NXT UK results: Ilja Dragunov vs. Alexander Wolfe

Taped at Bonus Arena in Hull, England on November 15, 2019

Quick results —

• Trent Seven pinned NXT regular Kona Reeves in a quick bout.
• A-Kid submitted Jack Starz in a short, but very technical match.
• The Grizzled Young Veterans pleaded with Johnny Saint to be given a Tag Team title shot at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II.
• Ridge Holland looked impressive in his NXT UK debut, defeating Oliver Carter.
• in the main event, Alexander Wolfe defeated Ilja Dragunov in a very good match after some distraction by Imperium. Gallus ran out to make the save for Dragunov after and the two factions will battle next week.

Full rundown —

Trent Seven pinned Kona Reeves after the Birminghammer (3:24)

This was Reeves’ second guest appearance on NXT UK, after doing battle with Dave Mastiff back over WrestleMania weekend. Reeves cut a promo on his way to the ring, berating the audience and calling himself a real star. He called Seven out of shape and told him he was not a real superstar.

Seven started out strong and beat on Reeves, but the Hawaiian turned the tables on him and pulled his face under the apron from the outside. Reeves then unloaded punches on the veteran of British Strong Style.

Seven came back with a snap dragon suplex for a near fall, then clotheslined Reeves to the outside and followed up with a dive. He missed a reverse somersault plancha from the top, but came back with the Seven Star Lariat for another two count.

Reeves came back with a headbutt and went for a forward rolling senton, but Seven escaped and hit the Birminghammer for the victory.

Seven went to slap hands with the fans after the match, when his hand was caught by a fan who turned out to be Eddie Dennis. Seven struggled to release his hand from Dennis’ grip, and Dennis just smiled at him as Seven looked confused.

– Radzi Chinyanganya interviewed Ilja Dragunov on his way into the building about his match with Alexander Wolfe later tonight. Dragunov acknowledged that Wolfe had been his trainer back in Dresden, Germany and had been a good and strict teacher.

Dragunov also claimed that Wolfe had always tried to make decisions for him and this would end tonight. Dragunov said he would finally step out of the shadow of Wolfe.

– A graphic plugged NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II from Blackpool, England on January 12 and also announced the show already had sold out in two hours.

A-Kid defeated Jack Starz by submission with a flying omoplata (4:07)

They locked up and A-Kid immediately transitioned into an armbar on the ground. Starz rolled out and they ended up on the mat again and traded holds. Both men showed some very good athleticism, trading submissions and counters in quick succession.

A-Kid transitioned from an armbar into a triangle, but Starz powerbombed his way out of it. A-Kid went for a backslide for a near fall, then transitioned into a flying omoplata for the win.

– Radzi interviewed Jinny and Jazzy Gabert backstage. Jinny called the state of the NXT UK’s women’s division cheap, like Radzi’s outfit. She said that the roster consisted of little girls and bashed both Rhea Ripley and Piper Niven.

Jinny called herself championship material and stated that Niven had never pinned her. Both statements drew barely noticeable annoyed looks from Gabert, so there may be some trouble with these two further down the line.

– Tom Philips and Nigel McGuinness were on camera and plugged the main event of Dragunov vs. Wolfe, when the Grizzled Young Veteran’s music played and they walked out in suits. 

Grizzled Young Veterans in-ring segment

Gibson talked about how they still should be champions — if not for the three-way stipulation being added to their Tag Team title match at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff. They said they would bounce back and had Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster beaten a few weeks ago until Gallus and Imperium interfered.

Gibson complained that neither faction had been fined or reprimanded and called out Johnny Saint and Sid Scala on the issue. He said they were on their way to making the NXT UK Tag Team titles the most prestigious in WWE. He said just like Bill Shankly, all they wanted was to make the people happy. He called on Johnny Saint to make things right.

Gibson said Saint needed them at TakeOver: Blackpool so that the whole world would talk about the Tag Team title match.

– Jordan Devlin was backstage with a big television screen. He introduced an NXT UK highlight video that just consisted of him hitting various moves as he talked about the footage. He then made fun of A-Kid, saying the endorsement by Tyler Bate meant nothing. Devlin challenged A-Kid to a match next week.

Ridge Holland defeated Oliver Carter after hitting Northern Grit (4:05)

Holland (Luke Menzies) made his NXT UK debut here after having wrestled on NXT television a few times last year.

Menzies, 31, is a former professional rugby player who went into pro wrestling in early 2016 and was trained by Marty Jones. He wrestled for 3 Count Wrestling, Tidal Championship Wrestling, and others in the UK before attending a WWE tryout in late 2016 and being signed to a deal.

