mark Coffey and Wolfgang vs. James Drake and Zack Gibson vs. Flash Morgan Webster and Mark Andrews. This started with The Grizzled Young Vets complaining about having no real competition, and Gallus challenged them. However, after that, Andrews and Webster showed up and said that the only reason they aren’t being considered for this match was some unfortunate injuries. Andrews and Webster then had to beat each member of the Gallus team in singles matches to qualify, and they did. This is actually a match I’m looking forward to. I love Gibson, Drake, Webster and Andrews, and while I’m not a huge Gallus guy, I think they will have their place. I’m really into tag matches, and there is a lot of great talent here. I don’t think that the vets will lose though. The deck was stacked against them to give them something to complain about and for them to be given a genuine challenge. They will win here, but I could see the Subculture taking it from them later. I think this’ll be pretty good. 

Kay Lee Ray vs. Toni Storm for the NXT UK Women’s Championship: once again, started out with a simple #1 contendership situation. Kay Lee Ray won a Women’s battle royal for a championship match, and asked for it at Takeover. Later, they revealed the history between Storm and Ray, where they used to be friends, but Ray has been corrupted since coming to NXT UK. Meanwhile, Ray used this knowledge of Storm to absolutely murder her on the mic, going as far as saying that it was Storm’s is such an awful person that her dad left her as a kid. So Ray is living rent free in Storm’s head. This should be a great match. Storm is awesome, and Ray looks pretty good from what I’ve seen too. I think that Storm will retain, but Ray is probably the gal to take it from her. We just need some babyface wins here and there. 

Tyler Bate vs. Walter for the WWE UK Championship: David vs. Goliath. This is like Hogan and Andre, except with two incredible in ring competitors beyond charisma. This all started during Pete Dunne and Walter’s rematch for the title. Dunne looked like he was going to win, when Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner ran in to Walter’s aid. The three then formed Imperium, and started to feud with British Strong Style: Bate, Dunne, and Trent Seven. They had a 6 man tag against each other, but Alexander Wolfe ran in to join Imperium and win them the match. Since then, Imperium has ruled NXT UK and decimated all three members of British Strong Style. Dunne basically disappeared for a few months, eventually resurfacing in NXT proper. Walter powerbombed Bate on the apron to put him out of action for a few weeks, and forced Seven to watch. Walter then destroyed Seven in a one on one match, powerbombing him until the ref stopped the match. Later on, Walter asked Sid Scala and Johnny Saint who would step up for a match at Takeover, when Bate returned like a knight in shining armor. Seven returned a bit later, so Bate has some support in the match. This is a phenomenal story, to the point where I’m totally marking out and rooting for Bate despite my love for Walter, and I’m excited to see the match. This is what I’m most looking forward to, and I think it’ll be great. However, I doubt that Walter loses this. I think that they are building it all up so that Walter can smash everyone’s hopes to the ground. That is what Imperium is, so they need to do it. It’ll be deflating, depressing, hopeless, and will get the exact reaction that they are looking for. 

[blueonwrestling]

i fucking loved dave mastiff and joe coffey’s last man standing

BIG LADS AGAIN BEATING THE FUCK OUTTA EACH OTHER.

[frentique]

[christoplack]

Mastiff grabbed two chairs, handed one to Joe Coffey and they proceeded to run into each other. As Vic Joseph noted, this was a human demolition.