BRM Reviews the 1/6/2022 NXT UK

[Big Red Machine]

#1 CONTENDERSHIP TOURNAMENT OPENING ROUND MATCH: Ashton Smith & Oliver Carter vs. Symbiosis (w/Eddie Dennis)- 7/10
Smith and Carter win clean.

SAM GRADWELL INTERRUPTS PRETTY DEADLY’S INTERVIEW- fine
Gradwell’s odd babyface turn continues by telling them that they won’t get what they want around here by whining, but in very Sam Gradwell fashion, he has to insult them while saying this… but it’s not, like, a clever insult or anything. Also, Pretty Deadly kind of have a point that they should get their rematch for the tag titles before some other team is given a title shot by winning a tournament.

ILJA DRAGUNOV VIDEO PACKAGE- great
Lots of stuff about what his family means to him, and build for his title defense against Jordan Devlin.

NOAM DAR & SHA SAMUELS SEGMENT- bad
Okay, now Dar and Samuels have REALLY crossed a line. Samuels is playing “bookmaker,” and now Dar is asking Samuels which of the finishes he should try for (Samuels wants Dar to win in the fourth round).

DIE FAMILIA PROMO- good
This is Teoman’s group. They want the tag titles. They say their “family bond” will give them an advantage.

MYLA GRACE vs. XIA BROOKSIDE- 2/10
Xia is getting loudly booed, so at least this heel turn is working, even if her gimmick is terrible. The fans are chanting “WHO’S YOUR DADDY?!” at Xia. That seems like something this heel Xia Brookside character would want them to do.
Xia won a short match cleanly.

A-KID VIDEO PACKAGE/PROMO- good
Winning the Heritage Cup changed his life, and he has felt a void in his life since losing it, so he wants to win it back.

DAVE MASTIFF & JACK STARZ PROMO- snore
This pairing feels so unworthy compared to the rest of the division.

AMALE PROMO- snore
This was more follow-up on their re-framing her as a babyface. She was giving an interview as she arrived at the PC. Someone with a very thick Scottish accent said that Amele’s story had inspired her. That person left, then Jinny came up to Amele and said that her story might inspire “people like that” (said with that wonderful trademark Jinny disdain), but that Jinny thought it was pathetic. Then Jinny left and some other heel said Jinny had a point. Amele pushed said heel into a door and yelled at her in French.

WALTER VIDEO PACKAGE- This explained WALTER’s exit has him wanting to go to NXT. He has been granted one final match, which will be against Nathan Frazier next week. WALTER then cut an awesome promo.

NT UK WOMEN’S TITLE MATCH: Meiko Satomura(c) vs. Blair Davenport- 7.5/10
Meiko has come back from Japan early to get revenge on Davenport for her attack on Emilia McKenzie.
Davenport worked the arm and they played to the idea of the STF being important because Davenport put McKenzie in it. Meiko won with a roll-up, but Davenport attacked her after the match, keeping the issue alive.


A good episode of NXT UK to start off the new year.