NXT UK results: Heritage Cup semifinal match, Joe Coffey returns

By Markus Gronemann
Published: 5 Nov 2020, 13:55

Quick results:

A-Kid beat Noam Dar to advance to the Heritage Cup finals
Gallus beat Sam Gradwell & Pretty Deadly
Jinny beat Aleah James which eventually led to a Kay Lee Rae vs. Piper Niven falls count anywhere NXT UK Women’s title match being made for two weeks.

Show Recap:

The show opened with clips from last week’s five star main event between NXT UK Champion WALTER and Ilja Dragunov, a match Dave Meltzer called “probably the most brutal match in WWE history”. There was a voiceover from WALTER who said he was the chosen one to represent and restore wrestling. There also was a brief video of Dragunov recovering in the back.

Gallus (Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) beat Sam Gradwell & Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker & Lewis Howley) (9:44)

Joe Coffey made his return here after allegations of sexual misconduct during the #SpeakingOut movement in June. Gradwell also had his first NXT UK match in more than two years; he was part of the early UK Network specials and the very first set of NXT UK tapings and then vanished back into the UK indie scene.

This was mainly a Gallus showcase. Gradwell made a point of provoking Joe Coffey throughout the match and looked good in doing so. Gradwell didn’t care much for Pretty Deadly’s drama either and repeatedly told them to be more serious.

In the end, Joe Coffey pinned Gradwell with his Best for the Bells spinning lariat. This finish also keeps Pretty Deadly’s demand for an NXT UK Tag Team title shot alive.

— There was a promo video for Noam Dar vs. A-Kid in the Heritage Cup semifinals with clips from their last match in March where Dar won after a low blow.

— There was a recap of The Hunt attacking Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews and aligning with Eddie Dennis from last week. Andy Shepherd said Andrews and Webster are not cleared for competition.

— There was a promo video showing Rampage Brown arriving at the NXT UK Performance Center with Sid Scala. He was greeted by Johnny Moss and watched some of the training. Dave Mastiff also warmly greeted him and he went with Scala to sign his contract.

Jinny pinned Aleah James (3:45)

James, who just recently turned 22, made her debut. She was trained at the London School of Lucha Libre and wrestled for RevPro, Schadenfreude & Friends and EVE, among others in the past two years.

Jinny repeatedly argued with the referee including telling her she wasn’t ready yet as the bell rang. Jinny dominated except for a few hope spots James got in. She finished the match with a rolling kick to the head as this was mostly a setup for the angle that followed.

After the match, Jinny cut a promo and talked about being the top woman on the roster. She mentioned Piper Niven, who came out and confronted her, telling her to repeat what she said to her face. As they were arguing, NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray came out and mocked them both. She slid a chair into the ring and told them to show them who had killer instinct. She said she knew Jinny would sell out her own grandmother, but thought that Niven didn’t have it in her.

Jinny then slapped Niven who responded with a headbutt, then picked up the chair and gave Jinny a shot to the back. James tried to calm Niven down, but received a Michinoku Driver for her trouble. Niven then gave one to Jinny on the chair. She then chased down KLR who fled in horror.

— There was a great video with Eddie Dennis and The Hunt. Dennis talked about the symbiotic relationship between man and beast, bringing up a huntsman using his dog to flush a rabbit from his hole. He said he had his own beasts as Primate and Wild Boar appeared from the darkness, wearing animalistic face masks and growling. He said that Andrews claimed they had been friends for 15 years, but that Andrews had used Dennis for 15 years.

He said that Webster claimed that he and Boar were best friends, but that Webster had exploited him. He said Primate (a former soldier in real life) was born on the battlefield, used to following orders and hurt people. He closed the promo by quickly shushing, prompting The Hunt to fall silent. This was really good and got over all three men and their relationship with each other.

— Footage aired showing Niven beating on KLR backstage from during the break. Referees and Scala ran in to break them up, eventually succeeding. Niven grabbed KLR’s championship belt and held it up, throwing it at Scala’s feet as she walked off. A graphic announced a falls count anywhere championship match between the two in two weeks.

— Rampage Brown makes his NXT UK in-ring debut next week while Dave Mastiff faces Trent Seven in the other semifinal match of the Heritage Cup.

As a reminder, the Heritage Cup tournament is being contested under the following rules:

All matches consist of six three minute rounds with 20 second breaks between each round
All matches are 2-out-of-3 falls
Falls can be won by pinfall, submission, or countout
Once a fall occurs, the round ends
The match ends once a wrestler has won two falls
In the event of a disqualification or knockout, the match instantly ends without the need for two falls
If all six rounds are completed, whoever is ahead on falls wins the match.

NXT UK Heritage Cup semifinals: A-Kid beat Noam Dar 2:1 (18:07, but it should have been 16:23)

This was mostly a battle of even opponents with submissions playing a big part in the story of the match. A-Kid going to the finals is a great underdog story.

Round 1:

They traded holds and counters early. A-Kid got the advantage late in the round with a headlock he kept on tight. Dar sat him on the top rope and hit a running kick, sending A-Kid to the outside as the round concluded.

Round 2:

A-Kid started out the round aggressively, but Dar came back. They did a long backslide spot which Dar eventually won. Dar whipped A-Kid into the ropes and went for a schoolboy, but Kid turned it into a submission, eventually transitioning into a crossface. Dar was close to tapping out but was saved by the bell.

Round 3:

A-Kid got an armbar, but Dar turned it into a near fall. Dar eventually locked in an omoplata and A-Kid verbally submitted at 2:04 of the round to go up 1-0.

Round 4:

Dar repeatedly kicked A-Kid, attacking his knee which he had previously worked over. Dar went for a submission, but A-Kid turned it into a bridging pin for the pinfall at 1:25 of the round to tie it up at 1-1.

Round 5:

Dar kicked out A-Kid’s legs when he was on the apron and hit a double-footed kick through the ropes. Dar booted Kid on the outside and went to kiss the trophy at ringside. Kid hit a spinning kick from the apron as the referee was at eight and almost won by countout when Dar made it back at 9.9. Kid hit a high crossbody for a near fall with 30 seconds left. They traded punches and Dar was going for ground and pound as the round ended.

Round 6:

They went tit for tat early in the round and traded pinfall and submission attempts. Dar hit a spinning back elbow that knocked Kid down and went for the Nova Roller, but got hit with a flying head kick as he flew in. A-Kid then locked in an omoplata and locked the other arm with his leg, forcing Dar into submission at 2:14 of the final round to win the match two falls to one, advancing to the Heritage Cup finals.

Next week:

Dave Mastiff faces Trent Seven in the semifinals of the NXT UK Heritage Cup while Rampage Brown makes his debut.