BRM Reviews the 3/31/2022 NXT UK

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Big Red Machine
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BRM Reviews the 3/31/2022 NXT UK

Post by Big Red Machine » May 15th, '22, 09:34

AMALE vs. XIA BROOKSIDE- 5/10
Amale’s back got worked over a bit. She overcame it and gained control, so Xia went to the outside. Amale followed her out and got a big bot off on Xia, but someone grabbed her from the crowd and slammed her into the barricade while the ref was checking on Xia, setting up for Xia to get the win. For those of you wondering why this is okay and Sting or Wardlow just happening to be in the right spot wasn’t, the difference is that Xia was clearly in cahoots with this woman, and the impetus for going to that spot was Xia’s. This was not a ridiculous coincidence. This was a trap.
After the match, the attacked hopped the barricade to celebrate with Xia. The announcers had no idea who she was, but no one from security tried to get her out of the ringside area, either… so either security sucks at their jobs, or Nigel and Andy don’t recognize someone in what is not a particularly large promotion.

ISLA DAWN VIDEO- stupid
She says there a “bond” between Meiko and something she (meaning Isla) wants… and she is going to hold the title belt hostage to force Meiko’s compliance, as if the title belt was a person.

RODERICK STRONG VS. ILJA DRAGUNOV VIDEO PACKAGE- great
They showed a bunch of other wrestlers telling us how great the match will be. I appreciated that they let Devlin stay a heel and just talk about himself and how he would be the next champion, instead of making him act out of character just to put over an upcoming match.

ASHTON SMITH (w/Oliver Carter) vs. TRENT SEVEN (w/Tyler Bate)- 6.75/10
This was match EXACTLY what it needed to be. These two did TREMENDOUS job of creating a feeling that there was underlying tension between them and they were both glad to have the chance to try to work their frustrations out on the other physically, without it ever going too far. Seven pulled the tights to get the win. This came right after he tried to use the rope for leverage and Bate saw it and questioned it. Bate saw the tights-pulling, too, and while he didn’t seem to approve at first, he still clapped politely for Seven. Smtih and Carter, for their part, were rightly incensed.

A-KID’S INTERVIEW EARLIER TODAY- fine
He’s looking for revenge against Teoman.

WILD BOAR PROMO- good… but he came across WAY too evil and creepy to be a babyface for long.

MOUSTACHE MOUNTAIN, ASHTON SMITH, & OLIVER CARTER ARGUE BACKSTAGE- great!
Tyler Bate didn’t speak up to defend Trent Seven, but he didn’t condemn him, either. Sid Scala showed up and told them they would settle things with a discussion in his office next week. Smith & Carter left, as did Scala, leaving Moustache Mountain alone. Trent tried to tell Tyler that he didn’t go for the ropes but Tyler said he saw it. Trent then shifted to “we NEED to hold on to these titles” and walked off. The focus of the story now shifts to whether Tyler will go to the Dark Side with Trent or not.

TATE MAYFAIRS vs. KENNY WILLIAMS- no rating, bad segment
Williams was playing with his food instead of finishing Mayfairs off. He tossed Mayfairs to outside and Mayfairs tried to crawl under the ring. Williams went to pull him out, but Sam Gradwell was hiding there… because hiding under the ring all day just in case Williams’ opponent happened to go to the outside is definitely the kind of thing Sam Gradwell has the patience for (and even if he did, it’s still stupid, because if he wanted to get his hands on Williams, why not just wait in the back and attack him?). Williams backed up, so Gradwell picked up Mayfairs’ lifeless body and threw him into the ring, then stopped Williams from getting back into the ring because Williams was too scared to try running through him, causing Williams to lose by count-out. MAYBE I could accept a finish like that if the referee hadn’t seen Gradwell throw Mayfairs into the ring, but the referee clearly saw it. That’s interfering in the match, and should have caused a DQ!

WOLFGANG’S INTERVIEW IS INTERRUPTED BY DIE FAMILIE- meh
Wolfgang was talking up Mark Coffey’s title shot tonight. Charlie Dempsey was upset that Gallus were always the ones who “get to represent British heritage.” I’d be upset, too, if Gallus were being positioned to represent me.

ILJA DRAGUNOV AND RODERICK STRONG SIT DOWN FACE TO FACE- great

NXT UK HERITAGE CUP TITLE MATCH: Naom Dar(c) (w/Sha Samuels) vs. Mark Coffey (w/Joe Coffey)- 6.75/10
Coffey’s strategy was to turn it into a brawl and win by knock-out, which was a nice change of pace, but that soon fell by the wayside in favor of a bunch of interference. Mark sent Joe to the back, opening himself up for the Nova Roller for the finish.

This was a disappointing episode of NXT UP. Roddy vs. Ilja will be great and the Smith & Carter vs. Moustache Mountain stuff is building well, but everything else was a detriment to the show.
Hold #712: ARM BAR!

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