NXT TakeOver: Blackpool Was Fantastic, But The Best Is Yet To Come

From start to finish, NXT TakeOver: Blackpool was an excellent showcase of the United Kingdom brand, but the fallout from this special, first show is even more significant.

NXT TakeOver: Blackpool started off much like NXT TakeOver: Chicago II – with an incredible tag team matchup that was wrestled at a frenetic pace. But in the case of this match between Moustache Mountain and the Young Grizzled Vets, it felt like the stakes were even higher.

That wasn’t just because the winner would be the inaugural NXT UK Tag Team Champions, because it had more to do with the story told in the ring. Tyler Bate looked like a man who couldn’t be stopped, Trent Seven was the veteran holding on with every ounce of strength in order to give Bate a chance for his brilliance to turn into a victory, and James Drake was out there to prove that he’s more than just a sidekick to the evil Zack Gibson.

The United Kingdom crowds are known as among the most passionate wrestling fans in the entire world, and they more than lived up to their reputation right  from the opening bell. Their involvement in this match, whether it was boos for Gibson or “Big Strong Boi” chants for Bate, added so much to the story and the overall atmosphere, setting the tone for the rest of the show.

And even though Moustache Mountain couldn’t prevail, this loss will only light a fire underneath both Bate and Seven, who have some soul-searching to do before they can claim those tag titles for themselves.

What followed the opening tag match was even more extraordinary. Jordan Devlin, who has drawn the ire of pretty much everyone in attendance with his arrogance and contempt for everyone else on the brand who isn’t Irish like him, was scheduled for a huge match with Travis Banks. Instead, Devlin took out Banks’s knee, thinking he’d be able to avoid a match.

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Instead, Devlin had to face off against his kayfabe doppleganger and real-life trainer, Finn Balor. The first-ever Universal Champion taught Devlin a lesson, but not without making Devlin look great in the process. Balor sold like crazy for Devlin, who used every underhanded tactic in the book. From stealing Balor’s moves to using the ropes to taking cheapshots and slapping his former mentor, Devlin did everything he could to defeat one of the best wrestlers in the world.

Though Devlin seemingly failed, his “valiant” effort against Balor won’t be forgotten, least of all by him. This loss was far from a humbling defeat from Devlin, who will likely take out his rage on the rest of the NXT UK roster in memorable fashion.

The third match on the NXT TakeOver: Blackpool card pitted former headmaster and math teacher Eddie Dennis against the impossibly powerful Dave Mastiff, whose name alone guarantees immortalization in the annals of United Kingdom wrestling history. And while Mastiff emerged victorious in this No Disqualification match to get the momentum boost, Dennis impressed us all with his strength.

https://twitter.com/JamesDrake_GYT/status/1084184441789079552

Following this match, the cameras panned to Kay Lee Ray and Jazzy Gabert in the audience, and this is how NXT traditionally announces new signings. KLR and Gabert competed in WWE’s first Mae Young Classic in 2017, and both women are among the best in the world at what they do, with Gabert’s character work and KLR’s elite wrestling chops figuring to provide a massive boost to a talented NXT UK Women’s Division.

That division crowned a new champion shortly afterwards, as Toni Storm managed to outlast her greatest foe. Storm finally kicked out of the “Riptide” and barely survived, but the babyface with the most heart in WWE managed to win the United Kingdom Championship after coming up short against Ripley in the inaugural tournament. Though some fans wanted Ripley to win, this was the right decision, as it sets up Ripley for a rampage and Storm for her next opponent, as she can face any number of opponents for a great feud at the second TakeOver Special for the NXT UK brand.

And finally, Pete Dunne and Joe Coffey put on an incredible match in the show’s main event. Dunne carries himself with so much pride, and there are very few championships that feel as important as the United Kingdom Title, which Dunne has held for over 600 days as the longest-reigning champ of the modern era.

These two were willing to kill themselves for this match, and while that’s par for the course for the tireless Dunne, Coffey put himself over in a huge way with this performance. He pushed Dunne to his absolute limit on several occasions, with each thunderous move and last-gasp kickout feeling bigger than the next as the crowd crescendoed into joyous chants at this main event. Dunne finally outlasted Coffey, but Coffey more than lived up to his billing as The Bruiserweight’s biggest challenge. Both men looked absolutely incredible after this all-out battle for THAT title.

And you know who showed up to stare down Dunne after the match? WALTER. Now if that isn’t building anticipation, I don’t know what is!

The common thread with NXT TakeOver: Blackpool is that every match told a heart-warming or heart-wrenching story, and either made the loser look good or set them up for a path that helps their character. Beyond that, Balor’s involvement and the “announcements” of Kay Lee Ray and Jazzy Gabert show fans that ANYTHING can happen at UK TakeOver specials, whether they be surprise matchups or splash signings.

TakeOver: Blackpool has to be seen as a huge success, with every “This is awesome!” chant and every thunderous cheer for the babyfaces cementing this brand as something special. I look forward to the next edition of this brand’s TakeOver special, especially with the room for additional character development that this show helped create. With better booking for the women and more intense storylines potentially coming, NXT UK is in a great place.