Holland made his television debut in May of 2018 against Keith Lee and was repackaged as Ridge Holland in June. He wrestled on NXT’s Florida house show circuit before finally coming back to his native country here.

Holland came to the ring carrying a wooden club. His trainer, Marty Jones, was shown cheering him on in the front row.

Holland threw Carter off his back, then no sold his offense and hit a high-angle judo-style hip toss. Carter came back with an enzuigiri to the back of the head, a kick, and a flying crossbody, but Holland caught him with an overhead suplex. He hit a number of uppercuts, blocked a backslide attempt, and hit another overhead suplex.

Holland applied a choke, but Carter eventually escaped and hit a backflip kick into the corner. Carter missed a quebrada, then was sent flying from a huge pounce. Holland then hit Northern Grit for the pinfall victory.

Ashton Smith came out to check on Carter, with Holland throwing him a nasty look.

– A recap of Joseph Conners attacking Travis Banks and Ligero was shown. Footage then aired of Banks and Ligero complaining about Conners. Conners was interviewed and just smiled and said he was happy to have been leaving a good impression on everyone.

– Ashton Smith and Oliver Carter were walking backstage when Noam Dar showed up and made fun of them. Smith challenged him for a match next week. Dar said he’d see him on his time.

– A graphic announced Piper Niven vs. Jinny for next week.

Alexander Wolfe pinned Ilja Dragunov after a sit-down powerbomb (16:45)

They locked up and immediately were all over each other for the first minute of the match. Wolfe finally shoved Dragunov away, with him motioning to Wolfe to bring some more. Dragunov hit a crossbody and they ended up at ringside, with Wolfe driving Dragunov’s back hard into the barricade.

Wolfe got a camera cable, but the referee watched him and he threw it down again. Dragunov went for the Six One Line, but Wolfe moved out of the way and Dragunov missed a double axe handle from the top to the outside.

Wolfe kicked the rope as Dragunov re-entered the ring, crotching him. Wolfe then hit a draping neckbreaker. He went for a sleeper, but Dragunov came back with a big chop.

Wolfe caught him with a kick to the face, then worked him over some more and hit a low dropkick to the back. Wolfe threw Dragunov to ringside, then grabbed a chair from the ring announcer, but threw it away and kicked Dragunov instead.

Wolfe applied a chinlock back in the ring, but Dragunov came back and eventually hit a jumping kick and a back suplex. They traded hard shots and elbows, with Dragunov coming out on top with some quick Kobashi strikes.

Dragunov hit an enzuigiri, a knee strike in the corner, and a lariat. He it another one in the corner and went for a top rope senton, but Wolfe hit an uppercut. Dragunov finally struck him down and hit a bombs away knee drop, then a Gotch-style powerbomb for a two count.

Dragunov then hit an impressive Gotch-style bridging deadlift German suplex for another two count. He went up top again, but Wolfe rolled into the opposite corner. Dragunov adapted and hit a coast-to-coast dropkick for a close near fall. He finally hit the top rope senton, but Wolfe got his knees up.

Wolfe went for a German suplex of his own, but his legs gave out. He followed up with a big boot and eventually a bridging German suplex for a two count. They battled on the top rope and Wolfe hit a superplex for another near fall. They traded hard slaps until Dragunov hit a back-fist that knocked Wolfe down.

Dragunov went for Torpedo Moscow, but Wolfe stopped it. Dragunov hit the Six One Line and set up for Torpedo Moscow again, but this time Imperium looked to interfere. Dragunov knocked down Barthel and Aichner. He went for the finish once more, but Wolfe caught him with a DDT in mid-air for a near fall. Wolfe then hit the sit-down powerbomb for the pin.

Imperium swarmed Dragunov after the match and stomped him, but Gallus quickly ran out for the save. WALTER briefly was alone with all three Gallus members, but Imperium pulled him out of the ring.

WALTER went to grab his championship belt, but Joe Coffey also grabbed it and they had a brief tug-of-war, with WALTER screaming at him to let go. WALTER finally yanked the belt free and Imperium retreated as Gallus posed in the ring and the show went off the air.

In a post-match WWE.com exclusive video, Imperium were backstage talking among themselves when Gallus and Dragunov barged down the hallway and they almost came to blows. Sid Scala and Johnny Saint separated them. The GM team then declared that Imperium will face Gallus & Dragunov in an eight-man tag team match next week.

Next week —

Jordan Devlin challenged A-Kid for next week and Ashton Smith challenged Noam Dar. Neither match was confirmed, but both seem likely. Jinny will battle Piper Niven. In the main event, Imperium will face off with Gallus & Ilja Dragunov