NXT UK results: Ilja Dragunov vs. Rampage Brown title match
Report —
The show opened with a highlight video for Dragunov vs. Brown tonight.
NXT UK Women’s Championship: Meiko Satomura defeated Xia Brookside to retain the title (07:58)
Satomura controlled Brookside early on. Brookside got the upper hand, but got overwhelmed again in short order. Satomura applied an arm bar around the five minute mark, but Brookside made the ropes, then went on the attack once more. Satomura missed an enzuigiri and Brookside scored a near-fall after a codebreaker, then threw a tantrum when she couldn’t score a three-count.
Satomura hit the Death Valley Driver, then finished Brookside off with Scorpion Rising for the successful title defense.
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Charlie Dempsey and Rohan Raja were at an apartment, Raja suggested they go to the roof. As they looked over the city, Raja said that Teoman sent his gratitude and asked Dempsey what was important to him. He said legacy and heritage were important, and he knew it was the same for Raja. Raja had been on the phone with Teoman and welcomed Dempsey to “the familia.” They shook hands.
Meiko Satomura was greeted backstage by Emilia McKenzie and was asked about her future plans. Satomura said she would be going home to Japan for a few weeks. Blair Davenport then walked up and asked Emilia McKenzie what she was going to do without her only friend there to protect her? McKenzie said she would be just fine and Davenport challenged her to a match, which Emilia accepted. Davenport also told Satomura to bring her back a present from Japan.
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Saxon Huxley beat Kenny Williams (08:14)
This was a rematch from a few weeks ago, where Williams cheated to win.
Williams threw his jacket at Huxley at the bell, but Huxley caught it and started dismantling Williams. He hit a running crossbody into the ropes, then followed Williams to ringside and leveled him with a clothesline. Back in the ring, Huxley kept up the attacks and ragdolled Williams around.
Williams ducked a corner attack and Huxley tumbled to the outside. Williams attacked him there, then kept the pressure on in the ring. Williams hit a sit-down splash onto Huxley’s back for a near-fall, then worked over Huxley’s knees and upper legs.
Huxley came back and deadlifted Williams into a gorilla press. Huxley missed and elbow from the middle rope, allowing Williams to hit a running DDT. Suddenly, Subculture’s music played and Williams, like an idiot, ignored his opponent and got on the ropes, looking towards the entrance.
Huxley hit a hip attack into the corner, then hit a fireman’s carry into a powerbomb for the win.
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Sha Samuels had a board with odds for various challengers to the NXT UK Cup. Sam Gradwell was at the bottom with 4000 to 1 odds. He walked in and took offense, then challenged Samuels for next week and bet 10 pounds on himself, at the same odds.
A graphic announced Blair Davenport vs. Emilia McKenzie for next week, plus Pretty Deadly vs. Moustache Mountain for the NXT UK tag team titles. They then aired a very good hype video with great promos by both teams.
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NXT UK championship: Ilja Dragunov defeated Rampage Brown by referee stoppage to retain the title (08:50)
They locked up, Brown backed Dragunov into the corner, but the champion evaded a big punch and shortly thereafter, a back elbow, then hit a chop of his own.
Brown finally hit a punch off a break in the corner, but Dragunov immediately punished him with strikes, then trapped Brown in a side headlock, not even breaking the hold off a backdrop driver. Dragunov locked the hold on twice more off whips, but eventually had to release after another high-angle suplex.
They ended at ringside, and Brown repeatedly rammed Dragunov into the corner posts. Brown repeatedly slammed Dragunov, then started working over the champion’s lower back.
Dragunov briefly fought back with kicks off his back, but Brown kept attacking relentlessly. Dragunov escaped a Doctor Bomb attempt, then managed a back body drop off a powerbomb attempt. Dragunov managed to hit an enzuigiri out of desperation that put down Brown hard.
A replay showed Dragunov’s toe hitting Brown in the temple or jaw. The doctor checked him out and the referee called a stop to the contest.
Final thoughts —
The main event was great while it lasted, but it looked like a legitimate Referee/doctor stoppage and a very anticlimactic finish. I hope this leads to a rematch down the line.
The other two matches were fine, but not very memorable. Other than the first seven minutes of the main event, the highlights of the show were the Charlie Dempsey/Rohan Raja segment and the Pretty Deadly and Moustache Mountain promos.
Next week —
- NXT UK Tag Team Championship: Pretty Deadly (c) vs. Moustache Mountain
- Blair Davenport vs. Emilia McKenzie