WWE Top 5 Matches Of The Week: Rhea Ripley Owns NXT UK

NXT UK: Jordan Devlin vs. El Ligero

While Cross vs. LeRae told the best story, Jordan Devlin vs. El Ligero was WWE’s best match of the week in terms of pure in-ring quality. Devlin and Ligero are two of the most talented wrestlers in Europe, with Devlin looking to own NXT UK the way he’s owned Ireland this past year, remarking that he intends to win the United Kingdom Championship and turn NXT UK into NXT Ireland.

He took a step in the right direction this week by defeating El Ligero in a nail-biter of the match that had it all. There were some breath-taking counters that happened at the very last second, as well as a number of near-falls that had every fan second-guessing what would happen. Because while the smart money was always on Devlin winning, it truly seemed like El Ligero would pick up the victory at various moments in the match.

What makes NXT UK such a special brand is that we get to see competitors like Devlin and El Ligero in one place. Devlin is legitimately one of the best wrestlers and promos in the world, and the platform WWE provides can help accelerate his star status. Meanwhile, El Ligero is one of the best athletes and workhorses in wrestling, and I enjoyed how Nigel McGuinness explained the background of why he wears the mask. It was small, but it adds even more intrigue and relatability to a wrestler who has worked insanely hard throughout his career.

I consider this match must-see, and it’s performances like this that will help entrench NXT UK has more than just WWE’s attempt at glocalization. When wrestlers like Jordan Devlin and El Ligero deliver like this, they create the foundations of a brand that can stand on its own with any other weekly wrestling show.